Nature Moncton Nature News: Aug 1 2018

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, August 1, 2018 ( Wednesday)

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

Transcript by: Judy Marsh marshj@nbnet.nb.ca

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

** Kathy and Harold Popma of Sackville are more folks getting Monarch Butterfly visits. They found one in an advanced instar state on a white flowered cultivated Swamp Milkweed. Howerver, the Monarch Butterflies are not concerned by the bloom colour not being hot pink.

** Dan Hicks got a surprise as he was installing a dock ladder in his yard man made pond at 7:30 on Monday evening. His tools were making a lot of noise. He saw what he thought was maybe one of his trout jumping from the corner of his eye, to look more closely to find it was a White-tailed Deer fawn that had jumped into the pond, swam across to the other side, climbed up the bank, shook itself off and sauntered off to the backyard garden.

** Aldo Dorio got some photos of one of our New Brunswick native shore birds – the SPOTTED SANDPIPER [Chevalier grivelé]. The adult is distinctly spotted, however the young of the year we should be seeing now lack the spotting.

** I recently asked Jim Wilson why we were having such a good season for Monarch Butterfly activity in New Brunswick. His reply was very, very interesting to read from someone so involved with this species. Jim has given permission to share his his response which is quoted below. Jim also comments folks that plant milkweed should be made to feel good about their contribution.

Quote “I suspect a greater availability of milkweed is indeed a factor. Year 2017 seemed to be a good one and Monarchs arrived in the province by mid-June, giving them a good opportunity to reproduce locally. This spring was a repeat, with large numbers of Monarchs appearing before the end of June and eggs being found on milkweeds by mid-June. That certainly bodes well for a healthy crop of migrants south this fall.

My understanding is that:

1. The Monarchs wintered over in Mexico without any major weather negatives.

2. They left on time in mid-late March, traveling northward to try to find milkweed plants in the southern US.

3. Weather conditions were reasonably good for early milkweed growth in Texas/Oklahoma and other states (not too dry) so crucial eggs could be laid before the wintering adults died.

4. Evidently that critical first Monarch generation born in the southern US was successful in becoming butterflies.

5. Subsequent weather conditions (winds too) brought the next couple of generations northward in good time, enabling a June arrival in southern Canada.

6. Thanks to increased awareness and more interest in planting milkweeds across the continent, there appears to be greater opportunities for reproduction once the butterflies arrived.

So as far as I can tell, the stars aligned appropriately for the Monarchs in the East this year. Let's hope it was the same situation across the country. I believe it is. :)

Best regards,

Jim (end of quote)

** I asked Pam Novak at the Atlantic Wildlife Institute if she has had any of the Moncton PEREGRINE FALCONS [Faucon pèlerin] arrive for her care this year. She responded thankfully no ( knock on wood!) So far they have kept the drama down and seem to be keeping out of trouble. She comments fall migration is the next timeframe when calls start coming in from around the area.

**Adding to the photos from the Nature Moncton field trip to the Grand Lake Meadows. Both Wood Nettle and Stinging Nettle were in full bloom. Wood Nettle, an alternate leaf arrangement, Stinging Nettle has an opposite leaf arrangement. Both have hairs that give a stinging sensation to bare skin that usually lasts for several minutes in most people. Sweet Flag was displaying its one single flower / fruiting structure looking a bit similar to a Cattail head at first glance. It had a very pleasant scent when crushed. Cleaver plant was in full bloom. This is the vining plant that clings to clothing and animal fur. Groundnut with its compound leaf of five leaflets was vining but not displaying its very unique blossom. Groundnut gets many common names including Indian Potato due to its use by Indigenous people in the past. It was growing beside a relative, Hog Peanut, that has a compond leave as well but three leaflets and was not in bloom yet either. An insect gall on a Wood Nettle leaf is also attached

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton