Nature Moncton Nature News: March 10 2015

Tuesday Morning, March 10, 2015

** Larry Sherrard in Lower Coverdale had a BARRED OWL [Chouette rayée} perched overlooking his bird feeder area on Monday during the day. With the snow cover rodents may be hard to get to and feeder birds may be looking easier. Larry reports his bird numbers patronizing his feeders have dropped considerably and suddenly, wondering if it may not be due to the owl’s presence. Note in Larry’s photos both are face on but one, a back view one, front view.

Larry spotted the owl on Tuesday with a pheasant as prey and noted another pheasant had been taken down.

** Dave Christie also comments he had a cock RING-NECKED PHEASANT [Faisan de Colchide} in the swing of Spring on Monday when it was strutting with open wings in front of a female to make a Spring impression. Dave also quips on distinctly hearing the spring call and song of an OAK TITMOUSE, however it was over the phone as he spoke with a relative in California. I wonder how many TUFTED TITMICE [Mésange bicolore} are going undetected or unreported in NB this winter in addition to the Deer Island TITMOUSE that appears to be enjoying its winter there at feeders.

** I neglected to add the poster of the Snow Shack and Animal Track event happening at the Atlantic Wildlife Institute this weekend. I neglected to add it to the photo section yesterday with the announcement, it is added today.

** Roger LeBlanc, Nature Moncton Christmas Bird Count Coordinator, has completed a perusal of this year’s final tally and leaves a commentary. This commentary Roger has prepared is copied and pasted to this transcript.

2014 Nature Moncton CBC

“The 54^thNature Moncton CBC was held on Saturday December 20. First the general numbers. Compared to some other years, conditions were excellent with an almost balmy 0 °C temperature and moderate winds, from the NW, at about 20 km. Skies were covered but practically not precipitation was experienced. Also snow cover was minimum (5 to 10 cm) permitting easy access to most spots and while most standing fresh water was frozen running water had some openings, where water birds could be looked for. So all in all it was very “reasonable” winter weather to be out and about the Moncton circle looking for birds. And 28 of us did that in the field while 32 more counted at feeders. And again this year the feeder watch was a very important component of our effort adding 1041 individual birds and 4 species to the count (a big tank you to Rosemary, Marg and Susan on this front). So in total 55 species were recorded on count day and 5 more were added for count period (3 days before or after count day). In all that represented 12585 individual birds and both numbers would be a bit above average when compared to the earlier 53 years of the Moncton CBC. The clement weather in the weeks before the count and the lack of snow on the ground probably limited the concentration of birds that happens in harsher weather in particular at feeders, but on the positive side (there is always one) it helped some “gooood” species to survive or stay here long enough to be counted. The highlights of the count came mostly from the sparrow family with an Eastern Towhee (just the fourth ever) and a first ever Lark Sparrow at feeders while the Clay-colored Sparrow found in zone 1 was not only a first ever for the count, but very much out of range and out of timings. Other great finds were the two Marsh Wren and the Common Yellowthroat (respectively third and fifth ever). Otherwise going in taxonomic order here are a bit of my musings on the birds of this years count. Black Ducks and Mallards were quite high probably related to weather. Bald Eagles were the highest ever at 82, with the waste management site alone having 63. Nice for a species that was on hard times not that long ago. In the missing in action side, too bad Cooper’s hawk could not be found as later reports did come of the big accipiter near the circle. A winter Merlin was nice but we did miss our resident Peregrines that just did not want to show on count day or period. Gull trend were pretty well constant except for Iceland that were very high this year. Maybe a new trend to follow. After showing up last year Lesser black-backed just could not be found this year and in fact has not been reported for some time now in the city. In the woodpecker gang Hairy at 65 was the highest ever and the feeder effort is surely part of the reason for that. Other wise a Red-bellied did show for count period but was to shy to be found on count day. Sadly no

Boreal Chickadees were to be found again and that marks the 4th year in a row for this, in the past, “findable” bird. Unluckily NO Bohemian Waxwing could be found as this beautiful species seemed to just start showing up later after the first big snow storms. We have already talked about the sparrow bonanza that was the 2015 count but 6 Swamp Sparrows rounded out the tally and were also quite extraordinary and the most ever. Snow buntings were also missing but did also start to show in numbers only later. A count week Cardinal was nice as was a count day Baltimore Oriole. House Sparrows continued their slow decline with only 6 being found. A count period Great bleu Heron was probably wondering what it was still doing around and count period Pine Warbler and Barred Owl were nice add on coming from feeder reports. So that was the count “that was” for 2014. Again, some surprises, several interesting statistics and all around good birding and lots of fun. Thanks to all that participated in the field or at feeders and hope to see you all again next year.”

Nelson Poirier,
Nature Moncton

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca