NATURE MONCTON'S INFORMATION LINE - Mar. 23, 2015 (Monday)
To view the photos mentioned in this edition of the Information Line, go to
http://nminfoline.blogspot.ca
Edited by : Nelson Poirier nelson@nb.sympatico.ca
Transcript by : David Christie
<maryspt@mac.com>
Info Line # : 506-384-6397 (384-NEWS)
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** John Massey shares an interesting situation with the group of
WHITE-TAILED DEER [Cerf de Virginie] that yard near his Dieppe home and
frequently visit his yard. As the photos show in driving snow, they are standing
on the high banks of snow above the bird feeders, feeding on the lichen OLD
MAN’S BEARD. Maybe they are able to utilize lichens as forage, as their kin
Caribou do. They are getting lots of other good things around John’s yard and
wintering well. John comments that even with the hard conditions of last winter,
the does gave birth to twins.
John also captured a photo of two COMMON RAVENS [Grand Corbeau] exchanging
vows, as spring rituals for that species are in high gear at the moment, with
nests probably already. He was just able to get a photo above the high banks of
snow in his Dieppe yard.
** The VESPER SPARROW [Bruant vespéral] that arrived in Roger LeBlanc’s
Notre-Dame yard on Nov. 28 has made it through the winter fine, as a regular
patron of Roger’s feeder yard. It fed easily on seed, during the blowing snow of
Sunday.
** Bob Betts just returned [to Caissie Cape] from a two and a half month
visit to Florida and find every trace of his feeder area totally buried, so put
up temporary feeders where possible. Within three days, local birds had found
the welcome buffet, when a huge blend of PINE SISKINS [Tarin des pins], COMMON
REDPOLLS [Sizerin flammé], AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES [Chardonneret jaune], SNOW
BUNTINGS [Bruant des neiges], DOWNY WOODPECKERS [Pic mineur] and BLACK-CAPPED
CHICKADEES [Mésange à tête noire] arrived. He found the wing of a raptor near
the house, assuming it had struck a window and that AMERICAN CROWS [Corneille
d'Amérique] had moved it quickly for a salvage job.
Bob joined a bird walk with an Audubon group while in Florida to see 41
species, many of which he says have been seen in New Brunswick at one point. A
FISH CROW and a COMMON GROUND-DOVE were exceptions. I don’t think that a Fish
Crow has been confirmed in New Brunswick yet. [Transcriber’s note: That’s right;
there have been a very few reports of Fish Crow, but none have been adequately
documented.]
** Brian Stone shares another BOHEMIAN WAXWING [Jaseur boréal] photo. It
beautifully shows the distinctive wing markings and chestnut undertail coverts,
to readily distinguish it from its Cedar Waxwing kin. Susan Atkinson reports
that she gets 50 to 150 Bohemian Waxwings daily, eating fruit on the huge crab
tree in her Courtney Avenue yard [Moncton].
Nelson Poirier,
Nature Moncton
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