NATURE
MONCTON NATURE NEWS
Oct 20,
2022 (Thursday)
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Edited by:
Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com
**Stella and Jean-Paul
LeBlanc had a good day on Wednesday at their Bouctouche feeder yard.
A male Eastern Towhee
visited their yard for a first visit from that species to their site. We usually
have a small number of this species that show up randomly at birdfeeder
yards each year about this time. Sometimes when they arrive at a site, they can
be quite faithful to that spot for the winter.
Stella also spotted
and photographed a leucistic Song Sparrow arrive to their yard as well
on Wednesday. It will be easy to spot the goings and comings of this very
different plumage.
**We received
unfortunate news on Wednesday that sunflower farmer Mike Dickinson will not be
able to supply Nature Moncton with the truckload of sunflower seed that he has
delivered for so many years. Mike reports that his crop yield was low this year
and he is barely able to keep up with contracts.
**The recorded link to
Neil Vinson’s recent presentation on pollinators is now available at the
attached links.
The first link below
is to the PowerPoint presentation that one can go through slowly
https://www.dropbox.com/s/jx1looe95u1dzxi/FNP%20pollinator%20garden.pptx?dl=0
and the second link is
to the recorded presentation
https://www.dropbox.com/s/vlmhowc3plwo0na/FNP%20pollinator%20garden%20video.mp4?dl=0
**Am forwarding a fall
message full of information from Bumble Bee Watch some of which blends
very well with the presentation we heard on Tuesday evening from Neil Vinson.
It looks like the photos are not appearing but if one goes directly to their website, they show beautifully.
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Bumble Bee Watch eNews
October 2022
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Summer is over, but science continues!
Help us record bumble
bee queens this fall
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It's that time
of year again when bumble bees are wrapping up their season. The many
worker bees who were once abundant on the landscape, pollinating our
flowers, are disappearing, and the males with them. Soon, if not already,
queens will be entering their hibernacula, only to emerge again next
spring.
Have you ever
wondered how to distinguish a queen bumble bee from other castes? Time of
year is very helpful as we typically only see queens twice per year—in the
spring and in late summer or early fall—other than that, they are busy
laying eggs inside the nest hidden away from our view.
Size is also a
key factor, as queen bumble bees are larger than both males and worker
bees. Additionally, newly emerged queens typically have a fresh appearance
(see image to right) with vibrant color bands (A) and sleek wing margins
(B), as opposed to individuals who are missing hair (C) and showing signs
of wear and tear on their wings (D).
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Help us learn
more about the needs of queen bumble bees by photographing bumble bees you
observe during fall. By submitting your autumnal photos to Bumble Bee Watch, researchers can learn more about the distribution of
species, their phenology, and which flowering plants they rely on to gear
up for hibernation. For those of you that live in more temperate
climates, do you see bumble bees all winter? Submit your sightings on Bumble
Bee Watch!
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5 Ways to Support Bumble Bees Right Now
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Habitat
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Whatever size land you
steward, think about big picture when it comes to habitat.
Most of us go to planting
flowers first, with hopes of offering bees a nutritious meal.
But what about a area to nest
and raise young? Or a place to safely overwinter?
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Leave The Leaves
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Leaves and other ground
"litter" are essential for overwintering queens.
Find ways to incorporate
nature's "mess" like branches and brush into your aesthetic.
This habitat will provide
safety for numerous species of bees, butterflies, moths, and more!
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2023 Garden
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Fall and winter are great
times to start on planning next year's garden.
Consult with local nurseries
to find native plants that are free of pesticides.
Aim to have flowers in bloom
from the early spring through late summer to support the entire bumble bee
life cycle.
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Be an Influence
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Whether you tend a pollinator
garden or participate in Bumble Bee Watch, you've taken action to support
bees.
Talk to your friends and
neighbors about what you're doing and why it matters to you.
Habitat signs are a useful
tool to start conversations about pollinator-friendly practices.
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Nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com
Nelson
Poirier
Nature
Moncton
EASTERN TOWHEE (MALE). OCT 19, 2022. JP LEBLANC
SONG SPARROW ( LEUCISTIC). OCT 19, 2022. STELLA LEBLANC
