NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, April
28, 2021 (Wednesday)
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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)
** Part 2 of Andrew Darcy’s birding
weekend adventures included a trip to the north, to the Acadian Peninsula, to
see the GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW [Bruant à couronne dorée] on Sunday. It was
quite a stunning bird and was fairly cooperative for photos. Jolande St-Pierre
was a great host and Andrew was very appreciative that she let people come and
see this bird. There was a variety of other species in her yard including SAVANNAH
SPARROW [Bruant des prés], AMERICAN TREE SPARROW [Bruant hudsonien], SONG
SPARROW [Bruant chanteur], DARK-EYED JUNCO [Junco ardoisé], TREE SWALLOW
[Hirondelle bicolore], and EASTERN BLUEBIRD [Merlebleu de l'Est]. On the way
home Andrew spotted a NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL [Petite nyctale] from the highway.
Andrew comments that the bird perched on a tree by the roadside at Cocagne and
it was a perfect ending to a fantastic birding weekend … what a hoot!
** Anita and David Cannon’s swimming
pool is enjoyed by amphibians as much as the Cannons. They live in a wooded
area and amphibians love to use it with David scooping them out to go on their
mission elsewhere. It is not easy to get photos of the secretive SPRING PEEPER
[Rainette crucifère] but one on Monday in their pool gave a nice photo op
before it was moved. Note the sucker-like toe pads that allow them to attach
easily to vertical surfaces. David uses a slightly salted solution to keep the
pool algae free that is approximately 10% of the salinity of seawater. This
does not seem to bother the amphibians and they actually seem to have a flair
for it as David frequently scoops out various amphibians.
** Brian Coyle gets
some great nature photos from a blind he sets up at appropriate sites where he
knows action is taking place and can observe and photograph wildlife
undisturbed.
This pop-up
blind is from Bass Pro Shop and is about 5’ x 5’ and you can nearly stand up in
it. Brian uses a folding chair to sit on. There are windows on 3 sides and a
main door.
Photos are
attached of this very productive set-up.
Nelson Poirier,
Nature Moncton
