Nature Moncton Nature News: April 17 2016

** The number of LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS [Goéland brun] in the local area seems unprecedented this year, or we have not been observing gull flocks closely enough. Ron Steeves stopped by the Jones farm in Upper Coverdale to observe a flock of approximately 300 gulls on Saturday. He was able to count at least 20 Lesser Black-backed Gulls in that flock. Ron comments that this species has been so uncommon, it seems like something is changing.

Ron reports that the hawk activity at New Horton was slow on Saturday. He saw several local raptors but none that he suspected were migrating.

** A very special thank-you to Lewnanny Richardson for making all the preparations for quickly assembling MASON BEE [une sorte d’abeille] houses at the Nature Moncton workshop on Saturday. They can be installed promptly as these very effective pollinators could be flying and building their mud nests in the houses quite soon. It will be very interesting to follow the action from participants’ efforts this summer. It’s great to see a Nature New Brunswick outreach project in action.

** Jean-Paul and Stella LeBlanc had a partial albino male PURPLE FINCH [Roselin pourpré] drop by their Bouctouche feeders on Saturday. Partial albino birds are always interesting, as every one of them is produced as a unique single copy.

** Ethel Douglas watched BEAVERS [Castor] working in a pond beside Crowley Farm Road on Thursday evening. It’s a great nearby spot to watch beaver activity, right within the city.

** Aldo Dorio continued to note a HARLEQUIN DUCK [Arlequin plongeur] at Hay Island. A few photos show a first-winter male.

** There has been some concern expressed about trail use at Mount Carleton Provincial Park. Wendy Sullivan shares a concern that has been brought to her attention. A copy of that appears on the BlogSpot and the Nature Moncton email distribution list..

** This coming Tuesday, April 19, will be Nature Moncton’s meeting night, starting at 7 o’clock at the Mapleton Park Rotary Lodge, across from Cabela’s. We are fortunate to have Mac Dunfield, past president of DUCKS UNLIMITED CANADA. We are already appreciating the many ducks arriving to spend the season with us. All waterfowl species that breed in freshwater habitat have experienced a population increase at a time when other species have been declining. It has undoubtedly been the efforts of Ducks Unlimited (DU) that have have orchestrated that, and DU is now partnering with Bird Studies Canada, the Canadian Wildlife Service, the Nature Conservancy of Canada and more, to make the conservation success even better. Mac Dunfield will have the inside story about DU and their projects in our area, how they are doing their work, the results so far, and lots of information about many local DU impoundments.

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton