Birdingonthe.Net Recent Postings from Nova Scotia > Home > Mail > Alerts Updated on Monday, February 8 at 06:36 PM ET The most recently received Mail is at the top.	Smiths Longspur,©Jan Wilczur

08 Feb Peregrine in Truro ["Jeff B Ogden" ] 08 Feb Update on Halifax Orioles & Chat [Susann Myers ] 08 Feb Update on Halifax Orioles & Chat [Susann Myers ] 8 Feb Re: Eagle Watch III Weekend report, Feb. 6-7/10 [Ulli ] 8 Feb Dartmouth Birds [Gayle MacLean ] 08 Feb Purple Sandpipers [Tuma T W Young ] 8 Feb Fw: GBBC Participant Newsletter - Feb 2010 [Suzanne Borkowski ] 08 Feb chipping sparrow, bobcat photo in Register Feb. 4 ["James W. Wolford" ] 08 Feb Eagle Watch III Weekend report, Feb. 6-7/10 ["James W. Wolford" ] 08 Feb Fwd: blue jays question ["James W. Wolford" ] 8 Feb Dartmouth Cove Birds ["Paul Murray" ] 08 Feb Purple Sandpipers at Point Pleasant Park [Shawn Miner ] 07 Feb Pileated Woodpecker [] 07 Feb Re: Cumberland county nature note [Joan Czapalay ] 7 Feb Re: Dartmouth Birds ["Paul Murray" ] 7 Feb PPP birds ["Elizabeth Doull" ] 7 Feb RE: Dartmouth Birds ["david&jane schlosberg" ] 7 Feb Re: Dartmouth Birds ["Elizabeth Doull" ] 07 Feb RE: Eagles and Ravens [Helene Van Doninck ] 7 Feb Dartmouth Birds ["Paul Murray" ] 7 Feb Merlin at Feeder ["david&jane schlosberg" ] 07 Feb web gallery [Tuma T W Young ] 7 Feb Re: am. woodcock ["Peter Mac Leod" ] 7 Feb Re: The Depths of Winter ["Peter Mac Leod" ] 7 Feb am. woodcock [John Nickerson ] 7 Feb RE: The Depths of Winter ["Maria Forman" ] 7 Feb American Woodcock ["Stephen Hawboldt" ] 7 Feb Eagles and Ravens ["bernard burke" ] 06 Feb re bald eagles & early nesting? -- was White-winged crossbills, red-throated loon and bald eagle nesting ["James W. Wolford" ] 6 Feb Cedar Waxwings [James Hirtle ] 6 Feb Re: Feeding Meal Worms During The Winter [Gayle MacLean ] 6 Feb Re: Feeding Meal Worms During The Winter [Suzanne Borkowski ] 6 Feb Feeding Meal Worms During The Winter [Gayle MacLean ] 6 Feb Re: The Depths of Winter ["andy dean" ] 06 Feb RE: new lifer [Ken MacAulay ] 06 Feb Re: birding optics [Joan Czapalay ] 06 Feb The Depths of Winter [Peter Payzant ] 6 Feb White-winged crossbills, red-throated loon and bald eagle nesting [James Hirtle ] 05 Feb new lifer [Tuma Young ] 05 Feb Fwd: Mealy Mountains National Park Reserve established. ["James W. Wolford" ] 5 Feb Re: Baltimore Oriole deceased [] 05 Feb Acadia Biol. Seminar, Thurs., Feb. 11, 11:30 a.m., Biol. 322 ["James W. Wolford" ] 05 Feb Re: The Orchids of NS. by JF Donley [Marg Millard ] 5 Feb Update: Orange-crowned Warbler [Gayle MacLean ] 5 Feb Update: Orange-crowned Warbler [Gayle MacLean ] 5 Feb RE: The Orchids of NS. by JF Donley ["Wayne P. Neily" ] 04 Feb The Orchids of NS. by JF Donley [Marg Millard ] 4 Feb Re: female Baltimore Oriole [] 04 Feb Re: Varied Thrush ["V. Redden" ] 04 Feb Re: RE: re seal issues in N.S. & Can. & world [nhungjohn ] 4 Feb Birds at feeder this a.m. [Marilyn Ewer ] 4 Feb RE: re seal issues in N.S. & Can. & world [jen cooper ] 4 Feb Upcoming Workshop Feb 25-27: "Working together for Species at Risk [BSC NS Plovers ] 3 Feb Re: white moose in Wentworth? ["Lait, Linda" ] 4 Feb female Baltimore Oriole [James Hirtle ] 03 Feb Re: white moose in Wentworth? [Don MacNeill ] 3 Feb Re: white moose in Wentworth? ["Sandy Hiltz" ] 3 Feb Re: white moose in Wentworth? [David Christie ] 3 Feb Re: white moose in Wentworth? ["Jeannie Shermerhorn" ] 3 Feb RE: white moose in Wentworth? ["D W Bridgehouse" ] 3 Feb white moose in Wentworth? ["Maria Forman" ] 03 Feb bird notes, Feb. 1 & 3, 2010 ["James W. Wolford" ] 3 Feb "Province Finalizes Deal With Irving" ["Dusan Soudek" ] 3 Feb RE: seal [jen cooper ] 2 Feb Re: Varied Thrush [Dennis Garratt ] 02 Feb Varied Thrush ["V. Redden" ] 02 Feb peregrine falcon at Port Williams Sunday, Jan. 31`/10 ["James W. Wolford" ] 2 Feb New yard bird! [Patrick Kelly ] 2 Feb seal ["Jeannie Shermerhorn" ] 2 Feb thanks [Terry Crowell ] 2 Feb Bald Eagles ["Dorothy" ] 1 Feb question [Terry Crowell ] 01 Feb Results of Wolfville 2009 CBC [Alison ] 1 Feb Eagles - Middle Dyke Rd Sunday noon ["Judy Tufts" ] 01 Feb re Ulli's report Eagle Watch II ["James W. Wolford" ] 01 Feb 2010 Eagles/Raptors Count Results + Eagle Watch report ["James W. Wolford" ] Subject: Peregrine in Truro From: "Jeff B Ogden" <OGDENJB AT gov.ns.ca> Date: Mon, 08 Feb 2010 20:34:57 -0400 I saw a Peregrine falcon chasing pigeons near the Co-op in Truro this afternoon. Five species of gulls at Kiwansis pond yesterday ...couldn't relocate the Bufflehead that has been there most of the winter and other than mallards and blacks only a couple dozen American Wigeon. A cropped pict of the peregrine can be found on my Pbase site under winter 2009/10 http://www.pbase.com/jogden/winter_200910 Jeffrey Ogden Integrated Pest Management Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources P.O.Box 130 Shubenacadie, N.S. B0N 2H0 ph-1 902 758 7015 fx- 1 902 758 3210 email ogdenjb AT gov.ns.ca Subject: Update on Halifax Orioles & Chat From: Susann Myers <myerss AT eastlink.ca> Date: Mon, 08 Feb 2010 20:24:39 -0400 Greetings, all. The orioles wintering in my back yard have been faring reasonably well. Of the 10 that were present in the first half of January, one (the brightest male) was last seen January 17. He may have been the victim of a cat, or of the Merlin that has been patrolling the neighbourhood. Another of the male orioles appeared with an injured wing about January 23. Although he seemed to be improving, I was able to catch him on the morning of February 2 by just reaching into the feeding cage. He is now recovering at Helene Van Doninck's rehabilitation centre in Brookfield, near Truro. Helene reports that he is doing well, and I imagine he will do much better being warm and well fed. The remaining 8 orioles are doing well, eating their way through a great many mealworms, along with fruit, grape jelly my homemade soft suet and a jelly/suet mixture that they particularly enjoy. The Yellow-breasted Chat that I first saw on January 16 does not seem to have survived. I last saw it on the morning of February 1. Up to the evening before, it was eating well and getting a share of the mealworms. There is also an almost all-white ("pigmentally challenged") House Sparrow tending my feeders with the flock of 40 others. It has a few areas of pale grey plumage, a light yellow-pink bill, pale legs and dark irises . Cheers, Susann Subject: Update on Halifax Orioles & Chat From: Susann Myers <myerss AT eastlink.ca> Date: Mon, 08 Feb 2010 20:24:39 -0400 Greetings, all. The orioles wintering in my back yard have been faring reasonably well. Of the 10 that were present in the first half of January, one (the brightest male) was last seen January 17. He may have been the victim of a cat, or of the Merlin that has been patrolling the neighbourhood. Another of the male orioles appeared with an injured wing about January 23. Although he seemed to be improving, I was able to catch him on the morning of February 2 by just reaching into the feeding cage. He is now recovering at Helene Van Doninck's rehabilitation centre in Brookfield, near Truro. Helene reports that he is doing well, and I imagine he will do much better being warm and well fed. The remaining 8 orioles are doing well, eating their way through a great many mealworms, along with fruit, grape jelly my homemade soft suet and a jelly/suet mixture that they particularly enjoy. The Yellow-breasted Chat that I first saw on January 16 does not seem to have survived. I last saw it on the morning of February 1. Up to the evening before, it was eating well and getting a share of the mealworms. There is also an almost all-white ("pigmentally challenged") House Sparrow tending my feeders with the flock of 40 others. It has a few areas of pale grey plumage, a light yellow-pink bill, pale legs and dark irises . Cheers, Susann Subject: Re: Eagle Watch III Weekend report, Feb. 6-7/10 From: Ulli <uhoeger AT dal.ca> Date: Mon, 8 Feb 2010 14:27:38 -0400 Just wanted to add the following bit of information to Jim's report. I went down to the well know feeding site on Saturday morning. After being there the previous two weekends and having on both occasions the eagles not going for the bait before ~11 am I left a bit later last Saturday. When I showed up at the feeding site at 10 am the main show was already over. The eagles had decided to have chicken for breakfast rather than for lunch like on the weekends past. Still there were easily over 80 visible on the ground, in the trees and soaring in the sky. Ulli Subject: Dartmouth Birds From: Gayle MacLean <duartess2003 AT yahoo.ca> Date: Mon, 8 Feb 2010 10:22:46 -0800 (PST) Brown Creeper seen through my binnoculars going up the side of a tree in the green belt in back of our backyard. Hadn't seen one in years! but then again they're really not that easy to spot. Haven't seen the Orange-crowned Warbler at all today yet. It's had a so-so reaction to the meal worms, so far, or it may have been the way they were presented. Still loves the plum pudding though! May be 'laying low' today as a Sharp-shinned Hawk has been successful now 3 days in a row at killing starlings in my backyard, mind you, today's kill looked more like a rat; it appeared to have a long skinny tail! I didn't think Sharp-shinned Hawks went after rodents. Gayle MacLean Dartmouth >   > __________________________________________________________________ Yahoo! Canada Toolbar: Search from anywhere on the web, and bookmark your favourite sites. Download it now http://ca.toolbar.yahoo.com. Subject: Purple Sandpipers From: Tuma T W Young <tumayoung AT me.com> Date: Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:09:44 -0400 Hi Everyone: I hope that this email goes through. Nick and I went to Point Pleasant Park following reports of the Purple Sandpipers. A new "lifer" for us. We were able to get some very good pictures and are processing them to post on our web galleries. Also seen were Red-breasted Mergansers, Common Eiders, American Black Ducks, Mallards, Chickadees. Did not see the Pine Warbler. Doug Linzey: Please respond back if this message gets to you. Tuma Young http://www.nickhonigphotography.ca/photos/ http://gallery.me.com/tumayoung Subject: Fw: GBBC Participant Newsletter - Feb 2010 From: Suzanne Borkowski <suzanneborkowski AT yahoo.ca> Date: Mon, 8 Feb 2010 09:35:23 -0800 (PST) --- On Mon, 2/8/10, Great Backyard Bird Count wrote: From: Great Backyard Bird Count Subject: GBBC Participant Newsletter - Feb 2010 To: "suzanneborkowski AT yahoo.ca" Received: Monday, February 8, 2010, 12:37 PM If you can't see a formatted message and photo, view the web version.       GBBC participant newsletter - February 2010 Photo by Caroline Goodrich, Florida. 2009 GBBCAre You Ready for the GBBC? The Great Backyard Bird Count is almost here! It starts this Friday, February 12, and continues through Monday, February 15. It's easy and fun to participate. Just watch birds for at least 15 minutes at any locaton on one or more days of the count and report the highest number of each species you see together at one tme. For more information and birding tips be sure to visit the GBBC website and check out this year's great drawing prizes for GBBC participants. You must do your bird counts over the four days of the GBBC but you have until March 1 to enter your information through the GBBC website and to send us your entries for the GBBC photo contest. Snazzy New Maps We've just added new and improved navigable Google maps to the GBBC website. Use the plus/minus buttons to zoom in closer and move around the map of North America (or any state and province map, including Hawaii, in the results section). The maps will be updated every half-hour during the GBBC so you can see them change as the reports pour in. Photo by Andrea Bolton, Ontario. 2009 GBBCTell Us Your Stories Please take a moment after the GBBC to tell us about special experiences you may have had--whether it was sharing bird-watching quality time with a grandchild, spotting a species you've never seen before, or anything else that made participation meaningful to you. We'll share a selection of your stories on the GBBC website after the count. You can send a short paragraph (and photos, if you have them) to any of the following:      Audubon: citizenscience AT audubon.org      Bird Studies Canada: gbbc AT birdscanada.org      Cornell Lab of Ornithology: gbbc AT cornell.edu Join us for what promises to be the greatest Great Backyard Bird Count ever! Tom Bancroft, VP and Chief Scientist, National Audubon Society Janis Dickinson, Citizen Science Director, Cornell Lab of Ornithology Jon McCracken, Director of National Programs, Bird Studies Canada    Become a GBBC fan on Facebook!    The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is a nonprofit membership institution interpreting and conserving the earth’s biological diversity through research, education, and citizen science focused on birds. Visit the Cornell Lab’s website at www.birds.cornell.edu. Audubon is dedicated to protecting birds and other wildlife and the habitat that supports them. Our national network of community-based nature centers and chapters, scientific and educational programs, and advocacy on behalf of areas sustaining important bird populations, engage millions of people of all ages and backgrounds in conservation. www.audubon.org     Bird Studies Canada (www.birdscanada.org) administers regional, national, and international research and monitoring programs that advance the understanding, appreciation, and conservation of wild birds and their habitats. We are Canada’s national body for bird conservation and science, and we are a non-governmental charitable organization. National Audubon Society                                                                                                        225 Varick Street New York, NY 10014 Call: (212) 979-3000 Cornell Lab of Ornithology 159 Sapsucker Woods Road Ithaca, NY 14850 Call toll-free (800) 843-2473 Bird Studies Canada Box 160, Port Rowan, ON Canada N0E 1M0 Call: (888) 448-2473 or (519) 586-3531 Privacy Policy |  Unsubscribe                                                                                     __________________________________________________________________ Looking for the perfect gift? Give the gift of Flickr! http://www.flickr.com/gift/ Subject: chipping sparrow, bobcat photo in Register Feb. 4 From: "James W. Wolford" <jimwolford AT eastlink.ca> Date: Mon, 08 Feb 2010 12:48:07 -0400 > > Subject: chipping sparrow, bobcat photo in Register Feb. 4 > > FEB. 4, 2010 - Yesterday's tiny sparrow was back today, and I think > it's a chipping sparrow. I now have set up a spotting scope and > tripod in our house aimed at the feeders area, so perhaps tomorrow > I will know for sure. > > Also today we had a female flicker, and a male flicker was there > just a day or two ago; these two flickers have been in our area for > about a month or more. Also at least 3 cardinals today, plus a > song sparrow, 6+ white-throated sparrows, 6+ mourning doves, 5 > crows, a starling, a downy woodpecker, 3+ bl.-c. chickadees, a few > blue jays, etc. > ------------------------------ > In today's King's County Register newspaper, on page 5 is a very > nice photograph of a BOBCAT, with this caption: > > "A bobcat walked through Judy Dominey-Crocker's Coldbrook front > yard January 19, about 10 a.m., only a few feet from their front > window. Luckily, she had her camera close by. We live in > Coldbrook close to the Cornwallis River. The family isn't sure if > the cat was headed to the nearby Cornwallis River, but it soon > disappeared. Dominey-Crocker thought our readers may be interested > in knowing the animal was in the area: a beautiful cat -- not > something you see every day. SUBMITTED > > Previously Helen Archibald had alerted me about a bobcat photo from > Coldbrook that was on Weathereye -- perhaps this is the same photo? > > I haven't yet looked at the NovaNewsNow Web site (has all the > Valley newspapers and others) to see if the photo is viewable there > or not. > > FEB. 5, 2010 - I used the scope on my tiny sparrow today, and I'm > pretty certain it is a chipping sparrow, i.e. the line through the > eye seems to go forward through the lores too to the beak. Also 4 > cardinals (2m,2f). > > Cheers from Jim in Wolfville > > > _______________________________________________ > Nature mailing list > Nature AT blomidonnaturalists.ca > http://blomidonnaturalists.ca/mailman/listinfo/ > nature_blomidonnaturalists.ca Subject: Eagle Watch III Weekend report, Feb. 6-7/10 From: "James W. Wolford" <jimwolford AT eastlink.ca> Date: Mon, 08 Feb 2010 12:46:40 -0400 > > Eagle Watch III Weekend report, Feb. 6-7/10 > > > FEB. 6 (SAT.), 2010 - 19th ANNUAL EAGLE WATCH WEEKEND III ("Eagle > Watch Lite", as Richard Hennigar calls it, i.e. without pancake & > sausage breakfast). Continuing very cold weather, -13 to -7 C. > with cold wind from west, made the Sheffield Mills Community Hall a > welcome retreat for coffee/tea/juice & cinnamon bun + displays/ > photos + videos. > > Pat and I did a drive in morning from Gaspereau along the river to > Wallbrook, and just west of Melanson saw 7 perched eagles in one of > the few big remaining elm trees and perhaps 20 eagles in total. > > In mid-afternoon I checked a feeder/yard along Saxon St., 1.3 km. > east of Hwy. 358 (i.e. south of Canning and river), where there > were 15 Savannah sparrows and 30 mourning doves. > > I also checked the Port Williams sewage ponds, where the only 2 > ducks there flushed immediately -- one was an unidentified male > goldeneye. > > FEB. 7 (Sunday), 2010 - last day of 2010 19th Annual Eagle Watch > -- Nice temperature today, about 0 to -1 C, and light wind, but > overcast with powdery snow falling. I was very late in leaving > home to drive to Sheffield Mills. At noon I checked out Church > Street, n. of Port Williams. West of Hwy. 358 there were about 20 > eagles, many of them flying in a group and landing. East of Hwy. > 358 toward Starr's Point were only about 5 eagles, all perched. > > Then I saw just a few eagles until just before 1 p.m. when I got to > "Swetnam's Field", the promoted feeding site at n. end of Middle > Dyke Rd., where there were about 50 eagles, nearly all perched with > lots of ravens in the south line of trees. But nothing was > happening, and I didn't notice whether there were dead chickens on > the ground (probably not). The few gawkers and photographers were > waiting for some action, and no doubt hoping for another feeding by > the Swetnams. > > I was back at Swetnam's Field at about 4 p.m., when there was no > action happening, but about 10 eagles were still sitting in the > trees, and a raven plus about 20 great black-backed gulls were on > the ground at the feeding spot. > > Cheers from Jim in Wolfville > _______________________________________________ > Nature mailing list > Nature AT blomidonnaturalists.ca > http://blomidonnaturalists.ca/mailman/listinfo/ > nature_blomidonnaturalists.ca Subject: Fwd: blue jays question From: "James W. Wolford" <jimwolford AT eastlink.ca> Date: Mon, 08 Feb 2010 01:32:16 -0400 I can't answer your question, so I am forwarding it to our long list of NatureNS subscribers for possible ideas. Cheers from Jim Begin forwarded message: > From: Pat Fleck > Date: February 7, 2010 10:45:37 AM AST > To: jimwolford AT eastlink.ca, Jim_and_Donyce Fleck > > Subject: Blue jays question > > I hope I haven't broken any protocol by notifying you, but I read > the NS Birders blog every day and have a question. > > For the last four mornings I have been awakened by up to 20 > bluejays on my deck rails pecking as if they were woodpeckers. > There is a green tinge on the north side of the rails which is the > beginnings of moss. They are definitely pecking at the moss, but > also at places where there is no moss. Yesterday a pair of crows > joined them. They only seem to be gathering in the early morning. > This is my sixth winter in this house and it is the first time I > have seen this. > > I live in the Margarees and we have had quite a few snow squalls > over the last week. > > Pat Fleck > Margaree Forks > > All your Hotmail contacts on your phone. Try it now. Subject: Dartmouth Cove Birds From: "Paul Murray" <murraypaul AT ns.sympatico.ca> Date: Mon, 8 Feb 2010 12:33:32 -0400 2010-02-08 Dartmouth Cove Observed the following birds at Dartmouth Cove this morning at about 09:00: 12+ Lesser Scaup 2 Black Guillemot 4 Red-breasted Mergansers 15 - 20 Common Goldeneye 1 Male Common x Barrows Goldeneye hybrid All were located in the cove nearest to the old Dartmouth Marine Slips wharf. Paul Murray Dartmouth Subject: Purple Sandpipers at Point Pleasant Park From: Shawn Miner <shawn.miner AT mac.com> Date: Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:19:03 -0400 Hello, I was delighted to see nine Purple Sandpipers at their usual spot just to the left of the anchor at Point Pleasant Park this afternoon. Cheers, Shawn Subject: Pileated Woodpecker From: pgould AT staff.ednet.ns.ca Date: Sun, 07 Feb 2010 23:02:06 -0400 Hello, I saw a Pileated Woodpecker late this morning on my way to town. It was seen in Springhaven near the Curry Road. I have seen them in this location quite a few times at various times of the year. Paul Gould Quinan, NS Subject: Re: Cumberland county nature note From: Joan Czapalay <joancz AT ns.sympatico.ca> Date: Sun, 07 Feb 2010 19:08:29 -0400 Hi everyone! Claire Diggins has been visiting here in Hfx, and we took advantage of sunshine and bare roads and went to Port Greville/Advocate yesterday and came back today. We saw 15 deer in the fields west of Parrsboro. Feb. 6th - Crossroads: 2 + 1 Feb. 7th - Fox River : 3 Wharton 5 +2 Crossroads: 2 Friends Edith and Doug Allen counted 32 in the area last week. At their feeders, at the top of DeWolfe's Hill in Port Greville, they had a flock of more than 20 Purple Finch in a brier rose hedge mid-week. This morning there were Juncos, Mourning Doves, Starlings, Bluejays, Black-capped Chickadees and one Red-breasted Nuthatch. We saw Crows, Ravens, Rock Pigeons, Herring Gulls along the drive down shore to Wild Caraway (an amazingly good restaurant) in Advocate, and a nice healthy looking fox near 8210 Port Greville on the way back last evening. Cheers, Joan Subject: Re: Dartmouth Birds From: "Paul Murray" <murraypaul AT ns.sympatico.ca> Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2010 17:25:32 -0400 Jane and Others, No, I did not see the Guillemots there today. My last visit to the cove was on Tuesday morning and there were 2 of them off the end of the old Marine Slips wharf at about 08:00. Paul From: david&jane schlosberg Sent: Sunday, February 07, 2010 3:39 PM To: naturens AT chebucto.ns.ca Subject: RE: [NatureNS] Dartmouth Birds You didn't, by any chance, see a guillemot in Dartmouth cove, did you? We've seen it several times lately. Jane -----Original Message----- From: naturens-owner AT chebucto.ns.ca [mailto:naturens-owner AT chebucto.ns.ca]On Behalf Of Paul Murray Sent: Sunday, February 07, 2010 2:51 PM To: Nature Posting Subject: [NatureNS] Dartmouth Birds 2010-02-07 There were 22 Common Goldeneye ducks and one male Common x Barrows hybrid at Dartmouth Cove this morning, They were located at the end of the Old Ferry Rd. There were also 3 Bald Eagles at Hartlen Point this morning - one 2nd year? bird on the beach on the mainland side and two adults perched on the roof ridge of the old house on Devil's Island. Some pictures of these birds available at: http://scranlocker.smugmug.com/photos/swfpopup.mg?AlbumID=11169670&AlbumKey=YDfwM Paul Murray Dartmouth -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 9.0.733 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2673 - Release Date: 02/07/10 03:22:00 Subject: PPP birds From: "Elizabeth Doull" <edoull AT ns.sympatico.ca> Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2010 16:01:44 -0400 Just for fun, I listed all the birds I saw in or off Point Pleasant Park Heather Road - Feeder by the sign "Tour 6" 2 Pine warblers, one very bright, the other very plain 8 juncos 3 song sparrows 2 ravens herring gulls flying by, one perching on the top of a dead tree near the second feeder 3 goldfinches 1 hairy woodpecker (second feeder facing Ferguson Cove) 3 Blue jays (second feeder) ? starlings ? crows 3 red squirrels red breasted mergansers Common Eiders 1 possible Black guillemont - at a distance Pine warblers, song sparrows, and juncos stayed away whenever joggers (including Andy minus his jacket and binos), walkers, and dog walkers, and 100+ unleashed dogs passed by. It took me three hours to finally get a proper look at the really bright / shy Pine warbler. The dull pine warbler came out often with the juncos. No nuthatches in sight. Unusual, I think. The feeder by the Cambridge tower was gone (or stolen?). Many thanks to Pat Chalmers. Cheers, liz Subject: RE: Dartmouth Birds From: "david&jane schlosberg" <dschlosb-g AT ns.sympatico.ca> Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2010 15:39:23 -0400 You didn't, by any chance, see a guillemot in Dartmouth cove, did you? We've seen it several times lately. Jane -----Original Message----- From: naturens-owner AT chebucto.ns.ca [mailto:naturens-owner AT chebucto.ns.ca]On Behalf Of Paul Murray Sent: Sunday, February 07, 2010 2:51 PM To: Nature Posting Subject: [NatureNS] Dartmouth Birds 2010-02-07 There were 22 Common Goldeneye ducks and one male Common x Barrows hybrid at Dartmouth Cove this morning, They were located at the end of the Old Ferry Rd. There were also 3 Bald Eagles at Hartlen Point this morning - one 2nd year? bird on the beach on the mainland side and two adults perched on the roof ridge of the old house on Devil's Island. Some pictures of these birds available at: http://scranlocker.smugmug.com/photos/swfpopup.mg?AlbumID=11169670&AlbumKe y=YDfwM Paul Murray Dartmouth Subject: Re: Dartmouth Birds From: "Elizabeth Doull" <edoull AT ns.sympatico.ca> Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2010 15:26:04 -0400 Amazing photos you took. I like the one showing two eagles on a building on Devil's Island. Thanks for sharing. Cheers, liz Subject: RE: Eagles and Ravens From: Helene Van Doninck <hvandoninck AT eastlink.ca> Date: Sun, 07 Feb 2010 15:12:43 -0400 Great photo series :) Helene Helene Van Doninck DVM Cobequid Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre RR#1 Brookfield Nova Scotia Canada B0N1C0 hvandoninck AT eastlink.ca www.cwrc.net http://cwrcblog.blogspot.com/ 1-902-893-0253 CWRC 2010 Calendars now for sale, see www.cwrc.net -----Original Message----- From: naturens-owner AT chebucto.ns.ca [mailto:naturens-owner AT chebucto.ns.ca]On Behalf Of bernard burke Sent: Sunday, February 07, 2010 10:02 AM To: naturens AT chebucto.ns.ca Subject: [NatureNS] Eagles and Ravens Hi all It was mentioned recently with this group as to how much ravens, crows and the like can antagonize other creatures to no end. Here is a composite photo from this morning (Sunday February 7th) showing what they do best...especially for a juicy morsel: http://bernieb.smugmug.com/Other/recent-pics/916397_ynXPk/22/782849848_87X nr/Large Bernard Burke blburke AT ns.sympatico.ca Dartmouth Subject: Dartmouth Birds From: "Paul Murray" <murraypaul AT ns.sympatico.ca> Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2010 14:51:07 -0400 2010-02-07 There were 22 Common Goldeneye ducks and one male Common x Barrows hybrid at Dartmouth Cove this morning, They were located at the end of the Old Ferry Rd. There were also 3 Bald Eagles at Hartlen Point this morning - one 2nd year? bird on the beach on the mainland side and two adults perched on the roof ridge of the old house on Devil's Island. Some pictures of these birds available at: http://scranlocker.smugmug.com/photos/swfpopup.mg?AlbumID=11169670&AlbumKey=YDfwM Paul Murray Dartmouth Subject: Merlin at Feeder From: "david&jane schlosberg" <dschlosb-g AT ns.sympatico.ca> Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2010 14:35:49 -0400 BlankYesterday in mid-afternoon on the edge of downtown Dartmouth, we had a Merlin sit on a perch above our feeder for about ten minutes. It was plenty of time for us to check the bird books for ID so we're reasonably confident therein. Then along came a couple of crows to chase it away. Cheers Dave&Jane Schlosberg Subject: web gallery From: Tuma T W Young <tumayoung AT me.com> Date: Sun, 07 Feb 2010 12:55:16 -0400 Hi Everyone: this is a test to see whether I am receiving any emails from the Naturens list. if you get this email, just delete it Thank you Tuma Young Subject: Re: am. woodcock From: "Peter Mac Leod" <macleod.grayjay AT ns.sympatico.ca> Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2010 12:05:08 -0400 Hi Johney could you contact me at home macleod.grayjay AT ns.sympatico.ca Peter in Shelburne thank you -----Original Message----- From: John Nickerson To: naturens AT chebucto.ns.ca Date: Sunday, February 07, 2010 11:43 AM Subject: [NatureNS] am. woodcock at daniels head this morning 1 am . woodcock 1 northern pintail 150 black ducks one am. kestrel at the hawk this morning 60 dunlins 17 sanderlings 2 bald eagles 20 greater scaup 5 lesser scaup brant and canada geese. johnny&sandra nickerson ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Windows® phone-your Windows stuff, on the go. See more. Subject: Re: The Depths of Winter From: "Peter Mac Leod" <macleod.grayjay AT ns.sympatico.ca> Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2010 11:47:49 -0400 Hi Maria I just got back fron the north of France Marsay , could you send me the site to the depths of winter . i saw lots of birds there was there from the 23 of Nov till the 3 of Feb. my main job was collectting spemims for the Boston Aqui. LIVE ones Peter in Shelburne -----Original Message----- From: Maria Forman To: naturens AT chebucto.ns.ca Date: Sunday, February 07, 2010 11:27 AM Subject: RE: [NatureNS] The Depths of Winter Me too! I love to hear when we are ready to leave the “Depths of Winter”!! Although, dare I say it? A fabulous winter we’ve had here so far!!! Maria Forman Debert, NS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: naturens-owner AT chebucto.ns.ca [mailto:naturens-owner AT chebucto.ns.ca] On Behalf Of andy dean Sent: Saturday, February 06, 2010 11:52 AM To: naturens AT chebucto.ns.ca Subject: Re: [NatureNS] The Depths of Winter Hey Peter, Thanks for that timely morale-booster ....just as I was beginning to despair. I REALLY hope you have it right. I will keep my ears open for song sparrows singing and robins a-hopping. Andy Andy and Lelia Dean 86 Baden Powell Drive Kentville, N.S. (902) 678-6243 ----- Original Message ----- From: Peter Payzant To: naturens AT chebucto.ns.ca Sent: Saturday, February 06, 2010 9:37 AM Subject: [NatureNS] The Depths of Winter Occasionally, in a weather forecast, we see numbers quoted as "the normal temperatures for today", "the normal high for today", etc. These are long-term average temperatures for a given reporting station, with quite a lot of mathematics applied to smooth out the daily variations. I have a table of these Climate Normals for Shearwater Airport, just outside Dartmouth. The normal temperatures for today and tomorrow are the low point of the annual cycle: the normal maximum at Shearwater is about -1 C and the minimum is -10 C. Starting Monday, the normals begin their slow climb back up again, and we are on our way out of the depths of winter. Can Spring be far away? Peter Payzant Subject: am. woodcock From: John Nickerson <jonsannick AT hotmail.com> Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2010 11:32:01 -0400 at daniels head this morning 1 am . woodcock 1 northern pintail 150 black ducks one am. kestrel at the hawk this morning 60 dunlins 17 sanderlings 2 bald eagles 20 greater scaup 5 lesser scaup brant and canada geese. johnny&sandra nickerson _________________________________________________________________ Subject: RE: The Depths of Winter From: "Maria Forman" <philmaria AT xplornet.com> Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2010 11:11:48 -0400 Me too! I love to hear when we are ready to leave the "Depths of Winter"!! Although, dare I say it? A fabulous winter we've had here so far!!! Maria Forman Debert, NS _____ From: naturens-owner AT chebucto.ns.ca [mailto:naturens-owner AT chebucto.ns.ca] On Behalf Of andy dean Sent: Saturday, February 06, 2010 11:52 AM To: naturens AT chebucto.ns.ca Subject: Re: [NatureNS] The Depths of Winter Hey Peter, Thanks for that timely morale-booster ....just as I was beginning to despair. I REALLY hope you have it right. I will keep my ears open for song sparrows singing and robins a-hopping. Andy Andy and Lelia Dean 86 Baden Powell Drive Kentville, N.S. (902) 678-6243 ----- Original Message ----- From: Peter Payzant To: naturens AT chebucto.ns.ca Sent: Saturday, February 06, 2010 9:37 AM Subject: [NatureNS] The Depths of Winter Occasionally, in a weather forecast, we see numbers quoted as "the normal temperatures for today", "the normal high for today", etc. These are long-term average temperatures for a given reporting station, with quite a lot of mathematics applied to smooth out the daily variations. I have a table of these Climate Normals for Shearwater Airport, just outside Dartmouth. The normal temperatures for today and tomorrow are the low point of the annual cycle: the normal maximum at Shearwater is about -1 C and the minimum is -10 C. Starting Monday, the normals begin their slow climb back up again, and we are on our way out of the depths of winter. Can Spring be far away? Peter Payzant Subject: American Woodcock From: "Stephen Hawboldt" <s.hawboldt AT ns.sympatico.ca> Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2010 10:48:11 -0400 We were surprised to find a dead American Woodcock in our driveway this morning. Sharon Hawboldt Belleisle, Annapolis Co. Subject: Eagles and Ravens From: "bernard burke" <blburke AT ns.sympatico.ca> Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2010 10:01:55 -0400 Hi all It was mentioned recently with this group as to how much ravens, crows and the like can antagonize other creatures to no end. Here is a composite photo from this morning (Sunday February 7th) showing what they do best...especially for a juicy morsel: http://bernieb.smugmug.com/Other/recent-pics/916397_ynXPk/22/782849848_87Xnr/Large Bernard Burke blburke AT ns.sympatico.ca Dartmouth Subject: re bald eagles & early nesting? -- was White-winged crossbills, red-throated loon and bald eagle nesting From: "James W. Wolford" <jimwolford AT eastlink.ca> Date: Sat, 06 Feb 2010 18:38:07 -0400 James, I think you are a bit too entuhusiastic about the courtship feeding at the nest as an indicator of imminent egg-laying. Probably not, since here in the Valley we see apparent incubation behaviour of the females in about mid-March, perhaps March 10th or so at the earliest or perhaps a few days before that. Then our Valley fledging dates are now in early to mid July or perhaps very late June in a few instances. I have done the math of egg-laying times for 3 eggs + 35 days for incubation + 12 weeks from hatching to fledging -- maybe we should all try that. Anyway, your observation of course was a great one and we all wish we had seen that. Among our overwintering eagles here in eastern King's County, we think many of the wintering adults probably depart our area during February to reoccupy their nesting territories, wherever those might be. Twenty-plus years ago, the majority of those territories were in Cape Breton along the shores of the Bras d'Or Lake(s), but now they are undoubtedly much more widely distributed. Cheers from Jim in Wolfville Begin forwarded message: > From: James Hirtle > Date: February 5, 2010 10:35:12 PM AST > To: Naturens Naturens > Subject: [NatureNS] White-winged crossbills, red-throated loon and > bald eagle nesting > Reply-To: naturens AT chebucto.ns.ca > > Today at 09:15 this morning, at Dayspring the female bald eagle was > sitting in the nest and the male brought food, which is an > indication that she is ready to lay her egg/eggs or has done so and > is incubating. This pair last year was a week or two ahead of most > other nests reported and seems to have gotten an early start again. > > Dorothy Poole and I did some birding today. A pair of white-winged > crossbills along River Road near Milton was a nice treat. There > has been a red-throated loon in Liverpool Bay all winter and it was > present today. > > We had a number of American robins in Liverpool. > > On the way home I had a ruffed grouse beside the road in Cherry Hill. > > There were three purple sandpipers at Western Head. > > James R. Hirtle > Bayport > Subject: Cedar Waxwings From: James Hirtle <jrhbirder AT hotmail.com> Date: Sat, 6 Feb 2010 22:27:02 +0000 I've had a report of a group of cedar waxwing near the Lunenburg Fishermans Regional Hospital on Feb. 5. I saw a group of these birds fly by in Bridgewater on the 4th also. James R. Hirtle Bayport _________________________________________________________________ Subject: Re: Feeding Meal Worms During The Winter From: Gayle MacLean <duartess2003 AT yahoo.ca> Date: Sat, 6 Feb 2010 13:04:41 -0800 (PST) Happy to report, the ceramic dish method seems to be working too, Just saw the warbler pecking away & checking out the contents, don't know if the worms were frozen by then or not, had been out there for 20 minutes or so. But he seems interested anyway!! Will try the hot water/tupperware dish idea too! Thanks, Suzanne!! Gayle MacLean --- On Sat, 2/6/10, Suzanne Borkowski wrote: > From: Suzanne Borkowski > Subject: Re: [NatureNS] Feeding Meal Worms During The Winter > To: naturens AT chebucto.ns.ca > Received: Saturday, February 6, 2010, 3:34 PM > Hi Gayle; > > Placing them on the cover of a tupperware dish filled with > hot water works really well. > > I used to put mine on a small square container, about as > big as a sandwich.  The cover had a small indentation > running along the edge, kind of like a "moat" and the worms > would try to get off the warm cover - a bit too warm for > them, and get trapped in this moat.  The warbler had an > easy time picking them up.  The water only stayed hot > for a few minutes, then it stayed warm for 15-20 minutes - > but that was all that was needed.  The worms were long > gone by the time the water got cold.  > > --- On Sat, 2/6/10, Gayle MacLean > wrote: > > > From: Gayle MacLean > > Subject: [NatureNS] Feeding Meal Worms During The > Winter > > To: naturens AT chebucto.ns.ca, > ns-rba AT yahoo.com > > Received: Saturday, February 6, 2010, 4:16 PM > > Tuma Young and Nick Honig kindly > > brought by live meal worms (all contained, of course) > for me > > to try to get the OC Warbler to eat. I have made up a > wicker > > tray suspended by ribbon, attached to a branch & > > anchored by some more ribbon to a branch below, close > to > > where the plum pudding feeder is. I have a small > ceramic > > dish that I will microwave & will, when I see the > > warbler out there, put some of the live worms in the > dish > > & will take it out & place it in the tray. > > Anyone have any success using this approach? Or will > I > > really need to use a plate that will stay heated by > use of a > > battery operated heating coil?. > > It is doing ok with the plum pudding but know, as > advised > > by Fulton Lavender & Hope Swinamer, that it > probably is > > just 'existing' and not much else. > > Anyway, any thoughts would be welcomed. > > Thanks, > > > > Gayle MacLean > > > > > > > > >       > > > __________________________________________________________________ > > Yahoo! Canada Toolbar: Search from anywhere on the > web, and > > bookmark your favourite sites. Download it now > > http://ca.toolbar.yahoo.com. > > > > >       > __________________________________________________________________ > Looking for the perfect gift? Give the gift of Flickr! > > http://www.flickr.com/gift/ > > __________________________________________________________________ Reclaim your name AT ymail.com or AT rocketmail.com. Get your new email address now! Go to http://ca.promos.yahoo.com/jacko/ Subject: Re: Feeding Meal Worms During The Winter From: Suzanne Borkowski <suzanneborkowski AT yahoo.ca> Date: Sat, 6 Feb 2010 12:34:13 -0800 (PST) Hi Gayle; Placing them on the cover of a tupperware dish filled with hot water works really well. I used to put mine on a small square container, about as big as a sandwich. The cover had a small indentation running along the edge, kind of like a "moat" and the worms would try to get off the warm cover - a bit too warm for them, and get trapped in this moat. The warbler had an easy time picking them up. The water only stayed hot for a few minutes, then it stayed warm for 15-20 minutes - but that was all that was needed. The worms were long gone by the time the water got cold. --- On Sat, 2/6/10, Gayle MacLean wrote: > From: Gayle MacLean > Subject: [NatureNS] Feeding Meal Worms During The Winter > To: naturens AT chebucto.ns.ca, ns-rba AT yahoo.com > Received: Saturday, February 6, 2010, 4:16 PM > Tuma Young and Nick Honig kindly > brought by live meal worms (all contained, of course) for me > to try to get the OC Warbler to eat. I have made up a wicker > tray suspended by ribbon, attached to a branch & > anchored by some more ribbon to a branch below, close to > where the plum pudding feeder is. I have a small ceramic > dish that I will microwave & will, when I see the > warbler out there, put some of the live worms in the dish > & will take it out & place it in the tray. > Anyone have any success using this approach? Or will I > really need to use a plate that will stay heated by use of a > battery operated heating coil?. > It is doing ok with the plum pudding but know, as advised > by Fulton Lavender & Hope Swinamer, that it probably is > just 'existing' and not much else. > Anyway, any thoughts would be welcomed. > Thanks, > > Gayle MacLean > > > > >       > __________________________________________________________________ > Yahoo! Canada Toolbar: Search from anywhere on the web, and > bookmark your favourite sites. Download it now > http://ca.toolbar.yahoo.com. > __________________________________________________________________ Looking for the perfect gift? Give the gift of Flickr! http://www.flickr.com/gift/ Subject: Feeding Meal Worms During The Winter From: Gayle MacLean <duartess2003 AT yahoo.ca> Date: Sat, 6 Feb 2010 12:16:20 -0800 (PST) Tuma Young and Nick Honig kindly brought by live meal worms (all contained, of course) for me to try to get the OC Warbler to eat. I have made up a wicker tray suspended by ribbon, attached to a branch & anchored by some more ribbon to a branch below, close to where the plum pudding feeder is. I have a small ceramic dish that I will microwave & will, when I see the warbler out there, put some of the live worms in the dish & will take it out & place it in the tray. Anyone have any success using this approach? Or will I really need to use a plate that will stay heated by use of a battery operated heating coil?. It is doing ok with the plum pudding but know, as advised by Fulton Lavender & Hope Swinamer, that it probably is just 'existing' and not much else. Anyway, any thoughts would be welcomed. Thanks, Gayle MacLean > __________________________________________________________________ Yahoo! Canada Toolbar: Search from anywhere on the web, and bookmark your favourite sites. Download it now http://ca.toolbar.yahoo.com. Subject: Re: The Depths of Winter From: "andy dean" <aadean AT ns.sympatico.ca> Date: Sat, 6 Feb 2010 11:52:08 -0400 Hey Peter, Thanks for that timely morale-booster ....just as I was beginning to despair. I REALLY hope you have it right. I will keep my ears open for song sparrows singing and robins a-hopping. Andy Andy and Lelia Dean 86 Baden Powell Drive Kentville, N.S. (902) 678-6243 ----- Original Message ----- From: Peter Payzant To: naturens AT chebucto.ns.ca Sent: Saturday, February 06, 2010 9:37 AM Subject: [NatureNS] The Depths of Winter Occasionally, in a weather forecast, we see numbers quoted as "the normal temperatures for today", "the normal high for today", etc. These are long-term average temperatures for a given reporting station, with quite a lot of mathematics applied to smooth out the daily variations. I have a table of these Climate Normals for Shearwater Airport, just outside Dartmouth. The normal temperatures for today and tomorrow are the low point of the annual cycle: the normal maximum at Shearwater is about -1 C and the minimum is -10 C. Starting Monday, the normals begin their slow climb back up again, and we are on our way out of the depths of winter. Can Spring be far away? Peter Payzant Subject: RE: new lifer From: Ken MacAulay <kenmacaulay AT eastlink.ca> Date: Sat, 06 Feb 2010 11:16:02 -0400 Tuma & Nick: I believe the "For the Birds Nature Shop" in Mahone Bay carries Swarovski optics. Call Brian or Kelly Delaney at 1(888)660-6529 or e-mail info AT forthebirdsnatuteshop.ca. Their web-site is www.forthebirdsnatureshop.ca Ken MacAulay Port Mouton, NS Subject: Re: birding optics From: Joan Czapalay <joancz AT ns.sympatico.ca> Date: Sat, 06 Feb 2010 10:15:35 -0400 Hi Tuma and Nick - The For the Birds Nature shop in Mahone Bay has a wonderful range of optics at reasonable prices. The owners are very knowledgeable and helpful. Cheers, Joan Subject: The Depths of Winter From: Peter Payzant <pce AT accesswave.ca> Date: Sat, 06 Feb 2010 09:37:12 -0400 Subject: White-winged crossbills, red-throated loon and bald eagle nesting From: James Hirtle <jrhbirder AT hotmail.com> Date: Sat, 6 Feb 2010 02:35:12 +0000 Today at 09:15 this morning, at Dayspring the female bald eagle was sitting in the nest and the male brought food, which is an indication that she is ready to lay her egg/eggs or has done so and is incubating. This pair last year was a week or two ahead of most other nests reported and seems to have gotten an early start again. Dorothy Poole and I did some birding today. A pair of white-winged crossbills along River Road near Milton was a nice treat. There has been a red-throated loon in Liverpool Bay all winter and it was present today. We had a number of American robins in Liverpool. On the way home I had a ruffed grouse beside the road in Cherry Hill. There were three purple sandpipers at Western Head. James R. Hirtle Bayport _________________________________________________________________ Subject: new lifer From: Tuma Young <tumayoung AT me.com> Date: Fri, 05 Feb 2010 21:52:05 -0400 Hi Everyone: A new lifer for both Nick and I-A Northern Shrike! Nick has ID pictures and alas, it was not in NS but across the bay in route 915 (Little Ridge, NB). It flew across the road and landed in a tree while we were looking for White-winged Crossbills. It took us a while to identify it as, being new birders, we thought it was another species of crossbill (the little hook at the end of the beak threw us off). By the way, we have not found our binoculars so we have talked to Carsand Mosher (Truro) about become a dealer for Swarovski (apparently there is no dealer in NS and the hunting stores only carry rifle scopes). We would appreciate if folks just keep any eye out when the snow melts at the usual spots in Eastern Passage. Tuma and Nick http://gallery.me.com/tumayoung http://www.nickhonigphotography.ca/photos Subject: Fwd: Mealy Mountains National Park Reserve established. From: "James W. Wolford" <jimwolford AT eastlink.ca> Date: Fri, 05 Feb 2010 17:19:04 -0400 Note in the Globe and Mail article that, among other species, breeding harlequin ducks will be protected by this new Nat. Park Reserve in Labrador and the intended adjacent waterway prov. park to come. Cheers from Jim in Wolfville Begin forwarded message: > From: Chris Miller > Date: February 5, 2010 11:21:01 AM AST > To: Public lands coalition > Subject: Mealy Mountains National Park Reserve established. > > Some good news from our neighbours in Newfoundland and Labrador. > At 13,000 km2...this is now the largest National Park in eastern > Canada. > > http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/ottawa-creates-massive- > new-park-in-labrador/article1457434/ > > Chris > > > Instant message from any web browser! Try the new Yahoo! Canada > Messenger for the Web BETA Subject: Re: Baltimore Oriole deceased From: <joancz AT ns.sympatico.ca> Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 16:26:44 -0400 Sad to report that the female Baltimore Oriole that had been tending the feeders at 11 Balcome Drive died - probably in the early morning. I thought she looked unwell yesterday, but was still eating steadily. I'll miss her. There are still, as of yesterday, the 2 Downy Woodpeckers, 10-12 Am Goldfinch, 4 Black-capped Chickadees, 12 Starlings, and 7 Mourning Doves. Claire Diggins and I drove out to peggy's Cove today and saw Male and Female Goldeneye, 3 female Mergansers and a pair of Hodded Mergansers. COLD! ---- joancz AT ns.sympatico.ca wrote: > One still at 11 Balcome dr. in Choc. Lake area, and I believe the Carmichaels dow a few houses on St . Margarets Bay Road still have a female there. Cheers, Joan Joan > ---- James Hirtle wrote: > > > > I know that there are a number of these birds about this winter. Jean McKiel of Lunenburg has had one tending for about two weeks now. It looked healthy today at 15:45 when I observed it. This bird is likely the same one found by Shirley Cohrs and Sylvia Fullerton at another feeder down the road and likely the same bird that was tending near the waterfront about a week ago. Either that or there is more than one oriole in Lunenburg. It is possible that more than one is about as two of the places are quite a bit apart from one another. > > > > > > > > James R. Hirtle > > > > Bayport > > > > _________________________________________________________________ > > Introducing Windows® phone. > > http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9708122 > Subject: Acadia Biol. Seminar, Thurs., Feb. 11, 11:30 a.m., Biol. 322 From: "James W. Wolford" <jimwolford AT eastlink.ca> Date: Fri, 05 Feb 2010 10:49:29 -0400 Begin forwarded message: > From: Lisa Taul > Date: February 5, 2010 9:46:18 AM AST > > Subject: FW: Biology Department Seminar Series, Thurs. Feb. 11 at > 11:30 am > > Hi Folks, > > For next week’s biology department seminar (room 322 in the New > Biology Building) we welcome Dr. Phil Taylor from Acadia > University. The title for his seminar is Stopover Ecology of > Songbirds at Long Point, Lake Erie. I hope to see some of you there! > > Regards, > > Howie > > > Subject: Re: The Orchids of NS. by JF Donley From: Marg Millard <mmillard AT eastlink.ca> Date: Fri, 05 Feb 2010 10:06:57 -0400 Hello Marg, I would be delighted to give Donly's orchid book a good home, but as I know it is quite a rare book, I may not be able to afford it. How much do you want for it? I could manage $25 if you are looking for bids. Cheers, Wayne Neily .................... Wayne, It was given to me and I will be happy to just pass it along for the postage to have it go to someone who cares. We are sorting and packing and the time has come to let it go. As I said it is an "original", type written, with actual photos inserted. A number of years ago I asked at the museum in town and they weren't interested and it is too fragile to go to the library. If you want to pay for the mailing that would be great! Let me know where you are and we'll send it off to you. If you wanted to make a donation to Salvation Army or the Haiti relief fund, that would be greaat! I leave that up to you. I am afraid it might end up going to be recycled by accident. Best regards, Marg http://MargMillard.ca Subject: Update: Orange-crowned Warbler From: Gayle MacLean <duartess2003 AT yahoo.ca> Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 04:20:59 -0800 (PST) > Despite these very cold, bitter days here in Dartmouth, the Orange-crowned Warbler, seemingly, is doing well, reliably feeding from the plum pudding feeder. Found a recipe called a 'steamed fruit suet pudding' which calls for 2 C of suet, apples, candied fruit, 4 egg yolks, bread crumbs, sugar, nuts (I used crushed sunflowerseed hearts, etc). So, after 4 hours of steaming, and incredulous looks from my husband,:o) I had 3 puddings, one that I have given to my neighbor, Robie, who is also having the warbler visiting his yard too. Anyway, the fresh suet pudding appears to meet with the warbler's approval as I have seen it several times already this morning, at the feeder. However, there is now another challange out there for all the feeder birds, with the appearance of a Sharp-shinned Hawk seen yesterday on the snow in my backyard, after successfully catching a starling. It was a very quiet day at the feeders, for the most part, needless to say. Anyway, who knows what will happen but I hope that all will continue to go well for this special visitor. Gayle MacLean Dartmouth > __________________________________________________________________ Yahoo! Canada Toolbar: Search from anywhere on the web, and bookmark your favourite sites. Download it now http://ca.toolbar.yahoo.com. Subject: Update: Orange-crowned Warbler From: Gayle MacLean <duartess2003 AT yahoo.ca> Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 04:20:59 -0800 (PST) > Despite these very cold, bitter days here in Dartmouth, the Orange-crowned Warbler, seemingly, is doing well, reliably feeding from the plum pudding feeder. Found a recipe called a 'steamed fruit suet pudding' which calls for 2 C of suet, apples, candied fruit, 4 egg yolks, bread crumbs, sugar, nuts (I used crushed sunflowerseed hearts, etc). So, after 4 hours of steaming, and incredulous looks from my husband,:o) I had 3 puddings, one that I have given to my neighbor, Robie, who is also having the warbler visiting his yard too. Anyway, the fresh suet pudding appears to meet with the warbler's approval as I have seen it several times already this morning, at the feeder. However, there is now another challange out there for all the feeder birds, with the appearance of a Sharp-shinned Hawk seen yesterday on the snow in my backyard, after successfully catching a starling. It was a very quiet day at the feeders, for the most part, needless to say. Anyway, who knows what will happen but I hope that all will continue to go well for this special visitor. Gayle MacLean Dartmouth > __________________________________________________________________ Yahoo! Canada Toolbar: Search from anywhere on the web, and bookmark your favourite sites. Download it now http://ca.toolbar.yahoo.com. Subject: RE: The Orchids of NS. by JF Donley From: "Wayne P. Neily" <neilyornis AT hotmail.com> Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 01:48:35 -0400 Hello Marg, I would be delighted to give Donly's orchid book a good home, but as I know it is quite a rare book, I may not be able to afford it. How much do you want for it? I could manage $25 if you are looking for bids. Cheers, Wayne Neily > From: mmillard AT eastlink.ca > To: naturens AT chebucto.ns.ca > Subject: [NatureNS] The Orchids of NS. by JF Donley > Date: Thu, 4 Feb 2010 21:54:04 -0400 > > I have a book here that I am looking to find a home for. "The Orchids of > Nova Scotia by J F Donley" > It is neat! Hard covered, a bit soiled but not badly. Looks like a self > publish to me and has typewritten pages with actual photos in it. > Anyone here willing to give it a good home? Please? > Marg Millard, White Point, Queens > http://MargMillard.ca > > _________________________________________________________________ Subject: The Orchids of NS. by JF Donley From: Marg Millard <mmillard AT eastlink.ca> Date: Thu, 04 Feb 2010 21:54:04 -0400 I have a book here that I am looking to find a home for. "The Orchids of Nova Scotia by J F Donley" It is neat! Hard covered, a bit soiled but not badly. Looks like a self publish to me and has typewritten pages with actual photos in it. Anyone here willing to give it a good home? Please? Marg Millard, White Point, Queens http://MargMillard.ca Subject: Re: female Baltimore Oriole From: <joancz AT ns.sympatico.ca> Date: Thu, 4 Feb 2010 16:42:25 -0400 One still at 11 Balcome dr. in Choc. Lake area, and I believe the Carmichaels dow a few houses on St . Margarets Bay Road still have a female there. Cheers, Joan Joan ---- James Hirtle wrote: > > I know that there are a number of these birds about this winter. Jean McKiel of Lunenburg has had one tending for about two weeks now. It looked healthy today at 15:45 when I observed it. This bird is likely the same one found by Shirley Cohrs and Sylvia Fullerton at another feeder down the road and likely the same bird that was tending near the waterfront about a week ago. Either that or there is more than one oriole in Lunenburg. It is possible that more than one is about as two of the places are quite a bit apart from one another. > > > > James R. Hirtle > > Bayport > > _________________________________________________________________ > Introducing Windows® phone. > http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9708122 Subject: Re: Varied Thrush From: "V. Redden" <Reddenville AT nncweb.ca> Date: Thu, 04 Feb 2010 09:33:19 -0400 I'm sorry to say that the person who has the Varied Thrush in their yard does not want any visitors. I may travel around the Avonport area and perhaps could be seen somewhere close by along the Avonport Road. Virginia Redden Port Howe Cumb Co V. Redden wrote: > A friend of mine has had a Varied Thrush at her bird feeder for two > days now. She lives at Avonport Beach in Hants Co. > Virginia Redden > Port Howe > Cumb co > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 9.0.733 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2663 - Release Date: 02/02/10 03:35:00 > > Subject: Re: RE: re seal issues in N.S. & Can. & world From: nhungjohn <nhungjohn AT eastlink.ca> Date: Thu, 04 Feb 2010 14:30:33 -0400 There are many sides to this story. Last week, I heard a senior PETA person (New York based) implying that greedy Newfoundland sealers were still murdering baby harp seals. If you tell a lie often enough, it gets believed. Then there are those European seal culls ... Fully agreed that we need an ethical, humane, sustainable, seal harvest, particularly in light of the explosions in some populations. ----- Original Message ----- From: jen cooper To: naturens AT chebucto.ns.ca Sent: Thursday, February 04, 2010 10:53 AM Subject: [NatureNS] RE: re seal issues in N.S. & Can. & world Hi All, Every year the seal hunt issue gets brought up by someone finding some gruesome evidence of it. Some of us make a few comments, others wont touch it with a ten foot pole, and then the hunt is over and our thoughts are hushed until next year. Its rather an annual event now, isn't it? Its not in my nature to be a fan of hunting in any flavour. I do realize that in many places in Canada the seal hunt is a cultural event and that the seals are harvested for pelts and oil, ect. I have never come across Nova Scotian seal products, although I'm sure there isn't much of a market for such wares here. Through my, admittedly not all knowing, eyes the Nova Scotian seal hunt is neither for product, nor culture. It seems to me that its fisher people, the most threatening of fish predators, blaming the seals for low numbers. This link, to this really quite beautiful site, was brought to my attention: http://www.sealsonline.org/seal-universal-declaration.php Very nice, non? So the illegal seal hunters must be an even larger pain in the frozen toes to these people than to regular humans, like myself, who are hurt and disgusted by the massacre. We touched last year on the corpses that wash up decapitated, all around Nova Scotian shores. Some said that it was ice berg decapitation. My reply is that thousands of ice berg decapitations a year would eventually result in some sort of evolutionary response. By now seals smart enough to see it coming would have been selected for, bringing the headless corpse numbers down to single digits a year, if any. Last year the Bras D'or Institute held a conference on the seal hunt. I asked a friend who was part of it if the illegal hunt was addressed: we hosted a workshop last November on the future of the grey seal hunt in eastern Nova Scotia. one of the most interesting workshops i've ever attended. the illegal hunt was addressed, but the whole situation is a mess (industry, research and government). the power of PETA is outstanding and unfortunate. because of government bowing down to their propaganda, the evolution of a sustainable and ethical industry is hindered. I'll see if i can find some more information... Jen ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ To: iffercooper AT hotmail.com From: jimwolford AT eastlink.ca Subject: re seal issues in N.S. & Can. & world Date: Wed, 3 Feb 2010 17:16:09 -0400 Thanks, Jen, for providing this resource for those interested in all of this, like myself. Jim in Wolfville Begin forwarded message: From: jen cooper Date: February 3, 2010 2:58:00 PM AST To: naturens AT chebucto.ns.ca Subject: RE: [NatureNS] seal Reply-To: naturens AT chebucto.ns.ca 'tis the season. http://www.fisherycrisis.com/seals/greysealhunt.htm ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: jeannies AT ns.sympatico.ca To: naturens AT chebucto.ns.ca Subject: [NatureNS] seal Date: Tue, 2 Feb 2010 10:51:33 -0400 While out walking on Point Michaud beach in Cape Breton with friends we came across a dead seal which looked to have been clubbed on the head.I have a photo if anyone would like to confirm this.If it is true I think it's just awful that someone would do this! Jeannie ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- All your Hotmail contacts on your phone. Try it now. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Subject: Birds at feeder this a.m. From: Marilyn Ewer <mrewer AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 4 Feb 2010 13:04:54 -0400 Many black-capped chickadees, a song sparrow that faithfully visits everyday, 3 bluejays, and a brown creeper which has been seen a few times in the past couple of weeks on the maple tree trunks. There was also a female hairy woodpecker flying from tree to tree calling. I noticed the suet feeder was empty and after I replenished it, the hairy immediately flew to it to have a meal. Must have been hungry. M. Ewer Lr. Sackville Subject: RE: re seal issues in N.S. & Can. & world From: jen cooper <iffercooper AT hotmail.com> Date: Thu, 4 Feb 2010 14:53:28 +0000 Hi All, Every year the seal hunt issue gets brought up by someone finding some gruesome evidence of it. Some of us make a few comments, others wont touch it with a ten foot pole, and then the hunt is over and our thoughts are hushed until next year. Its rather an annual event now, isn't it? Its not in my nature to be a fan of hunting in any flavour. I do realize that in many places in Canada the seal hunt is a cultural event and that the seals are harvested for pelts and oil, ect. I have never come across Nova Scotian seal products, although I'm sure there isn't much of a market for such wares here. Through my, admittedly not all knowing, eyes the Nova Scotian seal hunt is neither for product, nor culture. It seems to me that its fisher people, the most threatening of fish predators, blaming the seals for low numbers. This link, to this really quite beautiful site, was brought to my attention:http://www.sealsonline.org/seal-universal-declaration.php Very nice, non? So the illegal seal hunters must be an even larger pain in the frozen toes to these people than to regular humans, like myself, who are hurt and disgusted by the massacre. We touched last year on the corpses that wash up decapitated, all around Nova Scotian shores. Some said that it was ice berg decapitation. My reply is that thousands of ice berg decapitations a year would eventually result in some sort of evolutionary response. By now seals smart enough to see it coming would have been selected for, bringing the headless corpse numbers down to single digits a year, if any. Last year the Bras D'or Institute held a conference on the seal hunt. I asked a friend who was part of it if the illegal hunt was addressed: we hosted a workshop last November on the future of the grey seal hunt in eastern Nova Scotia. one of the most interesting workshops i've ever attended. the illegal hunt was addressed, but the whole situation is a mess (industry, research and government). the power of PETA is outstanding and unfortunate. because of government bowing down to their propaganda, the evolution of a sustainable and ethical industry is hindered. I'll see if i can find some more information... Jen To: iffercooper AT hotmail.com From: jimwolford AT eastlink.ca Subject: re seal issues in N.S. & Can. & world Date: Wed, 3 Feb 2010 17:16:09 -0400 Thanks, Jen, for providing this resource for those interested in all of this, like myself. Jim in Wolfville Begin forwarded message:From: jen cooper Date: February 3, 2010 2:58:00 PM ASTTo: naturens AT chebucto.ns.caSubject: RE: [NatureNS] sealReply-To: naturens AT chebucto.ns.ca 'tis the season. http://www.fisherycrisis.com/seals/greysealhunt.htm From: jeannies AT ns.sympatico.ca To: naturens AT chebucto.ns.ca Subject: [NatureNS] seal Date: Tue, 2 Feb 2010 10:51:33 -0400 While out walking on Point Michaud beach in Cape Breton with friends we came across a dead seal which looked to have been clubbed on the head.I have a photo if anyone would like to confirm this.If it is true I think it's just awful that someone would do this!Jeannie All your Hotmail contacts on your phone. Try it now. _________________________________________________________________ Subject: Upcoming Workshop Feb 25-27: "Working together for Species at Risk From: BSC NS Plovers <nsplovers AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 4 Feb 2010 11:22:30 -0400 Hi there, I'm forwarding this announcement (below) from Bluenose Coastal Action Foundation for an upcoming workshop in Wolfville focusing on species at risk. Thanks, Sue Abbott *Upcoming Workshop: “Work**ing* * together for Species at Risk Recovery in Atlantic Canada”* February 25th – 27th, 2010 Wolfville, Nova Scotia This workshop will provide an opportunity for learning and information sharing between all those interested in the recovery of species at risk in Atlantic Canada. Please visit http://www.coastalaction.org/index_home.html for details on the workshop. The updated website provides information on presentations, workshop sessions, and has a link for registration. *You may be eligible for funding to cover accommodations and some travel costs.* For more information please contact Nicolle Davis, Conference Coordinator, by phone: (902) 624-9888 or email: nicolle AT coastalaction.org. Register today! Subject: Re: white moose in Wentworth? From: "Lait, Linda" <linda.lait AT uleth.ca> Date: Wed, 3 Feb 2010 20:36:21 -0700 (MST) It's definitely a magpie in the pic, almost certainly black-billed as I don't think that shot is in California. I live in the west, and there are tons of them out here. Otherwise - what an amazing thing to see! I would be so lucky! Linda > These have been around for a few years, attributed to various locations. > Here is a link to Snopes on them > > http://www.snopes.com/photos/animals/albinomoose.asp > > Don > > Don MacNeill > donmacneill AT eastlink.ca > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Sandy Hiltz" > To: > Sent: Wednesday, February 03, 2010 8:27 PM > Subject: Re: [NatureNS] white moose in Wentworth? > > > Pretty sure these are from Alaska. I saw them several years ago , sent by > a > friend in Alberta who stated they were from Alaska at the time > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "David Christie" > To: > Cc: ; "Maria Forman" > Sent: Wednesday, February 03, 2010 8:09 PM > Subject: Re: [NatureNS] white moose in Wentworth? > > >> At 6:48 PM -0400 2/3/10, Maria Forman wrote: >> >>>OKSI just received an email from a family member with pics of two white >>>moose, near WentworthSWhen I scanned thru the pics, there was a bird in >>>one that I had never seen around here before, and I live at the foot of >>>Folly Mountain, which is not far from WentworthStherefore, I'm wondering >>>if these moose were really in the Wentworth area. They're pretty cool >>>looking, I must say! I >> >> >> Over the years, I've seen about 20 different photos of white moose being >> circulated on the Internet. Those photos get sent around a lot and >> people >> keep changing the place where they are supposed to have been taken. One >> week, a given moose is from Bathurst, NB, then from Shelburne, NS, a >> month >> later from Newfoundland. >> >> Thus, it's difficult to know where a photo actually originated -- but >> very >> likely not Wentworth. I think that the bird Maria mentions is probably a >> Black-billed Magpie, suggesting that one photo at least was taken in >> western North America. I do recall hearing that there is some area of >> northern Ontario, where albinism in Moose is rather frequent, but I'm >> not >> sure how reliable that is either. >> >> >> David >> >> -- >> >> David Christie >> Mary's Point, Harvey, Albert Co., New Brunswick, Canada >> http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt >> > > > > MSc Student Burg Lab, Biological Sciences University of Lethbridge Lethbridge, AB Email: linda.lait AT uleth.ca Ph: 403.332.5213 Subject: female Baltimore Oriole From: James Hirtle <jrhbirder AT hotmail.com> Date: Thu, 4 Feb 2010 02:31:31 +0000 I know that there are a number of these birds about this winter. Jean McKiel of Lunenburg has had one tending for about two weeks now. It looked healthy today at 15:45 when I observed it. This bird is likely the same one found by Shirley Cohrs and Sylvia Fullerton at another feeder down the road and likely the same bird that was tending near the waterfront about a week ago. Either that or there is more than one oriole in Lunenburg. It is possible that more than one is about as two of the places are quite a bit apart from one another. James R. Hirtle Bayport _________________________________________________________________ Introducing Windows® phone. http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9708122 Subject: Re: white moose in Wentworth? From: Don MacNeill <donmacneill AT eastlink.ca> Date: Wed, 03 Feb 2010 21:41:19 -0400 These have been around for a few years, attributed to various locations. Here is a link to Snopes on them http://www.snopes.com/photos/animals/albinomoose.asp Don Don MacNeill donmacneill AT eastlink.ca ----- Original Message ----- From: "Sandy Hiltz" To: Sent: Wednesday, February 03, 2010 8:27 PM Subject: Re: [NatureNS] white moose in Wentworth? Pretty sure these are from Alaska. I saw them several years ago , sent by a friend in Alberta who stated they were from Alaska at the time ----- Original Message ----- From: "David Christie" To: Cc: ; "Maria Forman" Sent: Wednesday, February 03, 2010 8:09 PM Subject: Re: [NatureNS] white moose in Wentworth? > At 6:48 PM -0400 2/3/10, Maria Forman wrote: > >>OKSI just received an email from a family member with pics of two white >>moose, near WentworthSWhen I scanned thru the pics, there was a bird in >>one that I had never seen around here before, and I live at the foot of >>Folly Mountain, which is not far from WentworthStherefore, I'm wondering >>if these moose were really in the Wentworth area. They're pretty cool >>looking, I must say! I > > > Over the years, I've seen about 20 different photos of white moose being > circulated on the Internet. Those photos get sent around a lot and people > keep changing the place where they are supposed to have been taken. One > week, a given moose is from Bathurst, NB, then from Shelburne, NS, a month > later from Newfoundland. > > Thus, it's difficult to know where a photo actually originated -- but very > likely not Wentworth. I think that the bird Maria mentions is probably a > Black-billed Magpie, suggesting that one photo at least was taken in > western North America. I do recall hearing that there is some area of > northern Ontario, where albinism in Moose is rather frequent, but I'm not > sure how reliable that is either. > > > David > > -- > > David Christie > Mary's Point, Harvey, Albert Co., New Brunswick, Canada > http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt > Subject: Re: white moose in Wentworth? From: "Sandy Hiltz" <birddog AT ns.sympatico.ca> Date: Wed, 3 Feb 2010 20:27:08 -0400 Pretty sure these are from Alaska. I saw them several years ago , sent by a friend in Alberta who stated they were from Alaska at the time ----- Original Message ----- From: "David Christie" To: Cc: ; "Maria Forman" Sent: Wednesday, February 03, 2010 8:09 PM Subject: Re: [NatureNS] white moose in Wentworth? > At 6:48 PM -0400 2/3/10, Maria Forman wrote: > >>OKSI just received an email from a family member with pics of two white >>moose, near WentworthSWhen I scanned thru the pics, there was a bird in >>one that I had never seen around here before, and I live at the foot of >>Folly Mountain, which is not far from WentworthStherefore, I'm wondering >>if these moose were really in the Wentworth area. They're pretty cool >>looking, I must say! I > > > Over the years, I've seen about 20 different photos of white moose being > circulated on the Internet. Those photos get sent around a lot and people > keep changing the place where they are supposed to have been taken. One > week, a given moose is from Bathurst, NB, then from Shelburne, NS, a month > later from Newfoundland. > > Thus, it's difficult to know where a photo actually originated -- but very > likely not Wentworth. I think that the bird Maria mentions is probably a > Black-billed Magpie, suggesting that one photo at least was taken in > western North America. I do recall hearing that there is some area of > northern Ontario, where albinism in Moose is rather frequent, but I'm not > sure how reliable that is either. > > > David > > -- > > David Christie > Mary's Point, Harvey, Albert Co., New Brunswick, Canada > http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt > Subject: Re: white moose in Wentworth? From: David Christie <MarysPt AT nbnet.nb.ca> Date: Wed, 3 Feb 2010 20:09:03 -0400 At 6:48 PM -0400 2/3/10, Maria Forman wrote: >OKŠI just received an email from a family member with pics of two white moose, near WentworthŠWhen I scanned thru the pics, there was a bird in one that I had never seen around here before, and I live at the foot of Folly Mountain, which is not far from WentworthŠtherefore, I'm wondering if these moose were really in the Wentworth area. They're pretty cool looking, I must say! I Over the years, I've seen about 20 different photos of white moose being circulated on the Internet. Those photos get sent around a lot and people keep changing the place where they are supposed to have been taken. One week, a given moose is from Bathurst, NB, then from Shelburne, NS, a month later from Newfoundland. Thus, it's difficult to know where a photo actually originated -- but very likely not Wentworth. I think that the bird Maria mentions is probably a Black-billed Magpie, suggesting that one photo at least was taken in western North America. I do recall hearing that there is some area of northern Ontario, where albinism in Moose is rather frequent, but I'm not sure how reliable that is either. David -- David Christie Mary's Point, Harvey, Albert Co., New Brunswick, Canada http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt Subject: Re: white moose in Wentworth? From: "Jeannie Shermerhorn" <jeannies AT ns.sympatico.ca> Date: Wed, 3 Feb 2010 19:28:01 -0400 I would love to see them jeannies AT ns.sympatico.ca Thank you,Jeannie Subject: RE: white moose in Wentworth? From: "D W Bridgehouse" <d.bridgehouse AT ns.sympatico.ca> Date: Wed, 3 Feb 2010 19:01:06 -0400 Hi Maria - I would love to see these pix Thanx ,Derek B From: naturens-owner AT chebucto.ns.ca [mailto:naturens-owner AT chebucto.ns.ca] On Behalf Of Maria Forman Sent: February-03-10 6:48 PM To: naturens AT chebucto.ns.ca Subject: [NatureNS] white moose in Wentworth? OK.I just received an email from a family member with pics of two white moose, near Wentworth.When I scanned thru the pics, there was a bird in one that I had never seen around here before, and I live at the foot of Folly Mountain, which is not far from Wentworth.therefore, I'm wondering if these moose were really in the Wentworth area. They're pretty cool looking, I must say! If anyone wants to see these pics, let me know your email address and I will forward them along. Maria Forman Debert, NS Subject: white moose in Wentworth? From: "Maria Forman" <philmaria AT xplornet.com> Date: Wed, 3 Feb 2010 18:48:14 -0400 OK.I just received an email from a family member with pics of two white moose, near Wentworth.When I scanned thru the pics, there was a bird in one that I had never seen around here before, and I live at the foot of Folly Mountain, which is not far from Wentworth.therefore, I'm wondering if these moose were really in the Wentworth area. They're pretty cool looking, I must say! If anyone wants to see these pics, let me know your email address and I will forward them along. Maria Forman Debert, NS Subject: bird notes, Feb. 1 & 3, 2010 From: "James W. Wolford" <jimwolford AT eastlink.ca> Date: Wed, 03 Feb 2010 16:21:38 -0400 EB. 1, 2010 - Today our occasional red-breasted nuthatch showed up briefly at the feeders. A couple of days ago we saw a male flicker, and unusually a downy woodpecker was at the safflower-seed feeder -- mainly the chickadees and cardinals like the safflower seeds, which I buy at Shur-Gain in Port Williams. FEB. 3, 2010 - Today at our feeders a very SMALL SPARROW appeared -- either a chipping sparrow, most likely, or a clay-coloured sparrow, hopefully to be determined on its return. Bernard Forsythe tells me that there is a small flock of about 5 chipping sparrows overwintering just east of Hennigar's Farm Market at Greenwich, in and around a thicket of Japanese knotweed and probably visiting a nearby feeder. Also recently Bernard was walking in the southernmost part of the Acadia Woodland Trails and found a mixed flock of cedar and Bohemian waxwings, which were feeding on the abundant berries of glossy buckthorn there. Also for the Eagles/Raptors Count on Jan. 31, I hoped to add Bernard Forsythe's BARRED OWL(S) on Wolfville Ridge, but for some reason neither one came to be fed this evening in Bernard's back yard (although they did so on previous and following eves). Cheers from Jim in Wolfville Jim (James W.) Wolford 91 Wickwire Ave. Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada B4P 1W3 phone 902-542-9204 e-mail "In wildness is the preservation of the world" -- Henry David Thoreau Subject: "Province Finalizes Deal With Irving" From: "Dusan Soudek" <soudekd AT ns.sympatico.ca> Date: Wed, 3 Feb 2010 16:25:18 -0400 Province Finalizes Land Deal with Irving Department of Natural Resources February 3, 2010 10:36 AM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The province is working to reach its economic and environmental goals with the recently completed purchase of 65,000 acres of J.D. Irving land in Annapolis, Digby, Yarmouth, and Cumberland counties. The land will support wilderness protection, heritage conservation, tourism, recreation, community use, fishing, hunting and potential Mi'kmaq uses. Some of the land will help protect jobs in the forestry industry in rural Nova Scotia. Natural Resources Minister John MacDonell said the government is making a sound investment. "Economically, an investment in land is always smart. This deal will give Nova Scotia a greater chance to lease land to enhance forestry activities, help municipalities protect their water supplies, and provide wilderness recreation spaces for tourism and health." Of the land purchased, about half will support economic development, recreation activities and potential Mi'kmaq uses. The remaining land has higher conservation values and will be a focus for environmental protection, which could also develop into economic advantages. "This purchase includes some exceptional natural land for protection," said Minister of Environment Sterling Belliveau. "This land will help the province meet its goal of protecting 12 per cent of Nova Scotia's land mass by 2015." Currently, 8.5 per cent of the province's land mass is protected. Detailed protection decisions will be made over the next few years as part of the province's broader protected areas planning process, which will include opportunities for involvement by the public and interested groups. "All lands are a priority for the Mi'kmaq and we are pleased that the Nova Scotia government is taking the Mi'kmaq into consideration," said Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi'kmaq Chiefs co-chair, Chief Gerard Julian of Paqtnkek First Nations. "Presently, we are still in discussions within the Made-in-Nova Scotia process and the purchase of these Irving lands and any future lands are discussions that will continue." Buy Back Nova Scotia, a coalition of 75 organizations representing hunters, fishers, paddlers, off-road vehicle enthusiasts, municipalities, outdoor guide and tourism businesses, environmental protection groups, and social organizations, is pleased with the purchase. "The purchase of these lands is something every Nova Scotian can celebrate," said coalition member Sandra Phinney. "It means holding on to heritage and traditional lifestyle, as well as ensuring future generations that we are not selling land beneath their feet for commercial purposes." The province confirmed in early January that it intended to buy the land, for $40 million from its $75 million budget for large land purchases. For maps and photos of the land purchased, visit www.gov.ns.ca/natr . -30- Media Contacts: David Salter Natural Resources 902-424-5239 E-mail: salterdj AT gov.ns.ca Bruce Nunn Department of Environment 902-424-6427 Cell: 902-476-6454 E-mail: nunnbx AT gov.ns.ca Subject: RE: seal From: jen cooper <iffercooper AT hotmail.com> Date: Wed, 3 Feb 2010 18:58:00 +0000 'tis the season. http://www.fisherycrisis.com/seals/greysealhunt.htm From: jeannies AT ns.sympatico.ca To: naturens AT chebucto.ns.ca Subject: [NatureNS] seal Date: Tue, 2 Feb 2010 10:51:33 -0400 While out walking on Point Michaud beach in Cape Breton with friends we came across a dead seal which looked to have been clubbed on the head.I have a photo if anyone would like to confirm this.If it is true I think it's just awful that someone would do this! Jeannie _________________________________________________________________ Introducing Windows® phone. http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9708122 Subject: Re: Varied Thrush From: Dennis Garratt <dccalden AT googlemail.com> Date: Tue, 2 Feb 2010 19:45:33 -0400 More details please. Where and is it possible to view it? Thank you - Dennis On 2-Feb-10, at 5:49 PM, V. Redden wrote: > A friend of mine has had a Varied Thrush at her bird feeder for two > days now. She lives at Avonport Beach in Hants Co. > Virginia Redden > Port Howe > Cumb co > > Subject: Varied Thrush From: "V. Redden" <Reddenville AT nncweb.ca> Date: Tue, 02 Feb 2010 17:49:44 -0400 A friend of mine has had a Varied Thrush at her bird feeder for two days now. She lives at Avonport Beach in Hants Co. Virginia Redden Port Howe Cumb co Subject: peregrine falcon at Port Williams Sunday, Jan. 31`/10 From: "James W. Wolford" <jimwolford AT eastlink.ca> Date: Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:56:56 -0400 Begin forwarded message: > From: "James W. Wolford" > Date: February 2, 2010 1:31:36 AM AST > To: "George E. Forsyth" > Subject: peregrine falcon in Pt. Wms. on Sunday, Jan. 31/10 re > eagles count > > George, that's fabulous. Just today I was telling someone that our > annual count usually finds a peregrine falcon, but not so this > year. I will cheat a bit and add yours to the count totals for the > area for that day. OK if I put this note on the two naturalists > lists? Cheers and thanks from Jim -- this is why I pay all you > guys the big bucks to participate! > > Begin forwarded message: > >> From: George Forsyth >> Date: February 1, 2010 10:42:46 PM AST >> To: "James W. Wolford" >> Cc: George Forsyth >> Subject: Re: [NatureNS] 2010 Eagles/Raptors Count Results + Eagle >> Watch report >> >> Hi Jim, >> >> After lunch on Sunday I went for a walk on the dykes across the >> road from my house in Port Williams and south of Port Williams >> School there was a peregrine falcon perched in a tree on the edge >> of the dyke field, it flew out over the field and returned to the >> same perch. I had a wonderful view of it both perched and flying. >> I have not seen one here in Port Williams in the winter before. >> >> Thanks for organizing us for the CKC [eagles/raptors] count. >> George >> >> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ >> George E. Forsyth ph. 902 681 4910 >> c/o Evangeline Middle School fax. 902 681 4909 >> 9387 Commercial St. >> New Minas, N.S. >> B4N 3G3 >> >> > Subject: New yard bird! From: Patrick Kelly <patrick.kelly AT DAL.CA> Date: Tue, 2 Feb 2010 15:55:32 -0400 Hi everyone: I was on my way out to run errands this afternoon, and walked around my car and startled a small brown bird that flew into a small pile of logs. It didn't look quite like a sparrow so I slowly walked over to investigate. It ran across the ground and then started moving along the snow-free area next to the foundation. It was my first really close look at a winter wren, even if it was only for about 30 seconds before it went under the verandah and i had to leave for an appointment. Pat = = ======================================================================== Patrick Kelly Director of Computer Facilities = = ======================================================================== Faculty of Architecture and Planning Dalhousie University = = ======================================================================== PO Box 1000 Stn Central 5410 Spring Garden Road Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 2X4 Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 2X4 Canada Canada = = ======================================================================== Phone:(902) 494-3294 FAX:(902) 423-6672 E-mail:patrick.kelly AT dal.ca = = ======================================================================== Subject: seal From: "Jeannie Shermerhorn" <jeannies AT ns.sympatico.ca> Date: Tue, 2 Feb 2010 10:51:33 -0400 While out walking on Point Michaud beach in Cape Breton with friends we came across a dead seal which looked to have been clubbed on the head.I have a photo if anyone would like to confirm this.If it is true I think it's just awful that someone would do this! Jeannie Subject: thanks From: Terry Crowell <terrycrowell99 AT hotmail.com> Date: Tue, 2 Feb 2010 06:39:06 -0400 Thanks Ken. _________________________________________________________________ Introducing Windows® phone. http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9708122 Subject: Bald Eagles From: "Dorothy" <dort AT ns.sympatico.ca> Date: Tue, 2 Feb 2010 06:39:22 -0400 Sorry to be late reporting this but there were three mature Bald Eagles near the "Cove Road" Doctors Cove yesterday. They were hovering and harassing each other. I had seen them in the distance as I was driving to Barrington and by the time I got closer they had dropped down low enough for me to easily identify them. This is the first time I have seen that many together in this area. Eileen Hubley told me that not long after I had sited the birds that she had seen two Eagles at her place (in the same vicinity). In past weeks we have also had a couple of visits from a Sharp Shinned hawk. Once he sat on my mail box post and the next time he sat in the Maple tree on my front lawn. Happy Birding Dorothy Cameron Popes Rd Woods Harbour, NS Subject: question From: Terry Crowell <terrycrowell99 AT hotmail.com> Date: Mon, 1 Feb 2010 20:23:29 -0400 Has there ever been an eastern kingbird in Nova Scotia this time of the year? Terry Crowell _________________________________________________________________ Subject: Results of Wolfville 2009 CBC From: Alison <alison AT bogan.ca> Date: Mon, 01 Feb 2010 19:30:36 -0400 Below are the results of the Wolfville CBC. It was not a great year for either number of species or individuals, but we had a cold windy day for the count, which may have had a bearing on results. Merritt Gibson told us that this was his 55th CBC, which I thought was remarkable! Wolfville NS 2009 CBC Dec 19 2009 7:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Temp -10 to -6, wind WNW 10 to 50 kph 5 to 15 cm snow on the ground Still water: partly open Moving Water: open A.M. light snow P.M. partly clear 57 observers in field in 31 parties and 92 feeder watchers at 72 feeders / yards. 126.25 hours at feeders; 0 hours owling Total party hours 159.5 and party kms 955 in the field 86.5 hours and 173.5 km on foot 73 hours and 781.5 km by car 0 hours and 0 km by boat Compiler: Alison Bogan Feeder watch compiler: Jim Wolford, Species List 2009 Wolfville CBC Canada Goose - 915 Am. Black Duck - 1255 Mallard - 574 N Pintail - 4 W-winged Scoter - 3 Com. Goldeneye - 7 Com. Merganser - 69 Red-breasted Merganser - 2 RN Pheasant - 244 Ruffed Grouse - 4 Common Loon - 2 Horned Grebe - 2 GB Heron - 1 Bald Eagle - 254 ( 124 adult, 129 imm., 1 unk.) N. Harrier - 1 S-S Hawk - 11 R-T Hawk - 122 Rough-legged Hawk - 2 Merlin -2 Peregrine Falcon - 3 Ring-billed Gull - 27 Herring Gull - 2086 Iceland Gull - 4 Lesser BB Gull - 1 Great BB Gull 624 Gull sp. -59 Rock Pigeon - 502 Mourning dove - 1119 Barred Owl - 4 Downy Woodpecker - 88 Hairy Woodpecker - 70 N. Flicker - 50 Pileated Woodpecker - 7 Blue Jay - 1470 Am. Crow - 4072 Common Raven - 304 Horned Lark - 43 Bl.Cap. Chickadee - 1136 Boreal Chickadee - 2 Red-br. Nuthatch - 27 White-br. Nuthatch - 60 Brown Creeper - 3 Golden-cr. Kinglet - 21 Ruby-cr. Kinglet - 1 Am. Robin - 94 Euro. Starling - 7163 Cedar Waxwing - 25 Amer. Tree Sparrow - 55 Chipping Spar. -2 Savannah Spar. 3 Song Spar. -229 Swamp Spar. - 1 White-thr. Spar. - 122 Dark-eyed Junco - 267 Snow Bunting - 217 Northern Cardinal -26 Red-winged Blackbird - 4 Common Grackle - 3 Purple Finch 9 White-winged Crossbill -11 Common Redpoll 6 Pine Siskin - 8 Amer. Goldfinch - 1343 Evening Grosbeak - 30 House Sparrow - 123 Total individuals - 25194 Total species 64 Count week species: Northern Mockingbird Subject: Eagles - Middle Dyke Rd Sunday noon From: "Judy Tufts" <tandove AT ns.sympatico.ca> Date: Mon, 1 Feb 2010 18:48:36 -0400 Sun Jan 31/10 When I left the Community Centre around NOON after participating in the annual Eagles and Raptors Count I headed to the chief Bald Eagle observation/feeding area at n. end of Middle Dyke Rd.- "Swetnam's Field" as Jim Wolford calls it- with much care through all the cars parked on either side of the road, doing a little dipsy-doodling to avoid cars heading straight for me! There was no visible food out but there were many eagles. On the tree line to the right on that field (as one faces the field) there were at least 34 Bald Eagles (20 ads and at least 9 imms that I could identify). Another 20+ were perched in the left-hand tree line and another five or so were restlessly wandering back and forth among the trees at the back of the field. I did not break down this grouping into ads vs imms. as I had to leave, but there were definitely MORE adults than imms. Cheers, Judy >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Judy Tufts Wolfville <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Subject: re Ulli's report Eagle Watch II From: "James W. Wolford" <jimwolford AT eastlink.ca> Date: Mon, 01 Feb 2010 18:04:56 -0400 Thanks, Ulli, for your report. You have much more patience than most people, I think, since you waited a long time during the first Eagle Watch Weekend, too. In afternoon I was interviewed by the Global TV guy, because I was handy in the Hall and Richard Hennigar was not, but I haven't had a chance to watch the Global Newscasts to see what they showed. Cheers from Jim in Wolfville On 31-Jan-10, at 10:22 PM, uhoeger AT dal.ca wrote: > The weather today was to good not to do it. > I left this morning for my 3rd trip this year to the well know > eagle watch and feeding site in > Sheffield Mills. > When I got there ~8:20 the bait was already out and ~30 eagles in > the trees showed no > interest in breakfast. Most left during the morning, just a > handful remained nearby. > Just after 11 gulls started to show some interest in the chicken, > and made the eagles > reconsider their lunch plans. > Todays feeding frenzy wasn't even close to what happened last week > Saturday. About 30 - > 40 eagles took it fairly easy at the buffet for 30 - 40 minutes. By > 12:30 all was done. > Lots of people standing around for more or less time, not as many > as last weekend. A TV > crew was interviewing some people, Global I think was the station > in case someone is > interested in what people had to say. > > Ulli > > > Subject: 2010 Eagles/Raptors Count Results + Eagle Watch report From: "James W. Wolford" <jimwolford AT eastlink.ca> Date: Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:54:58 -0400 JAN. 30, 2010 (cont.) - Later I heard from Richard Hennigar that some of the Sheffield Mills bald eagles were uncharacteristically still feeding in that Middle Dyke Road field with the dead chickens in very late afternoon/dusk, by which time most or all of the eagles are usually in their overnight roosts. JAN. 31, 2010 - Providence delivered a beautiful perfect, wintry, sunny day for the 19th ANNUAL EAGLE WATCH WEEKEND II SUNDAY and for the 29TH ANNUAL CYRIL K. COLDWELL EAGLES AND RAPTORS COUNT OF EASTERN KING'S COUNTY. 29th EAGLES/RAPTORS COUNT RESULTS: Sunday, Jan. 31, 2010 It was sunny and very cold, with temperatures from -14 to -9 C., and the wind from the west was much more moderate than on the previous two days. We had 27 observers in 16 field parties from 10 to 11 a.m. in designated areas, and the preliminary results were the following totals: 427 BALD EAGLES -- 245 adults (58%), 176 immatures (42%), 6 unknown age; 54 RED-TAILED HAWKS, including the WHITE one at Hortonville; 4 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS (one in dark phase); 1 SHARP-SHINNED HAWK; 1 MERLIN; 2 COYOTES (n. & e. of Grand Pre, & s. and e. of Canning ); also 15 horned larks, 150 waxwings(mostly cedars?), 12 robins, 3 cardinals. I may write a bit more later on this count and our 29 years of history of these counts. Thanks to everyone who participated, and I hope everyone had a few thoughts for our late mentors Cyril Coldwell and Peter C. Smith on Sunday. Needless to say, we are all free to do something else next Sunday, although the Eagle Watch minus the breakfast will still be on at the Sheffield Mills Community Hall, with displays, coffee, tea, juice, muffins, warmth, bathrooms, etc. --------------------- (The waxwings, robins, and 2 of the cardinals were in my Wolfville neighborhood.) The EAGLE WATCH at the Community Hall went very well today, in marked contrast to the very slow day yesterday (horrible weather). Today they served about 400 breakfasts, and the volunteer cooks et al. were going "flat out" all morning and into early afternoon. I left the Hall at 2:30 p.m. and checked on what was happening at "Swetnam's Field" (feeding site at n. end of Middle Dyke Rd.). There were about 20 bald eagles present, mostly perched in the trees ringing the field, but some were flying both high and low, and on the ground at the carrion were about 25 great black-backed gulls and up to 10 ravens. Quite a few vehicles and photographers were still present, quite a few people were out of their cars in the cold with the wind at their backs and hoping for some action. When there are perched eagles and some are flying, it's always interesting to watch those in the air when they decides it's time to perch. Eagles are very social during the non-breeding season, and they must know a lot of individuals by sight. Although there are usually lots of empty branches on which to land, flying individuals often seem to relish choosing a target eagle to displace, and I imagine there must be a complex dominance hierarchy among them based on experience plus size and age. Remember that, at all ages, including among the nestlings still in the nest, females are considerably larger than males, in all raptors (the opposite from most birds in which males are largest). Also recall that fledging eagles are already as large or larger than they will ever get. Thus these social interactions are always fun to watch, both in the trees and on the ground when displacing others in order to steal food. Cheers from Jim in Wolfville