NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, Sept. 21, 2021 (Tuesday)
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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com
Transcript by Susan Richards susan_richards@rogers.com
Info Line #: 506-384-6397 (384-NEWS)
**Tonight,
Tuesday night is Nature Moncton’s September meeting night at the Mapleton
Rotary Lodge at 7:00 p.m. The presenters
will be live; however, President Fred is hoping all works to provide a Zoom
link so folks who choose not to attend for Covid reasons can take part and
interact with the speakers as well.
Covid recommendations will be followed at the lodge, regarding masking,
social distancing, and disinfectants available.
The main presentation on Invasive Species in New Brunswick will start at
7:00 p.m. and the write-up in below. All
are welcome to join in person or via Zoom.
After the main presentation, Michele Nadeau
will give a short presentation on a bird calendar she has created as a
fundraiser for the YWCA women and children center in Moncton, of which she is
Executive Director.
The
Zoom link for anyone anywhere to join in tonight’s meeting is
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87200610795?pwd=WUVUaVc1dHlxVUxVcnFCK3MxU2lmZz09
NATURE MONCTON SEPTEMBER MEETING
“Invasive Species of
New Brunswick”
Date: Sept. 21, 2021
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Rotary Pavilion, Mapleton Park
Presenter: Shelby Heath,
Engagement Coordinator for the NB Invasive Species Council.
As naturalists and
bird watchers we are always “out in nature” looking for birds, plants,
insects and many other things. But do we always know if what we are studying is
native to our region or introduced? And if
introduced, what effect does it have on our native species? The presentation for our first meeting of the
2021/22 Nature Moncton season on September 21st will focus on these
questions. The New Brunswick
Invasive Species Council (NBISC) is a collaborative organization that works to
protect our province’s environment, economy, and recreational interests from
the threat of invasive species. This presentation will provide an overview of
invasive species ecology and impacts, particular species of concern in the
province, how to ID them and what steps you can take to prevent their
introduction and spread. Whether you are a birder, hiker, gardener, camper,
boater, or simply enjoy walking with your dog, everyone has a role to play!
**Gabriel Gallant reports on Sunday morning around 4 am
he could hear 2 Barred Owls calling to each other from a wooded area
east of his Sainte-Marie home; they sounded distant. Then on Monday morning
again at 4 am, a Great Horned Owl was calling from a line of large
Spruce trees near the road in front of his home.
During the
10 years of living in his home, he has heard the call of 4 species of owls
while standing outside on late evenings or very early morning. He has heard Barred
owl, Great Horned Owl, Northern Saw-whet Owl, and Long-eared Owl.
**At around
6:00 Monday Brian Coyle had a lot of bird activity in his back yard. There were
several Yellow-rumped Warblers, several Red-Eyed Vireos, and
several Blue-Headed Vireos in a feeding frenzy. Brian only managed to
get 2 photos of a Red-Eyed Vireo.
**Richard
Perron sends a photo of a CARRION BEETLE he recently photographed. We have several carrion beetles and burying
beetle species in New Brunswick; some are quite colourful. Most undertake the very important role of
scavenger disposing of those unsightly dead bodies that will otherwise litter
the landscape. The adults are good
flyers with strong legs that are tipped with spines and adapted for digging.
**Verica
Leblanc traveled to Miramichi Bay and Escuminac Harbour on Saturday September
18. They watched the shorebirds foraging
as the surf came in, but as soon as the lone SEMI-PALMATED PLOVER came
near the SANDPIPERS, they chased it away. The attached photo was a rare for the moment
when they were close to each other.
The
GREAT BLUE HERON looked funny as it bent down to fish and came up with a
complete meal, a fish wrapped in kelp; call it sushi.
A
troop of 5 SANDHILL CRANES were in the Miramichi Bay area having
been there for a while. They were
difficult to photograph, as well back near the tree line.
**Aldo
Dorio got a photo of a fall version of the MAGNOLIA WARBLER ( juvenile)at Hay
Island on Monday.
**Brian
Stone walked around the path around Highland Park in Salisbury on Monday and
managed to get a few photos to share. A NORTHERN
HARRIER HAWK was circling the marsh and causing many nervous calls from the
ducks that were present. Among the ducks
being ‘spooked’ by the hawk were GREEN-WING TEAL and MALLARDS. In other areas of the pond a pair of AMERICAN
COOTS were feeding, and PIED-BILLED GREBES were doing the same. A COMMON GALLINULE FAMILY was at the
far end of the marsh and managed to hide well enough from the camera lens as
did most of the others mentioned.
Brian
did find a co-operative male LANCE-TIPPED DARNER DRAGONFLY resting on a
dead leaf, an AUTUMN MEADOW HAWK DRAGONFLY and an immature GREAT BLUE
HERON that were willing to have their photo taken. Flying back and forth overhead were 5
BELTED KINGFISHERS and one female stopped and perched for less than a
minute, to add another photo to the list.
HAWTHORNE shrubs were heavily loaded with berries. The thorns
are not evident in the photos, but Gart Bishop comments the number of thorns can
vary somewhat with this species.
**Brian
Stone also captured photos of a warbler that had to get consult with Gilles
Belliveau to identify. The BLACKPOLL WARBLER and Bay-breasted Warbler
are two warblers that do make very significant plumage changes in their fall
molt. Am going to quote Gilles below as his words may be very helpful
for many of us in identifying this fall warbler:
“As for
the warbler, I’m fairly confident it’s a Blackpoll Warbler due to the rather
long undertail coverts and short tail projection beyond the undertail coverts.
The only other one that comes to mind is a possible Pine Warbler, but the
yellow underneath seems to go too far back, and they would have shorter
undertail coverts and a longer tail projection.”
Gilles also comments he never has
issues differentiating these two warblers in person but finds photos can be a
bit tricky sometimes.
Nelson Poirier,
Nature Moncton
