Nature Moncton Nature News: Dec 26 2023

NATURE MONCTON NATURE NEWS

December 26, 2023

Nature Moncton members as well as any naturalist in New Brunswick or beyond are invited to share their photos and descriptions of recent nature sightings to build a fresh (almost) daily edition of Nature News

To respond by e-mail, please address your message to the information line editor, nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com .

Please advise the editor at nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com if any errors are noted in wording or photo labelling.

For more information on Nature Moncton, check the website at www.naturemoncton.com .

Proofreading courtesy of Louise Nichols at nicholsl@eastlink.ca

**Paul and Rhonda Langelaan share a photo of a Black- backed woodpecker sighting on Sunday. They found it on an ATV trail off the Taylor Road. Paul heard it tapping first, then spotted it on a tree close to the trail. It was a first of the year for them as usually they see them much earlier in the year along Taylor Road (near Salisbury). There has been some clear-cutting in these locations so it has been more difficult to see them. Paul said on Sunday morning his Christmas gift was back on the Taylor Road and he was right!

**Gordon Rattray, while waiting for Santa’s arrival, spent time watching his yard for birds. These birds were on Santa’s list for extra treats:

Pileated Woodpecker

Hairy Woodpecker, male and female

Downy Woodpecker, male

Red-bellied Woodpecker, male

Red-breasted Nuthatch, several

Chickadees, many

American Goldfinch, about 20

Mourning Doves, 24+

Pine Warbler, male

Blue Jay, 7

Pigeons, 6

The Pine Warbler settled for a brief photo.

**Some interesting return comments on the freshly dug burrow alongside remnants of a bird carcass that Glen Nichols noticed in a garden row in his Aulac yard.

Brian Coyle comments “I noticed the pectinations on the toes of the bird, indicating a Ruffed Grouse. My guess is a Weasel as both the predator and the burrow maker.”
John Massey commented he would agree with the Weasel as a strong possibility but not discount the lesser possibility of a rat.
(Editor’s note: a Weasel would certainly have to be a rule out considering the 6-inch diameter of the opening but if the hole was 9 inches + in diameter, a Red Fox would have to be considered but it would seem unusual for a Red Fox to be digging a burrow this time of year. A Weasel has to top the guess list at this point until a trail camera confirms or makes us all wrong.
Photos reattached today for more perusal.)

**Louise Nichols' trail camera caught a Red Fox sniffing around the grouse remains Sunday morning. She does not know if that's who is responsible, but possibly. Still doesn't explain the hole though which doesn't seem to have any action around it. Take a look at the action at the link below:

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/kuj40w7ac6xg3ktft75xd/Red-Fox-in-front-yard.-Dec.-2023.AVI?rlkey=9y9qa7cqxnc6p1sb5wvqru02b&dl=0

**Barbara Smith watched a Hairy woodpecker in amazement as it foraged and demolished a tree in her yard. Barbara comments “This guy was giving me a headache just watching him work. Barbara fails to understand how woodpeckers can hit a tree trunk with such force, over and over again, without concussing themselves. But clearly, they are built differently than we are. Cage fighters could learn a thing or two from this handsome fella, I'm sure."

Another photo shows the results of his excavation work, which he kept up all day. She doubts this tree will be upright much longer!

(Editor’s comment: the literature does suggest woodpeckers do indeed have a cartilaginous pad in the forehead to protect the brain.)

**Norbert Dupuis captured a pleasant photo of his female Northern Cardinal enjoying lunch on his deck with a duo of American Goldfinch.

Nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton