Nature Moncton Nature News: July 14 2022

NATURE MONCTON NATURE NEWS

July 14, 2022 (Thurssday)

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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

**The sudden appearance of Monarch Butterflies to more yards goes up front in the photo lineup as a highlight today.
Also note the postponement of the Nature Moncton visit to Gagetown Island at the end of today’s message.

**Rheal Vienneau reports the first Monarch Butterfly of the year arrived in his Dieppe backyard milkweed Wednesday. This is the latest arrival in over 15 years for Rheal. He could not get a photo as it did not seem to want to land on any of the numerous plants.

**Suzanne Rousseau was yet another to have her first visit from a Monarch Butterfly to Swamp Milkweed in her Sussex yard. Suzanne was able to locate at least 5 eggs on the milkweed leaves.
Suzanne is also having a female White-tailed Deer eating from her bird feeder and as she stands up one can see that she is nursing her fawn(s). She comes quite often, and she may have hidden her young behind in the woods. The White-tailed Deer normally come in the winter to Suzanne's feeder, but rarely in the summer. Suzanne makes homemade spray that smells pretty bad, so the deer is discouraged from munching on her hostas and other plants. It seems to work well.

**Nelson Poirier also had Monarch Butterflies return to his Moncton yard on Wednesday in follow-up to the first known visit of one butterfly on Tuesday. On Wednesday, there were at least two females (possibly more) but on Wednesday they were ovipositing and cooperated for a photo of it taking place as well as a photo of a deposited egg that was placed very cryptically among unopened blooms of the milkweed plant and another photo of their small football-shaped eggs on a leaf. The eggs are white at first but gradually turned dark over approximately four days when they will hatch into tiny caterpillars that first feed on the hairs of the milkweed leaves after quickly consuming the egg case.

**Many of us, possibly mostly of senior vintage, remember the days when there were so many flying insects about that it would be necessary to stop at nights to clean automobile windshields. We all now notice the reduction of flying insects as have those birds that depend on flying insects for sustenance and have suffered population declines. John Massey leaves a comment to that effect from his experience which is paraphrased below:

“I just want to add to the gentleman's comment a few days ago about the lack of flying insects. I have travelled some 600 kms in recent weeks and have spent some time in the forests and have noticed barely any bug kills on my windshield. Several of my acquaintances have also mentioned the seeming absence of those creatures. Usually, I have to stop and clean my windshield before dusk so to see properly. I don't know if it is the heat, but with the amount of rain we have had, there should be swarms -- but there are not. Same in the woods. I bought 3 cans of insect repellent and have yet to use any. Strange times indeed.”

John also sends a photo of a Forest Tent Caterpillar Moth. The caterpillar of this moth does not build tent nests as its name suggests. The caterpillars of this moth can sometimes appear in large numbers foraging on leaves of trees. They can be confused with the earlier appearing Eastern Tent Caterpillar in appearance, but the Eastern Tent Caterpillar does build the familiar tent nests.

**The Nature Moncton Wednesday evening walk went off with a sunny pleasant evening very capably led by Andrew Darcy. Many naturalists eyes caught many things to share with the group and lots of photos were taken, some of which will be shared over the next few editions with Brian Stone being able to have some ready for today’s edition as below.

Brian Stone sends some photos from the Nature Moncton Wednesday Walk. A Wilson's Snipe landed on the path in front of the group near the end of the walk to be the favourite observation of the evening. Also seen and photographed were Swamp Sparrows, Cotton Grass, Common Toadflax (Butter-and-eggs), Marsh Hedge-nettle, and Queen Anne's Lace.

** As announced earlier, Nature Moncton had a field trip planned on July 16 to visit Gagetown Island courtesy of Ducks Unlimited staff member Frank Merrill using the DU boat. Unfortunately, the boat motor needs reparations and Frank is unable to get it into a shop for repair until July 21. This will make it too tight to schedule a trip for July 23 and reparations may not be indeed completed by then.

The activities committee and Frank have decided to try to schedule a visit to Gagetown Island on July 30. The peak activity of the Black Tern colony may have subsided but there will be lots else to see and experience especially with the old remnant homestead on the island of significant historical value.

An email list of registered participants is on hand to keep folks up to date on what arrangements can be made.

There are already plans to make a trip to the island in mid July 2023 whether we get there or not this year.

Stay tuned!

Nelson Poirier

nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com