Nature Moncton Nature News: March 23 2023

NATURE MONCTON NATURE NEWS

March 23, 2023

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Edited by Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Proofreading courtesy of Louise Nichols at nicholsl@eastlink.ca

**Kelsey Wilson, Executive Director of the Petitcodiac Watershed Alliance, would like to follow up on a question about Phragmites (Common Reed) asked of her at Tuesday night’s presentation. It is a very important issue that PWA is working on more and more, but she felt she needed to keep things brief due to the general nature of the talk Tuesday night.

Here is a link to the NB Invasive Species Council website on invasive phragmites. If any readers think that they have observed a stand of invasive phragmites, it would be great for them to log it in the iNaturalist app or let PWA know by email so that they can track its presence and spread, as well as follow up by checking it out in the field.

Folks can also sign up for event and volunteer notices by email and the electronic seasonal newsletter, at https://www.petitcodiacwatershed.org/get-involved/

**Rheal Vienneau had his first showing of a nice fat Groundhog in his Dieppe backyard Wednesday morning.
(Editor’s note: it is always interesting to note that the Groundhog normally emerges early, and usually in excellent condition despite winter fast and going into hibernation earlier in the fall than most other hibernating wildlife).

**We suspect the caterpillar that Jane LeBlanc saw and photographed recently may be that of the Elm Sawfly but stand to be corrected. The comment below from a literature search leaves that possibility:
“The winter is spent as a non-feeding developmental stage called the prepupa. Some prepupae molt into pupae the following spring, but some stay inside their cocoons for two or more winters before pupating.”

**Brian Stone sends more photos from the Hampton lagoon taken early on Wednesday. Brian arrived at 8:00 am and found a much better selection of birds than he did later in the afternoon on Tuesday. The trees beside the lagoon trail were crowded with more than 25 Turkey Vultures warming up for the day's outing. They spread their wings and made short, low flights before circling up into the sky. In the lagoon, the Ruddy Duck was still present along with a bright male Bufflehead Duck, a male Lesser Scaup, 3 male Common Goldeneye Ducks, and one female. Low to the ground, beside the trail, a female Pileated Woodpecker was checking out some trees at ground level.

**Pat Gibbs raised her morning blind and saw a Sharp-shinned Hawk outside on her Moncton (Lewisville area) lawn, preying on what appeared to be the remains of a starling breakfast. (Editor’s note: Pat’s photos nicely show the features of the Sharp-shinned Hawk as an adult).

**New Nature Moncton member Sharon Wolthers spotted 6 Canada Geese on Scoudouc Rd. just outside Shediac at her parents' home. They said they have only been back since Tuesday at that site.

**Brian Stone photographed White-tailed Deer on Monday around the Hampton lagoon, a near-constant location for them.

(Editor’s note: Brian’s photos show the deer have not yet started to shed their warm winter coat of hollow brownish-grey hairs that will soon shed to show the beautiful chestnut pelage of summer. One deer shows that signature flashing flag white tail of alarm. Brian’s camera can be a potential sign of danger!).

Nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton