Nature Moncton Nature News: March 27 2024

NATURE MONCTON NATURE NEWS

March 27, 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

The live feed to the Peregrine Falcon nest box camera can be accessed at https://www.zoodemagnetichillzoo.ca/nest-cam

**Richard Blaquiere who lives near the Hampton lagoons leaves an excellent report on the sudden surge of activity at that site with ice-free conditions.

“The Turkey Vultures are congregating in Hampton again after spending the winter months away. Currently, there are about 30 roosting there for the night, but that’s only a wild estimate. If the past is any predictor, the numbers will increase. They sometimes choose a sunny perch early in the morning to warm up or fly down to the pond's edge for a drink before heading off to work. A small kettle formed Monday morning when they took flight after being disturbed by an eagle.

On March 20th, two new spring arrivals appeared, both in the 3^rd pond. First, a male Ruddy Duck was seen, a species that has become an expected annual visitor. Also, that day, two Barrow’s Goldeneye (a presumed pair) stopped by. The Ruddy Duck is still there (and probably will be for some time) while the Barrow’s Goldeneye stayed just the day.

The most unexpected species this year was and continues to be a Eurasian Wigeon. Richard first saw it on the evening of March 22, and it’s still there. It divides its time between the 1st and 3^rd ponds, sometimes keeping company with some American Wigeons, sometimes staying by itself.

Lots of other ducks are present at the Hampton lagoons including Gadwall, Northern Shoveler, Wood Duck, Mallard, American Black Duck, Ring-necked Duck, Common Goldeneye, and Bufflehead. Also, Scaup; from what Richard can see, mainly Lesser Scaup but also a few Greater Scaup. As pointed out in an earlier blog post, identifying scaup is tricky. All the identification features mentioned in the field guides can overlap, even the white wing stripe. However, a combination of those features might lend more weight to determining one species over the other. In the photos attached (with Richard’s proposed identifications), the Greater Scaup shows a more rounded head, a thicker, more robust-looking bill, and a wider nail at the tip of the bill, while the Lesser Scaup has a slightly peaked head, a less robust bill, and a narrower nail at the bill tip. Each characteristic alone would not mean much. But taken together, Richard feels there is a case (perhaps not a strong one) to be made for the labels he has applied.”

**The Bohemian Waxwings have not left us yet. Aldo Dorio spotted a flock of 10 visiting Hay Island on Tuesday.

** A heads up for folks to mark on their calendars for Saturday, June 1.

Nature Moncton's Conservation Action committee and the staff from the Fundy Biosphere Region will be planting trees on the Moncton Riverfront on Saturday, June 1 starting at 10 am and most likely finishing at 2 pm. We'd love to have you come and help us take action for nature!

Trees are an essential part of the ecosystem. They are crucial in fighting climate change. They clean the air by removing carbon dioxide, storing it in themselves and the soil, and then releasing the oxygen into the atmosphere. They also provide other great benefits such as preventing soil degradation, restoring the nutrients in the soil, and create habitat for a multitude of animals and plants species. Planting trees is a great way to better our community and environment!

What to bring/wear:

* Weather-appropriate clothing

* sun protection including sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses

* sturdy footwear

* work gloves

* packed lunch and water bottle

* shovel if you have one but there will be a few to borrow if needed

Meeting place: Parking lot on the Moncton side next to the traffic circle near the Honourable Brenda Robertson Bridge to Riverview

Trees to be planted: white pine, red pine, white spruce, black cherry and red maple

All ages are welcome, Nature Moncton member or not.

Nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier