Nature Moncton Nature News: Jan 8 2017

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, January 8, 2017 (Sunday)

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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Transcript by: David Christie maryspt@mac.com

Info Line # 506-384-6397 (384-NEWS)

** Louise Nichols had an awesome experience with a pair of BOBCATS [Lynx roux] on Saturday and they cooperated for photos. We so seldom see this secretive mammal yet they are in healthy numbers. it’s mating time at the moment which makes this very likely a pair, with the larger one the male. The female should have sent her last kits packing. Possibly, swooning made them made them more bold and not so quick to dash off. Louise met up with them on the Pink Rock Road, just past Johnson’s Mills. She comments that the bird activity was slow but the Bobcats were a real bonus.

** Gabriel Gallant shares an interesting scenario that suggests feeder fidelity. Last winter Josée-Anne Otis, who worked in the Biology Dept. at the Université de Moncton visited Gabriel’s home on weekends, hoping to capture and band SNOW BUNTINGS [Bruant des neiges]. They set up a cage on top of black oil sunflower seeds and then waited inside the house until one or more walked into the trap. The birds couldn’t figure their way out which gave the opportunity to go out to tag the bird. They would measure, weigh, and look for signs of overall health. The last thing to do was to pinch a metal tag on their right leg. They only managed to trap two Snow Buntings. Currently, Gabriel has a small flock of about 30 Snow Buntings coming to his feeder in Sainte-Marie. He has been able to see at least one banded individual, which suggests that this may be a recurring flock. He does not have the equipment to trap or to check numbers on the tag to compare with the data from last winter. Josée-Anne has since moved to another province and he does not have her contact information.

** Ray Gauvin reports that his Parlee Beach feeder is very active at the moment, with woodpeckers [pics], two PINE WARBLERS [Paruline des pins] and two WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCHES [Sittelle à poitrine blanche] as specialties. He had three EASTERN GRAY SQUIRRELS [Écureuil gris] at once on Saturday.

** Anna Tucker continues to enjoy her visit to Burlington, Ontario, enjoying the very common NORTHERN CARDINALS [Cardinal rouge], which hopefully all in New Brunswick will be able to have in the not too distant future. One photo shows a dark morph EASTERN GRAY SQUIRREL [Écureuil gris] that is much more common in Ontario than in New Brunswick.

** The January Nature Moncton meeting is coming up on January 17. This month is the annual members’ night. It is that time when members share vignettes and photos, short presentations of 15 to 20 minutes, recommended books read, new apps to use or any other item of interest to other naturalists. We are a group of diverse interests, and it’s a great time to share them with others. If you are able to contribute, contact our president Susan at susand@nbnet.nb.ca or you can also simply respond to this information line message, with what you may have to offer.

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton