Nature Moncton Nature News: March 4 2016

** Brian Coyle has had a warbler coming to peanut butter in his Lower Mountain Rd. feeder yard for a few days, but he was uncertain as to its identity. Brian was able to capture documentary photos on Thursday in spite of the high wind to show it appears to be a female YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER [Paruline à croupion jaune]. If we're correct on that, it is probably a bird that has over-wintered in New Brunswick. Brian also had a lone PINE SISKIN [Tarin des pins] arrive as a patron. Brian is using an interesting concept as peanut butter feeders. Brian has inserted lengths of PVC tubing into washed-up-on-shore foam buoys that proved attractive to birds; however, he comments the woodpeckers can do a number on the foam buoys as well as enjoying the peanut butter booty. Brian also has a pair of COMMON RAVENS [Grand Corbeau] nesting behind his home. They have been carrying reparations to last year's nest and appear to be incubating, or near that stage, at the moment.

** Jamie and Karen Burris have been watching a RED-TAILED HAWK [Buse à queue rousse] working the Turtle Creek marsh for approximately 3 weeks. It gave them a good closer flypass on Thursday to provide some nice photos to show lots of ID features, especially that dark line next to the body on the leading edge of the wing called the patagial line that is specific to the Red-tailed hawk, adult and juvenile.

** Brian Stone paid a visit to Mapleton Park on Thursday. He found the park surprisingly quiet of wildlife: a row of MALLARD [Canard colvert] drakes seemed to be awaiting the spring with anticipation and a nest from the past season was well-intact. It was in dense bushes near water a few feet off the ground and of small grapefruit size to open up several possibilities. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

** This weeks Sky-at-a-Glance courtesy of Curt Nason is attached to this transcript.

This Week’s Sky at a Glance, March 5 – March 12

Let’s pay attention to the minority this week. By this I mean the Minor
constellations: Ursa, Canis and Leo, all of which are visible on March
evenings. Ursa Minor, the Little Bear, hosts the Little Dipper asterism
and it has what is arguably the most important and most famous star of
the night sky – Polaris, the North Star – at the tip of its tail.
Although smaller and less bright than the nearby Great Bear, Ursa Minor
is at the centre of action in our night sky. How many have heard or even
believe that Polaris is the brightest star in the night sky? It actually
ranks at number 48.

Canis Minor, the Little Dog, is noted for having the eighth brightest
star, Procyon. An imaginary arrowhead formed by Orion’s head and
shoulder stars points eastward to the Little Dog. Despite the brilliance
of its luminary, the Little Dog is just the opening act for the Canis
Major and its leading star Sirius, the brightest one of the night sky.
In early winter Procyon rises first to announce the impending arrival of
Sirius. I look at Orion’s big and little dogs as the Spike and Chester
of the sky, and the cartoon aficionados among you will know who comes
out on top there.

Leo Minor the Little Lion experiences difficulty in being noticed, and
with good reason. It is one of the inconspicuous constellations created
by the 17th century astronomer Johannes Hevelius to fill some gaps in
the sky. We see it, away from the city, as a triangle between the back
of Leo and the feet of Ursa Major. To give it some distinction and pride
we can imagine it nipping at the heels of the Great Bear to keep it from
attacking Leo.

This Week in the Solar System

Saturday’s sunrise in Moncton is at 6:50 am and sunset will occur at
6:12 pm, giving 11 hours, 22 minutes of daylight (6:54 am and 6:18 pm in
Saint John). Next Saturday the Sun will rise at 6:37 am and set at 6:22
pm, giving 11 hours, 45 minutes of daylight (6:42 am and 6:27 pm in
Saint John). Enjoy your last week of standard time.

The new Moon occurs on Tuesday, and Wednesday evening offers a lunar
challenge. Try to locate the very slim crescent, just 21 hours old, with
binoculars and then with the naked eye. It will be about five degrees
above the sunset point a half hour after sunset. Mercury and Venus are
getting too close to the Sun for observing. Mercury returns for its best
evening observing in mid-April but we will have to wait until summer for
the reappearance of Venus. Jupiter is at opposition on Tuesday, rising
at sunset. A spotting scope might show its two equatorial cloud belts
when it is high in the sky. Mars moves to within a Gene Simmons wave
(the distance between your outstretched pinkie and forefinger at arm’s
length, or 15 degrees) of Saturn in the morning sky.

The Saint John astronomy club meets at the Rockwood Park Interpretation
Centre on Saturday, March 5 at 7 pm. All are welcome.

Questions? Contact me at nasonc@nbnet.nb.ca.

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton