Nature Moncton Nature News: June 1 2015

** Dale Gaskin comments that he seems to have lost the EASTERN BLUEBIRDS [Merlebleu de l'Est] from his site; he suspects that SHARP-SHINNED HAWK [Épervier brun] activity may be responsible. Some of his neighbours see bluebirds from time to time, so he thinks they are nesting in the area but is not sure where. Dale’s Dawson Settlement area [NW of Hillsborough] has been productive for Bluebirds for several years, but things are not looking as good this year.

Dale has many RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD [Colibri à gorge rubis] patrons, as he always has. In the heavy rainfall on Sunday, he watched flower petals falling from a large apple tree just like it was a snowstorm.

** Susan Richards notes a CANADA GOOSE [Bernache du Canada] pair appeared with their goslings on a pond in Taylor Village on Saturday. She has noted a COMMON EIDER [Eider à duvet] flock of several birds flying back and forth along the Memramcook River. She wonders why they would be doing that now.

** Brian Stone got so many nice photos of ducks and warblers the past few days in the Hampton area, that it’s hard not to share most of them. Several are attached.

** CANADA PLUM [Prunier sauvage] was an abundant wild fruit in New Brunswick at one time, being very popular with native people. A form of blight spread through the species that allows the shrubs to blossom but as fruit forms the fungus attacks to leave mummified, shrivelled, infertile fruit. This shrub has therefore been reduced in abundance dramatically. After finding some in the Miramichi area a few years ago and getting to recognize the blooms when they open before the leaves, I noticed the shrub’s gray bark gave its presence away as it is easily confused with other early blooming shrubs at a distance. Last week it was surprising to note several small stands along Route 420, as well as along Route 11. I assume they are very old stands but did find one with a few red plums on it last summer. I’m wondering if there may be some resistance developing.

Nelson Poirier

<nelson@nb.sympatico.ca>,

Nature Moncton