** Brian Coyle had some very interesting observations of a situation
involving COMMON RAVEN [Grand Corbeau] and a GREAT HORNED OWL [Grand-duc
d'Amérique] near his home. To not lose the thought behind Brian’s comments, I’m
taking the liberty of quoting him directly:
"There has been a "newly wed" pair of ravens that have chosen a nesting
site behind my house in some tall spruce trees. They have been doing some barrel
rolls recently and have become accustomed to my "cawing", which means, that I
have put out some food for them.... cheese slices, bologna, bread and other
leftovers.... I assume that it is the male who comes right away, but can't be
sure. The "jump-back" behaviour is interesting to watch... always so
cautious...
"The reason that I believe that they are "newly weds" is that, last
September, the male (assumption) would fly to the top of the tall spruce beside
my house with a rather large stick in its beak. The female would fly in to his
croaks, inspect the stick and then fly back to the nesting site... (again, an
assumption)... this was repeated over and over until she seemed satisfied with
his stick... one might assume that the male plays a vital role in bringing
nesting materials to the female as she builds the nest.
"My observations are hardly scientific, but they are fun to watch and their
vocalizations are so interesting. During the second last storm, I observed both
of them doing barrel rolls beside a different tall spruce tree and then both
landed in it and were causing a ruckus. I brought my binoculars up to my eyes,
just in time to see a great horned owl leaping away from them, further into the
tree. I have heard spring time territorial hooting from that area at night and
have also heard this in December. I think that there will be quite a fight over
territory soon."
** An interesting note from Rhéal Vienneau after his presentation on the
MONARCH [Monarque] butterfly last week. Rhéal went to Florida the next day and
was going to be on the watch for Monarchs, as he has seen then there before at
this time of year. He did see one on Friday but said that it was very windy
there, and he is going to do more scouting. Monarchs in Florida at this time of
year could be an interesting scenario.
** The WINTER SHELTER presentation by Greg Osowski at the Atlantic
Wildlife Institute, scheduled for today, Sunday, has been postponed.
Nelson Poirier,
Nature Moncton
