NATURE MONCTON NATURE NEWS
March 24, 2025
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
**Because
of the snowstorm, it was early evening before Richard Blacquiere went to check
on the ducks at the Hampton lagoons. There was another small increase in
numbers Sunday, with wood duck becoming the most recent species addition
to the mix (no photo). There were two immature male common goldeneyes behaving as if they belonged among their elders. Richard saw a male
lesser scaup by itself on one of the sewage treatment ponds and, by chance,
happened to have it in focus when it decided to move to a different pond.
Finally, some of them were out enjoying the warm sun after enduring the cold snowy
day.
(Editor's note: Richards's photo captures the white on the secondaries of the wing. When this shows in flight we know to call the bird a lesser scaup. The greater scaup would have white on primaries and secondaries.)
** Nature Moncton is inviting people to join in a nest box cleaning outing along the Riverfront trail. The write-up is below:
RIVERFRONT TRAIL AND NEST BOX CLEANING OUTING
We are inviting you to join us for a walk along the
Riverfront trail in Moncton. Weather permitting, the event will take place on
April 5, 2025, starting at 1:00 p.m. The trail is well-maintained and easy to
walk, with only a couple of hills. It will be about three kilometers one way,
but we will park at both ends so we do not need to walk back. Last year, we
were quite impressed with the number of interesting things we saw, and we expect
this year to be no different.
Last April, Nature Moncton inspected and cleaned 25
nesting boxes along the Riverfront trail.
These boxes were made possible by the Trans Canada Trail who funded the
25 boxes and hardware to install them. We will be doing this as we go along.
Footwear will be weather-dependent but if you are planning to assist with the
nest boxes you will want it to be waterproof.
We will meet at the Press Club parking lot, 160
Assomption Blvd, Moncton, at 1:00 pm. We will take a few minutes before the
walk to coordinate our efforts. All are welcome, Nature Moncton member or not.
We hope to see you there!
Nelson Poirier
Nature Moncton
