Nature Moncton Nature News: June 14 2020

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, June 14, 2020 (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)

** John Massey has been noting a very colourful object attached to an outside deck wall for a week now. It is the chrysalis of a HARRIS’S CHECKERSPOT [Damier de Harris] butterfly that will soon have an adult butterfly emerging, if it has not been parasitized over winter. There must be lots of them around but I have never seen this colourful chrysalis before. Bug Guide came to the rescue.

** The HUMMINGBIRD CLEARWING [Sphinx colibri] moths are out on their mission. Aldo Dorio got photos of one enjoying nectaring on lilac blooms in his Néguac home yard on Saturday. They certainly do an excellent hummingbird imitation with their behaviour, even down to the buzzing sound.

Aldo also had his first SHORT-TAILED SWALLOWTAIL [Papillon queue-courte] butterfly. The very limited range of this species includes Hay Island and it is a yearly regular there, enjoying the abundant Scotch Lovage [Livèche écossage] and Cow-parsnip [Berce très grande] as food plants. It is probably one of the first specimens to appear there, as Aldo knows right where to watch. One photo shows a yellow spot (arrows) that is a prominent feature in the related common Black Swallowtail but as Jim Edsall points out is not present or very reduced in the Short-tailed Swallowtail.

** Daryl Doucet was stopped, waiting to turn left in Cocagne on Saturday, when a DEER MOUSE [Souris sylvestre] ran out onto the road in front of him. It didn’t even make it halfway to the yellow centre line when a WEASEL [Belette] came out full-tilt in pursuit, pounced on it, turned around with mouse in its mouth and zipped back into the ditch-high grass. The whole episode lasted about 4 seconds. Daryl comments that it was something to watch even though it happened in the blink of an eye!

** Jane LeBlanc had three CANADIAN TIGER SWALLOWTAIL [Papillon tigré du Canada] butterflies visit the early-blooming clematis, called Markham Pink, in her St. Martins yard on Saturday. She got a very zoomed-in, close photo of one taking in the nectar.

Jane also got a nice photo of a WILSON’S WARBLER [Paruline à calotte noire] near St. Martins on Saturday morning.

** Ron Arsenault, who lived in Memramcook near where seabirds and kin migrate, offers a comment on Bill Winsor’s surprise finding of a RED-THROATED LOON [Plongeon catmarin] in breeding plumage, near Salisbury. I am quoting Ron’s comments below, as his observations offer an interesting potential explanation. Quoting Ron

“When I lived in Memramcook, I observed sea ducks in inland waters every spring, such that it became an expected occurrence in that area. In most cases, the ducks simply appeared on the body of water and disappeared shortly after, presumably continuing on their migration north. I concluded that these ducks had simply encountered poor flying conditions and decided to wait for better flying weather.

However, there were a few other cases where an individual duck, at times accompanied by what I presumed was its mate (though the mate typically disappeared soon after), stayed for an extended period of time, well into late spring or early summer. This made me wonder what was going on. Why were these birds staying?

I eventually concluded that these birds could not fly, or at least their ability to fly was hampered enough to delay their northward flight. I noted one bird that stayed until early summer one year who had flight feathers on one wing which were at an odd angle. In addition, this bird would not fly away when something, such as a motorbike or an eagle would cause all other ducks to scatter. I concluded that the bird could not fly.

Thus, I suspect that when we see these ducks well after the migration season, it is because their ability to fly was sufficiently hindered for them to pause their migration. I also suspect that if the delay is sufficiently long, these birds likely lose the urge to migrate even if they fully regain their ability to fly.

It should be noted that unlike most birds, ducks and loons have a synchronous moult of their flight feathers, resulting in an extended period during which they cannot fly, demonstrating that these birds can readily feed themselves and avoid predators even when they cannot fly. If these injured birds can reach a suitable body of water, they can feed themselves and avoid predators, and hopefully recover in time for their southward migration. Species which depend upon an unhindered ability to fly to either feed themselves and/or avoid predators do not have this time window to potentially recover.

Note that this is my own conclusion. I have never seen it published or backed up by solid empirical data.

For what it's worth...

Ron”

** Gordon Rattray photographed a few blooming plants at Gray’s Island, near Hillsborough, on Saturday, including WILD SARSAPARILLA [Salsepareille], FALSE SOLOMON’S-SEAL [Faux sceau-de-Salomon], and CLINTONIA [Clintonie boréale), a.k.a. Blue-bead Lily, all in full bloom.

Gordon also had a flock of 10 CEDAR WAXWINGS [Jaseur d’Amérique] gleaning something from spruce boughs in his Weldon yard on Saturday.

** We came across a BLACK BEAR [Ours noir] on Saturday, along Route 126 between Miramichi and Moncton. It was foraging on roadside freshly emerged green foliage, and showing no fear of people, creating quite an opportunity for folks to see a Black Bear for any length of time. It leisurely foraged, as many watched with delight and respect. It was a small bear. I assume it to be a second year cub that has just been sent out to seek a new territory on its own by its mother that will be coming into estrus. The youngster will have a lot to learn without its mother’s guidance.

nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton