Nature Moncton Nature News: Feb 27 2016

**Jamie and Karen Burris hiked down to the marsh of the Turtle Creek where it enters the Petitcodiac River on Thursday. There were six juvenile BALD EAGLES [Pygargue à tête blanche] flying about the area, when their attention was drawn to a loud screaming sound on the other side of the river in the area of Allison. It was a pair of mating Bald Eagles. The male suddenly crossed the river towards them and when it arrived a juvenile gave chase briefly. As Jamie comments, the Bald Eagle population along the Petitcodiac River is quite remarkable. It is interesting to note that the Bald Eagle remains on the endangered list in New Brunswick for various reasons that Barry Rothfuss pointed out during the recent Nature Moncton rehabilitation workshop.

**Georges Brun captured a photo of a first-winter GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL [Goéland marin] very much enjoying the Petitcodiac River waves recently. Also, the distinctive silhouette of a RAVEN [Grand Corbeau] watching its turf from a rooftop. It must have been a few days of early spring nuptials, as Georges also noted a pair of Bald Eagles mating at the Bend of the Petitcodiac River on Friday, as the Burrises did at Allison on Thursday.

**It’s a great feeling of the season to start thinking MONARCH BUTTERFLIES [Monarque]. Rhéal Vienneau shares the attached link that shows the population at their wintering grounds in Mexico has had a dramatic increase the past season, but it is still 30% below historic levels. Open the link and read all about the present status of this amazing insect.

https://shar.es/1C29Lw

**I noticed a flock of 25-30 WAXWINGS [Jaseur] enjoying CRAB APPLE [Pommetier] fruit on Friday in Moncton’s West End. They appeared to be all CEDAR WAXWINGS [Jaseur d'Amérique].

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton