NATURE
MONCTON NATURE NEWS
Feb 5, 2022 (Saturday)
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Edited by:
Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com
**Courtney Ward in North Milton, PEI shared some lucky photos with Mac Wilmot of a covey of Gray Partridge hunkering down in the snowstorm outside her home window on Friday morning.
Our
native Ruffed Grouse do this same behaviour of diving into the snow to create
comfortable protection from blowing snow.
The
Gray Partridge was introduced from Europe in the early 1900s but have declined
in most areas. They have retained a presence on PEI and can be seen especially
when they gather in coveys in fall and winter. New Brunswick had a population
that has disappeared. They were also introduced into Nova Scotia and a small
remnant is still present in the Truro area. Introductions into the Canadian prairies
and Midwestern US seem to have fared better. They are smaller than our native
grouse averaging 12 ½ in.
**Lois Budd sends a few storm photos to show how her birds
are faring at her home. She is not going out but keeps tossing seeds on
top of the snow out her window -- some the birds get, some get buried and she
tosses out some more. Her feeders are getting buried in this last snowstorm
and they are up high on Shepard Hooks.
Nelson Poirier
Nature Moncton
