Nature Moncton Nature News: Feb 4 2018

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, updated for Feb. 4, 2018 (Sunday)

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

Transcript by: David Christie maryspt@mac.com

Info Line # 506-384-6397 (384-NEWS)

** Judy Marsh comments that when she got home on Saturday that a friend on Landry Street, in the Harrisville area, reported a flock of 50 AMERICAN ROBINS [Merle d’Amérique], as well as some accompanying BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS [Jaseur boréal] in her yard.

** The Nature Moncton WORKSHOP ON TRACKS, TRAILS AND SIGNS went off on Saturday under beautifully sunny skies, but it was mercilessly cold. It was a treat to share the enthusiasm and comments of the group who braved slippery roads to join in. Although very cold, conditions were excellent on one of the Irishtown Nature Park trails for locating tracks of RED FOX [Renard roux], COYOTE [Coyote], BOBCAT [Lynx roux], WEASEL [hermine/belette], VOLE [campagnol] / SHREW [musaraigne], WHITE-TAILED DEER [Cerf de Virginie], RUFFED GROUSE [Gélinotte huppée], and a modest number of SNOWSHOE HARE [Lièvre d'Amérique]. We were fairly certain of most, but some were up for some lively discussion. We all thank Mother Nature for giving us the one-day opportunity for some perfect tracks and trails, as the day before or the day after would have been very different. Isaac Acker, from the Riverview High School Eco Class was a pleasant addition. Staff photographer Brian Stone got some nice track photos although photos on a fresh white snow snow background are tricky.

** Brian Stone and I dropped over to the Chateau Moncton parking lot to check on the possibility of a Short-eared Owl that has been seen at approximately 3:30 p.m. We were very rewarded to almost immediately see two SHORT-EARED OWLS [Hibou des marais] showing their aerial prowess. The blowing snow did not allow for clear photos but Brian did get a few documentary ones. We went to the Riverview Marsh side to see if they would be more clear, but conditions were little different. The owls seemed to be about halfway across. An attempt to walk out the marsh trail in the blowing snow was just too brutal. We can at least be certain that there are two individuals out there now. There was no sign of any Coyote or Red Fox movement, but lots of CROWS [corneilles] and GULLS [goélands].

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton