NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE -
December 14, 2016 (Wednesday)
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Edited by : Nelson Poirier nelson@nb.sympatico.ca
Transcript by : Catherine Johnson johnson2@xplornet.com
Info Line # : 506-384-6397 (384-NEWS)
Transcript by : Catherine Johnson johnson2@xplornet.com
Info Line # : 506-384-6397 (384-NEWS)
**A very big thank you to Edmund Redfield,
Tim Robinson and Christine McLaughlan who all gave their time to
come to Nature Moncton meeting night on Tuesday night to share the work their
groups are doing on the Petitcodiac River, which is nothing short of stellar to
bring traditional life back to the Petitcodiac River. Edmund's review of fish
counts for the past 6 years was very surprising and revealing to see what is now
using the river that we just don't see in their underwater
world.
Tim gave a history of the endangered Upper Bay of Fundy
SALMON and what is being done to save them from extinction and described the
very pioneering effort the Fort Folly Habitat Recovery Program is doing as part
of the rearing salmon effort from the river in a dedicated sea cage area at Dark
Harbour, Grand Manan and then back to the river.
Christine gave an account of the very lively activity
the Petitcodiac Watershed Alliance is doing to include water health monitoring,
WOOD TURTLE studies, stream side remediation, repairing culverts to allow fish
passage and other projects that are underway with many partner groups and
volunteers. Obviously the rivers on going care is in excellent and enthusiastic
hands.
**The Moncton Christmas Bird Count takes place this
Saturday, December 17th. The count period for this count runs 3 days before and
3 days after. That means any uncommon birds still with us for these 6 days can
be recorded, so starting today Thursday through to next Monday make certain to
report any bird sitings that may be unexpected or special at this time of year
to be included in the count period. Of course the tally that counts the most
will be what is tallied on Saturday. Roger Leblanc is the Moncton Christmas
Bird Count coordinator and has done a lot of work to make it all happen
smoothly.
** Ethel Douglas comments there are 2 WHITE-TAILED DEER
that roam about the Royal Oaks condo area. They paid her a visit just at their
condo there this week. Ethel also reports there is a FOX den just down the road
from them and has seen the fox several times around the area but not since the
Monday storm.
**Brian Stone got an excellent photo of a dark morph
grey squirrel while in Perth Ontario. My understanding is the dark morph of the
grey squirrel is much more common in south-eastern Ontario but we occasionally
get a dark morph grey squirrel showing up in NB as well. It is genetically the
same species however the phenotype is expressed differently.
**My PINE WARBLER, which is getting more regular to our
Moncton feeders has finally found Jim Wilson's suet mix recipe very much to its
liking. It also goes to shelled peanuts, sunflower chips and peanut butter.
It's not a bright specimen so am assuming it to be a female or
young-of-the-year.
The BALTIMORE ORIOLE is also still coming daily but
seems to stick with sunflower chips not using grape jelly, suet or peanut butter
that is available to it.
Nelson Poirier,
Nature Moncton
PINE WARBLER.DEC13, 2016.NELSON POIRIER
GREY SQUIRREL (DARK MORPH). DEC. 13, 2016. BRIAN STONE
