Nature Moncton Nature News: Dec 13 2017

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, December 13, 2017 ( Wednesday )

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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Transcript by: Brian Stone bjpstone@gmail.com

Peter Gadd reports the MISTLE THRUSH was again in his yard on Wednesday morning but was cowering in Spruce Tree seemingly not amused by the rain

** A very big thank you to Curt Nason for coming to the Nature Moncton meeting on Tuesday evening to share his savvy with lots of information on our moon ... how it came to be as we see it now, why it has such a huge effect on our tides, and the vast amount of folklore that the moon has generated. Curt explained why the full and new moons do not affect our bodily functions but dealt with a number of the night's participants who were not convinced on that point! A very interesting presentation, a great speaker and a very involved audience.

** In the second half of the meeting Lindsay Gauvin, the executive director of the Petitcodiac Watershed Alliance and Nature Moncton member went over some of the several projects that will be continued and some new ones that are being planned. Louise Nichols gave a rundown on several interesting activities planned to take place over the next months for Nature Moncton. Mac Wilmot brought in a tree root that had its origin halfway up a large tree under a large sliver of loose bark and a petrified wood specimen. Some chrysalis and cocoons of Black Swallowtail Butterflies and Milkweed Tussock Moths were shown.

Some tightly containered, very lively bird fleas, removed from one of the swallow box nests got some lively discussion. It was decided to give out a small, plastic bag of diatomaceous earth to place in each nest box in the spring, as well to spray a flea spray that contains .056 % pyrethrin and .05 % permethrin into each box in early spring at clean out time that will very much reduce the flea load for the duration of the nesting period. This will be purchased by nest box landlords at pet supply stores as a spray or aerosol.

** Jamie Burris comments that the recent snow and colder weather has produced an onslaught of the expected regular patrons but a male NORTHERN FLICKER [Pic flamboyant] to grapes and Virginia Creeper berries was special. Jamie captured a great open wing photo to show the brilliant yellow that only an open wing photo will show. On Tuesday Jamie spotted his second COOPER'S HAWK [Épervier de Cooper] which was a different one from the one he had recently photographed as this one was an adult. Note the helpful identification features of a flat topped head with a slight crested appearance, the graduated length of the tail feathers with the central two being the longest, and the distinct white tip to the tail. The number of Cooper's Hawks being reported recently suggests that this bird is increasing in numbers in the area. There was a juvenile BALD EAGLE [Pygargue à tête blanche] perched directly across the street from the Cooper's Hawk. Jamie and Karen counted five Bald Eagles, all adults, en route to Salisbury.

** I had my first visit from a NORTHERN FLICKER [Pic flamboyant] as well on Tuesday. It had a long drink of water but didn't see it feed, but it may have.

** Lisa Morris got photos of small sand structures on a sand beach in the Richibucto area earlier in the season on October 17th but I was not able to get conformation on who the creator was until Tuesday when Anne Bardou identified them as bamboo worms. Anne points out that these can be found on sandy beaches, not muddy areas. The worms live in a vertical mud tube held together with mucous. The tubes extend above the surface and almost 20 cm. below. They feed by filtering food particles out of the water. The worm itself is pinkish and has segments along its body resembling the segments of bamboo.

** Lois Budd was another that had very heightened activity around her birdfeeder yard with most expected regulars, but also a BROWN CREEPER [Grimpereau brun] and a WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH [Sittelle à poitrine blanche]. Lois shares a few photos of her AMERICAN TREE SPARROW [Bruant hudsonien] patrons that really enjoy the hanging spray millet often sold in pet stores for caged birds.

** Jules Cormier is another who reports an excellent response to bird feeders of expected regulars but special is one PINE WARBLER [Paruline des pins], a WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH [Sittelle à poitrine blanche], and also one HOUSE SPARROW [Moineau domestique] that has become a more uncommon sparrow in New Brunswick.

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton