July 30, 2022 (Saturday)
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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com
**The Nature Moncton outing on Monarch Butterflies on Sunday afternoon is repeated at the end of this message.
Next Wednesday’s Nature Moncton walk is a very special one and is also added at the end of this message to give people time to slot off the evening.
**Gart Bishop has confirmed 2 grass species that participants at the recent Wednesday evening walk took note of and Gordon Rattray photographed as being Wild Rice and Reed Canary Grass. Wild rice is frequently planted at Ducks Unlimited impoundments and it is a favourite of many duck patrons.
**Leon Gagnon shares some nature news from Miscou Island. On July
26, 2022, there was a major movement of Red-breasted Nuthatches to
Miscou Island. There were hundreds of them, in the woods and thickets by the
side of the road. In the morning, in 5 minutes, between 7:10 a.m. and 7:15 a.m.,
Leon counted 60 individuals leaving the woods to head south above the bay. The
abundance of mosquitoes put an end to the count! No photo.
On July 27, 2022, a group of 6 Turkey
Vultures were observed in a forest clearing in the southern part of the
island. This species has been present in Miscou for several years.
A peat bog occupies about a third of the
area of Miscou Island. There are more than a hundred water surfaces of
different sizes (ponds and lakes). The peat bog is an acid environment with low
biodiversity. However, passing on the Portage Wilson Road (between Miscou
Center and Wilson Point) you can occasionally observe some species of ducks
resting there. On July 28, a Hooded Merganser and a Wood Duck
were preparing to spend the night there. The merganser continuously followed
the other duck, as in the observation made on June 24, when the merganser
followed a Gadwall!
On July 25 a Monarch Butterfly fluttered
around their cottage at Wilson Point. In recent years, almost every summer they
observe a Monarch Butterfly individual.
** NATURE
MONCTON FIELD TRIP
Milkweed Survey for Monarch Butterflies
Date: Sunday July 31st
Time: 1:00 to 4:00 (approx.)
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 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 in Rhéal’s yard situated at 1827
Amirault St in Dieppe? After talking to us a bit about the Monarch 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. 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 eggs and caterpillars. Bring
water and bring a snack if you think you will need it. The territory covered
should be open and level, making for easy walking. See you there!
** WEDNESDAY NIGHT WALK – AUGUST 3RD
The Wednesday night walk this week, guided by Louise Nichols, will be through a portion of the Tintamarre National Wildlife Area near
Sackville. The word “tintamarre,” a
French word meaning “loud noise” or “uproar,” is thought to have referred to
the commotion of waterfowl in the wetlands of this area. Indeed, the area includes the 3 large lakes
that are known collectively as the Jolicure Lakes as well as many acres of
wetlands, including fens, swamps and bogs.
Also in the area are a number of controlled impoundments managed by
Ducks Unlimited for the support of fish and waterfowl habitat.
We will meet at 6:30 at an old church
in Pointe de Bute. From the Trans Canada
Highway, take exit 513B at Aulac which leads to Hwy 16 and PEI. Follow Hwy 16 to Pointe de Bute. The speed limit slows to 80 km at that point
and you will see a left-hand turn lane.
Move into that lane and turn left.
Shortly after that turn, you will see a white church on the right with
some parking space in front of it which is where we will gather at 6:30.
From there we will drive together
into the Tintamarre area, following the road to Paunchy Lake. We will park along the way and walk the rest. The walk will be an easy trek along a flat
dirt road.
If anyone is interested in more
information on this area, you can find plenty at the following link:
Tintamarre National Wildlife Area Management Plan: chapter 1 - Canada.ca
Nelson Poirier
Nature Moncton
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