Nature Moncton Nature News: August 11 2019

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, August 11, 2019 (Sunday)

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Edited by Nelson Poirier, nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Transcript by David Christie, maryspt@mac.com

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

** Jane LeBlanc’s milkweed patch in her St. Martins yard continues to be a busy spot. She sends a photo of a RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD [Colibri à gorge rubis] nectaring, with two nice-sized MONARCH [Monarque] butterfly caterpillars in the background. She also sends another photo of a young caterpillar enjoying the fuzzy hairs on the leaf underside, which it starts its foraging life on.

** There have been many well-deserved accolades expressed for Jim and Jean Wilson with the announcement that Jim will be inducted into the Order of New Brunswick. Attached is the announcement that appears on the Lieutenant-Governor’s corporate website. I suspect many would like to attend the event, but only four guests per recipient are allowed. Therefore, many of us will have to be with Jim and Jean in our thoughts on presentation day, and appreciation for having them among us.

James “Jim” Wilson, Quispamsis

James “Jim” Wilson is a passionate nature educator whose vast knowledge about biodiversity has had a significant impact on conservation efforts in New Brunswick.

Mr. Wilson’s interest in nature began in childhood. Born in Gondola Point, Mr. Wilson – an only child – grew up reading and listening to stories about nature and taking regular walks in the woods with his father, riding on his shoulders when he was too little to walk too far. This was where his fascination with birds began.

Mr. Wilson enrolled at the University of New Brunswick with a goal of becoming a wildlife biologist but eventually decided to keep nature as a hobby and studied accounting instead. For nearly 25 years, he worked in the soft drink industry, much of that time as Chief Financial Officer of Maritime Beverages Limited based in Saint John and later, after acquisition by Pepsi Cola, as Atlantic Chief Financial Officer for Pepsi Cola Canada.

He married his wife, Jean, in 1969. Despite opportunities to work elsewhere, the couple made the decision to stay in New Brunswick – a decision neither regrets making.

Mr. Wilson retired in 2002. While he does keep up with soft-drink industry related issues through regular consulting work for the corporation responsible for recycling used beverage containers across New Brunswick, retirement enabled him to devote more time to his nature interests.

Mr. Wilson has served on the board of Nature NB, and chaired the NB Wildlife Trust Fund, the NB Bird Records Committee, the Point Lepreau Bird Observatory and a number of other committees and projects. He has given nature-related talks across the province to nearly 10,000 people, conducts regular interviews on CBC Radio, and provides weekly comments on nature photos submitted to the provincial newspaper, The Telegraph Journal. In June 2018, he received the Roland Michener Conservation Award from the Canadian Wildlife Federation.

James “Jim” Wilson is receiving the Order of New Brunswick for his outstanding commitment to conservation in New Brunswick and his vision in establishing the Point Lepreau Bird Observatory.

Brian Stone traveled through Knightville on Saturday to come across a sky full of Turkey Vultures. He was able to photograph 24 in one frame with other birds flying outside of the frame

Brian also captured some of the storm clouds that appeared very suddenly in parts of New Brunswick on Saturday to produce some violent weather.

** I’m attaching a few photos of my MONARCH butterfly rearing project. One photo shows the screened-in cage with the chrysalids at the top. Note some very dark ones and some just dark. These are about to emerge as an adult butterfly. The darker they get, the closer emergence is. Some caterpillars can be seen munching on the COMMON MILKWEED [Asclépiade commune] stalks that are inserted into a mason jar of water with the insert replaced with the fitted cardboard from a milk carton with a slot in it to allow only the stalks, so that the caterpillars do not get down into the water and drown.

The stalks usually stay fresh for three days. I suspect that spraying them with water helps some. Occasionally the caterpillars form a chrysalis on the midrib of a leaf instead of going to the top of the cage. The midribs are very tough and can be tied to the top with a strong thread when a caterpillar does that, as one photo illustrates. As chance would happen, at dusk on Saturday an adult emerged from one of the dark chrysalids. I was able to get a video but light was very poor, being dusk. Take a look at the action at the attached link:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/n5pckfqbux3scuz/MONARCH%20BUTTERFLY%20EMERGING%20FROM%20CHRYSALIS.%20AUG%2010%2C%202019.%20NELSON%20POIRIER.MOV?dl=0

A few still shots are added as well, showing the stout abdomen gradually diminishing in size, pumping blood into the wings.

Nelson Poirier, nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nature Moncton