March 14 2018

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, March 14, 2018 (Wednesday)

Please advise editor at nelson@nb.sympatico.ca if any errors are noted in wording or photo labeling.

For more information on Nature Moncton, check into the website at www.naturemoncton.com

Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelson@nb.sympatico.ca
Transcript by: Catherine Johnson johnson2@xplornet.com

Info Line # 506-384-6397 (384-NEWS)

To respond by e-mail, please address your message to the information line editor nelson@nb.sympatico.ca.

**Snowstorms usually make for no nature reports of the day however everything is going to get back to normal, including Nature Moncton activities this weekend.  

**The Nature Moncton Sea Duck workshop and field trip is on schedule for this coming Saturday, March 17. For unforeseen reasons, this will not be appearing on the website but is very much still on.  The write up is attached below.

SEA DUCKS MIGRATION:  WORKSHOP AND OUTING

Date: March 17, 2018

Time: 9:30 AM (workshop); 1:00 PM (outing)

Location: Sobeys Community Room on Elmwood Dr. for workshop

Presenter and Guide: Roger Leblanc

Everybody knows what a duck is. They are one of the most recognizable groups of birds. They are big, most males are colorful and they are not hard to find. But the reality of waterfowl gets a bit more complex when you scratch the surface. You have dabbling ducks that eat mostly vegetation on inland ponds and diving ducks that go more for live prey out on the coast. Some species are kind of in-between and can partake of both. Also, if you look closely, these feeding habits influence behaviors and migration patterns. And then there is the group that can be loosely referred to as “sea ducks”.  We are lucky here and now to be near a natural phenomenon which can be quite impressive, as sea ducks are in movement from their wintering areas to their breeding grounds. In early spring a lot of them will follow the Northumberland coast where they will often stop to feed and rest in large numbers. And this is

our chance to observe them at a time when breeding behavior and vocalization is not only possible but also expected. 

To help you experience this natural spectacle Nature Moncton is offering a workshop /outing on sea ducks where you will have a chance to gain or brush up on your ability to ID the birds and better understand their behaviors. Roger Leblanc will be our leader on this quest.  He has been studying the sights and sounds of sea ducks on the Northumberland coast for decades and is always pleased to share his knowledge with others.

So why not join us Saturday March 17th for an informative workshop and then a splendid outing?  The group will assemble at 9:30 AM in the community room of the Elmwood Drive Sobeys in Moncton.  Pre-registration is

advised.  The workshop will cover field ID and interesting facts about the dozen or so duck species that we could / should see during the outing. After having our carry-in lunch on site we will leave the Sobeys parking lot at 1:00 and head down to the coast of the strait which we will explore roughly from Shediac to Bouctouche stopping at many spots along the way that are well known by Roger as staging areas for sea ducks at this time of year.  So if you have always wanted to know more about sea ducks and their habits, this activity is for you! Come join us for a fun learning experience.

All are welcome, Nature Moncton member or not

Fee (for workshop):  $8.00

Registration: Louise Nichols at nicholsl@eastlink.ca

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

 Nelson Poirier 

Nature Moncton