Nature Moncton Nature News: Jan 9 2023

Jan 9, 2023

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Edited by Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Proofreading courtesy of Louise Nichols at nicholsl@eastlink.ca

** Sybil Wentzel continues to enjoy the bright morning greeting of a Yellow-breasted Chat enjoying the menu in her Harvey feeder yard. With the ample well-stocked larder, there is a good chance this bird could happily overwinter at the site. (Editor’s note: I had a Yellow- breasted Chat patronize my feeder yard several years ago until January when it got spooked by close-by construction in a neighbour’s yard. It moved to another nearby feeder yard patronizing that yard until late March).

**Frank Branch and Catherine Hamilton recently shared a birdfeeder yard idea of placing a deteriorating snag tree in the yard, drilling holes in it, and filling the holes with suet blend.

Nelson Poirier copied the idea with the first few days of placement proving rewarding. It has been quickly approved by Downy Woodpeckers, Hairy woodpeckers, and Black-capped chickadees.

A deteriorating Aspen tree was chosen with 2 inch holes placed appropriately and filled with a ‘delicious’ blend of raw suet, peanut butter, and butcher shop tailings. A heavy Christmas tree stand is serving as a base to hold the structure in place which so far is doing the job.

Two female Red-winged Blackbirds arrived to the feeder yard a few weeks ago and don’t seem to have any plans of heading south appearing to feel a migratory journey would be unnecessary with a suitable restaurant available much nearer their summer nesting territory.

Nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton