July 27, 2022 (Wednesday)
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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com
**Nature Moncton will have the weekly Wednesday walk tonight, July 27, starting at 6:30 p.m. This outing will be at the Ducks Unlimited compound in Upper Coverdale. This outing will be led by Gordon Rattray.
Directions: From Moncton take Route 112 west from Riverview, travel 9.7 km from the end of the new bridge in Riverview to Tucker Street on the right. Go to the end of the street where there is ample parking.
From Salisbury, take Route 112 east and travel 11.1 km to
Tucker Street on your left.
This compound has several large ponds with an excellent trail system. It has been mowed, so walking will be easy. There is a significant hill to go down to get to the marsh. It will be a moderate exertion going in and out. There were a lot of waterfowl there last week, so it looks good. There is also good vegetation for other nature spotting.
**Jamie Burris gives us an update on his resident Monarch Butterfly status. Jamie has had many Monarch Butterflies coming to their Swamp Milkweed. Jamie and his twin grandsons counted 10 caterpillars and many eggs on Saturday. They counted again on Sunday but could only find 5. Jamie figured he'd better save what he could, so he set up a terrarium and they are all doing fine and growing very fast. Three years ago, Jamie did this with one and it was released a month later. (editor's note: a very rewarding exercise!) They are all at different stages right now and Jamie will pass on updates and photos as they mature to the chrysalis stage.
**John Hamer's is another yard thrilled to have Monarch
Butterflies with them at last at their Pointe-du-Chene site. They are so
grateful for the donated milkweed last year and now are actively spreading the word
and seeds.
** NATURE MONCTON FIELD TRIP
Milkweed Survey for Monarch Butterflies
Date: Sunday July 31st
Time: 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Meeting Place: 1827 Amirault St. in Dieppe (Rhéal Vienneau’s place)
Want to learn more about the Monarch Butterfly, which was added just last week to the endangered species list of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature? Are you interesting in doing your little part to help out this beautiful insect? Nature Moncton is offering you a great opportunity to do just that this coming Sunday. In the context of the International Monarch Monitoring Blitz fostered in the province by Nature NB, we will first take part in a quick information session on the Monarch with local butterfly expert Rhéal Vienneau and then go on an outing to survey a couple of known local milkweed patches (the Monarch Butterfly host plants) for eggs and caterpillars.
Rhéal has a great love of butterflies in general and has in particular observed, studied and even bred and released Monarchs (and other butterflies) for many years, so he will be a great guide for us on this mission to help out the Monarchs. So why not come and join us this Sunday July 31st at 1:00 pm in Rhéal’s yard situated at 1827 Amirault St. in Dieppe?
After talking to us
a bit about the Monarch Butterfly and the importance of the egg and caterpillar
monitoring blitz, Rhéal will then show us with live specimens how to recognize
the eggs and caterpillars of the Monarch Butterfly. From there we will follow him to a
couple of known local milkweed “hot spots” which we will explore to look for
the presence of Monarch Butterfly eggs and caterpillars. The outing should end around 4:00
pm so bring water and a lunch if you think you will need it. The territory
covered should be open and level, making for easy walking. See you there!
If the subject really interests you and you feel like learning more about
the International Monarch Monitoring Blitz, Nature NB will be offering an
online information session in English on the project this Thursday at 7:00 PM
(a French version will be offered on Wednesday). To register go to:
French:
Nelson Poirier
Nature
Moncton
