Nature Moncton Nature News: Dec 17 2015

** Jean-Paul and Stella LeBlanc have had some special SNOWY OWL [Harfang des neiges] action the past few days. They spotted one at the Saint Thomas wharf on Wednesday, alerted to its presence by CROWS dive-bombing it that it wasn’t paying particular attention to. It was across the Wharf Road to the left, facing the bait sheds. They also saw a SNOWY OWL Louis-Emile Cormier had found in Cocagne on Monday. Stella’s brother saw 2 SNOWY OWLS on Monday in Grande-Digue where he lives. They also spotted a male MERLIN [Faucon émerillon] in trees going down to the St. Thomas Wharf on Wednesday to get nice pictures of both.

** Connie and Pearl Collpitts are enjoying a real bonanza with PILEATED WOODPECKERS [Grand pic] coming to their feeder yard in Salisbury. They knew they had a pair coming to raw suet and peanut butter but were surprised to look at a photo they took on Wednesday to have 2 males now realizing they actually had 3 PILEATED WOODPECKER patrons when most would be overjoyed to have one. They comment the woodpeckers seem to have no fear of people around the area as they fed during the snow-blowing efforts on Wednesday and cleaning out the feeders.

**An immature WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW [Bruant à couronne blanche] joined the AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS [Bruant hudsonien] and 2 SONG SPARROWS [Bruant chanteur] at our Moncton feeder yard on Wednesday. I think it was the first day present. A juvenile SHARP-SHINNED HAWK [Épervier brun] stayed around the yard in the afternoon, so I’m hoping if the sparrow decides to stay until Moncton Christmas Bird Count Day on Saturday no accidents happen. It may just be a one day visit but it did make it in the count period. Brian Stone dropped by so the SPARROW was well photographed and Brian got some excellent views of the SHARP-SHINNED HAWK to show features like the tail banding, white undertail coverts, breast markings and yellow eye of the immature.

** The measurements of the LONG JAWED SPIDER described yesterday should have read 4 mm body length and 1cm including leg length.

** Chrystal Lumsden, stewartship coordinator for Nature NB has initiated “Project PlantWatch” in NB. This is a citizen science project that I suspect many will be interested in participating in, to monitor timing dates of certain plants when they bloom. Chrystal will be holding initiation sessions around NB with the Moncton presentation scheduled for Tuesday evening, January 26th, 2016 from 6.30 to 7.30pm at the Moncton Public Library. Interested participants are asked to pre-register as per the attached announcement. The announcement will be repeated again as the presentation draws nearer but registration soon is encouraged.

Nature NB’s Botany Workshop Series: PlantWatch Moncton

Do you like to get outside and examine the natural world? Would you like to learn more about plant identification in New Brunswick? Want to become a citizen scientist? Join Nature NB as we help researchers from across Canada in tracking changes in our Natural Environment.

The PlantWatch program enables citizen scientists to get involved by recording flowering times for selected plant species and reporting these dates to researchers, who work to identify ecological changes that may be affecting our environment.

The workshop will include an introduction to plant morphology as well as plant identification basics. Participants will be provided with a plant identification guide and PlantWatch booklet and will receive training to become official PlantWatch participants!

Nature NB is hosting this unique workshop in your area soon!

Where: Moncton Public Library, 644 Main Street

When: Tuesday, January 26th 2016

Time: 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm

If you have any questions or if you would like to participate in this workshop please register by sending an email to biodiversitynb@naturenb.ca before Tuesday, January 19th.

This project is generously funded by the New Brunswick Environmental Trust Fund and the New Brunswick Wildlife Trust Fund.

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca
Nelson Poirier
Nature Moncton