Nature Moncton Nature News: March 7 2015

NATURE MONCTON'S INFORMATION LINE - Mar. 7, 2015 (Saturday)

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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** We may have more EASTERN GRAY SQUIRRELS [Écureuil gris] in Moncton than we realize. There’s obviously a significant number in the West End, in the Cavendish Road area. Bernie Spurr lives there and reports that he live-trapped 26 Gray Squirrels from January 28 to November 1 in 2013, and in 2014 he trapped 20 between June 3 and October 12. He quips that he put probably over 250 km on his vehicle, moving them a distance away to wooded areas. [Transcriber’s note: If moved only a few kilometres away, Gray Squirrels are likely to return to their home site. Relocation should not be done when there are apt to be young in a nest.] I recently noted, with binoculars, what looked like 3 Gray Squirrel nests in a very tall deciduous tree in that area. I dismissed it, at the time, as unlikely thinking there were only a few in the area. I had best re-think that and re-check that tree. We live near that area but only occasionally have a Gray Squirrel around our bird feeders. Maybe the piercing eyes of two dogs are sufficiently penetrating!

** Dave Christie made a run from his Mary's Point home to Riverview and back on Friday. He saw two adult BALD EAGLES [Pygargue à tête blanche] in the vicinity of the Riverview Cemetery nest-site that is between Hopewell Cape and Edgetts Landing. He couldn’t actually see the nest from the road due to the height of snow. As he came over Caledonia Mountain, he spotted 3 RED CROSSBILLS [Bec-croisé des sapins] picking grit at roadside. On Feb. 24, along the same road, he saw 3 at one site and one at another. These are the only Red Crossbill sightings he has had all winter.

In his feeder yard, Dave comments that he has had no COMMON REDPOLLS [Sizerin flammé] in attendance for over a week, however lots of PINE SISKINS [Tarin des pins] are still present, and occasional PURPLE FINCHES [Roselin pourpré] and AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES [Chardonneret jaune].

** Dan Hicks, with the City of Moncton, advises that the FLOWERING CRAB trees planted on the median of Vaughn Harvey Boulevard that have been so popular with BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS [Jaseur boréal] are a variety called PRAIRIE FIRE. There is a planting of another variety called Thunder Child in a green space at the corner of Milner Road and Alexander Street. Those trees are loaded with fruit but have not been touched by the waxwings. One would wonder if some varieties of flowering crab are favoured over others. The untouched trees appear to have the same sized fruit.

I had 30 to 40 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS [Jaseur boréal] coming to a large feeder fruit tray for several days until the resident NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD [Moqueur polyglotte] put the run to them in no uncertain terms.

** Brian Stone shares some photos from his Dartmouth visit. He was able to watch the EURASIAN KESTREL [Faucon crécerelle] put on an awesome flight show at Hartlen Point. People have come from many distant places to see this Eurasian bird. We had one in New Brunswick many years ago, near Sackville in winter [1987-88]. They are larger than the American Kestrel and are a bird we should be aware of when seeing a kestrel in New Brunswick in winter. Brian also saw two ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS [Buse pattue] in the same area. Note the large dark patches at the carpal joint and the white black belly band.

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca