Nature Moncton Nature
News
Clicking
on the photos enlarges them for closer observation.
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.
If you would like to share
observations/photos with Nature News, contact the editor, nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com
Please advise the editor
at nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com, as well as proofreader nicholsl@eastlink.ca, if any errors are noted in wording or photo
labelling.
Proofreading courtesy of
Louise Nichols at nicholsl@eastlink.ca
**Gail
Taylor, who lives in Canal, New Brunswick (near St. George) has been the
fortunate landlady to two tufted titmice this past winter season, and they are still
present. Gail got several nice photographs, which are all shared today, as we
don’t often get the opportunity to share photographs of this species in New
Brunswick.
It is not
possible to confidently separate genders by their plumage, but they are known to
be monogamous and typically mate for life. This would indicate the potential of
these two birds being a pair. This has led to the suggestion of supplying a few
nest boxes around Gail’s property to provide the potential for nesting at the
site. Two nest boxes are packaged and waiting to head for St. George. The birds
themselves will have to decide if the offering is acceptable, but it would be
very rewarding should they decide to accept.
Gail
welcomes anyone to visit her yard to carefully and respectfully view the duo.
Gail’s
address is 52 Dillman Road, Canal, NB, E5C 1K9 (near St. George).
Should
anyone from Moncton head that way today (Saturday)or tomorrow (Sunday), please
contact nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com
to hand-deliver nest boxes, as the bus does not leave until late in the day and
only goes as far as Saint John.
Gail has also had a male red-bellied woodpecker and a female northern cardinal checking her menu.
**Louise and
Glen Nichols found an owl pellet (suspected) below a spruce tree
in their Aulac woods. The pellet is 3 inches long, and when Louise took
it apart, she noticed the remnants of a shoulder blade (scapula) with other
smaller bones.
(Editor's
note: When we find regurgitated pellets, we often think first of owls, as they regurgitate
pellets of the parts of undigested prey regularly. However, we have to bear in
mind that other raptors also regurgitate pellets, albeit with less frequency
than owls. Don McAlpine points out that gulls will regurgitate pellets as well.
Pellets were found near the peregrine falcon nest box on Assumption Place.
As Louise
and Glen found it under a spruce tree, an owl has to be high on the suspect
list.)
**Yolande
LeBlanc advises people visiting the Haut-du Ruisseau park in Memramcook that
there may be a bear present in the park, and out of hibernation.
(Editor’s
note: don’t backpack your honey!)
In Yolande’s
yard, she hasn’t seen the Carolina wren in a few weeks, the fox sparrow that
had been present for one week has moved on, and the song sparrow never left. She
still has a few American tree sparrows, a pair of northern cardinals, many dark-eyed
juncos, evening grosbeaks were present Friday morning, 60+ American goldfinch, a
hairy woodpecker pair, at least one downy woodpecker, and at least one brown
creeper.
Yolande comments,
“Going outside in the morning is a delight for the senses. The spring chorus of
all those birds is amazing." Her Merlin app gets in a bit of a tizzy!
**John Inman
was able to capture a duo of his rusty blackbirds side-by-side on Friday.
A brilliant male
common grackle was puffing up and vocalizing, practicing for the spring
chorus, and a song sparrow was singing robustly as well. A female purple
finch was buddying up to an American goldfinch, sharing the menu. Blackbirds
went to 60+.
Nelson Poirier
Nature Moncton
