Observations: August 10, 2004 Time: 1:15 pm Weather: sunny and humid

Saw Bill Sighting The sighting of red-breasted mergansers (Mergus serrator) is a treat for winter birders in the park as most of the year they disappear from the Bay of Fundy coast and head inland for lakes and rivers. Mostly males were spotted today, with their green head, rusty chest, white neck ring and a semi-conspicuous head crest. In contrast, the female (hen) red-breasted has a reddish-brown head and a white with grey speckled chest. These birds generally find their mates in the winter, but I believe it was a little early yet for the love bug (maybe February 14th?). When they fly, it is usually low over the water, typically in a “single file” pattern. These birds differ from their cousin, the common merganser ( Mergus merganser) in size (5-8cm smaller) as well as colour patterns. Red-breasted mergansers, as the name suggests have a more reddish-brown chest, as well as a great deal more grey along its sides. Although we found mostly scattered birds on the water during this years’ Christmas Bird Count, some literature suggests that the birds will hunt together, diving in unison and driving a school of fish toward more shallow water where they may be easier to catch. Mergansers share an important physical trait with what is considered the pre-curser of modern bird, the Archaeopteryx. Fossil remains of this 150 million year old bird dinosaur shows it had serrated teeth, very similar to the sharp tooth-like projections of the mergansers. These projections help the bird hold on to its slippery, finned meal. This is how these waterfowl acquired the name “old saw bill”. If adventurous park visitors stroll along the old logging finding mates, avoiding predators and catching food (other insects).

Red-Osier Dogwood - Colour & Cuisine It’s always great to see a little colour in the park during the often grey winter days along the coast. Most often visitors will look to birds such as blue jays or gold finches to provide that colour. Although not abundant in the main section of the park, the bright red twigs of the Red-Osier (Cornus stolonifera) can be found poking out of the snow around the Sheldon Pt. trailhead and barn. Look for the small, white lenticels (gas exchange cells) on the bark where carbon dioxide is given off by the plant. This shrub usually stands as tall as a metre, with the newer stems providing the bright colour, while the older parts of the shrub will be light brown in colour. The clusters of 5-8mm white berries are long gone, eaten by the ruffed grouse and grey catbird living in this area during the past summer. The local white-tailed deer population have had a browse or two on the newer shoots, while tracks of the snowshoe hare encircle the bush. A desperate bunny, eating the bark. Deer trampling the ground around this bush have unwittingly assisted in its survival, despite the sometimes heavy browsing. The stems, pushed into the ground by their hooves in the late spring, will take root and form a new shrub. Red-Osier is most often found along the edges of wet forests, old fields and wetlands. The branches are quite flexible and have often been incorporated into native woven baskets. Grieve, in her much referenced “A Modern Herbal”, states that a toothpowder that will keep gums healthy and teeth white can be made from the dried bark of this plant. I’ll stick with my Canadian Dental Association recommended brand.

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