Nature Moncton Nature News: April 24 2018

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, April 24, 2018 ( Tuesday )

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

Transcript by: Brian Stone bjpstone@gmail.com

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

** Swallows are indeed the topic of the day along with Bald Eagle's possible nefarious activities.

Louise Nichols and Roger Leblanc erected new Nature Moncton Swallow boxes at the White Birch Ducks Unlimited impoundment and gave the diatomaceous earth- pyrethrum treatment to the boxes for fleas. TREE SWALLOWS [Hirondelle bicolore] were definitely a presence there on Monday. They were landing on the boxes while they were there and both Louise and a Swallow got a big surprise when one box was opened and a swallow was inside. It naturally flew out, but was back thirty seconds after Louise closed the box as if nothing had happened.

Louise was surprised to find live fleas in the boxes she had cleaned last fall all ready and waiting for patrons to arrive. These boxes were not treated last year but all are getting treated this year. Ducks Unlimited impoundments are obviously great sites for Swallow nest boxes.

** Maurice Richard repaired a Swallow box at Jones Lake a few days ago to stop Starlings from using it. He saw his first TREE SWALLOWS [Hirondelle bicolore] around the lake on Monday. It sounds like a very significant troupe of Tree Swallows arrived to their cottage country in New Brunswick on Monday.

** Sue Richards was another who had noted her first three TREE SWALLOWS [Hirondelle bicolore] arrive on Monday in Memramcook. This is rather significant as Fred Richards is our Nature Moncton chief Swallow box engineer.

** Jim Johnson in Scotch Settlement saw his first TREE SWALLOWS [Hirondelle bicolore] on Monday morning. He has several boxes set up.

** I as well saw my first TREE SWALLOWS [Hirondelle bicolore] around our Miramichi camp on Monday morning.

** Nev Garrity comments on the "nip" mentioned yesterday that BACKSWIMMERS can deliver to overly curious naturalists. Nev does "critter dipping", showing the water insects to visiting school children at the Sackville Wetlands Center. Nev says his first nip by one is something that he will not forget. It in fact was a painful sting on his finger. He Googled some information to find that their bite can feel like a bee sting so fair warning is in order for “critter dippers”. Thanks for your comments, Nev.

** Jean Paul Leblanc reports that BALD EAGLES [Pygargue à tête blanche] have taken over the Osprey nest located on Linda St. off Chemin St. Joseph on the south side of the Bouctouche River as of Monday. It is a very large nest. Jean Paul did not have a camera with him on Monday so he forwards a photo he took of the nest in 2017 when the Ospreys were occupying the nest that shows how large it is. Last year Bald eagles took over the Osprey nest located next to the Michaud farm strawberry U-pick. Jean Paul wonders if this is a trend.
As possibly many others have, I have been noting comments on line, especially from Nova Scotia, about a similar scenario that may be even more significant. Eagles have been taking Osprey chicks as prey, as well as Great Blue Heron chicks. Lets hope a balance is reached as we value all three species.

** On December 09, 2017 Phil Reibel and Pam Watters saw a Bald eagle attacking Common Mergansers on the Miramichi River. One Eagle grabbed one and held it under water for a while. The Eagle was almost completely under water for quite a while. Finally it came up and sat on the duck for a bit longer. It took the Eagle a long time to lift off as at first it couldn't and then a successful liftoff was made. A bad day for the duck, but a nice prize for the Eagle. Phil was lucky enough to get a sequence of photos in very poor light conditions. Note that this photo was taken in December of 2017 but we had problems sharing the photo at the time with some cyber world challenges. Memory is not serving me well, but we may have gotten this across so this may be a second showing. However there are a lot more monitoring the BlogSpot now that may not have seen it if it really did go out already.

** Catherine Hamilton got more nice photos of the GREAT EGRET [Grande Aigrette] in Salisbury that is becoming a very popular guest and seems to be enjoying the Salisbury hospitality.

** Aldo Dorio got a photo of a pair of GREATER SCAUP [Fuligule milouinan] and also a male RING-NECKED DUCK [Fuligule à collier] at Hay Island on Monday. From a photo of the road to Hay Island on Monday morning it would look like Aldo is undaunted by the snow level still present to get his quarry. A fair warning to Hay Island visitors at the moment.

** Annette and Brian Stone visited Mapleton Park on Monday. The COLTSFOOT is now blooming there and is attracting lots of insects. The pond in the park was still 90% ice covered, however the marshy area beside it is mostly ice free. Brian also got some bee photos of ground bees at Mapleton Park and some around emerging Crocus plants in his yard. All these are unidentified as yet, but the bees on the Crocus plants suggest members of the early Andrena group of bees. Brian's photos clearly show the amazing pollination capabilities of these early bees.

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton