Editor & Proofreader

Editor: Nelson Poirier    Proofreader: Louise Nichols

Wednesday, 3 November 2021

Nov 3 2021

NATURE MONCTON NATURE INFORMATION LINE, Nov 3, 2021 (Wednesday)

 

 

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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.

 

 

nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton

 

 

 

HORNED LARK. NOV 2, 2021. ALDO DORIO

HORNED LARK. NOV. 02, 2021., BRIAN STONE

HORNED LARK. NOV. 02, 2021., BRIAN STONE

NORTHERN HARRIER (JUVENILE). NOV. 02, 2021. BRIAN STONE

NORTHERN HARRIER (JUVENILE). NOV. 02, 2021. BRIAN STONE

NORTHERN HARRIER (JUVENILE). NOV. 02, 2021. BRIAN STONE

NORTHERN HARRIER (JUVENILE). NOV. 02, 2021. BRIAN STONE

NORTHERN SHOVELER DUCKS. NOV. 02, 2021. BRIAN STONE

NORTHERN SHOVELER DUCKS (MALE). NOV. 02, 2021. BRIAN STONE

NORTHERN SHOVELER DUCKS. NOV. 02, 2021. BRIAN STONE

HERRING GULL, MALLARD AND RING-NECKED DUCKS. NOV. 02, 2021.. BRIAN STONE

RING-NECKED DUCKS (MALES AND FEMALE). NOV. 02, 2021. BRIAN STONE

TANTRAMAR MARSH. NOV. 02, 2021. BRIAN STONE

HOUSE FINCH WITH MYCOPLASMA EYE INFECTION. NOV 2, 2021. CAROLE BALTHAZER

HOUSE FINCH WITH MYCOPLASMA EYE INFECTION. NOV 2, 2021. CAROLE BALTHAZER