Nature Moncton Nature News: March 16, 2016

* A big thank you to Becky Whittam for coming to Nature Moncton on Tuesday night to share the many activities of The Canadian Wildlife Service in Sackville covering many different programs in progress and completed. The work being done from that office is huge and our contributions as birdwatchers and naturalists is used extensively. Becky pointed out 2016 is the 100th anniversary of the Migratory Birds Convention Act that resulted in major protection to many bird species and still is very effective today and celebrations will be taking place this year. A name change after the recent federal election to Environment and Climate Change was noted which may be more apparent where the name is used where it will be appearing in new publications.

* Anna Tucker got photos of the moon in the early hours of Tuesday at 12:30 and 1:30am to show it in its first quarter with 37% of the moon visible.

* Aldo Dorio submitted a photo of RED-BREASTED MERGANSER with plumage that made for second looks with one of the birds showing a dark rim around the eye. Dave Christie took a look at the photos for commentary and his check of the literature is added below.

In “The Birds of North America” series, No. 443, Red-breasted Merganser (Rodger D. Titman, 1999), the description of female Definitive Alternate plumage, includes this: “Variable amount of black on head around eye, near gape, on chin, and on forehead.”

So that’s on adult females from winter through late spring. This one is probably in the mid range of amount of black.

David Christie

Roger Titman has done a lot of work with RED-BREASTED MERGANSER and particularly in the Kouchibouguac National Park area. Also Dave adds the males can look like this when they go into eclipse after breeding.

* Paula Lansdale, near Alma, comments on a sudden spike in DARK EYED JUNCOS in her yard to 15 as well as SONG SPARROWS up suddenly to 10-12. The DOWNEY WOODPECKER pair that had been absent for the past 2 months suddenly reappeared acting like they had never left.

* Dave Christie and John Inman spotted their first KILLDEER in the Mary's Point area on Tuesday. Dave also comments the FOX SPARROW presence in his feeder yard increased from the 1 of a few days earlier to 3 on Tuesday along with continued swelling of SONG SPARROW number up to 20-25.

* Clarence Cormier was yet another to have his first arrival of BLACKBIRDS at his Grand Digue site with 2 RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS and 5 COMMON GRACKLES. ROBINS are still very much present with approximately 30 on Tuesday.

* Many folks are mentioning some of the very early appearing cultivar plants are appearing. Bob Blake comments that they have tulips up 6 inches in height but suspects it may just be too early for them to bloom.

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton