Nature Moncton Nature News: December 14 2023

NATURE MONCTON NATURE NEWS

December 14, 2023

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Edited by Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

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**Gordon Rattray noticed that his 2 special birds, the Red-bellied Woodpecker and Pine Warbler, had been absent since the warm, wet, and windy weather of the last few days, but both appeared on Wednesday. The Pine Warbler has really settled into Gordon’s yard and is not timid and eats at all the feeders. Gordon has observed him at the millet feeder, the suet feeder, and the peanut butter. Both have been present for several weeks. Gordon includes a photo of the Pine Warbler checking out the peanut butter.

**On two occasions recently, while out to his trail cameras, Brian Coyle came across fresh Coyote and Bobcat tracks.
The coyote paw prints measured approximately 3" long and 2" wide, and were distinctively oval, with a gait of 18". In addition, their trail is usually fairly straight and business-like as they travel, unlike that of a domestic dog.
The Bobcat tracks were approximately 2" and very round. The gait would be closer to 12" or so. The Bobcat, like the Coyote, will often 'perfect step'. This refers to the hind foot going into the track of the front foot on the same side of the body. This is a more efficient use of energy, especially in deep snow.

On December 13, 2023, Brian came across some fresh Bobcat scat near one of his cameras. It measured approximately 3/4" in diameter, is segmented, and very tapered on the end. It contained lots of fur that appeared to be that of Snowshoe Hare prey.
(Editor’s note: Brian’s description of the Bobcat and Coyote trail and track measurements are excellent and an excellent guide to watching for these signs in fresh snowfalls that are soon to come.)

**Georges Brun photographed what appeared to be a juvenile Cooper’s Hawk on his side lot at Churchill St., Moncton (urban forest) on Wednesday. It was quite skittish and Georges had difficulty with the focus and getting a better close-up photo, but enough evidence is there to suggest Cooper’s Hawk due to the thin streaking on the underparts and the fact that one photo does seem to show tail feathers that seem to get progressively shorter. The bill does also appear quite large and one photo shows the Roman nose feature (a gradual slant of the forehead into the bill).

Georges sends comments on a flock of Starlings just behind A&W on Champlain St. in Moncton. He notes that what is quite clear is that some of the food that these birds did not eat in the past is now on their main diet such as Mountain Ash berries that usually robins or other fruit connoisseurs go for, but not anymore since there is no fruit left.

**The New Brunswick Museum in Saint John is about to undergo major renovations and changes.
Tim Humes with Nature Miramichi shared a link with their news feed that is very informative. Check out the link below:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/new-brunswick-museum-research-and-collections-centre-lancaster-avenue-1.7051825?cmp=newsletter_CBC%20New%20Brunswick_1640_1326076