Nature Moncton Nature News: Dec 29 2022

NATURE MONCTON NATURE NEWS

Dec 29, 2022

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Edited by Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Proofreading thanks to Louise Nichols at nicholsl@eastlink.ca

**It’s unfolding into a great season for Northern Cardinals to visit feeder yards. Daryl Doucette was fortunate to have a pair arrive to his feeder yard on Wednesday that cooperated side-by-side for a photo.
Daryl also had Evening Grosbeaks arrive which have also been in pleasant numbers this season.

**John Inman continues to host a very pleasant selection of patrons to his Harvey, Albert County feeder yard.

A Baltimore Oriole is still present feeding on apple, orange, grapes, and grape jelly. Northern Cardinals are also enjoying the grapes. A Red-bellied Woodpecker, Dickcissel, Fox sparrow, and 21 blackbirds (18 Red-winged Blackbirds, 1 Brown-headed Cowbird, 1 Rusty Blackbird, and 1 Common Grackle) seem quite content to stay into the New Year and potentially the winter.
The blackbirds prefer the cracked corn and sunflower seed; the Dickcissel likes the cracked corn and sunflower; the Red-bellied Woodpecker prefers whole corn, sunflower and suet, while the Fox Sparrow prefers cracked corn.

**Brian and Annette Stone walked part of the Mapleton Park trails on Wednesday and Annette's sharp eyes spotted a male American Wigeon Duck mixed in with the regular Mallard Duck troupe that forms there every winter. Also seen among the mallards was a nice pair of male and female American Black Ducks and a Hybrid Mallard Duck. (Editor’s note: this Mallard hybrid suggests a cross that may not be with the usual Black Duck)
At the Gorge Rd. end of the park Brian noticed a lot of trees chewed down by some industrious beavers and a very large Beaver Lodge close to the bridge over Hall's Creek at the Gorge Rd. end. The lodge is the biggest one Brian has ever seen. It is approximately 6 to 7 feet tall.

A labeled Nature Moncton nest box was in wait for spring occupancy.