next message in archive
next message in thread
previous message in archive
previous message in thread
Index of Subjects
wContent({'rating':{&a
All:
Better than my attenuated memory is a pertinent paragraph from "The
Birds of North America" on-line, with references removed:
"Hole/cavity nester; generally uses trees, either live or dead (most
tree species may be used); cavities include holes formed by Pileated
Woodpeckers (Dryocopus pileatus) or by broken tree limbs, and hollow
tops of standing trees .Recorded heights to entrance holes range from
1 to 30 m). Nests less frequently in rock crevices, old buildings or
sheds, chimneys, lighthouses, holes in banks, holes in the ground,
hollow logs, or burrows. Nests may be located far from water (>0.5 km;
MLM)"
So Blake, you should have placed that box with a blanket at the bottom
of the chimney, well screened from the cats, and then they would have
had the pleasures of a mouth-watering and ear-tingling displays for
days on end.
Cheers, Ian
Quoting Blake Maybank <bmaybank@gmail.com>:
> 4 June 2013 - White's Lake, HRM, Nova Scotia
>
> I repeatedly heard odd thumping and crashing noises in our house this
> morning, emanating from . . . somewhere. I first blamed the cats, to no
> avail. I finally realised the noises were coming from the chimney of our
> fireplace, and by the volume I suspected a raccoon (ruling out squirrels,
> bats, and Chimney Swifts). There was eventually a final "thump" and when I
> shone a flashlight through the soot-covered glass door to the fireplace I
> was very surprised to see a female Common Merganser staring back at me.
>
> I then alerted the Hope for Wildlife Centre regarding a possible new
> patient, and after that I closed two doors keeping our cats from joining
> the fray. Next, with a blanket in hand, I carefully opened the glass door
> and gathered up the merganser. Once outside I loosened the blanket and the
> bird emerged in a flash, and immediately and strongly flew away, giving
> numerous cries of complaint (or of gratitude? Or of embarrassment?).
>
> I was relieved the bird seemed to be not much worse for wear, and was then
> a bit chagrined that I had failed to make a video of the incident, though I
> confess my immediate concern was for the bird's welfare -- I did not wish
> to delay its release.
>
> Ian McLaren has a memory of this happening to someone of his acquaintance
> many years ago, but I cannot find any other reference to Common Mergansers
> coming down chimneys. This was a new scenario for the Hope for Wildlife as
> well. Can anyone else shed some light on this sooty subject? And does
> this represent a new species of merganser -- St. Nick's Merganser (*Mergus
> nicholasii*)?
>
> Cheers,
>
> Blake
>
> --
> Blake Maybank <bmaybank@gmail.com>
> White's Lake, Nova Scotia
>
> My Blog: *CSI: Life* <http://blakemaybank.com>
> ** <http://tinyurl.com/naturetravel>**
> Author, "*Birding Sites of Nova Scotia* <http://tinyurl.com/birdingns>
>
>
>
> <maybank@ns.sympatico.ca>
>
next message in archive
next message in thread
previous message in archive
previous message in thread
Index of Subjects