Observations: December 28, 2004 Time: 11:10 am Weather: Bitterly cold, sunny

"Sleep Watchers" Looking into the sea-smoke rolling off the waters in Manawogonish Cove, one can see a small flock of ducks rafted together. A look through the binoculars reveals pairs of Buffleheads(Bucephala albeola); small diving ducks with short necks and short greyish bills. The drakes (male) have a dark purplish/green head with a large white ear patch, a black back and white underparts. The hen (female) is mostly greyish black with a smaller white ear patch. Most of the group are sleeping, although some are diving for their seacoast meal of mussels, clams and small crabs. An even closer look through the powerful spotting scope finds that some of the dozing ducks seem to be “sleep watching”; opening their eyes every 5 to 10 seconds. Researchers call this phase of rest “quiet sleep” while those not peeking are in “active sleep”. Sleep watching is a defense mechanism that both sexes employ when they rest close to shore, near perceived threats. Also, paired males will peek more than females during breeding season, keeping an eye out for any “opportunistic” males. Some of these ducks will remain in the park’s saltwater cove this winter, while others may move further south along the coast until spring. At that time, the eastern population will return to the ponds and small lakes of western Quebec and northern Ontario. These ducks are cavity nesters, usually taking over the holes excavated by flickers or pileated woodpeckers.

Eastern White Cedar A walk along the Seal Trail as it crosses the southern portion of the park is usually a game trackers delight, especially at this time of year. Fresh snow reveals the dusk/dawn (crepuscular) movements of deer from this part of the park to the salt marsh where they forage for salt marsh hay and sea lyme grass. However, as the snow depths increase, the deer move less and less and will browse on trees and shrubs on the peninsula. One of the white-tailed deer’s favorite winter foods is eastern white cedar (thuja occidentalis), which is found in small but well browsed clumps in the park. In addition to providing much needed nutrients, cedar is also important as a source of shelter. For a deer, whose weight may top 100 kg (220 lb), their relatively small hoof is no snowshoe and this makes for rough walking in snow deeper than 40 cm (16 in). Cedar trees have a dense canopy (top) that keeps the ground below relatively snow free. This dense canopy also acts as a blanket that reduces the amount of wind underneath and keeps the heat radiating off the deer in their area, providing a warmer place of winter refuge. Jacques Cartier, a 16th century French explorer, traveling in eastern Canada called cedar “arbor vitae” meaning tree of life. His crew were saved from certain death (by scurvy) by the local native Americans living near present day Quebec City, who showed them how to brew a vitamin C – rich tea from the cedar leaves and bark.

The Naturalist's Notebook is a regular publication. If you have any questions or topics that you would like to see addressed, please call John Gilbert, Manager, Fish and Wildlife, J.D. Irving, Limited, (506) 632-7777 or email honeyman.kelly@jdirving.com