Nature Moncton Nature News: April 28 2015

** Jean-Paul and Stella LeBlanc were alerted Sunday by a Buctouche fisherman that a strange bird landed close to his home. By his description, they knew it was a SANDHILL CRANE [Grue du Canada], but they could not find the bird Sunday evening. They did find the bird on Monday evening on the Desroches Rd, (turn left past the bridge after the Kent Museum). The bird was in the field to the left, a few hundred yards past the house at civic #117. It flew away a few minutes after they were there and was not located afterwards, but they suspected it would stay. Jean-Paul got a photo to show the bird as an adult. With an established breeding record now in NB, it’s more of interest to watch for the possibility of a duo together.

** Another warbler to a suet feeder - Nancy Dryden in Second North River had a male YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER [Paruline à croupion jaune] arrive to her suet bar on Monday.

** Partial ALBINO members of the blackbird clan sure stick out from the crowd. Fred Johnston had one arrive to his Miramichi yard suggesting at least one 2015 model has a "GT stripe option".

** Eric Wilson heard his first HERMIT THRUSH [Grive solitaire] of the spring in woods behind his home at Rural Estates north of Moncton. He was able to see it on Monday morning with its rusty-red flicking tail behaviour. He also had 3 WHITE-TAILED DEER [Cerf de Virginie] visit his yard on Saturday night and another on Sunday morning, as well as a SKUNK [Moufette] checking out the black oil sunflower seed hulls on Sunday night.

** Dave Christie comments the BALD EAGLE [Pygargue à tête blanche] activity seems to be keeping Mary’s Point-Harvey area wildlife with an eye to the sky. On Monday Dave spotted a very tightly arranged group of DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT [Cormoran à aigrettes] on the shore, approximately 200 m below the Harvey Dam. A Bald Eagle came over to quickly send them into the water to be able to count them as 75 individuals. Later, as Dave was checking out the Lars Larsen Marsh, that seemed very quiet except for CANADA GEESE [Bernaches du Canada] and AMERICAN BLACK DUCK [Canard noir]; suddenly a Bald Eagle came by in hot pursuit of a Double-crested Cormorant. The cormorant dove into the Lars Larsen March pond to escape the Eagle which worked for it, as the Eagle chose not to pursue it into the water. The same Bald Eagle on its return to the Bay put up lots of birds in the salt marsh as well. At his feeder yard, Dave comments the first CHIPPING SPARROW [Bruant familier] arrived on Monday to join the declining numbers of AMERICAN TREE SPARROW [Bruant hudsonien]. Dave also comments finches have decreased somewhat to a handful of PURPLE FINCH [Roselin pourpré] and AMERICAN GOLDFINCH [Chardonneret jaune] and PINE SISKIN [Tarin des pins].

** On April 9th a MERLIN [Faucon émerillon] flew inside an outbuilding at the home of Ian Fleming. There was a window at the top of the building which the bird was quite convinced was its best escape option, instead of the opened doors down lower. They covered the window and the Merlin was not long in choosing the door exits and went on with its mission.

** Connie Colpitts has been instrumental in the formation of the SALISBURY NATURALIST CLUB which is growing nicely. Connie will keep us abreast of planned events as all are welcome to join in events they may plan. One of interest is coming up next Tuesday night, May 5th, at 7 pm at the Salisbury Baptist Church, where Jim Wilson will give a presentation on the MONARCH BUTTERFLY. All are welcome ! The write-up is below

THE MONARCH BUTTERFLY

Presented by Jim Wilson

May 5^th 2015

SALISBURY BAPTIST CHURCH

Free will donation to

MARY MAJKA SCHOLARSHIP FUND

Everyone Welcome

Refreshments will be served

Nelson Poirier,
Nature Moncton

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca