Nature Moncton Nature News: April 10 2015

** Some nice SHORT-TAILED WEASEL [Belette à courte queue] observations from Paul Langelaan when he spotted one in his barn at Second North River on Thursday acting very curious to give good observations. Paul had seen one there earlier in the winter that was in its completely white pelage with black tail tip. This time the pelage was changing to summer brown, showing a patchy network with brownish tones on the back and facial area. The weasel had taken a EUROPEAN STARLING [Étourneau sansonnet] as prey and was triumphantly carrying it about in its mouth.

** Mike Leger in Notre Dame has been seeing a piebald WHITE-TAILED DEER [Cerf de Virginie] in that area for awhile, but during the past week he has been spotting it from his backyard to get a nice photo.

** Brian Stone and I made a Thursday afternoon pilgrimage to Albert County including a rewarding stop to Doreen Rossiter's always productive feeder yard in Alma. It was interesting to appreciate the variety in plumages of the many SONG SPARROWS [Bruant chanteur]. There were also a few FOX SPARROWS [Bruant fauve] that were constantly working out as they fed, scratching the snow with gusto -- and a prize sparrow of the day, a SWAMP SPARROW [Bruant des marais]. It seems so hard to get nice observations of this common sparrow in its wild habitat and so much nicer at a feeder site on the snow surface. A few WHITE-TAILED DEER [Cerf de Virginie] pranced about the area and we got a photo to show the deer-browsed shrubs Doreen had mentioned earlier -- how a herd of a dozen had done a number on their shrubs. Also in Alma were four TURKEY VULTURES [Urubu à tête rouge] floating in a circle that were joined by an adult BALD EAGLE [Pygargue à tête blanche] doing exactly the same thing with them. There was one lone Turkey Vulture that flew over Broadleaf farm. An adult Eagle was on a nest at Weldon. This nest has been occupied for several years now. As already reported, lots of AMERICAN ROBINS [Merle d'Amérique], COMMON GRACKLES [Quiscale bronze], and SPARROWS [Bruant], but hard to beat the sparrow show at Doreen Rossiter's. Cape Enrage, New Horton and Waterside seemed relatively quiet with several GREAT BLUE HERON [Grand Héron], ducks and lots of AMERICAN ROBINS [Merle d'Amérique] at Daniel's marsh.

** Again a reminder to mark off the afternoon of Sunday April 19th for the Intertidal Workshop with an indoor and outdoor session, the outdoor session to be held on the intertidal zone at one of the lowest tides of the year at Fundy National Park. Make sure to register with Judi Berry-Steeves for planning purposes as outlined in the attached write-up. Transportation after the session at the Tankville School to Fundy National Park should be no problem for participants to double up. The first spring workshop is now only just over a week away.

Intertidal Workshop with Alain Clavette

Sunday April 19th, 2015

Our geographical position makes us lucky to have lots of coast lines. No matter where you are in New Brunswick, you have two high tides and two low tides each day. AND if you are in southeastern New Brunswick, you have two distinct marine ecosystems to choose from: the Bay of Fundy or the Northumberland Strait.

The naturalist who wants to discover the very rich habitats found between high tide and low tide has a multitude of interesting choices. The animals and plants living in these ever-changing environments have to be adapted to extreme salinity, humidity and temperature variations. Salt marshes, rocky beaches, mudflats or sandy beaches: all these habitats have a biodiversity worth exploring. But WHAT to look for?

Alain Clavette is best known as a birder, but his love and knowledge for the creatures of the coast developed during the four years he worked as a Parks Canada GT1 interpreter. After obtaining his degree in Biology at the Université de Moncton, Alain worked in Fundy National Park and finally Kouchibouguac (for a private tour operator). Since then, he has been featured as a Bay of Fundy “expert” and enthusiast in several documentaries done by production companies in Québec, France, the UK and NB, the latest one entitled La Baie Des Merveilles of which he is the main host.

Come learn about who lives in our intertidal wonderlands through videos, pictures and stories for a 2 ½ hour workshop, and THEN – since we will have one of the BIGGEST TIDES OF THE YEAR (close to 37 feet) that day, we will head out for a real walk on the bottom of the ocean in Fundy National Park to see what we can find.

Sunday April 19th, 1:00 to 3:30 pm at Tankville School, 1665 Elmwood Dr. Moncton -- followed by guided tour in Fundy Park at 5:30 (participants responsible for their own transportation).

Registration with Judi Berry-Steeves at jbsteeve@nbnet.nb.ca or phone Judi at 387-4778.

$10 payable at the door to cover costs for workshop and outing. All are welcome, Nature Moncton member or not.

** For logistical reasons, the outing is offered exclusively to folks who participate in the workshop.

** Be sure to bring extra layers of clothing because the temperature can drop drastically at Fundy in the evening

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca