NATURE
MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, August 08, 2019 (Thursday)
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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com
Info Line # 506-384-6397 (384-NEWS)
** Bill Mountan was in Sackville on
Tuesday and spotted a GREAT EGRET [Grande Aigrette] in the marsh area behind
the Tantramar school. There was one there about this time last year. That one
was going back and forth between the school wetland and the Sackville Waterfowl
Park. Maybe this one will as well. That makes at least 2 known in the province
as one is enjoying the Miramichi Marsh area at the moment as well.
Georges Brun photographed a male Monarch
on Tansy taken along Riverfront Trail at the extreme end of ballfield #6 (Slow
pitch). Males do tend to gallivant about and often at some plant other than
milkweed. The dark pheromone spots of the male show nicely. Georges also
got a Monarch Butterfly taken at the Bus Stop on Main and Milner, between the
bus stop and rail line where nice Common Milkweed patches are present.
Serge Martin photographed a duck in the little pond next to the Jewish Cemetery in Chartersville. It appears to be a post breeding WOOD DUCK with the white eye margin but bill structure is not as expected so a domestic cross could not be ruled out.
Serge Martin photographed a duck in the little pond next to the Jewish Cemetery in Chartersville. It appears to be a post breeding WOOD DUCK with the white eye margin but bill structure is not as expected so a domestic cross could not be ruled out.
Brian Stone got a photo of what is
suspected to be a LAKE DARNER dragonfly at the Sackville Waterfowl Park on
Wednesday. Getting the thoracic markings of darners in a photo when possible is
very helpful to make identification more certain.
** Aldo Dorio submits a photo of a
bird’s nest, appearing like it was used this season. The nest is pendulant in
the crotch of a tree branch. The well-used component of
spider webbing along with shingling with white bark suggests that it was probably
constructed by a Vireo.
** There will be an official ceremony
for the official opening of the Acadian Dike/ Aboiteau next Tuesday morning,
August 13, from 10:00 am to 11:30 with a rain date of August 14. The ceremony
will include a Monarch Butterfly release by Dieppe’s mayor with the help of
Rheal Vienneau. The site can be accessed at the Dieppe Trail on the right left
hand side of the end of Pointe Aux Renards St. off of Amirault St. Monique, my
first born Monarch butterfly, will be among those to be tagged and released. It
should be a fun event and everyone is welcome.
** Last year we posted a photo and
video of Crows tearing up a sod area for what we suspected to be June Beetle
larvae. Don Gibson points out at the time that the similar grub larvae of the
European Chafer beetle was causing extensive damage to turf grass areas by
foraging on the roots of the grasses and damage would be compounded by birds
such as Crows and Ravens and Skunks as well in pursuit of the beetles. The
European Chafer Beetle is an invasive that has moved into New Brunswick in
recent years. It can be hard to differentiate the in-hand grub from a June
Beetle larva; however Provincial Entomologist Chris Maund provided some good
references to be able to do that with the use of a hand lens or stereoscope.
Theresa McCready’s GALLIUM SPHINX MOTH
caterpillar is now in its private nursery in my garage. It seemed to settle
right in and created a shallow covering so I expect pupation is imminent. Many
are actually parasitized in the wild at this point and may not be able to
complete pupation but its chances will be better than in the wild state with
lots of TLC. It is hoping that friends will be donated to join it!
Nelson Poirier,
Nature Moncton
LAKE DARNER DRAGONFLY. AUG. 07, 2019. BRIAN STONE
MONARCH BUTTERFLY (MALE) AUG 7 2019 GEORGES BRUN
MONARCH BUTTERFLY. AUG 7, 2019. GEORGES BRUN
NEST (VIREO SUSPECTED). AUG 7, 2019. ALDO DORIO
WOOD DUCK (SUSPECTED). AUG 5, 2019. SERGE MARTIN
