NATURE MONCTON NATURE NEWS
Jan 26, 2023
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Edited by Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com
Proofreading
courtesy of Louise Nichols at nicholsl@eastlink.ca
**Jamie Burris
shares some recent photos from their Riverview backyard bird feeding area. Their
Dark-eyed Junco population remains at 10 but they all scattered with the
appearance of 2 Sharp-shinned Hawks on Friday. A White-throated
Sparrow arrived on Saturday and on Wednesday they had a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
on the seed bell. The male Northern Flicker continues to visit as well.
(Editor’s
note: a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker is very much a winter bonus to have as a patron
at a birdfeeder yard!).
**Clarence
Cormier in Grande Digue is yet another lucky birdfeeder to be patronized by a
winter-residing Northern Flicker to cooperate for a pleasant photo as it enjoyed a suet
offering.
**John Massey
in Dieppe shares an interesting observation with White-tailed Deer and Old
Man’s Beard (Usnea) Lichen
John had a 65-foot
dead spruce tree taken down which was almost covered with usnea lichen much
like a decorated Christmas tree. The next day the branches of the spruce which
were accessible were completely stripped of the lichen by White-tailed Deer.
Since he wanted to use the dead wood in his stove, he untangled some more
branches and leaned some against a tree, and scattered some along his driveway.
Next morning, not a lichen to be seen. John has witnessed White-tailed Deer standing
on their hind legs many times to pick off this lichen from trees around his property.
**Shirley and Bob Childs had a Blue Jay come right up to within inches of their window on the recent very stormy day to check on the menu. The majority of Blue Jays migrate south for the winter but more seem to be lingering this year and possibly more interested in human handouts.
All 5 Barred Owl nest boxes donated by Scott Makepeace are in the hands of new landlords to be erected very soon and waiting for patrons. Stay tuned!
Nelson Poirier
Nature
Moncton
