August 18, 2022 (Thursday)
Please advise the editor at nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com if any errors are noted in wording or photo
labelling.
For
more information on Nature Moncton, check the website at www.naturemoncton.com
Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com
**Fred Dube was rewarded by being a landlord
to an Eastern Bluebird family in a Nature Moncton nest box he erected roadside by
a man-made pond in Lower Coverdale.
Fred checked the boxes on Tuesday well after
he was not seeing birds around the boxes. The nest was constructed with pine
needles as a major component which is very typical of Eastern Bluebird nests.
**The wild fruit crop is coming on heavy at the
moment. Aldo Dorio recently photographed a Mountain Holly shrub laden
with its characteristic dull red fruit.
**Louise Nichols sends a photo of a white mass
she has noted for the last few years in August in a boggy site on their Aulac
property. In the photo Louise submits, it appears on a False Solomon’s Seal
plant. The texture is the consistency of soft grease. We think this is one of
the many species of slime molds. If indeed slime mold, it used to belong to the kingdom Fungi but is now placed in the kingdom Protista.
Slime molds come in a variety of colours, some
surprisingly bright.
Other opinions are welcome.
**Nelson Poirier recently photographed Poison
Ivy. We have two species of Poison Ivy New Brunswick, one climbing (less
common) and the other as a groundcover (most common) in sandy woods and shores.
Note the three-leaf arrangement and the feature of one half of the leaf blade
larger than the other half that is a helpful diagnostic feature. Its leaves
turn bright red in the fall and it produces a clump of white berries. As most are
aware, this plant can cause unpleasant skin rashes in some people so best to be
aware of its appearance and avoid contact with it.
**A common sight at this time of year is the
well named tent/nest of the Ugly-nest Caterpillar Moth.
Nelson Poirier photographed some of their
structures and the larval inhabitants. They tend to favour Chokecherry but in
outbreaks will forage on lots of other species.
The larval caterpillars tie the leaves
together, thus forming a nest or web within which they live and feed. The size
of the nest is increased as the larvae become larger and sometimes whole trees
are completely covered. Most of the caterpillars complete their growth and
develop into the pupal stage within the web. Although the nest is unsightly,
they are not considered problematic as the tree or plant struck usually
recovers.
.
**A heads-up from President Fred, our final
Wednesday Nature Moncton walk of the season:
“It is hard to believe that another
summer is winding down and this coming Wednesday, August 24 will be the final
Nature Moncton Wednesday Walk of the summer of 2022. This week’s walk will start at 31 Rockland
No.1 Road, Taylor Village NB. E4K 2R1. The walk will begin at the home of Fred and
Susan Richards and will be over easy terrain through a small, wooded area and
along the Memramcook River. In the last
week they have seen lots of interesting things such as Great Blue Herons, Belted
Kingfishers, a Short-tailed Weasel (very briefly), Monarch Butterflies (both
adult and caterpillars), a Luna Moth Caterpillar, lots of young birds including
training flights of both ducks and geese (over 200 ducks in one flock) and many
other things. The walk will start at
6:30 PM but come early and have a snack on the Richards and mingle with other
club members as it is fun to socialize in the beauty of Mother Nature. Their phone number is 506-334-0100, so please
call if you need help with directions as many GPS products do not believe that
the bridge went out in 1978 and will try to get you here from the Dorchester
side of the river. Hope to see you here.”
Fred
has attached a map from Dieppe to 31 Rockland No.1 Road for your convenience. That map appears as first photo in the photo section
Nelson Poirier
Nature
Moncton
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