Nature Moncton Nature News: March 17 2016

** The activities committee of Nature Moncton has arranged for a combined "owl prowl" and workshop coming up next Thursday evening, a week from today. A full write up is added to this transcription. Also as a heads up to mark off on your calendar, a pond life workshop is scheduled for May 14th, and the write up is added as an attachment.

Nature Moncton Owl Prowl

Workshop and Outing with Roger Leblanc

Thursday March 24, 2016

(Bad weather date: Monday March 28, 2016)

With spring approaching, some birds are already coming back while others will join later when the full extravaganza of migration comes around. But other species have been with us all winter and this is already a time for courtship and even nest tending for them. Such is the case for most of our owl species. And since, for a creature of the night like an owl, a lot of the breeding behaviors have to do with vocalization this is also a good time to go looking but mostly listening for them. But wandering around at night, in wooded areas without knowing where to “listen” can be a challenge, so Nature Moncton is offering a short workshop to get you familiarized with our owl species and their calls, followed by an owl prowl where hopefully we can put to the test what we have learned indoors. Our guide will be Roger Leblanc who has been “giving a hoot” for owls for more than two decades and “knows where they live” and so will do his best to help us share just a bit of the lives of these magnificent but hard to find raptors of the night. As “owling” has a lot to do with timing and weather, the Nature Moncton owl prowl is scheduled for March 24th with a “rain date” of March 28th. Whether you have always been interested in owls or are just getting to know them and would like to learn more, come and join us for a night out with the owls in the safety of a group setting and with an experienced leader to maximize your chances.

Thursday March 24^th: Workshop from 6:00 to 7:00; outing from 7:00 to approx. 9:30.

(If weather is not good, alternate date is Monday March 28^th, same time)

Workshop at the Tankville School, 1665 Elmwood Dr.

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

Cost of workshop is $5 payable at the door . All are welcome, Nature Moncton member or not.

** The wonderful sound of the AMERICAN WOODCOCK [Bécasse d'Amérique] doing its spring ritual! David Christie was very fortunate to have four Woodcock doing their evening performance of the twittering flight to land on the ground to emit their "peent" call, and repeat it. All four were within sight of his back yard at approximately 7:45 pm on Wednesday evening.

While down surveying the beach area approximately 250 Blackbirds did a fly pass en route to Mary's Point and probably on to Grindstone Island, Point Maringouin, and Sackville. However the water crossing may have stopped them as they all reversed to come back to the area of the Mary's Point Interpretive Center, and shortly after approximately 150 of them in David's yard.

** Gabriel Gallant reports on activity in his Sainte Marie de Kent yard. He has had RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS [Carouge à épaulettes] and COMMON GRACKLES [Quiscale bronzé] for about a week now, but did see one female COMMON REDPOLL [Sizerin flammé] come in to the feeder on Saturday. On Tuesday he saw approximately a dozen Redpolls fly over. As Gabriel is away at work during the day, he is not sure if they visited his feeder yard or not.

** Georges Brun noted a COMMON EIDER [Eider à duvet] on the Petitcodiac River at the Bend on Wednesday. Moments later a BALD EAGLE [Pygargue à tête blanche] came over, appearing with intent to check it out. The Eider was not long in making its exit.

** The EASTERN CHIPMUNKS [Suisse] must be near the end of their winter siesta from the many recent reports. Anne Marsch had her first two arriving at her Lower Coverdale yard on Wednesday.

** Georges Brun got a photo of a group of AMERICAN GOLDFINCH [Chardonneret jaune] on Wednesday. A few in the photo seem to be showing noticeable bright yellow patches of the oncoming change to breeding plumage. Georges is also noting [ AMERICAN CROWS [Corneille d'Amérique] snapping off twigs on a bush near his home, expecting a nest is in progress nearby. Brian Stone also got a photo of a male American Goldfinch in plumage transition yesterday while in Halifax.

** Aldo Dorio got photos of male COMMON MERGANSERS [Grand Harle] in their bright, breeding plumage both in flight and on the water at Hay Island on Wednesday.

** The generosity of Jim Wilson to provide packets of SWAMP MILKWEED seeds to plant in yards to encourage MONARCH BUTTERFLY [Monarque] use, at the Tuesday night Nature Moncton meeting was a major success to say the least. Jim advises he still has a limited supply left for interested folk.

** The Chignecto Naturalist Club is arranging a field trip to visit the SKUNK CABBAGE [Le chou puant] patches this coming Sunday. The note from president Pam Novak that was sent for our attention is added below to advise how to join them.

From the Chignecto Naturalists’ Club

“Skunk Cabbage and Birding Field Trip”, SUNDAY MARCH 20TH

With the unusual weather we have been having this winter; we find that the Skunk Cabbage is way ahead of schedule. So, we have planned our annual field trip to go and see how they're doing for THIS Sunday (20th). Afterwards, we will take a birding field trip, led by Andrew MacFarlane.

Sackville participants who wish to car pool can meet in the parking lot behind the Sackville Post Office at 9am on Sunday March 20th. We will meet up with everyone else at the building beside the Port Elgin rotary at 9:30 am.

As usual, dress for the weather, including waterproof footwear. Bring your binoculars, a scope if you have it, a bird book (or app), and your lunch.

The weather forecaster is predicting a sunny day with a high of 1C, so it should be a wonderful day to get some fresh air, soak in the coming spring, see if there is any snow for the Skunk Cabbage to poke through, and spot those early migrating birds.

** An astronomy presentation in the "Starry Sackville" series of talks will take place this coming Friday evening, March 18th. A PDF is attached for those with astronomical interests who may want to put that on their calendar.

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca