Nature Moncton Nature News: May 9 2024

NATURE MONCTON NATURE NEWS

May 9, 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

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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

**The Willets have arrived at Hay Island. Aldo Dorio photographed this species at that site on Wednesday. It is an ideal habitat for this species to nest.

This heavily mottled/barred bird can appear rather drab when not in flight, but when in flight the white flashes that appear on the underwing would match any flag. The Willet is 15 inches in length so easily spotted when present as well as having a very loud distinct vocalization.

**Cathy Simon reports that Serviceberry and American Fly-Honeysuckle are starting to bloom in Mapleton Park.

(Editor’s note: Serviceberry is one of our earliest blooming shrubs showing its white blooms with new leaves that tend to have a copperish colour at first. New Brunswick sports several different varieties of serviceberry which has several different common names in the province, such as Shadbush, Juneberry, Indian pair, etc. They are one of the first to sport delicious red berries that are very welcomed by bird fruit connoisseurs. The berries are a popular woodland snack for humans; however, impatient birds seldom let them get fully ripe. They have a very pleasant flavour, especially some varieties.

The American fly Honeysuckle is a lower shrub that also produces red berries that are popular with birds but not suggested for human use.)

**Cathy Simon and Sophie Auffrey (employee of Resurgo Place and new Nature Moncton member) would like to share that Resurgo Place is holding a bee-related event on Sunday, May 19 from 12-5 pm. "Immerse yourself in the world of bees, apiculture, conservation, indigenous species, and the health of our environment”.

"Our friends from the UNESCO Fundy Biosphere Region, Fundy National Park, and the New Brunswick Beekeeping Association will be on-site to share about various initiatives and how you can play a role in citizen science." More information can be found on their website: https://www.resurgo.ca/learn-discover/exhibits-events

(Editor’s note: this sounds like a very interesting event for Nature Moncton members and friends to place on their calendars without having to make all the arrangements!)

**Bob Blake reports they had their first Rose-breasted Grosbeak arrive on Wednesday, approximately a week early for their site, per Bob’s records.

**On Wednesday afternoon, while visiting family in Hampton and Upham, Brian Stone drove to the Fundy Parkway Trail just past Saint Martins, N.B. to photograph the recently blooming Trout Lilies that are carpeting open areas at the beginning of the trail at the park entrance. The parkway is not officially open, but the lilies are growing all along the trail right at the entrance and just inside the park and are easily accessible with a short walk. Brian also managed to catch a few bumblebees pollinating the lilies that he thinks are Common Eastern Bumblebees.

(Editor's note: as Brian comments, this is very likely our largest bee, the Common Eastern Bumblebee. Very likely, this is a queen fueling up to get a new colony started that will serve that exceedingly valuable role as pollinators which we all depend on more than we think. Go to it Lady Queen and all the best for your summer ahead!)