Nature Moncton Nature News: Dec 29 2019

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, December 29, 2019 (Sunday)

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Edited by Nelson Poirier, <nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com>

Transcript by David Christie, <maryspt@mac.com>

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

** The great track-sleuthing snow continues. Sherrill Owen got photos of the trail and paw print of a RIVER OTTER [Loutre de rivière] as it went across a snow-covered pond at her home. The otter cannot resist making a few slides when on a slippery surface, as these conditions are. They just seem to have fun sliding, sort of how life “otter be.” The paw print nicely shows the five toe pads and rounded imprint.

** With the volunteer efforts from the workshop of Fred Richards, Nature Moncton has given out 50 TREE SWALLOW [Hirondelle bicolore] nest boxes for several seasons now. This year EASTERN PHOEBE [Moucherolle phébi] nest boxes are being added to the line-up. Fred has completed the 30 phoebe boxes and they are ready for early spring. Eastern Phoebe is the first flycatcher to arrive in spring so boxes should be erected at potential sites by mid-April. If anyone would like to put their name on the list being started, leave your name and the number of boxes wanted with Louise Nichols at <nicholsl@eastlink.ca> or respond to the Nature Line, and your request will be held. Participants can also leave their name and number for nest boxes wanted for the Tree Swallow.

** Jane LeBlanc’s indoor pine forest is thriving. After the Nature Moncton visit to the Irving research facility in Sussex in November, Jane gathered some cones of WHITE PINE [Pin blanc] and let them dry to collect seeds. The seeds in Jane’s photo were planted indoors on December 1st, less than a month ago.

Nelson Poirier <nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com>

Nature Moncton