Nature Moncton Nature News: Nov 7 2022 SPECIAL EDITION

NATURE MONCTON NATURE NEWS

November 7, 2022

This is a special edition as it highlights wildlife that many of us just don’t get to see in such a special way through outstanding videos and photos

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Edited by Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

On Saturday, October 22, Nature Miramichi arranged a field day in the hinterlands of New Brunswick led by Brian Donovan.

Brian Donovan has multiple trail cameras set up in a very remote area off the Renous Highway, Route 108. Brian has been doing this for several years as a passionate hobby and has continually improved his techniques to together a set of videos and images to show some of the most secretive/private moments of our wildlife community about their missions totally unaware of a watchful eye to allow us to see them in action like most of us would never see without Brian’s finely tuned techniques.

Brian learned the techniques of where and how to set up man-made nesting boxes that attract mammals such as Fisher and Marten.

These are mammals that many of us never see at all let alone seeing them performing their family activities.

Brian has built up a collection of amazing videos that would rival National Geographic any day of the week. He has very kindly shared a selection of short videos which are attached below as Dropbox links. It is very suggested for everyone reviewing this epistle to take a moment and open every single link for an amazing view into Mother Nature’s secret/private world of community life.

One will notice in the photos that deadwood and snags are conveniently placed to create runways that attract these animals to scamper up and explore if the conveniently placed nest boxes maybe exactly the right size with the very important correctly sized nest hole opening to be suitable to safely raise a family.

Suitable procreation sites are noted importance but naturally a food supply is as well. There probably is ample food supply available in the area but Brian does make it more attractive to his trail camera sites by placing bait in what most of us recognize as suet cages. One of Brian’s favourite baits is delicious chunks of Mackerel (sometimes augmented with liquid from a lobster boil!) and leftovers from successful Striped Bass fishing trips.

One very important consideration Brian pointed out was entrance hole size to the nest boxes. The male Fisher is considerably larger than the female. The male Fisher is not exactly an exemplary Dad! If it can gain access to the female’s family, it will kill them to give it the opportunity of earlier mating possibilities. This means the opening hole size must be just large enough to allow the females to enter but not the male. Some of the photos show the attempts of the male trying to get into the nest boxes to gain access unsuccessfully due to the metal opening hole coverings leaving telltale teeth marks. This infant side sounds harsh and cruel but is somehow by Mother Nature design and works for the species.

Infanticide is not a problem for the female Marten so opening hole size is consistent to just while the average sized female Marten to squeeze in. The gender size in the Marten does not vary as it does in the Fisher.

The Fisher and Marten may be the most interesting mammals Brian is photographing but other members of the wildlife community join as part of the wildlife show.

The River Otter is also a frequent entertainer. The antics of the River Otter with their sliding and rolling activities suggest they just know how ‘life otter be’ frequently seen apparently just enjoying their day, with even one video showing the River Otter ‘poop dance’ which is a guarantee most of us have not and never will see!

Brian has frequent visits from Lynx to investigate his bait offerings. It is somewhat interesting that Brian has had many Lynx visitors but not a single Bobcat. The reason for this is not certain but possibilities are the Lynx population is pushing the Bobcat population further south. The Lynx is built for heavy snow conditions with long legs and snowshoe foot pads that may make the heavier snowfall in this area easier for them to navigate and hunt more successfully than the Bobcat. In Brian’s photos, note the longer legs, more highly placed hindquarters, huge snowshoe foot pads, and the completely black tail tip is if dipped in ink. The Bobcat has only the upper portion of the tail tip black.

Other members of mammal community we may be for more familiar with such as Moose, Black Bear, Eastern Coyote, Muskrat, Red Fox, Raccoon, Flying Squirrels, Red Squirrels, and Deer Mice make cameo appearances. Most of these mammals cause no damage to Brian’s equipment, however the Black Bear for some reason will occasionally locate a trail camera and unceremoniously destroy it!

Some forest birds tend to pop by occasionally as well to check things out.

The forest preferring Northern Goshawk and Broad-winged Hawk along with owls get into the photo lineup as well. Passerine birds such as the Canada Jay, Brown creeper, and the ubiquitous Blue Jay appeared as well. Ruffed Grouse, common to the area, did put on some real-life shows.

During the day we all spent with Brian, he showed us the activity on the camera discs since his last visit. It was truly amazing what we saw on the discs but not in real life to indicate many of the patrons seen on the discs actually saw us and were able to get field trip participants on their day list even though we did not get them.

The editor would very much encourage anyone who reviews the special edition spend the enjoyable time to open every link and photo to experience what happens in our wildlife community when they do not know they are being spied upon.

It is significant to note that some of Brian’s activities take place on one of the protected natural areas (PNA) of New Brunswick, the Kennedy Lakes PNA that will be preserved into perpetuity for the well-being of this incredible natural community as well as Brian Donovan sleuthing to record it in winter and summer. The Lynx may wear their natural snowshoes, but Brian dawns the man-made type.

Brian Donovan has shared his ventures and successes into the hinterland of New Brunswick and we very much think him for taking the time to do that. It’s akin to going on an amazing field trip without leaving home.

Thank you very much Brian Donovan.

Enjoy the awesome videos in the attached links below followed by some still photos of the day spent with Brian.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/wnr1irj1zhxpx8p/Bear%20Sow%20Cubs%20McLaughlin%203.AVI?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ztjt0uejyu8utl6/Coyote%203%20legs%201%20Lizard%20Lk%20Sept%202019%20%283%29.avi?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/rmf987dismjqnsk/Fisher%20at%2025%20percent%20speed.avi?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/suudaavvr2ulazk/Fisher%20Den%20Box%20RR2.avi?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/o3gks4uj2jecaln/Fisher%20RR3.AVI?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ft11w7n2ew17jqu/Fisher2%20chewing%20on%20den%20box.AVI?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/m63i657izlx1ek7/Fisher2%20Matchetts1.AVI?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/pqmz0bfmw1kezte/Fisher2%20Matchetts2.AVI?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/sdf1pjeghmejagr/Hawk.AVI?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/wj8kduay31ih3my/Lynx%20Below%20Forks.avi?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/3i4n1ntecuye7ma/Lynx%20Lower%20Monaghan.AVI?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/4ulbihjmowbjog3/Lynx%20Summer%20spray.avi?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/5052dgsrhnmzn9z/Marten%20Close%20Up.avi?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/gukwx53pl4avkmj/Marten%20Den%20Box.AVI?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/56mdcew332vmt1u/Marten%20One%20to%20Den%20Box.AVI?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/1iiqwmjr4814pi0/Bears%20crossing%20Log%20lower%20Monaghan.AVI?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/9101h1nlqnorlal/Goshawk.AVI?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/3elbugw7qesvldr/Marten%20Den%20Box.AVI?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/cggs7seybz7gvx7/Marten%20One%20to%20Den%20Box.AVI?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/3qkkrvn8jqlp2vu/Marten%20watching%20squirrel.AVI?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/4wfe0exsi6k4qxm/Marten%20White%20Face.AVI?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/7cv6dvzmibua4j9/Moose%20Eating.avi?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/zs4hz6230xvy66m/Muskrat%20Monaghan.AVI?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/toxtcdpcu2jwjpw/Otter%201%20Low%20mon.AVI?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ab8lh0ojwszhntm/Otter%20Monaghan.AVI?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/4dzsnywggx5yo3y/Otter1%20Tomonops.AVI?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/9q8d8s7zby62bly/Tree%20Falling.AVI?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/skxbz5ure2vi68g/ZZZ%20Pictures.avi?dl=0

Some of the still photographs are attached below.
A few bonus photographs include Chaga Mushroom, Bog Clubmoss, Pink Stubble Lichen, Common Yew a.k.a. Ground Hemlock showing its female and male parts, and the frequently encountered Moose scat.