Editor & Proofreader

Editor: Nelson Poirier    Proofreader: Louise Nichols

Monday 10 February 2020

Feb 10 2020

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, February 10, 2020 (Monday) 


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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)


** Suspect many enjoyed the awesome light from the FULL MOON the past few nights sparkling on the fresh snow surface. Yvette Richard got a photo of it as it just rose into the sky at Caissie Cape wharf being in Perigee meaning it is closer to Earth in its lunar orbit to make it look bigger


** Brian Stone visited Mapleton Park on Sunday. He was a bit surprised to see 3 AMERICAN GOLDFINCH [Chardonneret jaune] very aggressively foraging on WILLOW PINECONE GALLS, formed on willow by a gall midge (Rabdophaga strobiloides). Pinecone galls are very common galls on willow. It would seem odd that a seed-eater would be interested in pinecone galls but the proof is in the photos. A small fly deposits an egg in the summer which develops to an overwintering larva, which causes the gall to form, looking somewhat like a pine cone.

Brian also saw lots of evidence of MEADOW VOLE [Campagnol des prés] or SHREW [musaraigne] tunnels in the snow. There’s either a lot of them around this year or conditions are just right for snow-plowing trails, which are usually under the snow blanket in deeper snow conditions.



Nelson Poirier, <nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com>
Nature Moncton




FULL WOLF SUPERMOON FEB 09, 2020 YVETTE RICHARD

AMERICAN GOLDFINCH ON PINE CONE GALL. FEB. 09, 2020.  BRIAN STONE

AMERICAN GOLDFINCH ON PINE CONE GALL. FEB. 09, 2020.  BRIAN STONE

AMERICAN GOLDFINCH ON PINE CONE GALL. FEB. 09, 2020.  BRIAN STONE

MEADOW VOLE OR SHREW TRAIL. FEB. 09, 2020.. BRIAN STONE
MALLARD-BLACK DUCK HYBRID. FEB. 09, 2020. BRIAN STONE