Winter Wildlife: New Brunswick's provincial bird

We’re back to tell you more about the creatures that you can find at the Irving Nature Park! Although there is less human foot traffic this time of year, the wildlife that call the Park home in the wintertime are thriving! 

The black-capped chickadee is New Brunswick’s provincial bird, and a common sight at the Park. This small songbird lives in the province year-round in deciduous and mixed forests. Known by their black cap and bib, chickadees are easily identified and thought of as “cute” due to their oversized round head, tiny body, and curiosity. They are one of the easiest birds to attract to feeders and to your hand. Interestingly, black-capped chickadees will hide seed and other food items to eat later. They will place each food item in a different spot and remember thousands of different hiding places. Known best for their “chick-a-dee-dee-dee” call, black-capped chickadees actually have one of the most complex languages in the bird world. They can communicate information on identity and recognition of other flocks as well as predator alarms and contact calls.

These tiny birds have amazing adaptations to survive the winter months. Chickadees will shiver to generate heat during the colder months and undergo nocturnal hypothermia, meaning they can drop their body temperature at night to conserve energy.

Pictured are a group of elementary school students during a tour at the Park! They were happy to feed the chickadees seeds from their hands while learning all about these tiny birds!

The Irving Nature Park is a 600-acre site owned, gifted, and maintained by J.D. Irving Limited with a commitment to help protect an environmentally significant area. This special part of the Fundy coastline is a place where everyone can come and experience the various ecosystems of the southern New Brunswick coastline. It is open year-round to help encourage visitors to experience nature with geological treasures and many other stunning features.

Have you seen any critters on your winter wonderlands walks through nature?