NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION
LINE, January 30, 2019 ( Wednesday)
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Transcript by: Judy Marsh marshj@nbnet.nb.ca
**Usually someone spots birds,
especially GULLS with leg and or wing bands, which can be difficult to read
from a distance. On January 13, Richard Blacquiere took several photographs of
a banded RING-BILLED GULL [Goéland à bec cerclé] which was
roosting in the MacAllister Mall parking lot in in Saint John. He was
able to find the Banders and send them the photos. They sent Richard a nice
report back about the bird and some details about the bands. From the photos
they were able to decipher enough of the numbers on the band to identify the
bird as one banded as a sub adult in Marlborough Massachusetts on February 20,
2009. It can be seen in the photo that the gull is carrying two leg bands. The
standard numbered metal band is the one on the right leg. The band on the left
leg is one that remains of an earlier method of coloured banding. That band
held a coloured piece of plastic with some letters. They found these faded away
after a few years and switched to coloured plastic leg bands. This bird had
also been fitted with a numbered florescent orange wing tag, which has since
fallen off. Richard comments that this is one well marked bird and at more than
ten years old, it has adapted well carrying the extra baggage.
**Jim Carroll shares a photo he
took of a COMMON LOON [Plongeon huard]
in non-breeding plumage taking a GREEN CRAB as prey at Dipper Harbour on
January 5th, 2019. A biologist with the Department of Fisheries and
Oceans , who works with invasive species points out the female crab prey is
laden with eggs, which is the reddish mass at the back of the crab facing the
photographer. The eggs are bulging out from under the structure at the back of
the underside, sometimes referred to as the 'apron' of the abdomen. An arrow is
pointing out the egg mass. This crab is problematic, as it can destroy eel
grass beds with its digging to forage. The eel grass beds act as a nursery
area for many sea creatures. Jim's photos show some interesting details.
** Georges Brun again spotted a
bird in the distance from the Bend area of the Petitcodiac River. He first thought
it was a chunk of ice until it started moving and getting the attention of the
local CROWS. Comparing it to the crows it seems large for a SHORT-EARED OWL
[Hibou des marais], but in range for a possible SNOWY
OWL [Harfang des neiges], that Georges suspects he saw in that same area a week
ago. Arrows point out the bird in question.
**Mac
Wilmot shared a photo last week of a WEASEL that had taken up temporary
residence at his daughter's home. Mac comments that it must have cleaned out
the small rodent population, as it was caught getting quite serious about
helping itself to some petfood.
**Alain
Clavette reports on an item he has put out at his Taylor Village yard, that has
become very popular with WOODPECKERS. He had been using some three foot logs
with a series of drilled holes made to
place mushroom spawn in to grow mushrooms. The logs that failed to produce, he
placed outdoors and the woodpeckers started using the approximately half inch
holes to take their seed to. There, they were able to break open
the seed. These holes of opportunity have become very popular with them. As the
holes get enlarged, the woodpeckers use the remainder of the smaller holes. The
findings were accidental for both Alain
and the woodpeckers , but both are enjoying the results.
COMMON LOON TAKING GREEN CRAB. JAN 5, 2019. JIM CARROLL
OWL SUSPECTED. JAN 29 2019.GEORGES BRUN
OWL SUSPECTED. JAN 29 2019.GEORGES BRUN
RING-BILLED GULL (BANDED). JAN 13, 2019. RICHARD BLACQUIERE
WEASEL CHECKING OUT CAT FOOD. JAN 29, 2019. VIA MAC WILMOT
