NATURE
MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, February 23, 2018 (Friday)
Please advise editor at nelson@nb.sympatico.ca if any errors are noted in wording or
photo labeling.
Transcript by: Louise Nichols nicholsl@eastlink.ca
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your message to the information line editor nelson@nb.sympatico.ca.
** It’s last call to the Nature Moncton
bird feeder tour happening tomorrow, Saturday Feb. 24th. Meet at 8:30 AM at the northeast corner of
the coliseum parking lot. The first stop
will be the Renton’s in Stilesville where there will probably be lots of birds;
however, the awesome breakfast of pancakes with all the fixins’ Jean and Billy
have ready for the group is always a major hit.
A drop box for a dollar donation will be out. After leaving the Renton’s, the group will
travel convoy style to a quick stop to visit the ducks at Mapleton Park, then
on to a few other area feeders to end up at Nelson and Pat Poirier’s in the
afternoon. Please take note of the
contact cell number of 381-3284 to have on hand if anyone gets lost from the
group or wishes to join at any time. All
are welcome, Nature Moncton member or not.
** Brian Coyle noted his first PINE SISKIN [Tarin des
pins] at
his Lower Mountain Rd. feeder yard two days ago. It is odd this year where several have had
just one lone bird drop by. This is
normally a flocking bird acting like a group of bees when they arrive at a
feeder. I also had one lone Pine Siskin
drop by as well. Brian also sees a BROWN CREEPER [Grimpereau
brun] most
days gleaning insects off of some yard Spruce trees.
** Janet Kempster and Brian Stone made
a birding run of the Memramcook area across to Rte 933 to Haute-Aboujagane to
Shediac on Thursday. Brian got some nice
photos of the WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH [Sittelle à poitrine blanche] at Jules Cormier’s Memramcook feeder,
and there were many AMERICAN TREE SPARROW [Bruant hudsonien] present, but a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW
[Bruant des plaines] did
not show while they were there. On Rte
933 near Haute-Aboujagane, a roadside stop netted a cooperative BOREAL CHICKADEE[Mésange
à tête brune],
a species it seems harder to locate now.
Also a lone PINE SISKIN [Tarin des pins] perched atop a conifer leader tip. A pair of BALD EAGLES [Pygargue à tête
blanche] seemed
to have bonding in mind at Pointe du Chêne wharf as well
as Goldeneyes [Garrot] and Mergansers [Harle] enjoying the open water
around the Big Lobster. Brian comments
that the solar halos were exceptional on Thursday. There are two links attached to check out for
folks who wish to learn more about them.
** This week’s Sky-at-a-Glance is added
to this edition, courtesy of sky-guru Curt Nason.
This Week’s Sky at a Glance, February
24 - March 3
We are all familiar with the weather-related saying that March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb. This has a connection with the constellations, most likely by coincidence. As evening begins in early March, Leo the Lion is rising above the eastern horizon. I’d be blowing hot air if I claimed the roaring winds of early March were due to Leo announcing his presence.
Is there a lamb in the sky? Aries the Ram fits the bill, having been a
lamb in his early days. As darkness settles in at the end of March,
Aries is going out of the sky just above the western horizon. I’d be
pulling the wool over your eyes if I claimed that was responsible for any calm weather we experience at that time. Beware the I’ds of March.
We are all familiar with the weather-related saying that March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb. This has a connection with the constellations, most likely by coincidence. As evening begins in early March, Leo the Lion is rising above the eastern horizon. I’d be blowing hot air if I claimed the roaring winds of early March were due to Leo announcing his presence.
Is there a lamb in the sky? Aries the Ram fits the bill, having been a
lamb in his early days. As darkness settles in at the end of March,
Aries is going out of the sky just above the western horizon. I’d be
pulling the wool over your eyes if I claimed that was responsible for any calm weather we experience at that time. Beware the I’ds of March.
This Week in the Solar System
Saturday’s sunrise in Moncton is at 7:07 am and sunset will occur at 5:58 pm, giving 10 hours, 51 minutes of daylight (7:10 am and 6:04 pm in Saint John). Next Saturday the Sun will rise at 6:54 am and set at 6:08 pm, giving 11 hours, 14 minutes of daylight (6:58am and 6:14 pm in Saint John).
The Moon is full on Thursday, the Mi’kmaq Snow Blinding Moon. Jupiter, Mars and Saturn are three good reasons to take a telescope outside an hour before sunrise. This summer they will be at their best for evening observing. By midweek Mercury sets in the west 45 minutes after sunset and 15 minutes before Venus. The next few weeks will be the best time to see Mercury for the year, as the steep angle of the ecliptic on March evenings places it higher in the sky than usual.
On Friday, February 23, Astronomy Moncton will hold a telescope clinic at Moncton High School beginning at 4 pm, followed by guides to observing the sky in the evening. See their website or Facebook page for details. The Saint John Astronomy Club meets on Saturday, March 3 at 7 pm in the Rockwood Park Interpretation Centre. All are welcome.
Questions? Contact Curt Nason at nasonc@nbnet.nb.ca.
Nelson Poirier,
Nature Moncton
AMERICAN TREE SPARROW. FEB. 22, 2018. BRIAN STONE
BALD EAGLE (JUVENILE). FEB. 22, 2018. BRIAN STONE
BALD EAGLES. FEB. 22, 2018. BRIAN STONE
BARROWS GOLDENEYE (MALE). FEB. 22, 2018. BRIAN STONE
BOREAL CHICKADEE.. FEB. 22, 2018. BRIAN STONE
BOREAL CHICKADEE.. FEB. 22, 2018. BRIAN STONE
Lion_Lamb
PINE SISKIN. FEB. 22, 2018. JANET KEMPSTER
PINE SISKIN. FEBRUARY 22, 2018. BRIAN COYLE
RING-NECKED PHEASANT. FEB. 22, 2018. BRIAN STONE
SOLAR HALO. FEB. 22, 2018. BRIAN STONE
SOLAR HALO. FEB. 22, 2018. BRIAN STONE
WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH. FEB. 22, 2018. BRIAN STONE
WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH. FEB. 22, 2018. BRIAN STONE