NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, Feb. 16, 2021 (Tuesday)
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**Fred and
Sue Richards were walking around their Taylor Village yard on Monday when a
Weasel [Belette] popped out of seemingly nowhere to check them out. The Weasel this time of year is totally white
except for a black tip on the tail. They
are a common mammal but we seldom see them due to their illusive lifestyles.
**Mac Wilmot
photographed an animal trail and what appears to be a sudden plunge for
prey. The trail is the perfect stepping
and tracks are oval to suggest a COYOTE
[Coyote] or Fox [renard]. If the stride (length between tracks) were
known, it would suggest which one it is more apt to be. Fox tends to be 10 – 18 in. apart and a
Coyote would tend to be 19 in. or over.
**Brian Stone
noted tracks and wildlife action in the snow off Gorge Road near a creek on
Monday. One trail was SHREW or VOLE showing very close together dots reminding
of a sewing machine trail. Another shows a small opening surrounded by frost
that would suggest some animal/bird has rested for a time. An assumed under snow rest area appears to
have been spotted and checked by a mammal possibly with lunch on mind. Other
track/trails were indeterminate. (Editor’s note: Brian like Mac did not have
one of those easily carried at all times small cloth measuring tapes…young people!!)
**It has been
very noticeable this winter that WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH are patronizing feeder
yards not used to having them. There must be a reason, but the nuthatches are
not commenting. Ray Gauvin’s single bird has become more bold and seeing it
more frequently.
**Jane LeBlanc got a beautiful portrait of one of her male EVENING GROSBEAK [Gros-bec errant] visiting her St. Martin’s feeder yard on a regular basis since the last storm. Jane also got a photo of a BALD EAGLE [Pygargue à tête blanche] on prey at low tide. Hard to be sure what the prey is but would wonder if it may not be a Skate [Patin].
**Tonight, Tuesday is Nature Moncton February meeting night at 7:00 PM coming right into our homes with no weather concerns to deal with the presentation available to anyone anywhere by clicking on the link
https://meet.google.com/nbg-baff-ioc
All details below
NATURE MONCTON FEBRUARY
MEETING
February 16, 2021 at 7:00
PM
VIRTUAL MEETING
Presenter: Mike Holland, Minister of Natural Resources and
Energy Development
“Protected Areas of New
Brunswick”
In October 2019, the government of NB announced it would more than double the
amount of conserved land in the province in the next 14 months bringing the
total up to 10%. That would translate into the creation of a good number of new
Protected Natural Areas (PNA) in which conservation is the focus. The events of
2020 delayed the project a bit, as well as many other things, but the province
is still on track to fulfill this commitment and has put forward a consultation
process to help it along. For naturalists this should be of great interest and
that is why we thought it would be good to have someone come and give us a talk
on the subject. And who better to do that than Mike Holland the minister of the
Department of Natural Resources and Energy Development. Minister Holland is a
fervent outdoorsman himself and it should be of great interest to all to hear
how he sees the future of conservation in our beautiful province.
This presentation will be
virtual with anyone anywhere welcome to join. The link to the
presentation will be:
https://meet.google.com/nbg-baff-ioc
Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com
Transcript by Susan Richards susan_richards@rogers.com
Info Line #: 506-384-6397 (384-NEWS)
Nelson Poirier,
Nature Moncton
