NATURE
MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, February 28, 2019 (Thursday)
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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com
Info Line # 506-384-6397 (384-NEWS)
It’s last call to the Nature Moncton
Gull workshop and field outing on schedule for this coming Saturday. March 2, with severe
cold weather to warm up and sun for the occasion. Registration with Louise
Nichols at nicholsl@eastlink.ca is
suggested. Suggested to meet at the main gate to the facility at 9:45 AM and go
into the meeting room as a group. Write-up attached below.
GULL IDENTIFICATION
WORKSHOP
Saturday March 2, 2019
10:00 am (bring a lunch). We should be done around 3:00 pm
Southeast ECO 360 Landfill site -- community room
Saturday March 2, 2019
10:00 am (bring a lunch). We should be done around 3:00 pm
Southeast ECO 360 Landfill site -- community room
100 Bill Slater Dr.,
Berry Mills Road
Presenter and Guide – Alain Clavette
Cost -- $8.00
Presenter and Guide – Alain Clavette
Cost -- $8.00
(Please reserve a spot with
Louise Nichols at nicholsl@eastlink.ca)
For many birdwatchers, both beginners and more seasoned birders, the group that is the most challenging to identify in the field is often the LARIDS ...the GULLS! In fact, they can be so challenging, they are often totally overlooked.
‘’That's really a shame because the possibilities of finding wonderful vagrants in the Maritimes are always there with these great hardy travelers’’ Alain Clavette, a convinced LARIDOPHILE, will tell you: ‘’Remember the story of Jonathan Livingston Seagull? “
Gulls are strong, powerful, hardy birds that can travel long distances without touching land. They can rest on the water and they can survive very intense storms. And who is more resourceful than a gull when it comes to finding food it can survive on pretty much anywhere?
On February the 16th, COME GULLING!! And learn the basics of NB’s gull identification. Join birder and U. de Moncton ornithology teacher Alain Clavette at the Moncton landfill where there are a lot of gulls to learn from. We will start the day at 10:00 am in the community room where Alain will show you a few tips on gulls via a PowerPoint presentation. After lunch, we will go outside amongst hundreds of birds to watch and learn.
*Bring appropriate clothing as it is usually QUITE A BIT COLDER over there on the hill in the wind.
For many birdwatchers, both beginners and more seasoned birders, the group that is the most challenging to identify in the field is often the LARIDS ...the GULLS! In fact, they can be so challenging, they are often totally overlooked.
‘’That's really a shame because the possibilities of finding wonderful vagrants in the Maritimes are always there with these great hardy travelers’’ Alain Clavette, a convinced LARIDOPHILE, will tell you: ‘’Remember the story of Jonathan Livingston Seagull? “
Gulls are strong, powerful, hardy birds that can travel long distances without touching land. They can rest on the water and they can survive very intense storms. And who is more resourceful than a gull when it comes to finding food it can survive on pretty much anywhere?
On February the 16th, COME GULLING!! And learn the basics of NB’s gull identification. Join birder and U. de Moncton ornithology teacher Alain Clavette at the Moncton landfill where there are a lot of gulls to learn from. We will start the day at 10:00 am in the community room where Alain will show you a few tips on gulls via a PowerPoint presentation. After lunch, we will go outside amongst hundreds of birds to watch and learn.
*Bring appropriate clothing as it is usually QUITE A BIT COLDER over there on the hill in the wind.
** Jane Leblanc comments that she has
had only the occasional COMMON REDPOLL [Sizerin flammé] visit her St. Martins
feeder yard this winter; however during Monday’s snowstorm a small flock of six
were glad to check out her offerings. She noted their interest in a Witch Hazel
shrub and they appeared to be eating the seeds. The bird in Jane’s photo is in
a Witch Hazel shrub.
** A very pleasant thing to do on these
depth of winter days is bringing inside cuttings from trees and shrubs, placing
them in water, and watching them burst forth as they will in spring. Mac Wilmot
did just that with a Red Maple. The resulting bloom after a 10+ day wait
appears to be a male bloom. The Red Maple is a species that puts forth its male
pollen flower and female seed flowers well ahead of the leaves, usually on
different branches of the same tree.
** I have five cocoons/chrysalids
overwintering in an aquarium in an unheated garage. I give them a few sprays of
water occasionally to prevent dehydration. There are two BLACK SWALLOWTAIL
BUTTERFLY [Papillon du céleri] chrysalids, a HICKORY TUSSOCK MOTH cocoon, a
POLYPHEMUS MOTH cocoon and a GALLIUM SPHINX MOTH pupal cocoon. All pupae within
a loose case and cannot be seen except for the Gallium Sphinx Moth that
overwinters in a thin casing. When they get sprayed with their water treatment
the Gallium Sphinx Moth pupa always reacts when sprayed, sometimes putting on
quite a show as if rather enjoying the shower. I tried to capture it in a 33
second video while spraying it at the same time. It usually shows more activity
but the video did capture it a bit. Check it out at the attached link. A still
photo is attached as well.
** The New Brunswick Environmental
Network has a day long session entitled “SEA Conference” with several speakers
and workshops. This will be held on March 13th in Fredericton. The
announcement is attached below with links to the agenda and registration to
check out.
We are thrilled to announce the keynote speakers for the SEA Conference on March 13, Nurturing Connections with Nature!
Brenda Germain and Joyce Germain are teachers from Listiguj First Nation that have made daily cultural and outdoor education a reality. Their students can often be found outside building fires, managing trapping lines, or harvesting and preparing traditional Mi’kmaq foods. This dynamic duo has been a driving force in starting similar programs in other Indigenous schools throughout the Maritimes.
Of course, that’s not all! Join us for a full program on March 13 to explore they ways in which we can build connections with nature, from native animal species brought in by the Maritime College of Forest Technology, to marine hatch-and-release programs, to fully operational school greenhouses and public seed gardens. The day is packed with opportunities to inspire connections in your students to last a lifetime.
For teachers! Paid release time is still available for one more teacher, first come first served. Register now to save your place!
Check out the agenda here to see the full list of 20+ speakers and workshop hosts. Please register before March 8.
Tzomi Burkhart
SEA Program Coordinator
Nelson Poirier,
Nature Moncton
COMMON REDPOLL. FEB 27, 2019. JANE LeBLANC
GALLIUM SPHINX MOTH PUPA. FEB 26, 2019. NELSON POIRIER
RED MAPLE BLOOM. FEB 27, 2019. MAC WILMOT
