Nature Moncton Nature News: February 17 2024

NATURE MONCTON NATURE NEWS

February 17, 2024

Nature Moncton members as well as any naturalist in New Brunswick or beyond are invited to share their photos and descriptions of recent nature sightings to build a fresh (almost) daily edition of Nature News

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

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 .

Proofreading courtesy of Louise Nichols at nicholsl@eastlink.ca

**There are 3 Nature Moncton activities going on next week starting with the Great Backyard Bird Count Workshop and Outing on Monday morning with details at the end of this edition and upfront tomorrow.

Tuesday night’s monthly meeting will feature Curt Nason on the upcoming solar eclipse with the second portion of the meeting featuring Paul and Rhonda Langelaan’s recent visit to the Rio Grande Valley of Texas.

Following that will be the annual very popular birdfeeder tour on Saturday kicking off with breakfast and birds at Jean Renton’s home. Stay tuned for details on the Tuesday and Saturday events.

**Yolande LeBlanc has done it again by having a new bird species join her Memramcook yard patrons on Friday: a visit from a Dickcissel who seems to be enjoying the menu and getting comfortable.

**Lynn and Fred Dube had a few interesting visitors on Friday when a duo female and male Pileated Woodpecker dropped by to sample the homemade Dube suet mixture appearing to give the stamp of approval. They were also able to capture a photo of one of their elusive Brown Creepers showing how cryptic they can be.

** Brian Stone visited Highland Park in Salisbury on Friday afternoon and had a short photo session with a pair of Northern Cardinals. The male and female cardinals were foraging in the short trees and shrubs beside the trail and also on the ground below the trees. No other bird life was seen.

** Great Backyard Bird Count Workshop and Outing

Date: Monday, February 19, from 9:30 am – 12 noon (Family Day)
Location: Tankville School, 1979 Elmwood Dr, Moncton
Leader: Cathy Simon

The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) is a citizen science program of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the National Audubon Society, and Birds Canada. Nature Moncton is taking part in this program and wants to help equip you with the tools and knowledge needed to participate in this and future citizen science programs.

**At this workshop, you can expect to learn:

· What are citizen science programs and why they are important,

· What is the GBBC and other citizen science programs,

· What is the difference between the Merlin and eBird apps and when and how to use each, and

· What desktop tools are available with an eBird account.

If the weather and conditions permit, we’ll end the workshop by traveling to a birding location to practice our skills. Location TBD.

What to bring:

· your cell phone with the Merlin and eBird apps already installed,

· notebook and pen if you like to take notes,

· indoor shoes or slippers because outdoor footwear isn’t permitted inside the school,

· your Nature Moncton name tag if you have one,

· your water bottle and a snack, and

· outdoor clothing, footwear, and birding gear (camera, binoculars, etc.).

Due to space limitations and the possibility of last-minute changes because of winter weather in the Maritimes, registration is appreciated. Please email Cathy Simon at smittybatman@hotmail.com to reserve your spot.

This outing is arranged by the Conservation Action Committee which is chaired by Cathy Simon and members Jessica Belanger-Mainville, Christopher Buschhaus, and Jeff Melvin.

Nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton