NATURE
MONCTON NATURE INFORMATION LINE, Nov 3, 2021 (Wednesday)
To respond
by e-mail, please address your message to the information line editor, nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com .
Please
advise the editor at nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com
if any errors are noted in wording or photo labelling.
For more information on Nature Moncton, check the website at www.naturemoncton.com .
Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com
**Aldo
Dorio continues to enjoy and photograph the Horned Lark presence at Hay
Island noting 5 of them in a group on Tuesday. This species breeds mostly to
the north of us and we see them in their relatively short migration this time
of year and into the winter. Tantramar Marsh is sometimes a popular spot with
them.
**Brian Stone went back to the Tantramar Marsh a second
time this week on Tuesday and got pictures of a juvenile NORTHERN HARRIER hovering
and hunting at a distance, but closer than last time so better pictures
resulted (editor’s note: note the beautifully illustrated ID markings in flight
as well is the rounded owl-like facial disc). The only other pictures Brian got
there were of a couple of the HORNED LARKS that were part of a small flock
of a dozen or so that were just close enough for some photos taken from
the car. Several ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS were also hunting but at too great a
distance to warrant a photo effort. (Editor’s note: are early signs suggesting
the Tantramar Marsh could be more active this season?)
On the
return journey to Moncton Brian stopped in at the Memramcook Arthur Street
lagoon to check for possible newcomers but only saw a small group of RING-NECKED
DUCKS, an even smaller population of MALLARD DUCKS, and a notable number
of NORTHERN SHOVELER DUCKS. The shovelers were intensely feeding in
their circular pattern as was reported in Sunday's edition. Brian got an
excellent video of the Northern Shoveler group foraging tactic which can be
seen at the link below:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/kpij098ej4g7dn8/Northern%20Shovelers%20Feeding.MOV?dl=0
**House
Finch have become a common feeder bird. We only see this bird in urban
settings for some reason. I have operated birdfeeders for many years but never
saw them at my feeders until moving into Moncton 13 years ago and the species
has been a regular patron for the13 years.
The House
Finch is susceptible to the organism Mycoplasma gallisepticum to cause
the condition known as Mycoplasma conjunctivitis. It is readily
recognized as noticeably swollen eyelids. Carole Balthazar has noted it in the House
Finch coming to her central Moncton feeders and Carole’s photos are shared
today so birdfeeder folk can recognize it to differentiate it from
Trichomoniasis and salmonella infection, the other 2 bird diseases we
occasionally see.
There is an
ongoing study on it but much remains to understand it completely. Is it self limiting or deadly is a big question? No doubt it does take some birds out but
maybe some recover/ become immune or could be carriers. I have seen it in the occasional
House Finch in my own yard but made no changes and flock size seemed to stay about
the same. It is indeed treatable with Tylosine but attempting to treat a small
bird would quite possibly be more traumatic than the condition. I have let Mother
Nature take her course as long as it continues to be the occasional bird which
seems to have been the case.
Hopefully
this is how it will proceed in most cases.
Other finch species
can be affected with this organism but that would seem uncommon.
Nelson Poirier
Nature Moncton
