Nature Moncton Nature News: Nov 22 2019

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, November 22, 2019 (Friday)

To view the photos mentioned in this edition go to http://nminfoline.blogspot.ca

Please advise editor at nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com 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 nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Transcript by: Louise Nichols nicholsl@eastlink.ca

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

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** The Nature Moncton field trip to the Irving research building and tree nursery is on for tomorrow, Saturday. Directions and write-up are re-attached at the end of today’s message. A contact number if needed tomorrow is 866-2752.

** Another northern winter visitor checking in – Clarence Cormier had an adult NORTHERN SHRIKE [Pie-grièche grise] land on his Grande Digue patio feeder Thursday. It swooped over a RED SQUIRREL [Écureuil roux] a few times which completely ignored its tactics and kept on having its lunch.

** Jamie and Karen Burris, as others, are getting their first DARK-EYED JUNCO [Junco ardoisé] arrivals to their Riverview yard. Jamie got some great photos of a male Dark-eyed Junco looking like a gentleman in his grey business suit. Jamie comments that a group of GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULLS [Goéland marin] have assembled in a field behind their home each winter for the past 15 years. They’re back with 50+ there on Thursday morning. They also noted that 9 AMERICAN GOLDFINCH [Chardonneret jaune] appeared in their yard on Thursday, but preferred the seed of Birch catkins over the available feeder options as Jamie’s photo shows.

** Jane LeBlanc is just back from Ontario visiting family. There’s a site called Hawk Cliff Woods just outside Port Stanley on Lake Eerie. It is not as well-known as Point Pelee, but it’s the same type of place, where birds and butterflies wait for the right winds to cross the lake on their way south. It’s run by a non-profit organization, the Thames Talbot Land Trust. They have signage and trails for viewing and education. All birders that Jane has met there over the years have been very welcoming and informative. Jane suggests that it’s a spot to check out if you’re in the area at the appropriate time of year.

** This week’s Sky-at-a-Glance for the last week in November is included in this edition courtesy of sky guru Curt Nason, along with rumours for clear-sky forecasts for some nights this week.

This Week’s Sky at a Glance, 2019 November 23 – November 30
Stock market-minded astronomers could be inspired by looking to the northeast after twilight. On evenings in mid-May, Ursa Major the Great Bear is high overhead, dominating the sky. Taurus the Bull, meanwhile, sets early, and then we have several months of a bear market for stargazing. Later sunsets and extended twilight, with the compounded interest of daylight time, means sparse hours for viewing the summer night sky. Now that we are well beyond the autumnal equinox and have returned to standard time, early darkness reveals the Great Bear has reached bottom to the north after sunset, and the Celestial Bull is rising in the east. We are entering the bull market phase of stargazing.

Although we lose the globular clusters and nebulae that abound within the Milky Way areas of Scorpius, Ophiuchus and Sagittarius, we can still observe the summer treasures near Lyra and Cygnus before they set. The autumn constellations of Cassiopeia, Andromeda and Perseus are peaking in mid-evening, ceding their reign to the bright stars and open clusters of winter’s Taurus, Orion and his dogs, Auriga and Gemini by midnight. Early risers can start on the springtime galaxies in Leo and Virgo before morning twilight. For stargazers, as the carol goes, it’s the most wonderful time of the year. Invest some time in observing the night sky.

This Week in the Solar System
Saturday’s sunrise in Moncton is at 7:30 am and sunset will occur at 4:40 pm, giving 9 hours, 10 minutes of daylight (7:32 am and 4:47 pm in Saint John). Next Saturday the Sun will rise at 7:39 am and set at 4:35 pm, giving 8 hours, 56 minutes of daylight (7:41 am and 4:43 pm in Saint John).

The Moon does a snowball dance with the planets this week, appearing to the left of Mars on Sunday morning, to the lower left of Mercury the next day, and sliding above the Sun in its new phase on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Mercury and Mars edge to within 8 degrees until the inner planet reaches its greatest elongation from the Sun on Thursday, after which it turns tail and speeds away. Venus passes by Jupiter in the early evening sky this weekend, and on Thursday the Moon sits just above Venus with Jupiter a binocular width to their lower right. On Friday evening the Moon is below Saturn.

Questions? Contact Curt Nason at nasonc@nbnet.nb.ca.

** Our next Nature Moncton adventure field trip takes place tomorrow Saturday, November 23, with a visit to the Irving Research Facility and Tree Nursery in Sussex. This visit will open a lot of eyes seeing firsthand the ground breaking research taking place in this facility that we drive by so frequently while not being aware of what is happening there but that will affect the future here in New Brunswick and elsewhere. The write-up is attached below and take note of each of the subjects that we will be exposed to. We will meet at the north/east corner of the Moncton Coliseum parking lot at 11:45 am for a 12:00 noon carpool and departure. Susan Atkinson has a van that can accommodate several.

If travelling to the site directly take exit 195 off the highway from Moncton at Sussex, then turn right just past the Irving station on to Wheeler Rd., taking it all the way to the end, then turn left onto Aiton Rd. which takes you right to the brick research facility and tree nursery (at civic number 181), both of which we will visit. (The facility is just next to the Drive-In Theater and campground that is easy to spot) The host will be Andrew McCartney who is head of the research area and will lead to the nursery facility. Andrew is very enthusiastic about his work. He has lined up Kelly Honeyman, the Irving full time staff naturalist, to give an overview first on the day’s agenda.

Nature Moncton field trip

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Irving Research Centre and Tree Nursery in Sussex

Leaders: Andrew McCartney and Kelly Honeyman, JD Irving naturalist

This tree nursery and research facility is a site we often drive by but few of us realize the significance of the research being done there and how it affects us all now and in the future.

This is an opportunity to witness some of the state of the art projects underway and being tested.

A few of the subjects that will be introduced to participants:

-Auto acoustic recording devices to collect information on species of birds breeding in an area

-Deer and Moose studies

-Identifying fungi that may biologically control spruce budworm

-Vertical agriculture-(raising agricultural crops in layers within a building using LED light spectrums)

-Developing trees that can mature in 32 to 35 years instead of 60 to 80 years

-Salmon and trout hatchery

-Microscopic look at tree seed embryos

-Use of biological controls to reduce pesticide use

-And more

Meet at 11:45 AM at the Moncton Coliseum parking area to be at the research site in Sussex by 1:00 p.m.

As always all are welcome, Nature Moncton member or not. Rumors of a social get together of participants over supper after at nearby JJs Diner are in the air, to be decided on the spot.

nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton