**There have been no reports yet for Saturday morning of
the SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER [Tyran à longue queue] at Bouctouche as of 8 a.m.,
and some have asked if it could be reported if it is still there today. If it is
spotted today, please post it to Nature NB or call Dave Christie at
882-2100.
**The giant Moths [Papillons nocturnes] of the season
are coming on thick and fast. Jack Perry had a striking POLYPHEMUS Moth
[Polyphème d'Amérique] arrive to his deck in Saint John on Thursday night.
Brenda Ryan also had an AZALEA SPHINX Moth [Darapsa choerilus] visit her Moncton
home this past week. Susan Richards got a photo of a GALIUM Moth [Sphinx du
gaillet], a.k.a. BEDSTRAW HAWK-MOTH. This is not a commonly seen one as an
adult, but the striking Caterpillars [Chenilles] are more frequently seen in the
fall. Susan also got a photo of a surprisingly cooperative HUMMINGBIRD CLEARWING
MOTH [Sphinx colibri], which is a Sphinx Moth, and a BLACK SWALLOWTAIL Butterfly
[Papillon du céleri], all at her Taylor Village home yard.
**Susan also photographed a colourful display in the sky
at 9:15 p.m. Thursday evening. Curt Nason explains it’s a RED RAINBOW. The
camera was probably pointed southeast. The sun had just set, so mostly the red
part of the spectrum was scattering through the atmosphere. The photo is
attached.
**A comment yesterday on the toxicity of Milkweed [Herbe
à coton] got appropriate attention to give some excellent exchange of thoughts
that are best expressed by paraphrasing interesting comments from Jim Wilson,
Jim Edsall, and Ron Arsenault. It’s good the topic was brought forward to allow
these comments to reach a wide audience. Comments from Jim Wilson, Jim Edsall,
and Ron Arsenault follow, and all thanks to Bruce Coates for bringing up the
topic and the comments that it led to.
Comments
courtesy of Jim Wilson
“Milkweed has long been considered by the agricultural
industry as a noxious weed and has been listed as that in Ontario and other
jurisdictions for a long time.
Because if its vital importance to Monarchs I understand
that governments are being forced to take a more balanced viewpoint looking
forward. In following developments in the US on the conservation of Monarchs,
the growing of milkweeds in a wide variety of locations is now a priority after
a Presidential order issued by Mr. Obama late last year.
In the past it was easy to condemn milkweed as a noxious weed when the only viewpoint being expressed about it came the agricultural sector. At that point, no one else really cared. That viewpoint was based on all the right reasons, of course, but when its importance to Monarchs and other pollinators is put on the table, a more balanced approach is needed. My understanding is that Ontario intends to remove milkweed from its noxious weed list in future.
Common milkweed does spread through rhizomes but its spread is nothing as rapid or as uncontrollable as Japanese Knotweed or some other problem plants. I see nothing wrong with planting it on one's property as long as you can mow around it or put it in a location where its spread doesn't affect a farmer's fields. In fact, I plan to transplant more this summer to our property. I moved some a few years ago but they eventually died out as they apparently couldn't compete with the native plants here in my field. I'll need to prepare and maintain a better bed for it this time until it gets established.
I do have about 40 Swamp Milkweed plants that I established three years ago and they're doing very well on the sunny south end of our house. That's where the seeds that gave rise to your seedlings at the FON came from, last fall.”
In the past it was easy to condemn milkweed as a noxious weed when the only viewpoint being expressed about it came the agricultural sector. At that point, no one else really cared. That viewpoint was based on all the right reasons, of course, but when its importance to Monarchs and other pollinators is put on the table, a more balanced approach is needed. My understanding is that Ontario intends to remove milkweed from its noxious weed list in future.
Common milkweed does spread through rhizomes but its spread is nothing as rapid or as uncontrollable as Japanese Knotweed or some other problem plants. I see nothing wrong with planting it on one's property as long as you can mow around it or put it in a location where its spread doesn't affect a farmer's fields. In fact, I plan to transplant more this summer to our property. I moved some a few years ago but they eventually died out as they apparently couldn't compete with the native plants here in my field. I'll need to prepare and maintain a better bed for it this time until it gets established.
I do have about 40 Swamp Milkweed plants that I established three years ago and they're doing very well on the sunny south end of our house. That's where the seeds that gave rise to your seedlings at the FON came from, last fall.”
Comment from Jim Edsall
Nelson, just responding to
the Milkweed toxicity discussion. From what I have read Common milkweed would
have to be eaten in quite a large amount in order to harm a large mammal, in
fact I believe parts of the plant are edible. I know some species of milkweed
are more toxic but syriaca not so much. Some of the western species and whorled
milkweeds are quite toxic.
Courtesy of Ron Arsenault
Water Hemlock (Cicuta maculata) is common along the
drainage ditches on the Tantramar marsh hay fields. This makes one wonder how
much of it gets into the hay bales.
The link provided by Bruce
suggests that it is problematic if grazed, but does it retain its toxicity after
being dried as hay?
If I remember correctly,
Water Hemlock is the most violently toxic plant to humans in this part of the
world. I do not know if it is as potent to cattle, nor do I recall how the
toxicity is affected after the plant is cut and dried.
Nelson
Poirier
Nature Moncton
AZALIA SPHINX MOTH. JUNE 30 2015.BRENDA RYAN.
BLACK SWALLOWTAIL BUTTERFLY.JULY 2, 2015.SUSAN RICHARDS
GALLIUM SPRINX MOTH.JULY 2, 2015.SUSAN RICHARDS
HUMMINGBIRD CLEARWING MOTH.JULY 3, 2015.SUSAN RICHARDS
POLYPHEMUS MOTH.JULY 3, 2015.JACK PERRY
RED ADMIRAL BUTTERFLY.JULY 2, 2015.SUSAN RICHARDS
RED RAINBOW.JULY 2, 2015.SUSAN RICHARDS
