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{mso-style-type:personal; This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_020B_01CFB029.71B94A30 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Hi Donna, John & All, Aug 4, 2014 This question of 'ecological corrections' opens up a can of worms = that, as Dr. Suess might have said, is so wide and so long and so deep = and so tall, I can't talk about it , I can't talk at all. But the subject of predation of bird eggs or young leads to a = question about Swifts. Presumably the typical strategy of Swift nesting, = large hollow trees, followed by chimneys and (most recently) the = uppermost dark parts of unused barns reflects predation avoidance (high = and/or dark being perceived as more safe than low and/or exposed to = light). And even that abandoned dug well was likely dark and high in a = negative sense. Has any attempt been made to test Swift artificial nesting chambers = of minimalist design ? Successful nesting in the upper reaches of a = barn, where it would get very hot on a sunny day (I have been there = stowing hay), and cold on a windy night with rain, suggests that the = temperature stability provided by chimneys and large trees is not = critical. Perhaps all they need is a rough plank structure that, from = suitable cues, they can recognize as being safe enough from predators to = use. It could take two decades to come up with a practicable and = affordable chamber design so this should not be left until the last = minute.=20 If natural nesting sites are sufficiently abundant then why are = Swifts nesting in barns ? Is the number of suitable barns expect to = increase or decrease with time ? Yt, Dave Webster, Kentville ----- Original Message -----=20 From: Donna Crossland=20 To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca=20 Sent: Monday, August 04, 2014 6:41 PM Subject: RE: [NatureNS] Fwd: Grey squirrel 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 No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2014.0.4716 / Virus Database: 3986/7981 - Release Date: = 08/04/14 ------=_NextPart_000_020B_01CFB029.71B94A30 Content-Type: text/html; charset="utf-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable =EF=BB=BF<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML xmlns=3D"http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40" xmlns:v =3D=20 "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o =3D=20 "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w =3D=20 "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m =3D=20 "http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml"><HEAD> <META content=3D"text/html; charset=3Dutf-8" http-equiv=3DContent-Type> <META name=3DGENERATOR content=3D"MSHTML 8.00.6001.23588"> <STYLE>@font-face { font-family: Cambria Math; } @font-face { font-family: Calibri; } @font-face { font-family: Tahoma; } @page WordSection1 {size: 612.0pt 792.0pt; margin: 72.0pt 72.0pt 72.0pt = 72.0pt; } P.MsoNormal { MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman","serif"; FONT-SIZE: = 12pt } LI.MsoNormal { MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman","serif";