Nature Moncton Nature News: Aug 14 2022

August 14, 2022

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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

** Aldo Dorio photographed a Dogday Cicada near his Neguac home on Saturday. One photo shows sand still on its body, suggesting that it possibly very recently emerged from its pupal stage underground and was on its way to high up in the tree where the males will sound (stridulate) to attract females. The individual in Aldo’s photo was 4 inches long. The loud up and down reciprocating saw sound is heard by a lot more than the female cicadas on warm summer days.

It’s truly a sound of summer!

** Brian Stone sends some photos of birds from his trip to Perth, Ontario that he finally got processed. Some are from a backyard feeder and the rest are from trail walks and the large pond area at the end of the trail. At the feeder Brian saw a large variety of birds and shares photos of male and female Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, White-breasted Nuthatch, (one with an apparent tick attached near the eye) male Purple Finch, and Downy Woodpecker.

Along the trail Brian saw Common Yellowthroat, Eastern Kingbird, Gray Catbird, (editor’s note: note the signature cinnamon undertail covert) House Wren, Song Sparrow, and Turkey Vultures. At the pond he photographed a group of Canada Geese coming in for a landing, 2 Cedar Waxwings in a distant dead tree, and several Eastern Wood Pewee including what he suspects was a fledgling bird due to a pair of adults nearby. (Editor’s note: including several photos as we do not often get photos of this bird that is a common New Brunswick resident as well)

** Brian also sends a scenario not of nature, but of farm life. Brian's son's partner has a lot of ducks and a big Rooster and a pair of Guinea Fowl patrolling the yard at their farm near Perth. Interestingly, the Guinea Fowl and the Rooster (a handsome dude!) are inseparable companions. They are also very loud a lot of the time. But Brian's son comments that at dusk the Rooster and the Guinea fowl fly up into the tree just outside his bedroom window and screech a lot there. They eventually settle down but get disturbed and are frequently very noisy. At about 4:00 am they begin getting loud again and wake him up with their loud screeching. Brian suggested to cut down the tree to get relief!

https://www.dropbox.com/s/dcy7ga4gdm1encu/GUINEA%20FOWL%20AND%20ROOSTER.%20JULY%2029%2C%202022.%20BRIAN%20STONE.mp4?dl=0

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton

nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com