Nature Moncton Nature News: Aug 12 2022

August 12, 2022 (Friday)

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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

** Louise Nichols visited Johnson's Mills on Wednesday morning to find a nice display of shorebirds. She would not attempt to estimate the number, but a report from CBC this morning cites 100,000 present on Wednesday, more than what has been present there in recent years. Along with the shorebirds, the Peregrine Falcons were also on site, regularly flying through to attempt a catch for a meal. Louise did not witness a catch, but did see Peregrines passing through the flock 4 or 5 times in the 2 hours she was there. Also present was a group of Black Scoters on the water fairly close to the shore. Louise sends some photos of the action.

** Recently the question was asked “Do Milkweed Beetles prey on Monarch Butterfly eggs and or caterpillars?

The following is the unofficial response Rheal Vienneau received from a Dplex contributor:

“Not that I know of. It’s possible they could inadvertently eat an egg or maybe a 1st instar? But not purposely”

(Editor’s note: it is assumed these beetles could compete for food as they feed on milkweed as well but doubtful if this is significant as usually milkweed patches would be ample to supply both).

**Jamie Burris edited a recent video of the emergence of the Monarch Butterfly from its chrysalis. He deleted the first minute of the video and added some music to create a viewing of that beautiful transformation.

It’s a keeper to remind us of Monarch Butterfly days for the rest of the year when we cannot enjoy them. Take a look at this video at the attached link below:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/nwjfhn0mcbwzyho/Monarch%20Butterfly%20Eclosing%20%28cropped%20version%29.mp4?dl=0

**Brian Stone visited the Milkweed patch on the Gorge Rd. highway off ramp on Thursday and found a few things to photograph. He noticed a Wasp chewing on possibly a larva or pupa of some insect but not sure what (editor’s note: a Lady Beetle larva would be a possibility).

A big, fluffy Salt Marsh Caterpillar practically bounded across the path in front of him looking fresh and healthy.

At the Milkweed patch he managed to locate 3 Monarch Butterfly Caterpillars and suspects there to be more present but not seen. An Asian Multicolored Lady Beetle Larva was also one of many on the Milkweed. Other than a few Cabbage White Butterflies and Clouded Sulfur Butterflies (that were not kind enough to stop for a photo) the only butterfly seen and photographed was a cooperative Viceroy Butterfly. (Editor’s note: these are great photos to help differentiate the Viceroy Butterfly and the Monarch Butterfly at this time of year when a second brood of the Viceroy Butterfly often takes place. They can easily be confused at first glance).

Caught on the edge of one of the Viceroy photos was a pair of mating Soldier Beetles.

**It’s Friday and time to muse on what next week's sky may have in store for us on clear evenings courtesy of sky guru Curt Nason.

**This Week’s Sky at a Glance, 2022 August 13 – August 20
You can see a few meteors per hour on any night in a clear dark sky, but the number increases greatly when Earth passes through a trail of pebbles and dust left by a comet that makes frequent orbits around the Sun. The pebbles left by comet Temple-Tuttle in its 133-year orbit are quite large at a few centimetres, and they enter our atmosphere at a high relative velocity of 60 km/s (Earth travels at 30 km/s). Therefore, they can be very bright. The Perseids will seem to be coming from a point between the constellations Perseus and Cassiopeia, which are highest in the sky in early morning. You will see fewer in the evening but they tend to be long and bright.

Meteors, also called shooting stars or falling stars, are the streaks of light created when pebbles enter the atmosphere at an altitude of about 100 kilometres, and those particles from comets disintegrate before they reach an altitude of 50 kilometres. Many meteors are faint and easily made invisible by moonlight and light pollution. This weekend the Perseid shower occurs with the Moon just a day or two past full, but don’t let stop you from going out to watch. Get comfortable in a chair, have extra clothes or blankets if you plan to stay long as it can get very chilly, and select a patch of sky that is free of clouds and direct light. It is better to keep Perseus to your side rather than look in that direction because the meteors will look more spectacular, covering a longer distance.

This Week in the Solar System
Saturday’s sunrise in Moncton is at 6:16 am and sunset will occur at 8:31 pm, giving 14 hours, 15 minutes of daylight (6:23 am and 8:34 pm in Saint John). Next Saturday the Sun will rise at 6:24 am and set at 8:19 pm, giving 13 hours, 55 minutes of daylight (6:31 am and 8:22 pm in Saint John).

The Moon passes below Jupiter on Monday and approaches Mars as it reaches third quarter phase on Friday. Saturn is at opposition on Sunday, a time when its icy rings look brighter as they reflect sunlight directly toward us. Telescope users might see the shadows of moons Io and Ganymede crossing the clouds of Jupiter late Monday night, beginning at 12:24 and 12:59 am, respectively. This double shadow transit will last until Io’s shadow egresses at 2:38 am. Mercury sets 45 - 50 minutes after sundown, and Venus passes near the Beehive star cluster in Cancer on Tuesday morning. The Perseid meteor shower peaks this Saturday morning and it could still bring several smiles to our faces that evening and Sunday morning.

On Sunday evening at 8 pm, tune in to the Sunday Night Astronomy Show via the Facebook page or YouTube channel of Astronomy by the Bay.

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