Nature Moncton Nature News: November 18 2024

NATURE MONCTON NATURE NEWS

November 18, 2024

Nature Moncton members as well as any naturalist in New Brunswick or beyond are invited to share their photos and descriptions of recent nature sightings to build a fresh (almost) daily edition of Nature News

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 and proofreader Louise Nichols at Nicholsl@eastlink.ca if any errors are noted in wording or photo labelling.

For more information on Nature Moncton, check the website at www.naturemoncton.com .

Proofreading courtesy of Louise Nichols at nicholsl@eastlink.ca

** The Nature Moncton November meeting is coming up tomorrow night Tuesday night, November 19. The write-up is below:

**Nature Moncton November Meeting

November 19, 2024, at 7:00 PM

Mapleton Park Rotary Lodge

Presenter: Jill Marvin

Jill Marvin is the Director of Magnetic Hill Zoo and Park in Moncton, New Brunswick. She has been blessed with the opportunity to work directly with animals throughout her entire life. From her first pets and 'exotic' animals to the Peregrine Falcon family of Moncton, each one of these has inspired and fueled her passion and connection with animals. In this presentation, Jill will share stories about the animals and experiences she has had.

Prior to working at the Magnetic Hill Zoo, Jill spent over 15 years at the Jardin Zoologique and l’Aquarium du Quebec. She began her zoo career at African Lion Safari while completing her Zoology studies at the University of Guelph. Jill has demonstrated a deep commitment to animal welfare and a passion for conservation action and wildlife research. From her work with Platypus in Australia, Dolphins in Florida, Polar Bears and Walrus in the north, bird of prey rehabilitation in the mid-west, and the Lemurs of Madagascar, she is driven to finish her vocation with the great apes.

This presentation will be delivered live as well as available virtually for anyone anywhere to enjoy and participate in.

The link to attend virtually is below:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84725196337?pwd=UBSyYOdRa9kXOEOeQbPlozKfPcL4K0.1

As always, everyone is welcome, Nature Moncton member or not.

A not-to-miss presentation!

JILL MARVIN AND FRIENDS

**Rheal Vienneau sends a photo of the typical tailings of a Star-nosed Mole left on his lawn as it prepared to head underground for the winter.

(Editor’s note: at this time of year, the seldom-seen nocturnal Star-nosed Mole uses its very effective claws to excavate tunnels to get below frost level for the winter. It does not hibernate but will search for insect prey with its tentacles. It especially likes to make these excavations near a pond where it will swim to forage for delicious insects under the ice.)

**Shannon Inman photographed a colony of Woolly Alder Aphids still intact. The larvae within the colony will develop wings and fly off to their intermediate host to pass the winter. As they do that, their small waxy fluff-laden bodies will look like miniature snowflakes.

**Aldo Dorio photographed a lingering duo of Sanderlings at Hay Island on Sunday. This shorebird species tends to stay with us quite late as their migration destination is not distant. It is not unusual to see some well into winter before a firm freeze-up.

Aldo also photographed a male Black Scoter off the shoreline.

**Brian Stone revisited the Hampton lagoons on Sunday morning but did not find much new swimming in the ponds; there was just a pair of Hooded Mergansers that weren't there the day before. The Northern Shoveler ducks were still swimming in their circular feeding pattern and the large numbers of Bufflehead ducks, Gadwall Ducks and the Barrow's Goldeneyes were still present.

**Last season, Jamie Burris had a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker that stayed late in the season constantly coming to a Dollarama-purchased seed bell, suggesting Nelson Poirier give it a try.

Nelson has made the seed bell a part of the menu at his bird feeding station and is surprised at how attractive this seed bell is to Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers, even though it is surrounded by everything woodpeckers would normally choose.

Nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton