Nature Moncton Nature News: March 18 2018

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, Mar. 18, 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)

** The Nature Moncton sea duck workshop and field trip went off as scheduled on Saturday. Roger LeBlanc gave a well-crafted presentation on 16 species we see along our coast at this time of year and what we can expect to see and hear in coming weeks, as many of these species will be passing through in huge numbers to nest to the north of us, while some of the others will be setting up house-keeping locally, inland around rivers and ponds, as soon as the snow and ice leave us.

Roger concentrated on the three scoter species, three goldeneye species, three merganser species, two eiders, Long-tailed Duck, Harlequin Duck, and included the Mallard and Black Duck that we often see along our coastal areas in winter. It’s a bit early to see the huge flocks of Common Eider and Black Scoter but one flock of approximately 300 COMMON EIDER [Eider à duvet] ducks were spotted from the Caissie Cape wharf.

The afternoon field trip portion visited the Foch Bridge area (Big Lobster), Point-du-Chêne wharf, Caissie-Cape, Cocagne Cape, and Saint-Thomas. Many of the species reviewed in the morning were spotted. Gordon Rattray and Brian Stone share photos over the day that show some of the features of the species seen. Note the totally orange bill of the female BARROW’S GOLDENEYE [Garrot d'Islande] and the piano key arrangement down the back of the male Barrow’s Goldeneye. The female COMMON GOLDENEYE [Garrot à oeil d'or] would have a half orange and half black bill, and the distinct “piano keys” are not present on the male Common Goldeneye, and the white cheek patch is round on male Common Goldeneye and half-moon-shaped on the male Barrow’s Goldeneye. The forehead slopes very sharply in the Barrow’s Goldeneye and slopes more gradually in the Common Goldeneye.

One very distinctive male HOODED MERGANSER [] gave a very nice show beside some of its much larger COMMON MERGANSER [Harle couronné] kin. A small flock of SNOW BUNTINGS [Plectrophane des neiges] showing how white they are becoming as they move into breeding plumage. A large, probably male GRAY SEAL [Phoque gris] lounged on a distant ice floe at Pt-du-Chêne. The LONG-TAILED DUCKS [Harelde kakawi] were too distant to get good photos. A few photos of a female Common Merganser show the distinctive crisp white throat with a sharp delineation between the reddish-brown colour of the neck.

It was a great day of learning and observing activity in the field that was appreciated by a full house of participants. All thanks to Roger LeBlanc for the majority of the effort of making the day a special one.

** On Friday, Dave Christie walked along the Mary’s Point beach. The flock of approximately 100 SNOW BUNTINGS [Plectrophane des neiges] were content to get back to the uncovered marsh grasses and beach after recent snow and ice had forced them to the mudflats. He dropped by John Inman’s 225 Mary’s Point Road feeder yard. While watching the three resident RUSTY BLACKBIRDS [Quiscale rouilleux], two CHIPMUNKS [Suisse] suddenly emerged from under a shed to make possibly their first debut of the season. Dave again had one lone PINE SISKIN [Tarin des pins] visit his yard, watching the AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES [Chardonneret jaune] feeding, but not joining them.

** Kevin Renton reports that things are getting more lively at their Stilesville feeder yard, with an increased contingent of 18-20 DARK-EYED JUNCOS [Junco ardoisé]. 20-30 SNOW BUNTINGS [Plectrophane des neiges] suddenly arrived after not having been winter regulars, as well as a group of AM. TREE SPARROWS [Bruant hudsonien] that increased in numbers as well.

** This coming evening, March 20 is the Nature Moncton meeting night at the Mapleton Lodge, across from the former Cabella’s location. Laura Tranquilla from Bird Studies Canada will be the main presenter, with the write-up attached below.

Nature Moncton March Meeting

Date: March 20, 2018

Time: 7:00 pm

Location: Mapleton Park Rotary Lodge (across from Cabela’s)

Speaker: Laura Tranquilla

Wetlands provide a vast array of ecosystem services. Unfortunately, wetlands have been rapidly declining in number, size, and quality throughout North America. Those that remain are threatened by pollution, filling, draining, and other human impacts. Many marsh-dependent species have been affected, and are in need of monitoring, protection, and recovery efforts.

In Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island, conservation organizations have secured and stewarded close to 940,000 hectares of wetland habitat! However, valuation of wetland conservation in terms of hectares says little about the biodiversity and functions these wetlands provide. To fill this gap, Bird Studies Canada, with support from partners, launched the Maritimes Marsh Monitoring Program in 2012.

Join Bird Studies Canada Atlantic Program Manager, Laura Tranquilla as she talks about the Maritimes Marsh Monitoring Program’s efforts to date, directions for the future, and ways to participate.

For more information on Bird Studies Canada’s Maritimes Marsh Monitoring Program please visit: www.birdscanada.org/volunteer/acmmp/

In the second portion of the meeting, Adam Cheeseman from Nature New Brunswick will give a short presentation on activities, and Mike Plourde will give a presentation on the use of a trail camera in a woodland setting.

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton