** Oscar LeBlanc sends a track photo for comment. It appears to be canine,
either a dog or a Coyote due to the pyramid ridge in between the heel pad and
the toe pads. A feline footprint would have a curved ridge there. The track also
lacks the roundness of a feline print, and there’s also evidence of a claw
imprint, which would rarely show in a feline print.
** It seems to be a better year than recent years for EVENING GROSBEAKS
[Gros-bec errant] at feeders. Elaine Gallant reports one lone grosbeak at her
Parlee Beach feeder yard, the first that she can recall for a very long time.
Dick Bissett also comments he had a pair arrive to his Lower Coverdale feeders
as well, again the first he has seen in a long time.
** John Foster says that they had one lone SNOW BUNTING [Bruant des
neiges] come by their urban feeder yard on Sunday. This species is seldom seen
in urban yards.
** Marlene Hickman says that the storm brought SNOW BUNTINGS [Bruant des
neiges] back to her Dorchester feeder yard on Sunday. She put out some regular
suet but the birds turned up their beak to it in favour of peanut butter-suet
blend. The attraction of birds to peanut butter and peanut butter mixtures is
very notable.
** With all the snow, I suspect that RING-NECKED PHEASANTS [Faisan de
Colchide] are getting very hungry. Janet Cormier says that she put out feed on
her deck and a male pheasant appeared from nowhere in 5 minutes. Janet also has
had an AMERICAN ROBIN [Merle d'Amérique] visiting since earlier in the winter
and it seems not amused with the weather.
** Anna Tucker is visiting family in Ontario and shares some yard photos
of an immature SHARP-SHINNED HAWK [Épervier brun] and a male NORTHERN CARDINAL
[Cardinal rouge], which she says are pleasantly abundant in Burlington,
Ont.
** Tonight, Tuesday, February 17th, is Nature Moncton meeting night at 7
o'clock at the Mapleton Park Rotary Lodge Pavilion, and it looks like we have
dodged the storms. Rheal Vienneau will share his very involved experience with
the MONARCH (Monarque) Butterfly from egg to adult and release. Rheal has been
very instrumental in having hundreds of adult Monarch Butterflies head off to
overwinter in Mexico. Many he raised himself from the egg. As always, all are
welcome!
Nelson Poirier,
Nature Moncton
AMERICAN ROBIN.JANET CORMIER
NORTHERN CARDINAL.FEB 16, 2015.ANNA TUCKER
RING-NECKED PHEASANT.FEB 16, 2015.JANET CORMIER
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK.FEB 16, 2015.ANNA TUCKER
SNOW BUNTING.FEB 15, 2015.JOHN FOSTER
