Nature Moncton Nature News: May 23 2024

NATURE MONCTON NATURE NEWS

May 23, 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 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 .

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

**Jane LeBlanc checked out a friend's wooded area in St. Martins and found several warblers. She got photos of an American Redstart and a Northern Parula Warbler, both female, that we do not often get nice photos of as Jane did.

**Aldo Dorio had an Eastern Bluebird arrive to his Neguac yard on Tuesday. He is very much hoping it chooses his yard birdhouse as has happened in past years.

**Last year moth guru Tony Thomas in Fredericton reared about 20 Luna Moth larvae from eggs obtained from a female attracted to his light trap.

On Monday, five emerged into his large laundry basket cage. It was interesting how they spaced themselves out on the side of the cage. They suddenly had a large downpour of rain in Fredericton and they got wet! Tony was hoping they would fly away Monday evening which he saw them doing with the onset of darkness. They were males but Tony suspects when a female emerges, some of them will return. Another male emerged on Tuesday night which Tony was able to photograph.

(Editor’s note: we can expect to see these huge, beautiful Luna Moths later in the season gathering around lights at night, especially those lights that emit their preferred spectrum.)

**Another event to place on the calendar for this weekend, possibly on Sunday after enjoying the Nature Moncton Warbler Walk on Saturday, is written up below:

Cathy Simon would like to encourage all Nature Moncton members to attend the EcoFest event at the Magnetic Hill Zoo this weekend, May 25 & 26 from 9am-5pm. In addition to viewing all the animals and enjoying a 2 km walk outdoors, you can visit with various local environmental groups such as the Petitcodiac Watershed Alliance, Parks Canada, Birds Canada, Motus, Nature NB, Nature Trust of NB, and more! Lastly, all proceeds from this event's ticket sales go towards the Friends of the Zoo's fund to build new or improve existing animal habitats at the Zoo. This is a win-win-win event! Info: https://www.zoodemagnetichillzoo.ca/ecofest

**Allen Mitchell (our technical support for the Peregrine Falcon Nestbox Committee) and his ChatGPT AI4.0. (Artificial Intelligence) has generated a few items to share. Allen is a master at computer-generated artificial intelligence and used it to create the poem attached below. Allen also built the illustration below with this technique, meaning it cannot really be called a photo.

(Editor’s note: this is all too much to fathom for the editor but I am copying Allen Mitchell’s amazing work for all to enjoy.)

Allen Mitchell. ChatGPT AI4.0. (Artificial Intelligence)

Perched high on Assumption Place,
A falcon nest in a wooden embrace,
Overlooks the Petitcodiac's grace,
Their life unfolds, a wild chase.

Mama Falcon, sleek and fine,
Papa Falcon's eyes, they brightly shine.
Four baby falcons in a fluffy line,
Their antics sure to make you pine.

As dawn breaks, they stretch and yawn,
Wings fluttering from dusk till dawn.
Mama brings breakfast, slivers of dove,
While Papa hunts from high above.

The babies squabble with peeps and cheeps,
Over who gets the biggest heaps.
One tumbles over, another leaps,
Life in the nest, never asleep.

Feathers fly in playful fights,
They practice their future flights.
Mama watches with knowing sight,
While Papa’s shadow looms in the light.

The webcam captures every scene,
From messy meals to moments serene.
Four little falcons, wild and keen,
In their wooden nest, a life well seen.

So here’s to the falcons, fierce and free,
Living their lives for all to see.
With a webcam’s eye, we watch with glee,
The falcon family, wild as can be.

**Brian Stone was awoken early Thursday morning by a few big thunder boomers and he grabbed his cell phone to make some lightning videos. The lightning strikes were fast and bright but brief, so Brian decided to just make some screenshots of the action from the videos.

Nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

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