NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, July 27, 2021 (Tuesday)
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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com
Transcript by Fred Richards fredrichards@rogers.com
Info Line #: 506-384-6397 (384-NEWS)
Jim Carrol
shares photo he took on July 13th for reference purposes of the EASTERN
MEADOWLARKS in Coates Mills.
Yesterday Jim
received an Email from Canadian Wildlife Services Wildlife Biologist Kathy
St-Laurent regarding the Ste Marie de Kent Eastern Meadowlarks as follows that
is of interest:
Quoting
Kathy "I went to visit the site on Friday
but didn’t see or hear the birds. I didn’t go at a very ideal time though, so I
decided to go back again this morning. Good thing I did! I saw the family group
with at least 2 fledged young (possibly 3). They were in the horse pasture on
the other side of the road and then flew off toward the river. All the fields
are still uncut. I spoke with the fellow from #671 and he indicated the fields
are owned by various people. He, himself, doesn’t get his hay cut until August.
Great to be able to report the young have
successfully fledged."
Thanks for that sharing Jim and Kathy.
**Adam Campbell from Ducks Unlimited gave Louise Nichols Wild Rice seed
to plant in her Aulac yard pond. Ducks
Unlimited do this with their impoundments as well to provide forage for waterfowl. Louise had kind of assumed the attempt had
failed as she didn’t notice anything last summer but this summer, she kept
noticing all this new growth in various places and then realized it was indeed
what she had planted, the seed that Adam had given her, and took a closer
look. She sent photos to Adam and he
confirmed it was indeed Wild Rice. He
also warned the MUSKRATS will take it but although they definitely had
Muskrats last season, she has not seen any around the pond this summer. So, hoping the rice attracts more ducks as
well.
Wild rice is actually not a rice but a grass with grains. The female grains are what sets above water lever and is harvested by waterfowl as well as humans. The grains ripen in order so several harvests are indicated. The grain can be hard to harvest from the thick shell for humans but is delicious.
**There seems to be a lot of comments about the number of CROWS
about this year. Sterling Marsh reports
he was loudly serenaded by a trio of Crows that lacked peaceful harmony but
sure made up for it in volume.
Lisa Morris rescued an AMERICAN TOAD from a near accidental
encounter with her lawn mower. It looks
like all went well. Lisa also
encountered a deceased FLOUNDER, on the beach¸ to show the very cryptic
topside with the completely white undercarriage.
**Aldo Dorio got a photograph of an adult SEMIPALMATED PLOVER at
Hay Island on Monday. The shorebirds can
be expected to appear in large numbers son.
**Fred Richards photographed what I suspect is the CHICKEN MUSHROOM
but not completely confident. If correct
it is considered a choice edible when young and not tough. They appear on stumps, trunks and logs of
deciduous and coniferous trees anytime from May to November anytime moisture is
prevalent.
**Brian Stone got a nice photo of a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK in flight
showing the transverse-streaked belly of the adult, the square tail tip, some
red on the eye (to suggest approaching adult), and the wider white tail bands
and dark tail bands.
Nelson Poirier,
Nature Moncton
