**
It’s Nature Moncton meeting night tonight,
Tuesday February 16, with details at the end of this
message.
** Louise Nichols comments Waxwings continue to
be very actively present in the courtyard of the Arts Building of the University
of Moncton. The species proportion a few weeks ago was very predominantly CEDAR WAXWINGS [Jaseur d’Amérique} but now has become
predominantly BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS [Jaseur
boréal] with a flock of approximately 500 present on Monday. There’s
also AMERICAN ROBINS [Merle d’Amérique] blended in. The
berry crop is very diminished but the birds continue to come and are very used
to people travelling the pathways among them.
** What a change in the activity around the
heated water dish in the bird feeder area on Tuesday morning. During the cold
snap it was very busy with patrons taking liquid refreshment from the edge; with
the rising temperature on Tuesday morning, many patrons are diving in for an
enjoyable bath in the balmy temperature.
** Yearly MEMBERSHIP DUES are easily put on the
back burner. The day to day operational expenses of Nature Moncton are covered
by membership dues; these include such items as meeting place rentals, telephone
line for the Information Line, audio visual and recording equipment, blog spot,
Nature NB membership, speaker expenses, newsletter, workshops, field trips and
other surprise expenses — all THANKS to members who have renewed -- their
2015-2016 membership that has kept Nature Moncton in shape. For those who have
not renewed membership for the present year as yet, could you please print the
attached membership form and submit to membership coordinator Shirley Hunt at
tonight’s meeting on her RETIREMENT night before our new Membership person takes
over. If you are not at the meeting tonight, please mail in your
form with your cheque today before it is forgotten. The membership
coordinator and treasurer will thank you very much in advance for making their
voluntary efforts a bit easier. Membership is not requested for those members
outside the tri-county area of Westmorland, Albert, and Kent county. Those
folks using Nature Moncton services outside these areas are considered very
welcome guests and paid membership is not requested. The Nature Moncton board
has made membership completely on the honour system with no restriction on the
use of Nature Moncton services to be dependent on paid up membership. This
honour system has worked in the past and hopefully will continue. However, an
up to date membership card is required for the 10% discount at J&P Farm
Services.
** The February Nature Moncton meeting is
coming up tonight at the Mapleton Rotary Lodge located across from Cabela’s at 7
pm. Our guest speaker Nicholas LeComte, from the Université de
Moncton, will have some very interesting information
to share on the life and times of Semipalmated Sandpipers which were
historically the most widespread and numerous shorebird species in the Western
Hemisphere. Nicholas and his colleagues have done very ground breaking
investigations with the use of geo-locators attached to the birds in the
wintering grounds and their breeding grounds. The results are showing ways to
understand their decline in order to address the reasons why it is happening.
Nicholas will be letting us all revisit one of our favourite summer scenarios -
the SANDPIPER MIGRATION. As always all are welcome !
** Tonight’s meeting will be chaired by Dale
Gaskin. The search for a new slate of officers is underway to fill vacancies
and lots of changes are being considered. The business meeting will be
shortened considerably with that part of the meeting more directed to upcoming
activities planned for Nature Moncton and it is planned to bring back liveliness
to the sightings portion and any members with photos or items to project for the
group, to bring them along on a flash drive or memory chip to share with the
group.
nelson@nb.sympatico.ca
Nelson Poirier
Nelson Poirier
Nature
Moncton
AMERICAN TREE SPARROW 07. JAN. 31, 2016. BRIAN STONE
AMERICAN TREE SPARROW 07. JAN. 31, 2016. BRIAN STONE
NATURE MONCTON MEMBERSHIP FORM 2015-2016
