Nature Moncton Nature News: Oct 17 2018

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, October 17, 2018 ( Wednesday

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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Transcript by: Judy Marsh marshj@nbnet.nb.ca

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

** A very big thank you to Heather Loomer who came to Nature Moncton to give a presentation on New Brunswick's protected Natural Areas program, how they came about and how they are protected. She concentrated on two local sites, the Canaan Bog and the Caledonia Gorge. The Canaan Bog site is the size of the City of Moncton and access is more limited due to the lack of maintained wood roads. The Caledonia Gorge, which is approximately the size of Riverview, is more accessible and used more frequently. The presentation attracted an excellent turnout of interested folk who fielded many questions to Heather who was joined by Adam Cheeseman from Nature New Brunswick, who has been involved with the Jacquet River Gorge Protected Natural Area.

**Nature Moncton is planning a field trip to the Caledonia Gorge this coming Saturday , October the 20^th. The fall foliage will be a value added bonus. Brian Stone and Roger LeBlanc are doing a pre-scouting visit today so the field trip on Saturday will give the best route to follow. The write-up for this Saturday's visit is attached below.

Nature Moncton Field trip to Caledonia Gorge

Saturday, October 20, 2018

Meeting place: Petro-Canada station on Hillsborough Road (Route 114) across from Point Park subdivision at 9:00 a.m.

Heather Loomer will be giving a presentation on Protected Natural Areas in New Brunswick to Nature Moncton at the Tuesday, October 16 monthly meeting. Heather will be specifically describing two Protected Natural Areas near Moncton, the Canaan Bog area and the Caledonia Gorge.

On the following Saturday, Nature Moncton will pay a visit to the Caledonia Gorge to discover why it is unique enough to have been designated a part of New Brunswick’s Protected Natural Areas into perpetuity.

The Caledonia Gorge was chosen for a fall visit due to the additional bonus of fall foliage, while hopefully a visit to the Canaan Bog PNA site can be arranged in the spring to discover its special features. The Caledonia Gorge is beautifully described at the attached site. Explore this site to learn what we can expect to see and experience on October 20.

https://newbrunswickcoveredbridges.blogspot.com/2015/10/crooked-creek-no-3.html

As always, all are welcome, Nature Moncton member or not.

**The mushrooms session in meetings second half had an incredible variety of mushroom specimens brought in by participants. It was meant as a show and tell however should have been a whole meeting presentation or a workshop. This happens to be a 10+ year for mushroom abundance which one can never predict from year to year. However, hopefully some folks left with a bit more comfort in identifying some of the abundant crop we are seeing this year and to appreciate them for their unique beauty and and potentially as culinary specialties.

**A nice surprise for Aldo Dorio on Tuesday when a SUMMER TANAGER [Tangara vermillon] paid a visit to his Neguac yard to co-operate for a few photos, a very special yard bird for sure. The plumage of this species varies but Aldo's visitor appears to be an adult female but could possibly be an immature bird or first fall male. Any comments would be appreciated. Aldo advises that the bird did not stay so maybe somewhere in the Neguac area or elsewhere as it is obviously off course, so be on the watch for this special visitor.

**Dale Gaskin has been in contact with New Brunswick farmer Mike Dickinson. The sunflower order will be delivered to the Nature Moncton meeting on the night of November 20^th. There is still oppertunity to place orders for that date. The price is $15 for for a 15 kilogram bag, the same price Mike has charged for 10 years. To reserve bags, call Dale Gaskin at 734-2197, leaving a message if necessary with the number of bags you would like. This is not a Nature Moncton fund raiser but in support of a New Brunswick farmer and leaving less carbon footprint as such.

**Brian Stone paid a visit to the Elgin Gorge with the Moncton Photo Group this past weekend to absorb and photograph the beautiful fall foliage, streams and bridges there. Several photos are attached to show how special this area of New Brunswick really is. This Saturday's Nature Moncton visit to the Caledonia Gorge could well provide similar vistas with birds, plants and mushrooms as a value added bonus.

Nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton