Nature Moncton Nature News: June 22 2019

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, 22 June 2019 (Saturday)

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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Transcript by: Catherine Clements

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

**Catherine Hamilton came across two WOOD TURTLES [Tortue des bois] on a sandy beach area at the Petitcodiac Waterfowl Trail. It appears like a perfect area for nest-digging and egg-laying, which unfortunately are so often predated by RACCOONS [Raton laveur], SKUNKS [Mouffette], CROWS [Corneille], RAVENS [Grand Corbeau], and more. Catherine saw two of them mating, which seems late, but everything else seems late this spring. The Wood Turtle is endangered in New Brunswick; its world range is in the northeastern area of North America. Some very interesting photos and findings. Catherine promptly left the area to avoid disturbance. The Wood Turtle is often seen on land, as during the summer they can wander some distance from water in foraging, whereas the PAINTED TURTLE [Tortue peinte] and SNAPPING TURTLE [Chélydre serpentine] usually only come to land to lay eggs in earthen areas.

**Janet Kempster had a very unusually-pigmented female PURPLE FINCH [Roselin pourpré] visit her Hammond River feeder. It is showing a significant amount of yellow in its plumage. Note the heavily pigmented section on the leg as well. There does not seem to be a lot of information on this variation, but I would be very suspicious that this is a quirk of nature with carotenoid production to allow the yellow to exhibit itself. The bird appears very healthy-looking otherwise. Any comments would be appreciated.

**Yvette Richard did a zoom-in photo of a YELLOW WARBLER [Paruline jaune] on its nest at the Sackville Waterfowl Park. It was about at eye-level, just off the boardwalk, just about the time the leaves were coming out. The bowl of the nest of the Yellow Warbler is very nicely padded with soft plant material. It is in a very busy public traffic area, which probably is a very safe spot for it to choose to nest. Yvette also got a nice portrait of a CEDAR WAXWING [Jaseur d'Amérique].

**Susan Richards was in the Burlington, Ontario area on June 15th, and got a photo of a good-sized MONARCH BUTTERFLY caterpillar [Chenille du Monarque] chowing down on MILKWEED [Herbe à coton]. We should be seeing some in New Brunswick soon, as there have been reports of egg-laying by female Monarch Butterflies. Susan also got a photo of the SPOTTED LADY BEETLE [Coleomegilla maculata] (aka PINK SPOTTED LADY BEETLE). This Lady Beetle with the dark spots and the pinkish ground colour is a native Lady Beetle that feeds on Aphids [Puceron], so is not problematic to the Milkweed plant. It could be confused at first with the RED MILKWEED BEETLE [Tetraopes tetrophthalmus], which is problematic to both the Milkweed plant and the Monarch Butterfly stages. Susan also took a photo of a poster advising on Ticks [Tique]. A very interesting poster. We will be discussing ticks in New Brunswick in future editions, as it is something that we had better learn to live with in New Brunswick, as some, like the problematic BLACKLEGGED TICK [Tique Ixodes scapularis], are becoming much more commonly encountered in New Brunswick.

nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton