Nature Moncton Nature
News
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The camera on the peregrine
falcon nest box on the summit of Assumption Place is now live. When
checking the link to watch the activity, scroll down to the first large image,
which shows what is happening in real time.
The male and female take
turns incubating the eggs almost constantly now. The female is on the nest most
of the time, but the male always seems to be ready to give her short breaks so she can leave the precious cargo.
Action may seem quiet, but
one can be assured that action within the developing embryo is proceeding at
full speed.
https://www.zoodemagnetichillzoo.ca/nest-cam
**Susan Richards reports that
a busy dozen people picked up
garbage along the riverfront trail by the Honorable Brenda Robertson Bridge in
Moncton on a sunny Sunday afternoon, and they filled many garbage bags.
Thank you to everyone who
helped.
**Gail Taylor in Canal
(near St. George) has had a pair of tufted
titmice as regular patrons for the past 5 months.
It was a huge surprise for
Gail when she thought she was noticing a third titmouse but had to be convinced
her eyes were not playing tricks on her. Gail had a few folks drop by on Sunday
from Saint John, and Juliette Pellerin and her grandson Nicolas from
Shediac, and all of them agreed they saw three!
The tufted titmouse is an
uncommon bird in New Brunswick, especially as a pair that spends the winter in
one feeder yard, still there well into spring.
There are two Nature
Moncton nesting boxes placed for possible tenancy.
Gail got a few photos of
the new kid on the block. This titmouse has more blue colouring in its
feathers than the other two, which appear to be more of a grey-blue colouring.
It also has more black under the flanks, as can be seen in one of the
photos. It also has just a light brush of rusty brown running diagonally
under the flanks. Needless to say, Gail is thrilled that they are still
present and coming to her feeder daily for almost 5 months now.
**On Saturday, Mark Pugh
spotted a barred owl in the Irishtown Nature Park. The owl offered lots of time for Dale to
capture some images. When it was clear
the owl seemed unconcerned with their presence, Dale moved a bit closer and
chose to film (using Mark’s shoulder as a tripod). The barred owl granted the spectators quite a
show! Videos will hopefully be
available tomorrow.
**John Inman reports that
he is experiencing a 4th big wave of blackbirds, about 1/5 of them under
the cedars, mostly common grackles and a number of female red-winged blackbirds
and brown-headed cowbirds. The feeders and seed supply are taking a beating.
John also photographed a
distant male white-winged scoter on the Shepody River behind
their house.
(Editor's note: The
white-winged scoter is the least common scoter to encounter in our area.)
**Nelson Poirier was
pleased to have one of his regular flying squirrel patrons at his camp
birdfeeder, who seemed content with having its portrait taken.
One photo shows the patagium,
the white fold of skin the flying squirrel uses to glide. This membrane
stretches between the wrists and ankles like a parachute to allow the flying squirrel
to glide for 100-150 feet.
The flying squirrel is
very nocturnal.
Nelson Poirier
Nature Moncton
