Nature Moncton Nature News: April 13 2023

April 13, 2023

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Edited by Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Proofreading courtesy of Louise Nichols at nicholsl@eastlink.ca

**The write-up on this coming Saturday’s Nature Moncton Sea Duck field trip is at the end of this edition as well as a Zoom presentation on owls next Wednesday, April 19, in preparation for an owl prowl on the first appropriate night after.

**John Inman reports the past few days have been an interesting few days with the arrival of 3 species of birds with leg bands to his yard.

On Tuesday evening, a leg-banded Canada Goose sampled some backyard vegetation with a band on the left leg, as

well as a Blue Jay with a band on the right leg. There have been 2 Blue Jays in the last couple of years with leg bands. A Rock Pigeon with 2 leg bands arrived on Wednesday as well.

**Brian and Annette Stone went on a late afternoon hunt for the American Bittern reported earlier on Tuesday in Mapleton Park. On the way into the pond, eagle-eyed Annette spotted a female Wood Duck perched on a branch at a distance down a small stream. Brian admitted he would never have seen anything that far and hidden behind branches which is a good reason to have Annette along.

At the pond, the unthinkable happened ... Brian got lucky, and the bittern immediately showed itself walking along the edge of the pond and then stopped to pose calmly for a significant number of photos. Interesting birds usually put up more of a fight than this, and Brian is still in a bit of disbelief that it happened so easily.

Brian also noted that the Beavers in the park have been chewing down significantly more trees since his last visit. One even has fallen partially across the main trail.

**Brian Stone got some great images of the American Bittern at Mapleton Park on Wednesday. Dale Pugh subsequently spent time watching it wade and fish, with two successful catches. Take a look at the great video Dale captured of the bittern sleuthing out a snack at the link below:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/l827eh2hweq6b8y/DALE%20PUGH%20..%20AMERICAN%20BITTERN.mp4?dl=0

(Editor’s note: we are sleuthing at the moment on the species of minnow in Dale’s photo as well as another minnow recently photographed).

**A heads up to slot off this coming Saturday, April 15 for the Nature Moncton sea duck field trip with write up below:

SEA DUCK MIGRATION OUTING

Date: Saturday, April 15^th, 2023Time: 9:30 AM

Place: Sobeys at Elmwood Drive

Guide: Roger Leblanc

We all know what ducks are. They are one of the most recognizable groups of birds. They are big, colorful (males in particular), and not hard to find. But did you know that in these parts, we are fortunate enough to be right in the passing lane of sea duck migration, a natural phenomenon that can be quite impressive? In early spring, many sea ducks that have wintered on the coast of the Atlantic will be on the move, following the Northumberland strait up to their northern breeding grounds. En route, they will often stop to feed and rest in large numbers. And this is our chance to observe them at a time when they are dressed in their finest and when their breeding behavior and vocalizations are not only possible but expected.

To help you take in this natural spectacle, Nature Moncton is offering a sea duck migration outing on April 15^th. Roger Leblanc will be our leader on this quest. He has been studying the sights and sounds of sea ducks on the Northumberland coast for decades and is always pleased to share that knowledge with others.

So why not join us Saturday, April 15^th, for a fun outing to the world of migrating sea ducks? The group will assemble at 9:30 AM in the parking lot of the Elmwood Dr. Sobeys in Moncton. If you live nearer the coast, you can also join us around 10:00 am on the south side of the new bridge in Cocagne on Route 134.

From there, we will explore several known hot spots for sea duck migration up to and including Bouctouche. So, if you have always wanted to know more about sea ducks and their habits, this activity is for you. Come join us for a fun learning activity.

Bring lunch, water, and snacks.

All are welcome, Nature Moncton member or not.

** NATURE MONCTON WORKSHOP AND OUTING

OWLS: OUR NOCTURNAL RAPTORS

Presenter and Guide: Roger Leblanc

Workshop Date (online via Zoom): April 19, 2023, 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM

Outing: On the first good night after the workshop. Conditions need to be perfect!

Cost: $10

Among all the bird species that can be observed at different times of the year in New Brunswick, one of the most intriguing but also alluring groups has to be owls. Why? One answer to that question is that their usual nocturnal habits make them difficult to find and, therefore, to observe and understand. And that is precisely why Nature Moncton has thought of offering a Zoom information workshop accompanied by an outing to help you discover the secrets of these usually very discreet nocturnal raptors. Under the guidance of experienced ornithologist Roger Leblanc (also a member of Nature Moncton), the workshop will review the 12 species of owls that have been accepted as having been present in the province in the past. Emphasis will be placed on the 8 species that you have a reasonable chance of observing at one time or another with information on sound, field marks, habits and habitats that together should help you when you go out looking for them.

Around the time of the workshop, Roger will check the weather forecasts and choose the best night for the outing. On that night (likely one to three days after the workshop), we will go into the field with Roger as our guide to try our luck to see (but more likely to hear) one or more of these mysterious nocturnal raptors. Roger has scouted out a couple of spots around Notre Dame where the 3 species of “possible” owls (Northern Saw-whet, Barred and Great Horned) are present and hopefully will show.

The cost for the workshop and outing is $10 and can be paid to Roger on the night of the outing. Please register below if you plan on attending the online workshop and to receive the Zoom link.

Register with Roger Leblanc at parus@nb.sympatico.ca.

All are welcome, Nature Moncton member or not

Nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton