Nature Moncton Nature News: May 15 2016

** A very special thank-you to Wayne Fairchild for sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm, amazing participants with the many different life forms that can be found in a bucket of pond water, which he collected across the road from the Tankville School for the Nature Moncton workshop on Saturday. It was very special to have three young people present to learn to appreciate these pond life forms and what they will become in some cases. I suspect that all participants will look at ponds in a very different manner in future. Wayne had taken lots of time to have pans, vials and a stereo microscope available to let everyone appreciate the diversity of the pond life community.

** Lois McGibbon leaves a report of activity at their home in Anagance. The family is very much enjoying a pair of BARRED OWLS [Chouette rayée] raising their family in a snag cavity that seems small to accommodate these large birds. They are able to watch the activity from a distance to ensure their privacy. They can clearly see the size differential between the large female and the smaller male partner, and occasionally see them carrying in prey. They have heard them in the area for some years but this is the first year they’ve been able to see the activity so well. The grandchildren have named them Twigs and Sophie.

They have many TREE SWALLOW [Hirondelle bicolore] nest boxes up along a power line. A pair of EASTERN BLUEBIRDS [Merlebleu de l'Est] have taken one of the swallow boxes with no evidence of any aggression or competition between the two species.

They are pleased to have SAVANNAH SPARROWS [Bruant des prés] in their yard for the first time, and WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS [Bruant à couronne blanche] for the second year in a row.

** Louise and Maurice Richard also have a pair of BARRED OWLS [Chouette rayée], nesting in the area of their Acadieville cabin. They watched them flying about the area at dusk on Saturday evening. Also, two RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS [Colibri à gorge rubis] arrived at their hummingbird feeders during the day.

** Richard Blacquiere points out the Earth Science photo of the day is of a spot where Richard had taken participants of a Nature Moncton field trip during March. This group features a photo of a special area each Saturday.

** Brian Stone got several photos of specimens found at the pond life workshop, including a CADDISFLY [trichoptère] larva in its protective structure, DRAGONFLY [libellule] nymphs, DAMSELFLY [demoiselle] nymphs, a LEECH [sangsue], MAYFLY [éphémère] nymphs and one interesting photo of a WATER-BOATMAN [corise] that shows the light-coloured bubble of air that it tucks under its wing before diving. He also took pictures of the group.

** This coming Tuesday evening, May 17, is Nature Moncton meeting night at 7 p.m. in the Mapleton Park Rotary Lodge, across from Cabela’s. The guest speaker will be Kerry-Lee Morris-Cormier from the Nature Conservancy of Canada. She will talk about Nature Conservancy projects in the area, many of which we may not be aware of, and are special places to visit. Kerry-Lee will explain what the Nature Conservancy does and how it is becoming much more active in New Brunswick to protect some very special areas for wildlife and naturalists who visit them. The write-up for this presentation is attached.

Nature Moncton May, 2016 Meeting

Nature Conservancy of Canada.. Canada’s Leading Land Conservation Organization

Date: May 17, 2016. 7:00 p.m.

Place: Mapleton Rotary Lodge (across from Cabela’s)

Presenter: Kerry Lee Morris-Cormier

Since 1962, the Nature Conservancy of Canada has helped protect more than 2.8 million acres in Canada to ensure our natural spaces remain a home for wildlife, a haven for recreation, and a vital resource that filters the air we breathe and the water we drink.

NCC started work in Atlantic Canada in 1971. Today NCC has staff in Fredericton, Charlottetown, Moncton, Amherst, Halifax, St. John’s, and Happy Valley Goose Bay

Kerry Lee will focus on projects near Moncton to include the Miramichi Salmon Project, Moose Sex Project, Johnson’s Mills Shorebird Reserve and Interpretive Center, Baie Verte Nature Reserve, Grand Barachois, Richibucto Dunes, and will touch on the Musquash Estuary and Acadian Peninsula.

Kerry Lee will share with us why these are special providing reasons to visit them in our naturalist sleuthing travels to experience them for ourselves.

Kerry Lee’s time after graduation from Memorial University has led to a fascinating work career that has included Park interpreter and guide at Jasper National Park, Great White Bears tour guide in Churchill Manitoba, and more.

Kerry Lee’s contagious enthusiasm is certain to place more places to visit in everyone’s bucket list!

All are welcome

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton