Nature Moncton Nature News: Feb 20 2017

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, February 20, 2017 (Monday)

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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Transcript by: David Christie maryspt@mac.com

Info Line # 506-384-6397 (384-NEWS)

** Louise Nichols visited the Tantramar Marsh on Sunday and got some awesome photos of HORNED LARKS [Alouette hausse-col] that have moved into the farm and field areas on Donald Harper Lane and around the Prescott Farm, that being the big red barn at the corner of Folkins Drive and the High Marsh Road. They appear to have recently moved to that area, presumably because high snow levels have covered other grass-feeding areas.

Louise says the Horned Lark flock was approximately 40, with 20-30 SNOW BUNTINGS [Bruant des neiges] nearby, but usually not travelling with the larks. However, she did get one photo of the two species together. The ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS [Buse pattue] and RED-TAILED HAWKS [Buse à queue rousse] were working the distant fields, with flocks of MALLARD [Canard colvert] ducks moving about.

** There seems to be a gradual influx of AMERICAN ROBINS [Merle d'Amérique] into the area. On Sunday, Georges Brun saw 4 along the Petitcodiac River, near the Seventh Day Adventist Church on Salisbury Road. I saw a flock of ten not far from there on Friday. There appears to be large numbers in Nova Scotia, as well as some large flocks of WAXWINGS [jaseurs]. Georges also noted a pair of BALD EAGLES [Pygargue à tête blanche] on a power structure near there, overlooking the river, where some COMMON MERGANSERS [Grand Harle] were swimming. He saw an eagle take a merganser about this time last February in that area.

Georges noted a lot of GULLS [goélands] gathering at The Bend of the Petitcodiac River. He comments that they seem to arrive approximately 30 minutes or more ahead of the tidal bore, and seem to be cleaning their plumage in the more fresh water ahead of the bore.

** Tomorrow night, Tuesday, February 21st is Nature Moncton meeting night at the Mapleton Park Rotary Lodge, across from Cabela’s at 7 o’clock. Alain Clavette will give a presentation on the pelagic bird life of that special place on our doorstep, the Bay of Fundy. The write-up is attached below.

WINGS OVER FUNDY
A visual presentation on the Bay of Fundy pelagic birds with Alain Clavette
February 21 7:00pm
Mapleton Park Rotary Lodge (across from Cabella’s)

The Bay of Fundy is one of the richest ecosystems in the world. But to unveil some of its treasures, the naturalist sometimes has to go far from land. In his presentation WINGS OVER FUNDY, Alain Clavette will introduce you to the world of the seldom seen pelagic birds of New Brunswick.

Who are they? Where are they coming from and why are they visiting us?

Alain Clavette is an avid birder with over 25 years of field birding experience in the province. He teaches ornithology at l’Université de Moncton. He also runs a birding column on CBC radio and has been featured in a dozen documentary and TV shows about nature and birds in our province. This fall, for the 4th year in a row, he will organize the ANNUAL GREAT PELAGIC BONANZA off Grand Manan Island.

Come share the next best option to actually heading out on the water with this presentation featuring Alain’s stunning photos, his enthusiasm and his knowledge of the very special pelagic birds of Fundy.

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton