NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, April 14, 2019 (Sunday)
To view the photos mentioned in this edition go to http://nminfoline.blogspot.ca .
To respond by e-mail, please address your message to the
information line editor, nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com
Please advise the editor if any errors are noted in wording
or photo labelling. Note that corrections, deletions, or delayed additions may
not always appear on the Info Line and email transcript but will always appear
on the BlogSpot. For this reason, it is recommended that those wishing to look
at historical records use the BlogSpot rather than the email
transcript. The BlogSpot can always be accessed from the website.
For more information on Nature Moncton, check the website at www.naturemoncton.com .
Edited by: Nelson Poirier, nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com
Info Line #: 506-384-6397
(384-NEWS)
** The monthly Nature Moncton meeting will take place this
coming Tuesday evening, April 16, at 7 p.m. in the Mapleton Rotary Lodge. The
timing could not be better, with some delicious warmth and a great speaker like
David Mazerolle, a botanist at the Atlantic Canada Conservation Data Centre,
who will give a presentation on spring flowering plants that we’re all so glad
to see again. The write-up is attached below.
The warming
weather and longer days bring rapid change in our forests, fields and wetlands,
as perennial plant life re-awakens from its winter slumber. For annual
wildflowers, life begins anew as sprouting seeds bring on the new generation.
For some animals, the springtime blooms offer sustenance; for others, they are
an enticing preview of the bountiful fruit harvest to come. Attentive
naturalists know that even as early as mid-April we are surrounded by blooms of
various kinds. Some are quite showy and easy to spot, while many more require a
trained eye.
This talk will briefly cover some basics on flowers (evolution, structure, function, diversity, etc.) and will touch on various reproductive strategies used by our native plant species. With this little bit of theory out of the way, we’ll take some time to go through a parade of photos that will showcase some of our region’s most characteristic springtime flowers as well as a number of inconspicuous ones and intriguing rarities. This will be a good opportunity to learn a few things about our diverse native flora and will serve as a good primer for “budding” botanists.
This talk will briefly cover some basics on flowers (evolution, structure, function, diversity, etc.) and will touch on various reproductive strategies used by our native plant species. With this little bit of theory out of the way, we’ll take some time to go through a parade of photos that will showcase some of our region’s most characteristic springtime flowers as well as a number of inconspicuous ones and intriguing rarities. This will be a good opportunity to learn a few things about our diverse native flora and will serve as a good primer for “budding” botanists.
** There have been reports from Nova Scotia of TREE SWALLOWS [Hirondelle
bicolor] arriving already and checking out boxes. It’s definitely time for all
swallow boxes to be cleaned and ready for the swallows’ arrival, especially all
those new boxes that were distributed at last month’s Nature Moncton meeting.
Usually the first swallows that arrive will check boxes and then return to them
a few weeks later to consummate their occupation. Some EASTERN BLUEBIRDS [Merlebleu
de l’Est] can also arrive very early.
** On Saturday, Roger LeBlanc, Alain Clavette and some of
Alain’s students pond-hopped some of the Memramcook lagoons, which can be so
productive. However, they found many lagoons still quite frozen over, so heads
up to pond-sleuthing birders. It may be best to wait a week or even more.
However, the day was not lost, as one of the very special things
to hear at this time of year is a NORTHERN SHRIKE [Pie-grièche grise] in song.
The group came across one near Dorchester Island, and Roger comments that we’ve
had a good year for shrike numbers, and it’s that short time-window at the
moment to hear this species vocalize before they head back north. Take a moment
to review some sound tracks to be ready. Northern Shrikes may have skipped a
few music classes, but their sound is still a very special one to hear.
** GREAT BLUE HERONS [Grand Héron] seem to be moving in quite
rapidly at the moment. Aldo Dorio noted 2 at Hay Island on Saturday. The white
crown with black lateral crown stripes and head plumes of breeding plumage show
nicely. Aldo had seen a Great Blue Heron about five days ago as the first one.
Jane LeBlanc also photographed two of four Great Blue Herons in the Saturday
morning fog on the St. Martins beach, and, while driving past the Lars Larsen
Marsh at Mary’s Point on Saturday evening, Dave Christie had 8 of them flush
from the tidal creek that drains the still-frozen marsh.
** Darrel Doucet sends a very close-up photo of an EASTERN
CHIPMUNK [Suisse] that looks like it fared the winter very well and, by the
filled-to-the-brim facial pouch will make sure things stay that way.
Nature Moncton
CHIPMUNK. APRIL 13, 2019. DARYL DOUCET
GREAT BLUE HERON. APRIL 13, 2019. ALDO DORIO
GREAT BLUE HERON. APRIL 13, 2019. ALDO DORIO
GREAT BLUE HERONS. APRIL 13, 2019. JANE LeBLANC
