NATURE
MONCTON NATURE INFORMATION LINE, Nov 6, 2021 (Saturday)
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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com
**In follow-up to Lois Bud’s Flying
Squirrel report, Bob Blake reports he feeds his Flying Squirrel troop peanut
butter every night placed on a certain tree and has done it for years. He has
had as many as 5 at once and at times has been able to pat one while it fed.
They have Bob quite well trained, and
they obviously appreciate his offerings as are nightly patrons. A photo is attached
of one photographed some years ago.
**Some comments of interest from Sherrill
Owen who tunes in from Low, Québec.
Sherrill comments following the piece
on removing falling leaves in a
recent addition, says she is in full agreement. As well she does not cut back
some of her tall perennials. However, Sherrill has been advised this may let
earwigs and other pests overwinter. (Editors note: I have done the same with
leaves and tall perennials for years. I do apply diatomaceous earth around house
perimeter and shrub edges each spring as the ground warms. I personally feel
earwigs are not a serious pest but as my wife does not agree, they get the
diatomaceous earth treatment. It has to be applied just as the earth warms as
is only effective against the tender exoskeleton of hatching nymphs. This has
considerably reduced earwigs around our home and camp. I purchase it in large
bags from livestock feed outlets as it is much less expensive. It is used to treat internal parasites in livestock.)
Sherrill also comments she is envious
of all our shorebirds we are able to enjoy and photograph.
Sherrill had a Flying Squirrel nest
in one of her bird nest boxes this year.
Another interesting comment on bird
nest boxes. Sherrill’s neighbour has Eastern Bluebirds and Tree Swallows nest
in his boxes but found dead Tree Swallow nestlings after the July heat wave in
Low, Québec. He now plans to drill holes in his boxes, plugging them with
corks, and removing them if a heat wave occurs.
An interesting follow-up to the numerous dead Tree Swallow nestling reports we have had.
**Yvette Richard was able to get a
nice photo of the Greater White-Fronted
Goose at the Petitcodiac Lagoon on Friday.
Yvette comments she was amazed to
find it among the approximate 1000 Canada Geese present to make seeing and
photographing it even more of a reward.
The Greater White-fronted Goose breeds in the far north and is an uncommon visitor to eastern North America
**Brian Stone went to the Petitcodiac water treatment lagoon on Friday for
a date with the GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE that was reported on
Thursday's edition of the Nature Line. The weather was nice but a line of
clouds blocked the Sun for the length of time he was there so the pictures were
a little dim. The goose spent most of its time with its head tucked in and so was
not easy to locate among his CANADA GOOSE cousins, of which there were
many. As Brian approached the lagoon at the beginning of his visit the geese
were circling the lagoon in flight and some of his flight shots revealed the
presence of the White-fronted tagalong.
Among the
other smaller regulars at the lagoon an AMERICAN COOT stood out, but it
did not avail itself for a photo as it kept its distance and Brian was unable
to wait long enough for it to come along closer. In the trees beside the lagoon
a BLUE-HEADED VIREO was foraging and posing for portraits.
**It’s
always a pleasant experience to interact with Canada Jays. I stopped in an area in Chelmsford Friday where I’ve seen the
species before and sure enough 2 adult birds came to investigate why I might be
in their territory and was amusing to watch them glide about around me cocking
their heads for a better look as if they wanted to be sure I was on their year
list.
Nelson Poirier
Nature Moncton
