Nature Moncton Nature
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well as any naturalist in New Brunswick or beyond, are invited to share their
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Louise Nichols at nicholsl@eastlink.ca
**Gail Taylor -- who lives
near St. George, New Brunswick -- has had a duo of tufted titmice patronizing her feeder yard all winter and they are still present. This is one
of the few (perhaps only) sites in New Brunswick where a duo of tufted titmice is
known to be present this winter. It is not possible to distinguish gender in
the species, except possibly by some behavioural quirks, but the possibility of a
pair is just that. Gail sends the report below with the hopes that they will
consider one of the boxes as a summer cottage.
Quoting Gail:
“Ralph Eldridge arrived around 10
am Saturday, and we walked around looking for the best spots for the nest
boxes. We placed them in a semi-sunny spot, tucking them in a bit from the
perimeter of my lot so they would get a bit of shade and not be too hot.
We were wondering if the
boxes could be opened for cleaning out, as we have only seen one screw towards
the bottom. (That screw loosens to allow that side of the box to be opened for
cleaning.)
I will be keeping my eyes
peeled for any prospective tenants.
I have sent along three photos, two of Ralph and one of the tufted titmouse, on Sunday morning. You can see a
brood patch, I think, on the titmouse. This still does not help with gender,
as both would have a brood patch, I think. I know eagles do.
Thanks to you and Nature Moncton for looking after all the details to
get these boxes to me. I very much appreciate it.
I will keep you posted.”
(Editor’s note: They may
not accept their new digs, but if they do, it will be very rewarding!
Gail lives at 52 Dillman
Rd., Canal, NB, which is a suburb of St. George and welcomes visitors who
carefully and respectfully come to observe the famed duo.)
**Lisa Morris photographed
a pair of mallard ducks, potentially having been on a date, overlooking a
babbling brook at Mapleton Park… or perhaps discussing the ‘spring weather’ on
Saturday.
Nelson Poirier
Nature Moncton
