Nature Moncton Nature News: March 26 2025

NATURE MONCTON NATURE NEWS

March 26, 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

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**With vernal pools appearing, the time has arrived to think amphibians and I'm sure the early rising amphibians are thinking of it as well.

Andrew Darcy headed out to the local salamander spots on March 22 to see if there was any activity yet. One pond was fairly quiet and still partially frozen, but there was one keen blue-spotted salamander waiting for the party under some nearby cover.

Andrew returned to the pond the next day to check and it was almost ice-free, but there was no sign of any egg masses or salamanders in the pond. Although the pond party had not yet started, Andrew did manage to locate several red-backed salamanders under some flat rocks nearby.

(Editor’s note: The Nature Moncton activities committee is hoping to arrange an evening field trip with Andrew to partake in his knowledge and contagious enthusiasm for early-season amphibians at some of his favourite vernal pools. This could be a sudden announcement to capitalize on prime conditions. Stay tuned!! Oops, just came in. Write up below)

NATURE MONCTON OUTING

Salamanders, salamanders, salamanders!

Date: Friday April 4^th (tentative date – to be confirmed)

Time: 8:00 PM

Meeting Place: Gulf Fisheries Centre parking lot (343 Université Ave, across the road from the Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont University Hospital).

From the meeting place, we will head to Crowley Farm Road and walk a short distance (10 minutes) through the forest to a vernal pool. The terrain is mostly flat but can be very slippery when wet.

Leader: Andrew Darcy

When the first warm spring rains arrive in April, the local salamander populations awaken from their winter slumber and head straight to the same pond that they originated from. If you are determined enough to head out into the forest at night when it's raining, then you may get lucky enough to witness a spectacle of nature that is not seen by many.

Join Andrew Darcy for a nighttime excursion to a local pond that has a variety of amphibian species present (Wood frog, Leopard frog, Green frog, and two of the ambystoma ("mole") salamander species (Spotted and Blue-spotted salamander).

The timing can be tricky when trying to witness the full spectacle of the Ambystoma spring migration, but the weather looks good for some activity on Friday, April 4th and Saturday, April 5th, and either way should be a "hopping" good time! 🐸 We will set April 4th as a tentative date and adjust it if needed. The final decision for the outing will be made the day of, or the day before rain is in the forecast. Stay tuned.

Bring a flashlight or headlamp and rubber boots if you have them as the path to the pond will be fairly muddy.

Andrew's cell # is 289 439 3600 if you need further directions, etc.

All are welcome, Nature Moncton member or not.

**Carmella Melanson photographed an immature Bald Eagle as it foraged on a carcass in the Bayfield area recently and wondered about the identity of the carcass.

It appears to be canine with thoughts leading to coyote, considering the size comparison. The possibility of a black bear at this time of year is unlikely. Any other thoughts/comments would be appreciated.

**Shannon Inman spotted a dark-eyed junco with a few white feathers on the head in their Harvey yard. A fifth fox sparrow also arrived as well as a singing male purple finch.

**The Carolina wren did return to Nelson Poirier’s bird feeder yard on Tuesday although not as frequently. The feeders where sunflower chips are placed were replenished, and they soon became the single choice of the wren.

**Late winter storms can make birdfeeders quite popular!

David Lilly’s visitor list on Monday included his first American robin for the season, a flock of American goldfinches, a flock of evening grosbeaks, a flock of purple finches, two dark-eyed juncos, black-capped chickadees, two American crows building a nest in a spruce tree, two red squirrels, and three grey squirrels.