Nature Moncton Nature News: Feb 4 2023

NATURE MONCTON NATURE NEWS

Feb 4, 2023

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Edited by Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Proofreading courtesy of Louise Nichols at nicholsl@eastlink.ca

**Rumours are it's going to warm up in a few days. This may just be a seasonal blip!!

**On Friday morning, in the strong winds with the -26° wind chill, Brian Stone visited the feeder yard of Tracy and Tony Maas to see the rare Brewer's Sparrow visiting them over the last week or so. The sparrow was very cooperative and showed up for many photos while Brian's fingers went numb, and the camera seemed to take photos independently as he was unable to feel the shutter button being activated. It all went well though, and Brian's fingers are now well-thawed and able to type up his observations.

(Editor’s note: Such nice details are shown in Brian's photos and who knows when we will have the opportunity to photograph a Brewer’s Sparrow again!)

(Editor's note: take particular note in Brian's first photo of the size of the Brewer's Sparrow compared to the accompanying American Goldfinch. The Brewer's Sparrow is a small sparrow).

Brian also photographed a pair of American Goldfinch and a female Northern Cardinal that were at the feeders while the male cardinal hid in the cedar tree. While Brian was watching the feeders, a pair of White-tailed Deer walked past the house and ambled down the street.

**John Inman had a Red-headed Woodpecker arrive to his Harvey, Albert County feeder yard in November a few years ago and stayed with him until May the following spring. John was able to document photos going from its first-year juvenile plumage to adult plumage over that time period.

What an incredible change from the drab plumage of immaturity in November to the brilliant red head of breeding plumage in May.

**In Wednesday’s edition, we drew attention to the Purple Elephant in Neguac.

Judith Dewar shares a link below that highlights the attention and details of this snow sculpture that has attracted so much attention. Check out the link below:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/elephant-sculptor-jean-pascal-brideau-marc-a-paul-a-jos-neguac-nb-1.6732428

**Nelson Poirier paused on Wednesday to muse upon and photograph St. Croix Island (Ile Ste.-Croix) off the coast at Bayside near St. Andrews. It was -22°C when this photo was taken, and one could only imagine how harsh the conditions have been on that small island where Champlain and his crew of 100 men overwintered in 1604 when many did not survive.

Nelson could not resist photographing the sign warning of roaming White-tailed Deer as one enters St. Andrews. Some folks in the area refer to them as ‘urban goats’.

(Editor's note: St. Andrews and Quispamsis may be in competition for White-tailed Deer numbers!).

Nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton