Nature Moncton Nature News: October 16 2023

Nature Moncton Nature News

October 16, 2023

To respond by email, please address your message to the information line editor, nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Please advise both the editor at nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com and the proofreader nicholsl@eastlink.ca 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 at nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Proofreading courtesy of Louise Nichols at nicholsl@eastlink.ca

**The Nature Moncton October meeting will take place tomorrow night, Tuesday, October 17 with Alyre Chiasson at the Rotary Lodge in person. The presentation will also be available virtually so anyone anywhere can join in. The write-up is below:

Nature Moncton October Meeting

Oct 17, 2023, at 7:00 PM

Rotary Pavilion, Mapleton Park

“Life Under Ice: Where do Fish Go in the Winter?”

Presenter: Alyre Chiasson

Somewhat like us, we have always assumed that fish simply hunkered down during the winter. However, smaller and more powerful radio tags have suggested that activity does occur during those cold months. So what exactly are fish doing under the ice and in the dark? We will be taking a trip into their world to see how tough conditions really are in the winter and how they manage to survive.

This will be an in-person presentation at the Mapleton Lodge; however, anyone can join in from anywhere via Zoom using the link below:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85621733250?pwd=a0l5TUxnMjAvWllkZW1YZnRBNmwwUT09

All are welcome, Nature Moncton member or not.

**Aldo Dorio photographed a shorebird that would appear to have a lot of distinguishing features of a Greater Yellowlegs. However, the legs are noticeably pale.

Gilles Belliveau and Jim Wilson have taken a look at these photographs for their thoughts. They suspect it to be a Greater Yellowlegs but are hoping Aldo can get more photos including a flight photo to verify that identity and to be sure it is not a species that is unexpected.

Any other opinions would be very appreciated.

**Jamie Burris captured a nice open-wing photograph of a late flying female Peck’s Skipper Butterfly enjoying one of his blooming yard Zinnia plants. Thanks to Jim Edsall for the confirmation.

Solar-powered butterflies are laying low as fall progresses.

**Shannon Inman photographed a bluish coloured type of polypore which is suspected to be a young Turkey Tail Mushroom. She also photographed a Red Squirrel enjoying a pear and a grumpy Garter Snake that struck at her 4 or 5 times as she tried to move it off the road

**Pat Gibbs leaves some interesting comments about searching out safe eyewear to view Saturday’s partial solar eclipse.

Pat comments that she tried five different places, including a camera shop, to find most were unaware that an eclipse was taking place.

Pat also wondered where Brian got the solar lens shield for his camera.

Brian responded:

“Only officially tested and rated specific solar viewing glasses and filters are safe for solar viewing. I ordered mine online from Thousand Oaks Optical Company a while ago. I got a package of 25 for $35.00, but now that the eclipse is getting closer, they have upped their shipping costs to close to $60.00, so nearly $100.00 to get them now.”

https://thousandoaksoptical.com/shop/eclipse/solar-viewer-cards-glasses/

Here is a list of verified official suppliers. There are fakes, so only buy from one of these sellers.

https://eclipse.aas.org/resources/solar-filters

Brian purchased his solar camera filter at the same place. It is just a square sheet of mylar solar filter material that he taped into a homemade cardboard frame that fits over the camera lens. He bought two of them.

https://thousandoaksoptical.com/products/eclipse/

And yes. It is important to have a filter on the front of any lens, camera, or phone. It is the only safe way to use a camera to photograph the Sun. You can buy more expensive filters specifically sized to fit lenses, but this is a reasonable and safe alternative.

(Editor’s note: it is expected we will hear much more when Curt Nason gives a presentation to Nature Moncton in February.)

nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nature Moncton