** Brian Stone maintains a trapline for DEER MICE [Souris sylvestre] to
keep them at bay however a SHREW got into one of his traps. We usually don’t see
SHREWS inside homes as DEER MICE tend to do. This one was actually caught just
outside the door. We have several SHREW species in NB, this one would appear to
be one of our more common ones, the MASKED SHREW. Some species are much smaller
and some have shorter tails. They are classed as insectivores however they are
often around bird-feeder areas after seed. They are nocturnal and we seldom see
them although we often see their tunnels under the snow when the snow melts.
Brian’s photo shows the features of this animal.
**Gabrielle Gallant and Tanya Carrier were watching their ground-feeding
SNOW BUNTINGS [Bruant des neiges, AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS [Bruant hudsonien] and
COMMON REDPOLLS [Sizerin flammé on Wednesday when suddenly a snow-white WEASEL
with black tail tip zipped from behind a vehicle after the birds. It was not
successful, but the flock went into the air very quickly.
** Myrna Lamoreau is having a banner year at her feeder yard in Boundary
Creek. She has 22 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS [Jaseur boréal working a yard crab-apple
tree and notes a few EUROPEAN STARLINGS [Étourneau sansonnet travelling with
them, along with approximately 50 COMMON REDPOLLS[Sizerin flammé, approximately
50 SNOW BUNTINGS [Bruant des neiges are intermittant, 20 to 25 DARK-EYED JUNCOS
[Junco ardoisé], EVENING GROSBEAKS [Gros-bec errant] and a faithful AMERICAN
ROBIN [Merle d’Amérique] along with 10 RING-NECKED PHEASANTS [Faisan de
Colchide] and the expected regulars. All that action attracts a few HAWKS as
well. Myrna also comments she is very pleased with a heated dog dish she uses as
a bird waterer, finding it very attractive to the birds and easy to keep clean.
She purchased this unit at Princess Auto.
Nelson Poirier,
Nature Moncton
MASKED SHREW . FEB. 03, 2015. BRIAN STONE
