Rescuing a Northern Saw-whet Owl

 

                                   Northern Saw-whet Owl in Rescue Box  [Jennifer Pierce Photo]

Just a week before Christmas, December 17, Jennifer Pierce was going to work in the early morning on Grand Manan.  It was dark and cold outside.  Being a keen birder she spotted something very small in the middle of the road.  She recognized it immediately as a bird.  On getting closer she could see it was a small owl.  Pulling her car over, she grabbed a towel,  jumped out and expertly snatched the small creature off the highway and into safety.  She was able to see that the bird was injured and needed help.  At that time of the morning it is not easy to work out what was needed and especially knowing that the bird had to get to the mainland quickly.  During the next hour or two (all while at work) she arranged for the bird to be transported to the ferry by Rebecca, to be allowed on the ferry, to be picked up in Blacks Harbour by a Department of Natural Resources and Energy staff member and be transported to Saint John where it would be seen by Dr. Cathy Adams of Fairvale Animal Hospital and then be transported to the Atlantic Wildlife Institute in Cookville, NB (north of Sackville).  

At the Fairvale Animal Hospital Dr. Cathy Adams diagnosed a fractured wing and head trauma.  She skillfully stabilized the wing and referred the patient to the Atlantic Wildlife Institute for nursing care and rehabilitation.  

                The Northern Saw-whet Owl Patient With Wing Stabilized    [Dr. Cathy Adams Photo]

The last word from the Atlantic Wildlife Institute is that the little owl is recuperating.  We are thankful to all who participated in its long journey to treatment and recovery.  

This successful treatment of an injured bird shows how well we value our wildlife.  It is impressive how well Jennifer Pierce handled the patient: how quickly she spotted it and realized it needed help, how expertly she gathered information and arranged transportation and help for it, how well she managed to safely package the patient and get it safely and quickly in the hands of Dr. Adams from a remote location. The ferry staff recognized the importance of a safe delivery of the patient to the mainland.  DNRE staff also were able and willing to arrange pick-up and safely delivery it to Saint John.  Dr. Adams was able to examine and treat the patient in a timely manner and then arranged transport to Cookville.  All this for a tiny, feisty patient a mere 20 cm (8 inches) tall.  Thank you to all who participated and thank you to New Brunswickers who ethically value our wildlife and ecosystem.  A huge thank you to Jennifer who was key in the final recovery of this patient.  Thanks for all the free rides including the ferry.  Thanks for the free veterinary service, nursing care and rehabilitation.  We NB birders are proud of you all!  

The Fairvale Animal Hospital is located at 1 Campbell Drive, Rothesay, NB and can be reached at 506-847-7519.

The Atlantic Wildlife Institute is located at 220 Cookville Rd, Cookville, NB E4L 1Z8 and is run by Dr. Pam Novak and staff. It is a registered Canadian charity and depends on the generosity of the community for its funding.  It can be reached at 506-364-1902.  Please give a donation or consider becoming a volunteer.  Go to atlanticwildlife.ca or access it through Facebook by searching Atlantic Wildlife Institute.

For all birders of NB, this is a wonderful Christmas present.  Many thanks to all involved in enabling this little owl to continue its life history as a New Brunswick resident owl.  

Northern Cardinal - An Invasion

                                                    Northern Cardinal  [Dick Franck Photo]

This fall we have had an invasion of Northern Cardinals into New Brunswick.  The term 'invasion' is used to indicate the movement of a population of what normally would be permanent residents elsewhere into new territory.  The terms, 'irruption' or 'incursion' are also used for this movement.  The movement is without periodicity, i.e., it does not necessarily repeat itself annually.  Northern Cardinals are generally a non-migratory species so to see hundreds of them move into New Brunswick is an unusual phenomenon.

 We have received reports of Cardinals in the last 6 to 8 weeks from all over the province, even from areas where they have not been seen before.  Often these reports include multiple birds, 3 or 4.  One report from St. George was of 13 individuals at a feeder area.  This is unprecedented here.  Several reports are from the north or the Moncton area or east coast where before a Cardinal was an unusual find.

So what is happening?  The examples of movements among bird populations which do not conform to seasonal migration or which we do not understand are termed by ornithologists, 'irregular migrations'.  If it involves a movement of permanent residents from elsewhere, it is an 'invasion'.  The young of many species on reaching maturity in late summer often wander for great distances.  This is termed, 'juvenile wandering'.  It is common in egrets, herons, gulls and other species.  The most common cause for juvenile wandering is that they cannot compete with older birds for territory and food resources.   They then have to wander until they find adequate food and habitat.  

                                                                   Northern Cardinal Male

The case with the Northern Cardinals we are seeing here this fall appears to be an invasion, not juvenile wandering because the bulk of them seem to be adults and often in pairs.  I well remember when we had no Cardinals here.  The first ones moved in in the 1950s.  Between 1952 and 1970 there were reports of 20 individuals in the province.  After that reports gradually increased.  The first nesting report was from Saint John in 1980.  Those early reports are probably juvenile wanderings but the latest movement containing adults is an invasion, a very desirable one!

I had to go to Toronto to see my first Northern Cardinal in the early 1960s.  Now many of us have them coming to our feeders and nesting in our yards and woodlots.  Ontario once did not have any Cardinals either.  The first record of one appearing in southern Ontario was in November, 1896.  There were few reports there until 1910 after which numbers gradually increased.  Southern Ontario had a marked incursion in the fall and winter of 1938-39.  So mass movements of populations do occur in this species.  There are reports of Cardinals sometimes gathering in large groups of more than 60 to 70 birds in sheltered habitats in winter.  

As we all know, the Cardinal is a wonderful songster.  His beautiful colour, his song and his pleasing behaviour around our yards make him a welcome addition.  Let's look at his singing ability.  Both genders sing, a trait which does not occur in every bird species.  This bird sings a variety of gurgling and whistling songs.  In fact, they sing more than 28 different songs.  Some can be described as 'whoit cheer, whoit cheer, cheer, cheer, cheer' or 'birdy birdy birdy'  or a metallic 'pik'.  The songs of the male and female are indistinguishable.  The female ceases to sing when she starts nesting.

Did you know that a courting pair sometimes sings in unison?  I have not heard that.  The males are ardent courters.  They start by chasing the female from branch to branch.  When he gets close to her he stretches out his neck and raises his crest.  Both birds will sway their bodies from side to side and often sing together at that time.  Sometimes the male will sing from a branch with his wings partly spread and drooping.  If the female comes close he sings softly to her.  Sometimes he will approach a female and land slightly above her.  He extends his neck, raises his crest and slowly moves down towards her in a sliding motion.  The female may then accept him or may move off to another branch where he comes and repeats the 'dance'.

Cardinals make good 'parents'.  Both adults rear the young and 2 or more broods are raised.  Three or four broods are raised in the south of their range.  Young cardinals begin to sing at an early age.  Their first songs are soft warblings.  Cardinals prefer woodlands, scrublands, wetlands and gardens.  We have plenty of habitat to accommodate the young.  The increase in Cardinal population caused by this incursion is welcome and these birds should become permanent New Brunswick residents.

Evening Grosbeak

                                                                   Evening Grosbeak - Male
 The Evening Grosbeak (Coccothraustes vespertinus) is a large finch of the family Fringillidae.  It has been commonly seen this fall in small to large flocks around feeders and roadsides.  It loves sunflower seeds so is drawn to our many feeders.

This species is listed as an irregular, uncommon to common resident and migrant to New Brunswick.  Flocks move in erratic patterns hence the 'irregular' descriptor.  It has not always been a resident of New Brunswick.  It was first reported in 1913 as a visitor from western Canada.  It slowly became more frequent until the 1940s when a breeding report came from Tabusintac.  During the spruce budworm infestation of 1950 to 1980 it became very common.  I remember the request by our avian biologists to look for their nests in the late 1950s in an attempt to establish them as a resident breeder.  I also remember seeing flocks on the sides of the roads in the 1950s and 1960s as they fed on tree seeds and salt spread on the roads in winter.  Many times I heard the local people saying, 'What are those yellow birds?'

The Evening Grosbeak species was first described in 1850 by Charles Lucien Bonaparte.  It was not found east of the Great Lakes before the 1890s.

The population numbers of this breed have dropped off since the populous days in the 1960s but it still breeds in much of the province.  This year we have had reports of flocks from the north to the south.  They seem to be making a comeback this year.  Since this species is erratic, we may see them all winter but they may move on to Quebec or Maine.

                       Evening Grosbeak Flock Showing Males and Females  [Marc Schneider Photo]

The Evening Grosbeak is a large, noisy, boisterous finch.  It is 20 cm (8 in) long.  It is almost always in flocks.  It is boldly patterned and has a short tail.  The males are an unmistakable yellow, black and white.  The bill is remarkably large.  They are not called 'grosbeaks' for nothing.  I am warning you - you don't want to get bitten by one (I have).  The male has a rich dark brown on the head and neck which extends down the back.  He has black and yellow on the crown and forehead.  The lower back, breast and belly are bright yellow and the wings and tail are black.  He sports white secondary and tertial wing feathers which show as a big white patch on his back when perched.  See photo below.

                                                Evening Grosbeak  Male  [Marbeth Wilson Photo]

The female is much more subdued.  She is greyish brown above and a muted yellow below.  Her throat is whitish and she also has black wings and tail.  Her white patches on the wings are more subdued.  Unlike the male she has large white spots at the tip of her tail.

The only species one would mistake the Evening Grosbeak for is the Hawfinch of Europe.  There it comes to feeders in winter but is shyer than the Evening Grosbeak.  I am not aware of any records of this species from New Brunswick.

The Evening Grosbeak prefers coniferous forest but also inhabits mixed woods.  It has adapted well to coming to feeders to the delight of people.  By its noisy behaviour we always know when it is present.  

The Evening Grosbeak is a year-round resident all across Canada mostly in the southern part.  This range extends into the western US and northern Mexico.  It winters slightly south of this range.  This species breeds in conifers where the female builds a loose cup nest of twigs lined with rootlets.  It lays 3 to 5 blue green eggs spotted with brown and purple.  The diet consists of seeds of trees and shrubs, juniper berries, insects, nuts, maple sap and buds of deciduous trees.  It is difficult to describe its song, except that it is loud and unmistakable.  It has been described as a series of short, musical whistles.  When flocking they make a 'scree' sound.  

Although we rarely see it, the male performs a courtship dance for the female.  He raises his head and tail droops his vibrating wings and swivels back and forth.  He frequently feeds the female.  Both may bow alternately.  

This species is remarkable in the quantity of seeds they can devour from your feeders.  A single bird has been measured to consume 96 sunflower seeds in 5 minutes!  

Ring-billed Gull

                                                       Ring-billed Gulls in Breeding Plumage

The Ring-billed Gulls are with us for the summer season.  They often make up a significant portion of flocks of gulls.  An adaptable, interesting species such as this is worth learning more about.  

Many people consider gulls dirty and unworthy of our consideration.  That is not true at all.  Look at the photos in this post and notice how clean these birds are.  Their whites are pristine as is the rest of their bodies.  I doubt if humans would remain this clean and this alert if living under the same conditions.  The only 'dirty' gulls I have ever seen (and they are few in number) are sick individuals.  The rest of the many gull species maintain their beautiful plumage and sharp eyes.  

Gulls are often discounted by beginning birders, perhaps because they can be difficult to identify.  I have learned over the years that they are definitely worth a second or third look.  They are very interesting and one can often get quite close to them.  They can be a good test of advanced birding skills.

                                                     Ring-billed Gull in Breeding Plumage

The Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) is classed as a 'Small White-headed Gull' in a group known as 'Typical Gulls'. It is the smallest of the white-headed gulls.  It may be the most populous gull in the world.  It is likely the most familiar gull in North America.  It is found mid-latitude in North America and winters to Middle America.  Vagrants sometimes stray to Europe, West Africa and Hawaii.  This species breeds across much of Canada from Alberta to New Brunswick mostly in the southern parts, but also somewhat below the US/Canadian border and along the shores of the Gulf of St. Lawrence including Gaspé and Anticosti Island.  It is a full-time resident around the southern Great Lakes and in areas of Washington State and Idaho.  During migration it can be found in southern B.C., northern Ontario, in Newfoundland throughout the island and along the coast of Labrador.  As you can see, this gull gets around!  Here in New Brunswick they arrive in April or May and stay until November or December.  The photo below shows an individual which has learned that food is available on our crow feeder and has come every fall for several years now.  It will stay for a few weeks depending on weather (late November at time of writing).    

                                                   Ring-billed Gull in Non-breeding Plumage

The Ring-billed Gull is a 3-cycle gull.  It takes 3 years for it to become an adult and it goes through several plumage changes and other anatomical changes during this development.  This species goes through the following stages with changes in appearance happening gradually throughout the changes:  juvenile, first cycle, second cycle, third cycle, adult non-breeding, adult breeding.  No wonder gulls can be difficult to identify!  The 3 photos above show adult gulls in breeding and non-breeding plumages.

The Ring-billed Gull is a medium-sized gull with a pale gray back (mantle), yellow legs, black ring on a yellow bill, and pale yellow eyes.  Its head, neck, breast and belly are white.  In breeding plumage the pale yellow eye has an orange-red orbital ring.  In non-breeding plumage this becomes black.  The adult has black wing tips with mirrors (white spots) on P9 and P10 (primary wing feathers 1 and 2).  The underwing feathers are white.

The juvenile plumage is a pale gray-brown overall with a white tail with a broad black distal tail band.  The bird is boldly spotted and mottled with brown over a white background.  The eye is black.  The bill shows a pink base with a black tip.  The legs are pink.  First, second and third cycles are gradual transitions from this juvenile plumage to the adult plumage.  The details of these changes are too detailed for this post.  A good place to study these in detail is the book by distinguished larophiles, Steve N. G. Howell and Jon Dunn, Gulls of the Americas, Hougton Mifflin Company, Boston, 2007.

                                            Ring-billed Gull in Adult Breeding Plumage

Here in New Brunswick you won't likely mistake this gull from other gull species.  Rarely a Common Gull arrives from Europe and it is very similar to the Ring-billed.  Out west one has to distinguish it from the California Gull.  

Ring-billed Gulls usually nest in colonies often with other species of gulls and sometimes terns.  They often choose islands in lakes.  Their nest is a depression in the ground lined with grass and small sticks.  Two to four olive to brown eggs spotted with lavender, brown or gray are incubated for 21 to 28 days by both adults.  Although this species often feeds by scavenging, it eats fish, insects, rodents, young birds, and grains.  We have all seen them scavenging on garbage dumps, landfills, and they especially love ploughed fields.  We regularly see large flocks on the fields of the Keswick flats.  They will even grab food off water surfaces while in flight.  This species is sometimes called the 'fast-food gull' because it hangs around fast food restaurants looking for handouts.  

In the 19th century this species was hunted for its plumage with drastic affects on population numbers.  As we all know, it has thankfully rebounded well.  The results of an experiment done with 2-day old Ring-billed Gulls are very interesting.  They showed a preference for magnetic bearings in the direction of their fall migration.  More is being learned in recent times about how birds migrate successfully.

Take a close look at the gulls near you the next time you are out and appreciate how beautiful, successful birds they are.

                                        Ring-billed Gull Showing White Wing Linings

Ash-throated Flycatcher

                                                                    Ash-throated Flycatcher

The Ash-throated Flycatcher (Myiarchus cinerascens) is a large tyrant flycatcher of the family, Tyrannidae.  It is listed as 'casual' here by the Birds of New Brunswick: An Annotated List.  We would see only one or two a year and none in some years.  At present (November, 2020) there is one in Grande Digue, NB, and one in Nova Scotia.  I recently saw and photographed the bird in Grande Digue and that was the third time I had seen one in New Brunswick.  The others were Lower Jemseg (25 Nov 2001) and Westfield (7 Dec 2001).  These two sightings may represent the same bird.  The first confirmed report of this species for New Brunswick was one from North Head, Grand Manan in November, 1985.  Another was from Alma (Nov. 1992) and others from Alma and Sackville in 2002.  There have been others since.

                                                                Ash-throated Flycatcher

The Ash-throated Flycatcher is a large flycatcher, smaller by 1 cm. than our regular summer resident, the Great Crested Flycatcher.  It is 19-22 cm (7.5 to 8.5 inches) long.  Since they are of the same genus (Myiarchus) they look very similar.  As the name implies, the Ash-throated is 'ashen' or lighter in colour.  It has olive-brown upperparts, a very pale gray throat and breast, and a gray-brown tail with rufous highlights.  The wing is blackish-brown with two subdued wing bars and rufous-edged primary wing feathers.  It has a pale yellow belly which is a distinguishing characteristic. The tail shows a dark tip underneath in the adult which helps identify it from other southwestern flycatchers.  Unfortunately none of the photos posted here show this characteristic.  The tail of the juvenile shows a lot of rufous colour.

This species is difficult to identify in its normal range because there are other similar species (Brown-crested and Dusky-capped Flycatchers).  The only flycatcher you would have to distinguish it from here is the Great Crested Flycatcher.  I must admit that I was the one that found the individual in Lower Jemseg in 2001 and I called it a Great Crested Flycatcher at first but it was evident this one was much lighter in colour.  That mistake was quickly corrected.  The important distinguishing feature is that the Ash-throated is much lighter all over and the yellow belly is very pale.  The Great Crested Flycatcher has a bright yellow belly.  

                                            Ash-throated Flycatcher  [Marbeth Wilson Photo]

The normal range for this species is the southwestern US and central Mexico in summer and in the winter it lives on the east and west coasts of Mexico.  It is a permanent resident of Baja California, northwestern Mexico and southern Texas.  So, that makes it a short-range migrant.  It flies a relatively short distance to its winter home.  So why does it end up here?  This species is known for its 'vagrants', i.e., individuals that wander after the breeding season and the late summer moult.  It is not unusual for them to appear on the Atlantic coast anywhere north of Florida.  Most of the vagrant Myiarchus flycatchers are Ash-throated Flycatchers.  So, if we see one here, it is most likely an Ash-throated.  The Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher which appeared in New Brunswick recently is a different species (Myiodynastes).

                                                                Ash-throated Flycatcher

The Ash-throated Flycatcher feeds mainly on insects.  It flies out from a perch to capture them in the air or on the ground.  It will also feed on fruits, berries and, in its regular range, on small lizards.  The bird that is now in Grand Digue is feeding on insects and the berries of the Burning Bush plant.  The  Ash-throated Flycatcher calls frequently during the breeding season but much less during winter.  Its call is a ka-brick or a soft prrrrt.  It also has a long dawn song.

                                Ash-throated Flycatcher Showing Plumage from Below

The Ash-throated Flycatcher prefers desert scrub and riparian, oak or coniferous woodlands.  It is a cavity nester where it builds a loose cup nest of grass, rootlets, and grass stems lined with hair, fur and sometimes snake skins.  It will displace other birds from woodpecker holes to gain a nest site.  Three to seven white eggs streaked with brown are incubated by the female for 15 days.  

                                            Ash-throated Flycatcher  [Marbeth Wilson Photo]

The Ash-throated Flycatcher was first described as a separate species in 1851 by George Newbold Lawrence.  There are two recognized subspecies.  Its population numbers are stable.  The establishment of bluebird box trails in the US has helped.  Its generic name, Myiarchus, is a compound word derived from two Greek words meaning 'fly' and 'ruler' or 'chief'.  Its specific name, cinerascens, comes from Latin and means 'ashen'.  So it is well named; a ruler of flies which is ashen in colour!

Because this species is a cavity nester, I hope it uses some of our vacant bird boxes to help it withstand the cold which is surely coming.  Perhaps it will head south with a flock of robins which is what the Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher has appeared to have done.

Ovenbird

                                                                               Ovenbird

The Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla) is a very common, much loved warbler here in New Brunswick during spring, summer and fall.  Its 'teacher, teacher, teacher' call is heard almost everywhere.  It is a sure species to put on your list when out summer birding.

The ovenbird is a large warbler (15 cm / 6 inches long) which prefers mature deciduous or mixed, open forests with little undergrowth.  It spends much of its time walking on the ground where it feeds.  When seen in the trees it is often just mid-way up. This species is olive brown on its upperparts, white below with bright black stripes in its breast, sides, and throat.  It has a bold white eyering and a dark crown stripe with dull orange between two dark lines.  It often holds its tail up and often looks like a thrush, but smaller.  It walks with an awkward gait and often bobs its head.

                                    Ovenbird on Typical Habitat  [Nelson Poirier Photo]

The Ovenbird breeds in most of Canada from the Rockies east to the Maritimes and Newfoundland, southward to most of the eastern US down to northern Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina.  It spends its winters on the Gulf Coast, Florida, southern Mexico, the West Indies and South America.  

The Ovenbird is named for the unusual nest it builds.  It makes a covered nest on the ground which is domed or oven-shaped with a side door.  It is made of dried leaves and plant fibres and lined with fine grasses.  The 3 to 6 white eggs flecked with gray or brown are incubated by the female for 11 to 14 days.  The female will perform a broken wing display to lure possible predators away from the nest.  I have actually seen this display.  It took me awhile to figure out what the bird was doing.  Ovenbirds eat insects, spiders, snails, worms and sometimes seeds and other vegetation.  We have had one stay at one of our New Brunswick feeders for a good part of one winter where it ate seeds and suet.  

                                                                            Ovenbird

The voice of the Ovenbird is known by most birders, 'teacher teacher teacher'.  It is so familiar one needs only hear it to identify the bird without taking the time to actually see it.  It does, however, have a flight song which it sometimes sings at night.  This song is a long bubbling jumbled warble with some chirps and which ends with the familiar 'teacher teacher teacher'.  I have never heard this song or at least did not recognize it.  

What similar species would one have to differentiate an Ovenbird from (assuming you did not hear the song)?  Since it looks a bit like a small thrush, you would have to look at the size.  You would also have to make sure it was not a Northern Waterthrush (a warbler) which does not have the eyeing, the crown stripe and has a white supercilium which extends behind the eye.  

Although the present population numbers for this species remain reasonably good, one cannot assume all is well.  This species is vulnerable to forest fragmentation.  Fortunately that is one aspect of forest protection that is now being monitored.  I am not sure how well but we hope it is diligent to protect this and other forest species.  

Coyote, Feared or Admired

                                                                Coyote, New Brunswick

The Coyote (Canis latrans) is a native New Brunswick member of the Canidae family.  It is carnivore which lives throughout our province.  It was not present in the province before the mid-1960s when it slowly moved in from Quebec and Maine.  According to a 1974 map found in 'The Mammals of Canada', the range of the coyote in North and Central America included most of Mexico, all of the US except the southeast and southern New England, southern Canada from southern Quebec westward to the west coast and northward to include all of Yukon and most of Alaska.  

I clearly remember the first coyotes I heard in New Brunswick.  It was in 1970 and my husband and I were camping in deep woods near McAdam.  After dark on a cold, clear night we heard an unusual sound.  It quickly became louder and sounded like maniacal laughter or human whaling.  We were confused at first about what it was but soon realized it had to be coyotes.  It was a blood-curdling sound but at the same time very intriguing.  We had spent much of our lives in or near the woods but that was the first time we had heard the unmistakable sound.  From the 1970s on the population of coyotes has steadily increased in New Brunswick to where they have normal population trends of rises and falls depending on the carrying capacity of the habitat and food resources.  It is common for us to hear them howling at night on the outskirts of Fredericton.

I recently read in the news that in October, 2020, a woman near Fredericton was walking her two dogs in a wooded area near the city when she was surrounded by 3 or 4 coyotes.  As she tried to fend them off one attacked one of her dogs.  Fortunately her dogs were leashed.  She called 911 and fought off the one coyote which had one of her dogs in its mouth.  The coyotes had run away by the time help arrived.  Her dog survived but the woman was badly shaken.  Another incident is worse but none-the-less needing to be reported.  In 2009 a female singer from Toronto was visiting Cape Breton and was attacked by two coyotes while hiking the Skyline Trail in Cape Breton Highlands National Park.  She was alone and could not fight off both animals.  Other hikers came along, called for help and chased off the coyotes.  Unfortunately the victim died later in hospital.  Both of these incidents are unusual but serious.

                                                                        Coyote

The Canidae family has 3 members that live in New Brunswick, the timber wolf, the coyote (brush wolf) and the red fox.  Other Canidae members which live in Canada but not New Brunswick include the Arctic Fox, the Grey Fox and the Swift Fox.  The Timber Wolf (Canis lupus) was extirpated from New Brunswick in the 1800s but has recently moved back in small numbers in the north of the province. 

The coyote resembles a 'small, shy German Shepherd' although its bone structure is lighter.  It has a bushy coat and a long bushy tail which droops downward.  Its colour is a  mixed, gray, beige, tan and black.  The muzzle, dorsal aspect of the ears, and forelegs are usually a tan colour.  The throat and belly are white.  The undercoat on the body is beige but the guard hairs are black making a dark dorsal stripe and mottled flanks.  The same colouration goes down the tail ending with a black tip.  The black guard hairs make a dark cross on the shoulders.  There is a heavy moult in June making the animal look more slender in its summer pelage. 

The coyote is 115 to 135 cm (45 to 53 inches) long and the average weight  is about 13.2 kg (29 lbs).  Males are larger than females.  The coyote has a different structure from the wolf.  As well as being smaller, it has a much narrower and more pointed muzzle.  The nose pad is 2.5 cm (1 inch) or less in diameter, a good diagnostic anatomical feature.  When the animal is running the coyote carries its tail low but the wolf carries its tail high.  

The coyote is typically an animal of open country.  It is a very intelligent, adaptable species and has learned to live close to civilization.  Coyotes are a very social animal, living in packs.  Each pack is usually comprised of the male and female and the pups.  Sometimes in winter the packs become larger.  Breeding usually takes place in February and gestation lasts 60 to 63 days.  Litter size is 5 to 7 pups.  Sexual maturity is reached in one year.  Both parents care for the young.  Litters are born and raised in burrows dug in the ground by the female.  See the photos below where we found a coyote den dug in a washed out bank on one of the islands upriver from Fredericton.  The opening was about 45 cm (18 inches) across and more than that in height.  The cavity went deep into the earth and was about a metre (3 feet) in height.  There was a large pile of dirt near the opening.  There were many coyote tracks near the opening but no sign of young (October).  The young had left with the adults and were likely in training.  The pups are very playful and spend much time outside the den during their development.  According to the literature, the den is 2 to 3 metres (6 to 9 feet) in length and 1 metre (3 feet) underground.  

                                                        Coyote Den - Main Opening

                                                    Coyote Den - Alternate Opening

As we know, this species is good at hunting in teams.  They have learned that there is more success by teamwork.  Their diet consists mainly of small mammals, mainly groundhogs, small rodents, and hares, but they also eat birds, eggs, frogs, fish, crayfish, insects, carrion and plants.  They sometimes kill deer when hunting in packs and single coyotes kill many deer fawns by running them down.  

Coyotes are very agile.  They can jump up to 4 metres (14 feet) and run up to 56 km per hour (35 miles an hour).  They are good swimmers and can live anywhere from mountainous terrain to the open prairies.  They are mainly active at night but can be active at dawn or dusk.  The bitch often returns year after year to the same territory to whelp.  Some coyotes travel over large distances.  One tagged individual was recovered 650 km (400 miles) from where it had been tagged. They have been known to live 18 years but the average lifespan is probably less than 9 years.  

Coyotes are very vocal.  Their calls are a series of yelps followed by an odd sounding howl.  They howl usually at night but also in the morning.  Often the pack sits in a circle prior to going on a hunt and the yips, yaps and howls appear to be related to the expectations of the hunt.  They have an acute sense of hearing and smell but their sight is less acute.  They use sight mainly to pick up movement.  Coyotes will chase foxes and bobcats.  The bobcats usually 'lose' them by climbing trees.  Foxes appear to enjoy outsmarting the coyote.  

Coyotes can be hunted and trapped in New Brunswick.  The season is from October 1 to the end of February and there is no limit to the number taken.  Coyote fur has become more desirable in late years with the popularity of Canada Goose coats.  It is coyote fur that is used to rim the hoods.  In 2017, 1652 coyote pelts were exported from New Brunswick with a total value of $92,545.  

Are coyotes dangerous to people?  Considering the two incidents cited at the beginning of this post, they can be.  However, the chances of getting attacked by a coyote are extremely rare.  But it seems that the urbanized coyotes can become a problem.  Humankind should avoid all contact with them.  Garbage should be properly disposed of.  Dogs should be leashed and cats should be kept indoors.  All feeding of wildlife should be prohibited.  When a habituated coyote appears to be too close/interested in humans, Natural Resources personnel should be notified and they will remove the individual.  Coyotes are intelligent and can easily learn that humans can be a source of food.

What should you do if threatened by a coyote?  Sources say that you should not run.  They suggest you yell, wave your arms and make yourself look as large and fierce as possible.  Maintain eye contact and throw something at it, if possible.  Carry a whistle or dog spray.  If it continues to approach, back slowly away preferably towards other humans or buildings.

The scientific name of the coyote, Canis latrans, means 'barking dog'.  It is well named since that is the primary means of our knowing there is a pack in our area.  They are more frequently heard than seen.  The common name, 'coyote', is much older.  It is of Spanish derivation and comes from the original Aztec word for it, coyotl.  It is indeed an interesting species that has been around a very long time.  Intelligent and resourceful - it will remain a long time yet!

Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher - Mega-Rarity and Celebration Bird

                                             Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher  [Paul Mansz Photo]

The Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher (Myiodynastes luteiventris) which is presently being seen (October 20 onward) in Riverview, NB, is a mega-rarity and a Celebration Bird.  It is a mega-rarity because it should be in Mexico, not New Brunswick.  It is a Celebration Bird because it marks the sighting number 350 to one of our eminent birders.  

First let's consider its mega-rarity.  This species is listed as 'accidental' here.  It is only the third sighting recorded in this province ever.  The first was in Waterside in October, 1990.  The second sighting was unconfirmed and this is the third.  The Waterside sighting was only the second confirmed sighting in Canada ever!  This Riverview bird has stayed long enough for many to see and photograph it.  See the photos in this post.

And, it is a Celebration Bird.  Serious birders keep accurate records of their sightings and the number of different species seen in New Brunswick is an important statistic.  For one of our birders, Karen Miller, seeing this very unusual flycatcher on Wednesday, October 21, was an event worth celebrating!  It is now listed as her 350th species seen in New Brunswick.  That represents a huge milestone.  Congratulations Karen from all of us!

                                         Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher  [Paul Mansz Photo]

The Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher is a species of Arizona, Mexico and South America.  It spends its summers in Arizona, Mexico and Central America.  It winters in South America, particularly along the eastern border of the Andes Mountains from Ecuador to Bolivia.  Its preferred habitat is deep canyons with sycamore trees at elevations of 1500 to 2200 metres (5,000 to 7,500 feet) above sea level. 

So what is it doing here?  That is one of the amazing things about birds.  They seem to be able to show up in the most unusual places and at unusual times.  One thing birders know is that sometimes unusual birds show up after severe storms.  The recent hurricanes along the eastern seaboard and Atlantic Ocean are probably the reason this individual is here.  It was probably migrating southward from Arizona or Mexico out over the ocean and got caught in the high winds of some of those hurricanes which brought it here.  It could also be a 'vagrant' which sometimes happens after the breeding season.  A few individuals wander out of their range.  This is a long way for a vagrant to wander but it could also then have been caught up in some of the heavy winds which brought it north.  We still have a lot to learn about birds and their life histories.

                                             Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher  [Gilles Belliveau Photo]

The Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher is a large flycatcher that looks quite different from any other North American bird.  It shows boldly streaked upperparts, a rufous tail and rump, a white breast and throat with dark streaks, and a pale yellow belly.  Immediately noticeable are the black streak through its eye, the black malar stripe and the large dark-coloured bill.  The heavy streaking on the back is caused by the light edges to the back and wing feathers.  Although none of us has seen it yet, this bird has a beautiful crest which it raises to attract a mate or in aggressively defending its breeding territory.  When open it appears circular and is a brilliant yellow with a black border.  The bird is 18 to 20 cm (7.2 to 8 inches) long which is slightly smaller than our Eastern Kingbird.

                                     Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher  [Clifford Twist Photo]

This flycatcher flies with shallow wing beats.  It likes to perch on the top of the highest tree from which it darts out to catch insects on the wing.  It also eats berries and other small fruits.  Reports say it will readily eat meal worms.  

This species is a cavity nester.  It picks cavities in sycamore trees about 5 to 15 metres (20 to 50 feet) off the ground and will fight woodpeckers for the right to use them. It prefers open wooded areas along streams.   The female likes to sit on the nest so it can look out the opening, so she will fill up a deep hole with debris and build the nest on top of that.  The nest is made of stems, pine needles and leaves.  It lays 2 to 4 buff eggs marked beautifully with various shades of brown and lavender.  The female incubates the eggs for 15 to 16 days while the male sits nearby singing to her and protecting her.  

The nest and its construction is described by A. C. Bent in his Life Histories of North American Flycatchers, Larks, Swallows, and Their Allies.  Because the female does not like to incubate in the dark the nest is close to the opening of the nest cavity.  The nest is made of petioles and midribs of dried leaves of the walnut tree.  Sometimes there are a few pine needles or weed stems added.  The petioles are stiff and curved.  These she arranges matching the curvature to the roundness of the nest.  There is no soft lining in the nest but the leaf midribs make it comfortable for the young.  The inner diameter is 7 to 10 cm (3 to 4 inches) and the outside of the nest is built to the cavity edges.  The female builds the nest and the male follows her around and encourages her with his 'sweet' song.  

The call of this species is an excited chatter that sounds like the squeak of a rubber ducky.  It does have a song which is a soft melodious warble which is given at dawn from a high perch.  For protection the young are trained to remain motionless while the adults make a certain noise.  

The male Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher is aggressive and quarrelsome.  They make a lot of noise and do a lot of bickering over nesting sites and their protection after the occupants are settled. 

                                Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher  [Clifford Twist Photo]

It is not known how long this bird will stay in our area.  There is a lot of fruit in the area it has chosen and it is presently on the properties of nature-loving people.  It should be fine for the near future.  But, winter is coming.  The bird is somewhat used to cold temperatures given the elevations at which it normally lives.  These, however, do not match our cold winters.  Knowing it will eat mealworms perhaps gives it a chance if the local birders are willing to locate a source and daily feed them.  That is not often done in this area but it is possible to purchase them over the internet. 

The bird is not likely to turn around and fly south.  This doesn't usually happen because for some reason in birds that appear way off their normal range the bird's navigation system is confused.

                                    

Northern Wheatear

                                                Northern Wheatear Non-breeding Female  [Internet Photo]

The Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe) is a very rare visitor to New Brunswick.  It is usually seen in fall in large open areas.  When one is spotted it causes excitement among birders because of its rarity.  This year in early October one was seen for a couple of days on the Tantramar marsh.  From pictures posted of this individual it was probably a female or a juvenile.  

The first reported wheatears seen in New Brunswick were 2 specimens 'collected' in Charlotte County in the late 19th century.  Two were seen at Saint John in 1976 and another the same year in Victoria County.  Sightings have become more common in recent years.  I have seen a Northern Wheatear in Fredericton in December, 2002.  I have also seen them in Iceland and Norway.  The Iceland birds were on rocky outcrops and in Norway the bird was in a large ploughed field.  One of the Iceland birds was typically wagging its tail.

The Northern Wheatear is commonly found in high-latitude areas of the Northern Hemisphere.  In North America it breeds along the coast of Labrador, Ungava, Baffin Island, the high Arctic Islands, Yukon and Alaska.  It migrates east through Greenland and Europe to winter in sub-Saharan Africa.  That makes it one of our longest-distance migrants!  It is found in grasslands, rocky tundra and barren slopes.

The Northern Wheatear is a thrush, a member of the Turdidae family (although this is presently disputed).  There are many wheatears in the world but the Northern Wheatear is the only one found here.  The Northern Wheatear is a small thrush, 15 cm/5.75 inches long.  It appears long-legged and short-tailed.  The male has gray upperparts with black wings, mask and tail.  The underparts are white and there is an ochre wash on his throat, breast and flanks.  The female is duller with a cinnamon wash over her breast and throat which extends onto her back.  She lacks the black mask.  The tail is distinctive in this species, a feature that is seen only in flight.  It is mainly white with a broad black terminal band which juts into the white in the central area as a squarish block.   I have seen this and it is a remarkable field mark.  The juvenile wheatear is speckled like our young thrushes and is a version of the female.  We are very unlikely to see a juvenile here.  

                                                Northern Wheatear Non-breeding Plumage

There are two subspecies, the oenanthe and the leucorhoa.  The oenanthe is found in Eurasia, Alaska and northwest Canada.  The leucorhoa subspecies is found in Greenland, Nunavit and Labrador.  Amazingly, both species winter in southern Africa.  So, we see the leucorhoa subspecies here.  In Britain the wheatear is one of the earliest spring migrants.  

The Northern Wheatear eats primarily insects but also fruits, seeds, centipedes and snails.  It forages mostly on the ground in a manner much like our foraging robin.  It will also perch low to the ground and fly out to capture an insect much like a flycatcher.  Wheatears often sing during flight.  The song is a scratchy warbling sound and the bird also mimics other bird songs.  Its call note is short and 'thweet'. 

Northern Wheatears nest in crevices in rocky outcrops, in wood piles, on the ground or on cliff edges. The nest is made of grass, roots and moss and is lined with fine grasses.  Three to eight pale blue eggs are incubated 14 days mostly by the female.  

                                                    Northern Wheatear on Typical Habitat

The Northern Wheatear was first described as a species in 1758 by Linnaeus.  Its name Oenanthe comes from ancient Greek and means 'wine flower', named for its early return to Greece just like the early blooming blossoms in the vineyards.  In recent years this species has been removed by some from the thrush family (Turdidae) and has been placed in the Muscicapidae family, the Old World flycatchers.   

Ruddy Duck

                                                             Ruddy Duck Male [Internet Photo]

The Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) is an uncommon summer resident of New Brunswick.  The first record of one seen here was in 1966 near Oromocto.  Since then it has become gradually more common so that now one can see 2 or 3 of them somewhere in the province each year in the spring, summer or fall.  The first breeding record was at Bell Marsh near Moncton in 1994.  This year there have been 3 at the Hampton lagoon most of the summer.  No doubt there have been a few others in the province as well.  

                                                Ruddy Ducks Seen at Hampton Lagoon  [R Blaquier Photo]

The Ruddy Duck is a member of the stiff-tailed duck group.  It is shaped differently from most other ducks with a small compact body, a long stiff tail which it often holds upright and a spade-shaped bill.  It is a diving duck and feeds by diving for long periods.  It is reluctant to take off from water, preferring to dive for protection.  

The Ruddy Duck is 38 cm (15 inches) long.  The male is a rufous brown colour with a characteristic white cheek patch.  His bill is large and sky blue in colour.  His head appears large and he can raise a double crest which is not often seen.  In his non-breeding plumage he becomes duller with the rufous brown turning to a dull gray.  He retains his cheek patch and blue bill.  The female is a dull gray brown year round.  She has the same shape as the male but has a dark brown cap and back and lighter buff face, neck, breast and sides.  She has a characteristic brown line on her cheek through her eye which is used to differentiate her from other similar species (female Bufflehead, and the Masked Duck of southern Texas).  Juveniles are similar to females.  The Ruddy Duck is generally silent but the female can make a nasal 'rrh' sound or a high squeak.  The only times the males vocalize are during courtship when they make a long series of popping sounds.  

                                    Ruddy Duck Male Showing Raised Crest  [Internet Photo]

The Ruddy Duck is mostly a waterfowl species of western North America.  It is a permanent resident of the western US, Mexico and the Caribbean Islands.  It breeds in the US mid-west and our prairie provinces northward to Yukon and Northwest Territories.  Besides its permanent resident areas it winters in the southern US from Texas eastward to Florida and northward into the Carolinas.

In 1948 Dr. Peter Scott imported a few of this species into his wildfowl collection in Great Britain.  From there they became an invasive species throughout Europe.  By the year 2000 the population had increased to about 6,000.  They were aggressive against a close species which is native there, the White-headed Duck and began hybridizing with them.  Because the White-headed Duck population became threatened the conservationists began an extirpation program.  This was led by Spain and was expanded to other European countries.  By the year 2014 the cull had reduced the British population down to less than 100.

Ruddy Ducks prefer freshwater marshes, marshy lakes and ponds.  In winter they inhabit marshes and shallow coastal bays.  They build their nests in thick vegetation in reeds or bulrushes.  The nest is floating and well concealed.  Five to seventeen creamy white eggs are laid and incubated for 23 to 26 days by the female.  They feed on seeds, pond weeds like wild celery, algae, aquatic insects, shellfish and crustaceans. We don't often get to see their nest or ducklings!

                                                                        Ruddy Duck Male

The Ruddy Duck's scientific name, Oxyura jamaicensis, is descriptive.  It is derived from the Greek word, 'oxus' meaning 'sharp' and 'oura' meaning 'tail'.  The specific name is obviously from Jamaica.

A little known fact about this species which few in our province have seen is that there is a dark-headed variant.  The male Ruddy Duck can rarely be found with no white cheek patch and an all black head.  If that occurred here it would really be an interesting test for identification.

Rufous Hummingbird

 

Rufous Hummingbird Male [Ron Wilson Photo]

Recently for a 2-to-3 day period we had a Rufous Hummingbird in New Brunswick.  That is a rare event,  this species occuring only accidentally in this province.  Previously, one occurred in Grand Manan in 1993 and another in 2005 in Shippagan.  The one in Shippagan stayed for several days giving many birders a chance to see it.  Fortunately the recent visitor arrived at a feeder where it was recognized as rare.  The hosts made the event known among the birding community and several people went to see it.  Some of the photos in this blog (Ron Wilson Photos) are from one such viewer.  

Rufous Hummingbird Male [Ron Wilson Photo]

Rufous Hummingbirds (Selasphorus rufus) is a common hummingbird species in western North America where it spends its summers on breeding range as far north as southeastern Alaska.  If it accidentally occurs in the east, it is most often in fall and winter.  It winters in the extreme southeastern US and Mexico.  It prefers riparian habitats, forests, shrub and brush areas, coastland and high mountain meadows.  Rufous Hummingbirds feed mostly on nectar, sap from sapsucker wells, insects and spiders.  It consumes up to 3 times its body weight daily.  No wonder it is difficult to keep hummingbird feeders full!  This species is hardy.  It can survive temperatures below freezing as long as it gets sufficient food and good shelter.

Rufous Hummingbird Male [Ron Wilson Photo]

The Rufous Hummingbird is a small, compact hummingbird.  It is 8-9 cm long (3.2-3.7 inches).  It can be a difficult species to identify especially if the individual is female or immature.  The male is relatively easy to identify.  He is bright rufous with a white breast and ear patch.  He has a red-orange throat which shimmers in light and he sometimes has green shoulders.  His rounded tail is rufous with black edges.  He may have green on the back and head.  The photos above show the male plumage.  

The female is another story.  She has green upperparts, rufous sides and undertail, and a white breast and belly.  Her throat is mottled light gray with an orange central spot.  Her tail is rufous, black and green with white on the outer tail feather tips.  The juveniles resemble the females.  

Rufous Hummingbird Showing Shimmering Throat [Internet Photo]

The Rufous Hummingbird is known for its dive displays.  The males climb up to 10 metres (30 feet) to a starting point from which they make a 'J'-shaped dive emitting a buzzing sound.  When the flight levels out they do a fancy fluttering and then climb to repeat the spectacle.  Ornithologists have shown that the females have longer wings than the males.  This allows the males to beat their wings faster than females giving them a better ability to chase away other birds from their territory.  This unfortunately is used against the females as well.  The males chase the females away from the best food sources which they keep for themselves.  The females then need to fly farther to gather food for their young.  Apparently this is compensated for by the longer wing and thus an easier, less metabolic-draining flight.  

There are 3 Selasphorus hummingbird species; Rufous, Broad-tailed, Allen's Hummingbirds.  Rufous females and juveniles are difficult to differentiate from the Allen's Hummingbird.  They can be safely distinguished only in the hand.  Identification involves rectrices' width and taper with respect to age as well as other features.  

I was lucky to see a female Rufous Hummingbird one time on Vancouver Island.  I was walking on a raised gravel path about 2 metres above ground level with large softwood trees on the sides.  I looked sideways and there on one of the wide softwood branches just below my eye level was a very small nest with a hummingbird sitting on it, a Rufous Hummingbird.  It was a female in the daze that sitting birds get into while incubating eggs.  She did not even see me and I watched her secretly for a few minutes before I had to move on.  That was a special moment!  

No description of a species is complete without a few interesting facts.  The Rufous Hummingbird has the longest migration route of all North American hummingbirds.  The one that appeared here certainly had a long flight!  This species has such a good memory it returns to the exact location of last year's feeders seeking food for the new season.  A good reason to fill your feeders every year.