next message in archive
next message in thread
previous message in archive
Index of Subjects
After finishing my BBS (Breeding Bird Survey) route near Tatamagouche this morning, I decided to check on a number of swallow boxes I put up near Brule a couple years ago. Of the 14 boxes, at least 13 are being used. Looks like I'll have to put up some more! Habitat is perfect, tidal salt marsh bordering on hay fields. The adults are busy bringing food, but as yet, the young have not appeared. If anyone is traveling through and would like to see a wonderful assemblage of swallows, there should be 100+ Tree Swallows in that area between July 1-10, which should see peak fledging. It is located west of Tatamagouche, on the left as you are heading for Brule and River John. The name of the lane is Cove Road, and in the Nova Scotia Atlas it is on page 29, near Waldegrave. Also of interest at that site was a huge flock of American Goldfinch, at least 150 by my estimate. I've never seen such a large flock so late in the spring (or early in the summer, as it were). They were feeding on some kind of grass heads that were just ripening. I collected a few, and if anyone feels they can ID grass, I would gladly mail them along, as I'm quite curious to know exactly what they are. Other nice birds were half a dozen pair of Bobolink, with females seen carrying food. The fields are due to be cut this weekend, so I'm trying to find out who the farmer is so I can beg him to delay (until July 10th). Also two pairs of lusty Willets flying over the hay fields and salt marsh, six Common Terns fishing in the cove, Yellow Warblers a-plenty, and at least four Sharp-tailed Sparrows singing. Nice spot! Brian Dalzell, Moncton, NB. P.S. There were more Tree Swallows (~40) present than can be accounted for by the number of boxes. Perhaps these birds could not find anywhere to nest, as there are very few nest boxes for miles around. These were all adults birds, no "brown-backs" (year-old females), so might be un-mated males. It was very cold in Florida this winter, and males may have survived better than females....
next message in archive
next message in thread
previous message in archive
Index of Subjects