Nature Moncton Nature News: May 4 2019

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, 4 May 2019 (Saturday)

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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Transcript by: Catherine Clements

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

**There are huge gatherings of DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT [Cormoran à aigrettes] just above the Centennial Bridge in the Miramichi River at the moment. Peter and Deana Gadd saw very large strings of Double-crested Cormorants flying close to the north shoreline of the Miramichi River in that area on Friday evening. A popular perch for them is Ballast Island, just off the Douglastown area of Miramichi. In one photo, Peter merged 16 photos to show the extent of the birds, and in a second photo merged 14 photos for a closer view of the island area. Many of the birds are showing their “ears” of breeding plumage – the double dark crests on their heads, to give them their name. It is assumed that the SMELT [Éperlan] run is a major interest to the birds collecting there at this time. A few CANADA GEESE [Bernache du Canada] nest on that island as well. I would assume they are not particularly amused!

**Louise Nichols is seeing evidence of amphibian breeding activity in ponds around their Etter Ridge property. She has heard WOOD FROGS [Grenouille des bois] vocalizing, and is seeing Wood Frog egg masses developing very fast. She also saw several clumps of YELLOW-SPOTTED SALAMANDER [Salamandre maculée] eggs in the same ponds. Louise got one photo that appears to be the spermatophores of the Yellow-spotted Salamander. This species deposits white sperm packs on the bottom of ponds that the females pick up to fertilize their eggs.

**Brian Stone took a hike along the Salt Marsh Trail in Cow Bay, near Dartmouth, on Friday. He photographed a GREAT BLUE HERON [Grand Héron] to very clearly show the lateral black stripe on each side of the head and the plumes of breeding plumage. A pair of WILLETS [Chevalier semipalmé] was present that were very vocal, but Brian was not sure whether it was an amorous exchange or a duo challenge. A male PURPLE FINCH [Roselin pourpré] was nicely perched by some blooming TREMBLING ASPEN [Tremble] flowers looking like they will burst red as the male blossoms do.

nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton