Nature Moncton Nature News: May 1 2023

May 1, 2023

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Edited by Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Proofreading courtesy of Louise Nichols at nicholsl@eastlink.ca

**Susan and Fred Richard had an exciting day Sunday with the appearance of a male northern cardinal at their feeder station around 2 o'clock. He fed on the ground, then he flew into the spruce tree beside the feeders and onto the sunflower seed feeder, then back down to the ground. They had put some seeds on the table, but he seemed to prefer feeding from the ground.

He then flew to the top of the maple tree by the driveway where he sang the tune they know they sing and a different tune!! It sounded almost like a hiccup. Then he flew further toward the Memramcook River up to the top of the aspens and sang again. There was an answer, another cardinal singing, toward the north, a little distance away. In half an hour, there he was again on the ground under the feeders. Susan slowly opened the deck door (he could not see her) and took a few photos of him on the ground. He seemed quite comfortable having her up on the deck as he stayed and kept eating. Susan watched him and smiled, so glad to see her favourite bird, the bright red northern cardinal!

(Editor’s note: the folks in Hampton and Quispamsis must get tired of us ‘going on’ about northern cardinals. They are a very special yard bird for most of the rest of us in New Brunswick, but chances are we will catch you!)

**For several years now, Louise Nichols has noticed a white-throated sparrow on their property who sings with a stutter at the beginning of the song. On Sunday morning, Louise took a video of the bird (the same one each year?) to share it. She has heard this kind of stutter in two other places: at the White Birch impoundments in Sackville on Sunday morning and also last summer, and at Baie Verte. She wonders if the stutter is a common variation to the song or if it might be something regional. She'd be interested to know if anyone else has heard white-throated sparrows singing this way.

Turn up your volume and listen to Louise’s recording of a white-throated sparrow with a bit of a stutter at the link below:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/z56nc4ccrzjboy5/WITE-THROATED%20SPARROW%20..%20LOUISE%20NICHOLS.MP4?dl=0

(Editor’s note: Nelson Poirier attended a Zoom presentation on bird vocalizations given by Birds Canada in Newfoundland. They pointed out that the song of the white-throated sparrow in Newfoundland is distinctly different from the species in other parts of Canada, saying the bird has regional dialects. I suspect that after hearing Louise’s video, we all may be listening more closely for that variation/dialect).

**George Brun photographed a male northern harrier downriver from the Bend of the Petitcodiac River on Sunday.

Georges also photographed a crow (a pair have been breaking branches on his trees to set up housekeeping nearby his Churchill Street yard). Sometimes they hide food scraps and return to break them up after the bones begin to dry up and can be broken in an easy manner. As usual, though, they get harassed by several common grackles. This Georges has witnessed for the last 20 years when the common grackles come for water in the ephemeral pond, which is dry at the moment.

**There was an error in the comments on Shannon Inman’s photo in a recent addition that was pointed out by Gart Bishop. It is rerun today with photos and correction.

We all learn from mistakes, especially those that are corrected!

Shannon Inman photographed Field Horsetail.

(Editor’s note: this interesting plant has separate nonreproductive and spore-bearing stems. Shannon has photographed the fertile spore-producing stage, which will disappear and be replaced by green non-reproductive stems).

**Anna Tucker visited the Sackville Waterfowl Park recently,

enjoying the nature trip very much.

The park was alive with a waterfowl diversity and noisy Canada geese.

Tree swallows were going in and out of the nesting boxes and soaring in the air.

She noted savannah sparrows near the water’s edge, picking near the grasses. The park is ideal habitat for this species.

Pussy willow and white birch catkins were bursting into activity as well.

**Bob Blake in Second North River maintains daily weather statistics each day he is home, recording morning low temperatures and daily high temperatures. The days don’t add up, so assume Bob may have been away some days.

The comparisons of April 2022 and April 2023 show that the temperatures were surprisingly similar; however, note the monthly precipitation with snowfall amount low for both months. Take note of the dramatic difference in rainfall, with April 2022 having almost 100 mm more rain than April of 2023. If the present forecast for May is accurate, that could all change for next month’s comparisons.

2022

2023

morning temperatures

daily highs and monthly precipitation

morning temperatures

daily highs and monthly precipitation

-2-2 days

-1-2

0-1

+1-1

+2-5

+3-4