next message in archive
next message in thread
previous message in archive
previous message in thread
Index of Subjects
<p class=3D"MsoNormal">---------- Forwarded message --------- This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0109_01CFB013.C21188F0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable A solid question to forward to the group, Richard. =20 It triggers several thoughts from me. My husband carries out = =E2=80=98ecological corrections=E2=80=99 here on occasion, in hopes of = tipping the odds slightly more in favor of nesting forest birds, as well = as swallow spp, etc. You will already be aware of some of the thoughts = I write here, but thanks for the opportunity to reiterate some of my = concerns as they relate to the decline of some bird species. =20 =20 Squirrels, raccoons, ... their numbers are elevated from human = activities, from forest fragmentation to human-provided food sources. = We use a variety of means to avoid enhancing populations of squirrels, = blue jays, raccoons, etc. (We have many neighbours who still throw all = food refuse behind their out-buildings. This activity mixed with = farming activities have caused some populations to thrive while = impacting other species.) The Nature of Things produced a documentary = several years ago (perhaps most remember it better than I), and pointed = to the elevated populations of raccoons, squirrels and blue jays, etc, = contributing to the decline of some song birds. Both species of = squirrels can and do consume eggs and young of nesting birds. The blue = jay is probably an unusual prey item for the grey squirrel, but the = jay=E2=80=99s bold behaviour around feeders likely makes them vulnerable = to this new predator(?). =20 With regards to grey squirrels, I=E2=80=99ve found them released in both = Kouchibouguac and Kejimkujik National Parks, far away from the nearest = populations of grey squirrels. The source is most likely from folks = live-trapping them in backyards, then releasing them in =E2=80=9Cnice = homes=E2=80=9D in national parks, where they can establish and create an = added stressor to forest ecosystems. This sparks concerns on several = levels. =20 On a similar note, I have long been concerned with folks feeding = squirrels, particularly in campgrounds, surrounded by = =E2=80=98natural=E2=80=99 forest ecosystems (a dwindling resource). = Many campgrounds have elevated squirrel populations. During springtime, = prior to the arrival of high numbers of campers, hungry squirrels and = raccoons must feed on something. Eggs and young birds pay the price for = well-intentioned, but harmful human impacts caused by feeding peanuts to = squirrels, marshmallows to raccoons, etc. It is challenging to find = ways to urge folks to choose other ways to cure the nature deficit = disorder. These actions are sometimes followed by complaints of chewed = tent screens and severed wires to important vehicle lights, committed by = the same mammals that they had been feeding during the weekend camping = excursion. =20 =20 It may be considered futile (or wrong by some) to carry out backyard = =E2=80=98ecological corrections=E2=80=99, particularly without objective = research to justify the outcomes. However, I believe that such = initiatives may have decreased nest predation in our woodlot, and may = have assisted in the success of our nesting saw-whets (produced four = fledglings) last spring. =20 =20 Donna Crossland (We are flying squirrel friendly folks!) =20 From: naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca = [mailto:naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca] On Behalf Of Richard Stern Sent: August-04-14 9:21 AM To: NatureNS Subject: [NatureNS] Fwd: Grey squirrel =20 Any thoughts?=20 Richard Stern=20 Sternrichard@gmail.com Sent from my Android device=20 ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: "Mander" <mmander@ns.sympatico.ca> Date: Aug 4, 2014 9:06 AM Subject: Grey squirrel To: "Richard Stern" <sternrichard@gmail.com> Cc:=20 Richard I thought I was seeing things, so I thought I would check with you. I = heard a blue jay squawking then saw a grey squirrel carrying it up a = tree. I could not get my camera in time to take a picture. Mark Sent from my iPad ------=_NextPart_000_0109_01CFB013.C21188F0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="UTF-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <html xmlns:v=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" = xmlns:o=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" = xmlns:w=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" = xmlns:m=3D"http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" = xmlns=3D"http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta = http-equiv=3DContent-Type content=3D"text/html; charset=3Dutf-8"><meta = name=3DGenerator content=3D"Microsoft Word 12 (filtered = medium)"><style><!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;} @font-face {font-family:Calibri; panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;} @font-face {font-family:Tahoma; panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {mso-style-priority:99; color:blue; text-decoration:underline;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {mso-style-priority:99; color:purple; text-decoration:underline;} p {mso-style-priority:99; mso-margin-top-alt:auto; margin-right:0cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; margin-left:0cm; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";} p.MsoAcetate, li.MsoAcetate, div.MsoAcetate {mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-link:"Balloon Text Char"; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; font-size:8.0pt; font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";} span.BalloonTextChar {mso-style-name:"Balloon Text Char"; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-link:"Balloon Text"; font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";} span.EmailStyle20 {mso-style-type:personal-reply; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; color:#1F497D;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only;} @page WordSection1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:72.0pt 72.0pt 72.0pt 72.0pt;} div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;} --></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:shapedefaults v:ext=3D"edit" spidmax=3D"1026" /> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:shapelayout v:ext=3D"edit"> <o:idmap v:ext=3D"edit" data=3D"1" /> </o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=3DEN-CA link=3Dblue = vlink=3Dpurple><div class=3DWordSection1><p class=3DMsoNormal><span = style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497= D'>A solid question to forward to the group, = Richard.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><span = style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497= D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><span = style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497=