Nature Miramichi:

April 3rd, 2026 – Another snowy day in Miramichi made it once again a difficult time for birds that have returned early from the south. It was a very busy day at the bird feeders of Deana and Peter Gadd. A considerable number of red-winged blackbirds and common grackles tried to dominate both suspended bird feeders and seed scattered on the ground. One timid song sparrow eventually developed a few strategies to get its share, most interestingly, flying up to an upside down cage and taking some stabs at the suet held there.

The redpolls too had a bit of a struggle against the dominance of the larger “blackbirds”. Their coping strategy when chased from the ground, was also to adapt to a variety of hanging feeders including ones holding peanuts, some inaccessible to the “bullies”.

A pair of northern cardinals, although never apart it seems for the last six weeks or so, took their relationship one step further with the male feeding sunflower seeds to the female for the first time this spring. Winter-long residents: juncos, a white-throated sparrow and a white-breasted nuthatch, seemed to realize it is still necessary to hang about feeders although we are 2 weeks into spring.

Song Sparrow stabbing at a suet cake. Redpolls feeding.