NATURE
MONCTON NATURE NEWS
May 17,
2022 (Tuesday)
To respond by e-mail, please address your message to the information line editor, nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com .
Please
advise the editor at nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com
if any errors are noted in wording or photo labelling.
For more information on Nature Moncton, check the
website at www.naturemoncton.com
Edited by:
Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com
**Tonight, Tuesday, May 17 is Nature Moncton May meeting night. Andrew
Darcy, who was with the DFO (Department of Fisheries and Oceans) team in
Moncton will take participants to a place many of us never get to experience,
the underwater world to share how DFO works to monitor the underwater
community.
This presentation will be delivered live at the
Rotary Lodge in Mapleton Park. It will also be covered virtually via Zoom. Please
note updated Zoom link from what was first published yesterday.
Join our Cloud HD Video Meeting
**NATURE MONCTON MAY MEETING
May 17, 2022, at 7:00 PM
Location: Rotary Pavillion at Mapleton Park (live meeting)
"A
Virtual Field Trip: Fisheries Science and Long-term Monitoring in the Southern
Gulf of St. Lawrence and Maritimes Region of Atlantic Canada"
Presenter: Andrew Darcy
As the weather warms up and we think forward to enjoying outdoor
activities, fisheries scientists at the Department of Fisheries and Oceans gear
up for another busy field season.
Andrew Darcy is currently a technician with the Marine Fish and Mammal group
which operates out of the Gulf Fisheries Center in Moncton, New Brunswick, and
functions under the Ecosystem Science division of Fisheries & Oceans
Canada.
His presentation will include an overview of the department's current research
objectives with a focus on lab and field activities. A virtual field trip will
take us through the day-to-day activities of being aboard a research vessel
conducting trawl surveys in the Gulf region. We will learn about fishing
methods and sampling techniques used on these surveys, as well as an
introduction to the diversity and identification of a variety of vertebrate and
invertebrate marine species that are commonly encountered on a daily basis
while at sea. Please join us for what is sure to be a "fintastic"
evening and explore a world that is seldomly seen by most.
Please note that this will be an in-person meeting. Masks are recommended. The meeting will also be live-streamed and
people can join at the following link:
Join our Cloud HD Video Meeting
|
|
**On Saturday Brian Stone passed through Hampton,
N.B., and he stopped in at the lagoons to check for photo subjects. Along the
path beside the lagoons 2 White-tailed Deer were browsing the new
grasses. (Editor’s note: note the deer in Brian’s photo are losing their heavy
winter pelage with areas of the chestnut brown summer pelage showing). Plump Common
Eastern Bumblebees were buzzing the newly opened Dandelion Flowers. Serviceberry
Flowers were in full bloom in almost every area Brian passed through.
**Brian
Stone walked the roads and woods behind Crandall University on Sunday to find
an interesting Nest slightly larger than the average Robin's nest. He
photographed a Black and White Warbler, a Common Eastern Bumblebee
nectaring at Honeysuckle Flowers, and Tent Caterpillar webs
growing large in small trees. Plants noted were Canada Mayflower
beginning to produce flowers, Pink Lady's Slipper shoots starting to
poke up from the forest floor, Alternate-leaved Dogwood, broad Clintonia
leaves and False Morel Mushrooms.
**Brian Stone walked through the west end of Mapleton Park on Monday and
found lots of subjects to photograph. The warblers were plentiful and active
around the pond area. Seen were 6 or more Yellow-rumped Warblers, a Yellow
Warbler, a Northern Parula, and a Chestnut-sided Warbler.
Also seen around the pond were a male Belted Kingfisher, a Downy
Woodpecker, Song Sparrows, Canada Geese, and a pair of Hooded
Mergansers. An Eastern Phoebe was seen but evaded the camera.
Paddling around in the pond was a
small group of Ducklings, seemingly unattended by any adults. Ferns
were emerging fast and Nodding Trilliums were producing flower buds that
will soon open and hang below the three large leaves of the plant. A pair of
mallards resting beside the water appeared to be a male Mallard Duck and
a female Intersex Mallard Duck. Before leaving for his walk in the park
Brian photographed a section of the large patch of blue and white Violets
in his back yard which were being visited by a Northern Azure Butterfly.
**Nelson Poirier maintains a
trail camera on fish offal placed in a secluded wooded area near Sunny Corner.
So far, the main guests have been Black Bears during the night and Turkey
Vultures and Common Ravens during the day. One Turkey Vulture flew
off to a distant tree to carefully watch as the supply was being replenished on Monday. One
video caught an altercation between a Turkey Vulture and a raven not
wishing to share the booty. It appeared quite clear the modus operandi of the
raven was to grab and pull some of the flight feathers or tailfeathers of the
vulture. A 16 inch seemingly flight feather was collected at the site with a
damaged end that may have been connected with the altercation. Note the
difference between the topside and underside. Take a look at the spirited
altercation at the link below:
Nelson also
took note of the very strikingly beautiful masses of Marsh Marigold that
were covering marshy areas along the Miramichi River. Their early emergence and
blooming surely added colour to the dead marsh grass!
This plant
is very abundant and is easily transplanted to yard pond edges.
Nelson Poirier
Nature Moncton
.%20MAY%2016,%202022.%20BRIAN%20STONE.JPG)
.%20MAY%2016,%202022..%20BRIAN%20STONE.JPG)
.%20MAY%2016,%202022.%20BRIAN%20STONE.jpg)
.%20MAY%2016,%202022..%20BRIAN%20STONE.JPG)
.%20MAY%2016,%202022.%20NELSON%20POIRIER.jpg)
.%20MAY%2016,%202022.%20NELSON%20POIRIER.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
