Nature Moncton Nature News: March 19 2023

NATURE MONCTON NATURE NEWS

March 19, 2023

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Edited by Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Proofreading courtesy of Louise Nichols at nicholsl@eastlink.ca

**Aldo Dorio was able to get back to one of his favourite spots, Hay Island, and photograph male Common Mergansers in the opening water off the island.

** John Inman reports blackbirds are now arriving in number to his Harvey, Albert County feeder yard.
They are being welcomed by John’s complement of raptors, so difficult to share photos. Common Grackles have jumped to 12+ in the past few days, and Red-winged Blackbirds have done the same with the arrival of bright males.

**These dreary days make for few nature reports so John Massey shares a springtime encounter.
John was fishing on the Miramichi River in early spring when he encountered a Red Fox that was in the process of shedding its winter coat and got a photo. John comments it looked half dressed, looking like it had just put on its pants but forgot its jacket!
While John was photographing the fox, he noticed movement near his feet in the rocks which turned out to be a Wood Turtle.

No salmon were caught but an interesting day nonetheless.

**The Nature Moncton March meeting will take place this coming Tuesday night, March 21, at 7:00 PM when Kelsey Wilson, Executive Director of the Petitcodiac Watershed Alliance will give a live presentation at the Mapleton Park Rotary Lodge. It will also be available virtually.

The presentation write-up is below:

Nature Moncton March Meeting

March 21, 2023, at 7:00 PM

Mapleton Rotary Lodge

Presenter: Kelsey Wilson, Executive Director, PWA

“Petitcodiac Watershed Alliance update”

The Petitcodiac Watershed Alliance has a wide variety of current and past projects. Generally, these fit into 4 general categories: scientific monitoring, habitat improvement, environmental assessment, and education & outreach. Together, these themes provide a rounded approach to restoring and protecting the ecological services of the water systems that flow into Shepody Bay through science-based research, action, and public outreach.

This year the Petitcodiac Watershed Alliance is celebrating 25 years of incorporation, and 26 since its inception. To celebrate, the PWA is ramping up in some key areas to increase its impact and improve environmental monitoring, health, and education in our watershed. The organization has launched new branding, communications strategies, and a new website that better highlights their work and includes interactive features to learn more about the PWA’s work, the watershed, and some key aspects of environmental management in the region. The PWA has also moved to a new location that increases its capacity and the types of activities it can pursue, while also taking on some new projects to revitalize its work and increase impact. At the same time, the organization continues to pursue its long-standing projects in green infrastructure, water quality monitoring and restoring fish passage for species such as the endangered iBoF Salmon. PWA Executive Director Kelsey Wilson will share updates on these projects -- comprising some results from their 2022 field season -- and give us a glimpse of what is coming to launch the organization into its next 25 years, including ways to get involved in hands-on projects that improve the health of our local waterways.

This meeting will be in person at the Mapleton Rotary Lodge, but anyone is welcome to join virtually from anywhere at the link below:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87467213229?pwd=elZ5cFA4V3pjUDNnYURZcVRQd1NFUT09

All are welcome, Nature Moncton member or not.

Nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton