What to Know About Pet Dental Health

 

Did you know that February is Pet Dental Health Awareness Month? Because 70% of cats and dogs 4 years or older are affected by periodontal disease, we are committed to helping you keep your companions safe and healthy. 

Periodontal disease is preventable with proper attention and care. Below are some tips to provide the best oral care for your pet.

Cats and Dogs:

Take Note of Bad Breath:

Unusual scents coming from your pet's mouth could indicate that there is something wrong! Additional warnings of poor dental health are bleeding gums, yellow or brown teeth, pawing at the mouth and loose or missing teeth.

Brush Those Teeth!

Brushing your cat or dog's teeth may seem intimidating at first, but you can begin by letting your pet smell the toothbrush and pet toothpaste (human toothpaste is not safe for pets!) Over time, you can gradually ease into brushing on each side of the mouth for a few seconds.

Toys, Treats and More:

Consider toys, treats and food that are designed to improve oral health in pets by removing troublesome plaque. Before purchasing, look for the Seal of Acceptance from the Veterinary Oral Health Council.

The Scoop on Dental Exams:

A thorough dental appointment will include an exam of your companion's head and neck to check for abnormalities as well as the teeth and gums to look for redness, swelling or bleeding. To remove pesky plaque and clean your pet's teeth well, veterinarians recommend putting them under anesthesia.

And, we couldn't forget about those bunnies! 

Rabbits:

Rabbit teeth differ from the teeth of cats and dogs because they continue to grow for their entire lives. This is a characteristic that can be found in animals who naturally eat tough, fibrous plants and vegetation. You can't brush rabbit teeth, but below are some tips to care for your bun's oral health!

Diet:

80-90% of a rabbit's diet should consist of fibrous grass hay. Fed a low-fiber diet, the molars get too long, the upper molars curve sideways and form a sharp spike that cuts into the cheek, and the lower molars curve inward and form a spike that cuts into the tongue. To avoid these painful oral problems, it is vital to keep track of your rabbit's diet. 

Behavior Changes:

Monitor your rabbit for changes in behavior such as: if he stops eating hay and pellets, if he is eating less food overall, if he runs up to the food as if he’s hungry, sniffs it, then walks away without eating, if he has episodes of anorexia that recur every few months, if you find moisture around his mouth or on his chin, or a sour odor to his breath. If you notice these, there may be dental problems.

Dental Exams:

When you take your bun for their yearly exam, be sure the veterinarian checks their teeth. Most emergency vet trips are due to dental issues!

Toys for Healthy Teeth!

You may think rabbits only have the first two teeth you see in the front, but they really have 28! A good type of toy to offer your bun are wood-based toys to wear down the teeth similarly to how they are worn down in nature.

We hope these oral health tips are helpful in keeping your pet safe, healthy and happy for many years to come.

Blogger's Block

It is a known fact that writers sometimes suffer from writer's block.

So it seems only natural that those of us who have blogs can experience a similar feeling.

After writing a recent entry entitled "Why Blog?". 

It did seem that I had lost my own enthusiasm - even though I know that I write here

for myself above all, but also for any others who care to come this way.

With the convenience and rapidity of computers, the art of letter-writing

has become a thing of the past.

It seemed to happen overnight if I judge by the stashes of beautiful writing paper  

I still have in my cupboard.

Last year, I took out that pretty stationery and started writing letters again.

They don't need to be long, but they do need to be thoughtful and caring.

I can imagine how nice it must feel to receive a pretty envelope containing a few personal words

in the post-box among the usual bills.

I certainly haven't experienced any blockages in taking photographs

and have been enjoying taking still-life images, 

like this tiny exotic perfume bottle, offered to me by my son many years ago.

A souvenir from Sharm El-Sheikh on the edge of the Red Sea in Egypt.

I've been playing with depth of field and colour and enjoying the effects.

Black and white photography can be really interesting 

and is especially suited to abstracts

or capturing light and shadows in my home in the morning sun.

During the whole of February, I've been taking daily self-portraits

as part of a gathering of other ladies.

This is a challenge as the years go by, but it's all part of our acceptance journey

of embracing the changes that inevitably take place.

So without waiting any longer to be inspired to make the best blog entry ever,

perhaps the everyday happenings are enough

and I'm just being hard on myself or too much of a perfectionist!

We've been going through a Siberian-like cold snap through this latter part of February,

but after a few snowfalls tomorrow, things will start warming up again.

March is definitely coming in like a lion! 

So I think we deserve some beautiful tulips - to remind us that spring is on its way!

Rusty Blackbird

Rare Blackbird Visits St. George

Rusty Blackbird in Winter Plumage

The Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus) is an uncommon summer breeder here in New Brunswick and rare in winter.  A few have been seen at feeders this winter, like the two individuals I saw in St. George recently.  The Rusty Blackbird shares the Icteridae family with other blackbirds and orioles.  Other members of the family that occur here include the Common Grackle, the Red-winged Blackbird, the Brown-headed Cowbird, Bobolink, Eastern Meadowlark, and the Baltimore Oriole as well the occasional rarity.  

The Rusty Blackbird shown above is in winter plumage.  It is black with a cinnamon colour on its supercilium (eye stripe) and malar (throat stripe).  The feathers covering its wings and rump are edged in cinnamon.  These colourful edges wear off as spring approaches and the bird eventually becomes completely black.  The Rusty Blackbird always has a yellow iris.  Although in spring and summer it is a 'blackbird' it can be distinguished form the Common Grackle by its smaller size, its shorter tail and it is not nearly as glossy.  It can be told from the Red-winged Blackbird by its lack of wing patches even though it is nearly the same size.  The Brown-headed Cowbird is also similar but has a much thicker bill and the male shows dark brown on its head and neck.

Rusty Blackbird in Winter Plumage

The Rusty Blackbird inhabits swampy forest habitats.  It prefers spruce trees near bogs in the boreal forest to breed.  In winter it is found in wooded swamps especially along floodplains.  Its nest is bulky, woven from twigs and lichens and lined with grasses.  Its eggs are pale blue-green with brown and gray spots.  Incubation lasts 14 days.  They feed on insects, snails, small fish, waste grain and seeds, walking along the ground while feeding.

Rusty Blackbird in Summer Plumage

The Rusty Blackbird has a wide range.  The summer breeding range includes most of Canada except the Arctic region.  They winter in the eastern US southward to Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and northern Florida.  I have seen them in South Carolina in winter where they associate with Boat-tailed and Common Grackles.

The Rusty Blackbird population has experienced a steep decline since 1960.  Some sources estimate a 90% drop.  The Breeding Bird Surveys and Christmas Bird Counts indicate an 85-95% drop.  This is a drastic population drop for which we have no confirmed cause.  Habitat loss due to clearcutting in the boreal forest would certainly be one cause.  Competition from the increase in other Icterid populations due to intensive agriculture of grain crops would be another.  But certainly more work needs to be done.  Seeing a few here in the province this winter is encouraging.  I hope their population is on the incline.  

Sit Happens

Having trouble teaching your canine friend to sit on command? We have a few tips and tricks to help you help you and your pup work on their doggy manners. It's much easier than you think!

Here's how you can teach a dog to sit upon request:

Hold a lure (a tasty treat or toy that a dog loves) in front of his face at nose level. Let him sniff it so that he realizes you are holding something he likes.

 

Slowly move your hand with the lure in it from the dog's nose up, along the top of his muzzle, between his ears. The treat should be held high enough that the dog has to crane his neck, but not so high he needs to jump up. When your dog looks up at the lure, he will probably sit to maintain his balance.

As soon as he sits, praise him and feed him the treat or let him play with the lure. After the dog has learned to sit with the lure, add the verbal cue, “Sit.”

Once the dog sits reliably with a lure, try to drop the lure and simply use your empty hand as a signal by following the steps above.

Once the dog reliably sits without the lure (treat or hand signal), only treat him sporadically when he sits. Vary how often and when you give treats

Need some Pointers?

• Every now and then give the dog a jackpot – a handful of treats as a huge reward. Occasional jackpots keep dogs working, hoping to hit the jackpot.
• Teach the dog to sit in a variety of situations and locations (e.g., before being fed, before going through doorways, before being given a treat or toy, before greeting a person, etc.)  
• If trained properly, sit should become the dog’s default behavior (e.g., the behavior the dog offers anytime he wants something).
• Don’t reward the dog if he jumps or paws at you, or otherwise acts pushy when asking him to sit. If this happens, withdraw the lure and turn away from the dog, then start again.

Teaching your pooch simple commands like "sit" can strengthen the bond you share, leading to greater trust and more affection! Sit could be the first step to a long, enriching life with you for your canine family member!

Snow Goose Blue Morph

Blue Goose Visits Back Bay

Snow Goose Blue Morph Adult

An adult Snow Goose blue morph has been visiting Back Bay for the last 2 to 3 weeks.  The Snow Goose (Chen caerulescens) is a common goose species of mid-North America.  It normally breeds in our high Arctic islands and winters in south central US.  A small population winters in California and Mexico.  Snow Geese are uncommon here but usually a few pass through during spring migration.  Having one here during the winter is rare and having it a blue morph is even rarer.  The blue morph is a genetic variation of the Snow Goose which occurs in a small percentage of Snow Goose populations.  

The Snow Goose population is divided into different geographical and genetic groups.  The Lesser Snow Goose inhabits the central part of North America and the Greater Snow Goose uses the Atlantic Flyway and Atlantic Coastal Plain.  Those migrating along the Atlantic Flyway and Coastal Plain are seen in the thousands along the St. Lawrence River on their way to the Arctic to breed.  Many of this group come to northeastern New Brunswick near Campbellton to feed on their way north.  In 1998 there were 1000 individuals at Atholville, for example.  

In the mid-20th century the Snow Goose population fell into a steep decline.  Since then their numbers have increased dramatically.  Since 1973 their population has tripled and the central Arctic population has multiplied by a factor of 25!  This huge increase has caused significant damage to Arctic tundra from the feeding flocks.  This has placed a negative stress on other species.  The large flocks are causing much damage to crops in the central part of the continent.  As  a result, governments have legislated increased hunting permits to try to reduce numbers.  Now about 400,000 Snow Geese are hunted annually in the US and Canada.

Shown above is the Blue Goose (Snow Goose Blue Morph).  It basically shows a blue body and a white head.  Technically it has a brown body much of which is covered with blue wing feathers  which are long and beautiful.  The tail feathers are gray with a white border.  Important identifying features are the pink bill and legs and the black 'smile line' on the bill.  This helps distinguish it from the Ross's Goose.  The white domestic goose has an orange bill and legs.  The white head of the Snow Goose is often stained red or brown by the iron oxide in the soil as it grubs for roots and tubers.  

Snow Goose White Morph Adult

The much more common white morph Snow Goose is shown above.  Note the pink bill and legs and the black smile line.  The white morph has black primary wing feathers which show here above the tail.  These show well on birds in flight.  

Snow Goose with Canada Goose

The Snow Goose is smaller than the Canada Goose as shown above.  It is a Chen goose (its genus) which it shares with the Ross's Goose and the Emperor Goose.  It migrates in huge numbers and usually flies very high in large arc formations or very loose 'V's.  They rest at night usually on water.  They can sleep while afloat or while standing on one leg or sitting.

Snow Geese feed on plants, eating most parts of the plant.  They feed heavily on grasses, rushes, sedges, forbes, horsetails, shrubs and willows.  

Snow Goose White Morph Juvenile

The juvenile white  morph can sometimes be mistaken for the blue morph.  We don't see these often so need to carefully observe to make an identification.  This form varies but always shows a dingy gray colour.  The juvenile blue morph is much darker, a dull brown on the head and neck and dark gray-brown overall.  (Sorry, no photo).

Snow Geese mate for life and usually choose a mate of the same colour morph as their parents.  They will choose another morph, however, if the preferred morph is not available.  Offspring will then be of either morph.  The goose in Back Bay is hanging out with a Canada Goose.  Will they mate come spring?  Not likely.  They will fly north and find mates of their own species.  In the meantime, it is good for them to keep company with one another.

Where Does Inspiration Come From?

Tiny angel decorating a heart-shaped jewellery container

a gift from my grandson.

Inspiration is not something that can be forced.

Sometimes it comes through something we may see.

It grows and unfolds within us in moments we do not choose at all.

We look and look and cannot see..

and yet the treasures lie within

waiting to manifest themselves.

Inspiration can be as elusive  as a shadow on the wall.

Fascinating and yet fleeting.

Being in nature is certainly inspiring

as we observe the beauty all around us in the tiniest detail

like this lovely lichen on a tree trunk.

Flowers inspire me to take photographs and stimulate my creativity

Their fresh bright colours are especially welcome during the winter months.

Pansy rescued from my window-box just as it was starting to snow.

It could be said that inspiration is rather like the growth of a flower,

starting from a tiny seed in the earth

which grows and is nurtured and blossoms

and cannot be contained

It simply has to come into being.

***

The ancient Greeks thought that inspiration came from the Muses.

The Muses are the inspirational goddesses of Literature, Science and the arts 

in Greek Mythology.

They were considered the source of the knowledge embodied in the poetry,

lyric songs and myths that were related orally for centuries in these ancient times.

Dovekie

Our Smallest Auk

Dovekie [Mark Morse Photo]

The Dovekie (Alle alle) is the world's smallest auk, family Alcidae.  They breed in summer in the high Arctic islands and winter along the Atlantic coast of Labrador, Newfoundland and down the eastern seaboard sometimes to New England.  The photo above shows the Dovekie in non-breeding plumage and was taken recently off Grand Manan. 

The Dovekie is very small, 21 cm (8.8 in) long, about Starling size.  On the vast ocean, that looks pretty small!  It has the clean black and white plumage of Alcids, black on the back and head and white below.  The breeding plumage shows a black hood covering the head, neck and throat.  In winter white appears on the throat and sides of neck, forming an incomplete neck band.  The bill is exceptionally short.  When it sits on the water it appears neckless as it pulls its head in close to its body.  In flight it is very football-shaped.  It often flies close to the water dodging the waves. 

Dovekies (known as Little Auks in Europe) are a holarctic species.  They inhabit the oceans of the north of the Earth.  Although they breed in northern Canada, the largest colonies are in Greenland, Spitsbergen (Norway) and a smaller colony in Iceland.  They come to land to breed in rocky crevices on scree slopes and mountains along the Arctic Ocean.  The rest of the year they spend at sea.  While in the breeding colony they are very vocal with a high-pitched chattering and screeching sound.  They feed on fish, molluscs, and plankton. which they catch underwater by using their wings and strong feet and legs.  They actually 'fly' under water.

Occasionally in heavy winter storms with strong easterly winds Alcids can be blown inland.  Because they are physically designed for life on the ocean they find it nearly impossible to walk on land.  Their feet are placed well back on their bodies making it difficult to balance in an upright position.  So, if they get blown inland they are stranded.  Without the aid of humans they would soon die or get killed by a predator.   The bird in the photo above was blown in during the storm of January 13 and 14.  It was returned quickly to the ocean where it swam away happily!  

Slow and Steady

Some visitors to Animal Friends find a dog, cat or rabbit who is just right for them on their first visit. Others come back several times, waiting to find their perfect match. And then there are those who find exactly who they’re looking for without ever stepping foot inside the building.

Which is how Josh first met Delight …

After losing his 12-year-old Coonhound mix, Maggie, to an unexpected illness, Josh knew he could never replace her. She was one-of-a-kind, but something told him there was a place in his home and heart for another hound. So, Josh began searching online for a dog who needed him just as much as he needed them.

Soon, Josh came across the profile for our very own 6-year-old English Coonhound named Delight. She needed a patient family, one who would be willing to take the time to work with her.

You see, Delight had a very timid nature and, while her closest human friends knew how sweet and friendly she was, her shyness made it hard for new friends to see her true colors. Thankfully, when Josh came to visit her, he was willing to wait until she was comfortable. Before long, he was getting to know a sweet dog who was gently sniffing him and searching for a peaceful place for a nap.

A few days later, Josh returned to Animal Friends with his two dogs so they could meet Delight. Everything went well, so Delight officially became “Ginger” and was on her way home!

Once she arrived, Ginger was a little unsure. She took her time sniffing around her new home, exploring her big, fenced-in yard and getting to know her new canine brother and sister. After a few short days, it was clear that Ginger was home.

It’s been about a month since Ginger found her new family and things have been great! Josh and Ginger enjoy each other’s company every day and, if you ask him, it seems like Ginger has been part of the family for her entire life.

Orrie: Animal Friends' Home to Home Adoption Program

Meet Orrie (short for Orrville)! She’s a 9-year-old cuddly domestic shorthair with a gorgeous brown tabby coat. Orrie’s ideal home would be one that is quiet and stress free where she can continue living the life that she’s used to as an indoor cat.

She is very gentle and so affectionate, but young children and other pets tend to make her nervous, so she’d rather join a family with older members where she’ll be the only pet. When things are nice and calm, Orrie’s favorite thing to do is curl up on a warm lap and purr the day away.

If you have a cozy and welcoming home with room for a sweet feline member, get to know Orrie! You can contact her current family at wnatali116@gmail.com.

No the killer whale did not say "set me free"

Being a public broadcaster it would be hoped that the BBC would use a little bit more rigour when reporting issues particularly those that involve science. A case in point is an article in the Newsbeat strand written by reporter Talia Shadwell regarding research done on the mimicking behaviour of killer whales at an aquarium in France entitled: "Killer whale could be saying 'set me free'. 

The article is very disappointing due to the obvious lack of research and which appear to be based on views from the animal rights groups The Born Free Foundation and Whale and Dolphin Conversation - both known for their objection to animals maintained in captive care.  Further, there appears to be absolutely no effort to contact Marineland in France whose animals and facilities were used in the research cited or indeed any other zoos or aquarium that display whales or dolphins.

First, the breeding ban on whales and dolphins in France mentioned in the report has been lifted by the French courts after being successfully challenged as it was not based on science or in the best interest of animal welfare. This would have been made clear to the reporter if they had bothered to contact Marineland.

The picture of a killer whale in captivity in the Netherlands was also deceptive because it did not explain that this was Morgan a young killer whale that was rescued in a distressed state suffering from malnutrition on the Dutch coast in 2010. The picture is her in temporary accommodation while she underwent rehabilitation.  

Picture of a killer whale in the BBC article was, in fact, Morgan a rescued animals in temporary accommodation in the Netherlands while she was being rehabilitated.

She successfully returned to full health but unfortunately due to her young age and the inability to find her original social group, which was believed to be located possibly in Norwegian waters, she was relocated to a large facility for killer whales in the Canary Islands in November 2011. This was undertaken under the direction of the Dutch government. 

Morgan remains there today in the company of other captive bred killer whales. Since that time it has been discovered that she was either deaf or has a severe hearing impairment which is possibly one of the reasons she stranded and had to be rescued. This again would make any attempts to release her back the wild inappropriate. 

Second, the issue of the bent dorsal fin in some male killer whales in captivity is often cited by animal rights groups as a sign of compromised welfare. However, there is no scientific evidence to support this contention and in fact, bent dorsal fins can be seen in wild killer whales and this has been cited in published research.

"....The collapsing, collapsed and bent  dorsal fins found on the New Zealand killer whales do not appear to be uncommon in this population,  with 23%, of the adult males having some form of abnormal fin..." (Visser, 1993).

Further, as this seems to be a gender specific issue regarding some male killer whales (either in captive care or the wild) as a measurement of fitness and health it cannot be used as an accurate determination of such criteria as compared with more standardised physiological parameters such as blood analysis.

Third, the comments regarding releasing animals back to the wild cited the release of a former captive killer whale called Keiko. This project was claimed to be a success and this is incorrect. 

Keiko was released back to the wild but failed to integrate into wild groups of other whales.  He eventually found his way to Norway and ended his days being cared for by humans in a fjord before dying of suspected pneumonia some months later.

In the review of the release, published in the peer review journal Marine Mammal Science, the authors concluded.

The release of Keiko demonstrated that release of long-term captive animals is especially challenging and while we as humans might find it appealing to free along-term captive animal, the survival and well being of the animal may be severely impacted in doing so.  (Simon, Hanson, Murrey,Tougaard, and Ugarte. 2009)

As to the actual research which - demonstrated that mammals were capable of mimicking human speech - this is not actually that new.

Research of this nature was conducted back in the 1960s by the controversial dolphin researcher Dr John Lilly. Ironically, the BBC showed a documentary in 2014 entitled "The Girl Who Talked to Dolphins" which highlighted his research and had recorded footage of one of the dolphins mimic English words and phrases. 

Further, it's not just dolphins that have been known to imitate human speech as it has also been seen in belugas such as an animal called Noc that was studied by Dr Sam Ridgeway under the US Navy marine mammal program (Ridgway, Carder, Jeffries and Todd, 2012). There was even in one instance of a seal called Hoover who lived at the Boston Aquarium in Massachusetts imitating human speech. 

Nevertheless, various scientific projects in the past (predominately the 1960s) where efforts were made to teach animals (such as dolphins or chimpanzees) human language, were abandoned as researchers could not produce any tangible evidence that the animals could be effectively taught to communicate with human beings in anything approaching a discernible human language structure. The net result was that funding from such organisations as NASA, who funded some of John Lilly's work, was withdrawn.  

Further, chimpanzee research also faulted when the psychologist Herb Terence maintained that much of his research was the result of the Clever Hans effect and not the animals actually having the ability to communicate with humans. 

Perhaps one of the fundamental problems is that animals are generally incapable of speaking a language in the same terms as human beings. As Dr Justin Gregg points out in his 2013 book "Are Dolphins Really Smart - The Myth Behind the Mammal" human beings (Homo sapiens) are the only animal species that have a native language; the reality is that humans have language and animals communication. The depth and sophistication of human language exceed anything that we know regarding animals in the wild and their ability to communicate with each other. 

In conclusion, the premise that the killer whales (if they could speak and communicate with humans) would be that they wanted to be set free could turn out to be the fact that they are quite happy where they are in the protective environment of a zoo and aquarium.

A section from the 1983 Nova documentary "Signs of Apes and Songs of the Whales" featuring cognition research featuring dolphins and sea lions. At the University of Hawaii, two dolphins are being taught to comprehend the rudiments of grammar. And in California, the controversial John Lilly is teaching dolphins to mimic--and perhaps one day reply to--the computerized human voice.

 

Dak's Road to Puppy Bowl XIV

It all started in August when Wonder Woman, a young Treeing Walker Coonhound and her litter of newborn puppies were transferred to Animal Friends from another shelter. The playful puppies were all given superhero names like their mother … Batman, Supergirl, Ironman, Huntress, Superman and, of course, Aquaman.

When they were just a few days old, a call went out to shelters across the country – Animal Planet was in search of the stars of Puppy Bowl XIV. So, these adorable pups put on their best face and struck a pose for the camera. We sent Aquaman's photo off to Animal Planet and crossed our fingers!

A few weeks later, the great news arrived – Aquaman had been selected to compete in the big game! With just a short amount of time to prepare, Aquaman set his sights on the Lombarky Trophy and the coveted title of MVP (Most Valuable Pup). The filming of the Puppy Bowl was to take place in  New York City in October, so when the time came, Aquaman hit the road and was on his way to the Big Apple.

About 7 hours and a few bathroom breaks later, he had arrived! Aquaman had celebrity-style accommodations for the trip, complete with a breathtaking view of the Manhattan skyline – but the big city wasn’t the least bit overwhelming for this little pup!

Aquaman took in the sights and sounds of the city that never sleeps and made plenty of new friends along the way. After all, just shy of 3 months old, socialization is very important for a young puppy.

And, he was sure to stay out of trouble – you know reputations are very important for a professional athlete.

This handsome little guy needed his rest though. The next day was going to be a big one as he would head to the filming and be one step closer to making his television debut in the biggest sporting event in the canine world!

The next day, Aquaman was up bright and early and made his way downtown for the Puppy Bowl. Once he arrived, he got to meet the other athletes – more than 90 puppies from across the country. The puppy competitors had traveled from as far as Tennessee, Arkansas, Colorado and California. It was a whirlwind of a day as Aquaman posed for photos, filmed Puppy Bowl promotions, got a DNA test (now there’s no doubt, he’s 100 percent Treeing Walker Coonhound!) and enjoyed some valuable socializing with the other puppies and their handlers.

And then it was off to the television set for the game to begin! We don't have any spoilers about who won the big game, but keep an eye out for Aquaman – who has since been adopted and will be called by his new name “Dak” during the telecast – as he struts his stuff up and down the field. Whether he scores the game-winning touchdown or is flagged for unnecessary cuteness, there are plenty of loyal fans back at Animal Friends who are proud that Dak is representing Pittsburgh in Puppy Bowl XIV!

The Puppy Bowl will air on Sunday, Feb. 4 at 3 p.m. on Animal Planet. Tune in to watch as Dak competes to bring the Lombarky trophy and the Most Valuable Pup title to Pittsburgh and Animal Friends!

To celebrate the Puppy Bowl and Dak's world premiere, we're hosting The Ultimate Tail-Gate! This adoption event will run all weekend long with our very own mini Puppy Bowl taking place on Sunday from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Harris's Sparrow

A Rare Sparrow Spends the Winter

Harris's Sparrow

The Harris's Sparrow (Zonotrichia querula) is an unusual sparrow to see in New Brunswick, normally spending its winters in the mid-southern-states and its summers in our far north (northern Manitoba, northern Saskatchewan, Nunavut and Yukon).  There has been one wintering happily in the St. George area this year.  

The Harris's Sparrow is our largest sparrow (19 cm/ 7.5 in long).  It is a Zonotrichia sparrow (the genus) so it resembles closely our other Zonotrichia sparrows, White-throated, Yellow-crowned and White-crowned Sparrows.  That means its colouring, its shape and its behaviour are much like its close relatives.  

The Harris's Sparrow has a distinctive pink bill and an extensive white belly.  It shows pale gray or brown cheeks and in breeding plumage has a black crown, face and bib.  In the non-breeding plumage, as shown above, it loses most of the black from its crown, bib and chest.  All plumages show a postocular black spot.  Notice the black streak behind the eye which often shows just as a spot.  Both genders are similar.

Harris's Sparrow

This species breeds in the far north in mixed forest-tundra areas.  It likes low bushes, willows, and open spruce areas.  It lays 3 to 5 white to pale green eggs with brown markings in a nest built on the ground.  It eats seeds, berries, insects, spiders and snails which it catches mainly on the ground.  It readily adapts to bird feeders in winter.  

Harris's Sparrow [Janice Harmon Photo]

The photo above readily shows the pink bill and the remnant of the black face and crown.  Note the brownish cheek and the postocular spot.

Although the Harris's Sparrow is a mid-continent species vagrants (wanderers) do occasionally occur both to the east and to the west.  There have been a handful of sightings of this species in New Brunswick.  There were 5 sightings noted up to 2003 and there have been a few since.  Certainly this is one we could only see every few years at best.  

Harris's Sparrow

The Harris's Sparrow is Canada's only endemic breeding sparrow.  That means it is the only sparrow that breeds solely in Canada.  It was named by Audubon after an American amateur ornithologist, Edward Harris, who accompanied him on his 1843 trip up the Missouri River.  It was first collected and described by Thomas Nuttall in 1834.  

Although we don't get to see the social interactions of this species, they are quite interesting.  In breeding plumage the males have large black bibs and the male with the largest bib is usually the most dominant.  'Jump fights' are common among males to establish dominance of both females and breeding territory.  The males face off and jump up in the air and claw at one another while beating each other with their wings.  We would have to go to northern Canada in spring to see this!