NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, February
11, 2021 (Thursday)
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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com
Transcript by: Brian Stone bjpstone@gmail.com
Info Line # 506-384-6397 (384-NEWS)
** On Tuesday afternoon Grant Ramsey
and Magda Kuhn were treated to an interesting display of RING-NECKED PHEASANTS
[Faisan de Colchide] returning to the Petitcodiac flats. It was 4:15 pm at the
22 Km marker along the Riverview side of the walking trail when a flock of at
least 15 to 20 Ring-necked Pheasants flew in from the west to immediately
disappear among the reeds. They weren’t aware that pheasants had the tendency
to congregate in such large numbers which would seem unexpected at this time of
year with family units having dispersed.
** Jane Leblanc shares a few photos of
2 species that we don’t see every year that seem to be abundant this year, the COMMON
REDPOLL [Sizerin flammé] and the EVENING GROSBEAK [Gros-bec errant].
I have sent some dead birds over the
past few months to the Atlantic Veterinary College. Wildlife pathologist Dr.
Megan Jones did find one that had lesions consistent with Trichomoniasis and
was surprised to see it this time of year and assumed that the earlier warm
weather conditions had let it develop. The sudden drop in temperatures should
stop this from being a significant problem. Other birds sent from various
sources had no obvious cause of death and one had lesions consistent with a
window strike, or some other object.
Daryl Doucet and Brian Stone both
stopped by a Flowering Crab Tree still with clinging winter fruit on Upland Rd.
to note a dozen BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS [Jaseur boréal] and a few AMERICAN ROBINS
[Merle d'Amérique].
Note the signature cinnamon undertail
coverts and white and yellow markings on the wing of the Bohemian Waxwing not
present in the Cedar Waxwing. They were taking the fruit from the tree as well
as the ground. The fruit must have been on the crisp side with the temperature
drop!
** Ray Gauvin has at least 3 PINE
WARBLERS [Paruline des pins] at his Pointe-du-Chene feeder yard as of the
Shediac Christmas Bird Count Day on Dec. 20th and his photos show
the variability in plumages at the moment. Some visiting AMERICAN GOLDFINCH
[Chardonneret jaune] seem to be showing some bright yellow assumedly with
spring in mind and closer observations are often needed to identify them. It
seems early for American Goldfinches to be taking on breeding plumage so
possibly the light in the photography may be a factor. Their food preferences
vary to make it easier; Pine Warblers would not be expected to be at black oil
sunflower seed preferring suet blends, peanut butter, and bread crumbs. One of
Ray’s photos shows his female NORTHERN CARDINAL [Cardinal rouge] joining some
American Goldfinch.
** John Massey sent photos of a WHITE-TAILED
DEER [Cerf de Virginie] with cutaneous fibromas (Deer Warts) in the facial and
neck area earlier in the winter. John sends recent photos of the deer with the
lesions more extensive. This is a condition caused by a virus that is usually
self-limiting and gradually recedes on its own to cause only cosmetic
disfiguration in most cases. It is interesting to note that neither John, who
is a long time experienced outdoorsman, or I have ever seen this condition. Joe
Kennedy took a look at the recent photos and his interesting response of it in
other areas is quoted below that suggests that other naturalists in some areas
of the province are more apt to see this. Quoting Joe:
“Yes those
are fibromas. We’ve been receiving many reports/photos over the past few years
of deer with warts around the Kennebecasis Valley - areas with fairly high deer
densities. Normally the warts dry over
the winter and are less obvious, but I've seen a few cases of deer with warts
into the spring. I saw one photo from
Quispamsis of a doe with such severe fibromas around her udder that the fawn
could not milk. As you have probably
read, the fibromas are considered temporary and do not harm the
individual. But I suspect they can be
more than a nuisance under severe cases.”
Nelson Poirier,
Nature Moncton
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