Observations: November 9, 1997 Time: 10:45 pm Weather: Windy and Cold

Nightlife in the Park The Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) at 45-60 cm is the largest of the different types of owls found in the Irving Nature Park. Two tufts of feathers protrude from its head, giving its name "horned". Other prominent features include a white patch on its throat that resembles a bib as well as horizontal black bands on its chest and dark brown feathers covering the remainder of its body. The diet of this owl includes rodents of all sorts, other birds and even beetles! Because its eyes are placed in the front of its head, like a human's, it can judge distance better than most other birds. Its eyes work best in low light conditions. This bird is a very effective night hunter. Special wing feathers, with fringed edges, allow the owl to swoop silently down upon its prey. Daytime sightings are rare.

Plant of Many Names This 10-15 cm high salt marsh plant has no less than four locally known common names: Samphire, Glasswort, Pickleweed and Chicken's Foot. Despite its confusing number of common names, scientists have given it only one: "Salicornia europaea". ("Sal" meaning salt, and "cornia" meaning "horns" refers to its thick, upward-curving branches.) This fleshy plant is found near the salt pannes (puddles) beside the boardwalk as well as throughout the marsh. Normally bright green in colour, samphire turns red in the late summer and fall. Ordinarily, salt water will kill a plant, but these and other salt marsh plants have evolved to overcome this hazard by developing special glands that remove the salt before it reaches toxic levels. Samphire is a favourite food for a number of species of ducks and geese.

A Royal Coat As the snow starts to fall, the dark brown fur of the ermine (Mustela erminea) becomes longer, more dense and changes to a uniform white with a black tip on the tail. This weasel is a small, slender animal (20-30 cm long) but has a reputation as a fearless hunter that may attack animals much larger than itself. Its main food is mice and moles captured in their burrows under the ground or under the snow. Ermine can also swim and climb trees while hunting a wide variety of animals. The ermine's winter fur is used traditionally to trim the robes of royalty.

The Naturalist's Notebook is published quarterly. 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.