Nature Moncton Nature News: June 19 2024

NATURE MONCTON NATURE NEWS

June 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 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

**A big thank you to Lynn and Fred Dube for the big effort they provided to make the end-of-the-year barbecue at Mapleton Rotary Lodge a very successful one and a wonderful opportunity to socialize over their culinary efforts and those contributed by participants.
Also, appreciation to Cathy Simon for acting as MC after the barbecue as several people showed photos from recent outings which was a highlight. Also a very special contribution was from one young gal, Phuong Anh (from Vietnam), who didn’t have photos but drew a scene of a recent outing on a thank you card which fortunately Dale Pugh was able to save as a photograph to share with those not in the room!
Dale Pugh and Brian Stone contributed photos of this special event in today’s edition.

**The first of a series of Nature Moncton Wednesday evening walks begins tonight, Wednesday, June 19. All details below.
Leader Gordon Rattray advises to bring drinking water due to the forecasted high temperatures.

Nature Moncton’s Wednesday Night Walk - June 19^th

Join us for our first Wednesday Night Walk, along the Dobson Hiking Trail (633 Pine Glen Road, Riverview).

Guided by Gordon Rattray

Start time 6:30 P.M. Time length approx. 2 hrs.

Starting Location: The parking lot that’s 0.5 KM along the Pine Glen Road from the lights at Gunningsville Blvd. and Pine Glen Road.

There will be a Nature Moncton sign at the parking lot.

The walk will be on clear pathways with some moderate slopes on the trail. Gordon classifies it as ‘medium exertion’.

Bug spray and protective clothing recommended.

All are welcome, Nature Moncton member or not.

Contact number if needed is 506-866-2752.

**The Peregrine Falcons are still in the headlines for yet another day. Tuesday was a challenging day. DNR (Department of Natural Resources) captured two fledglings that appeared to be remaining on the ground and placed them back on the roof of the building beside the nest. It seemed to work well as two birds were seen back in the nest later in the afternoon and by evening, a third bird had joined them, and a parent was seen bringing them food in the live view later in the evening.

Many thanks to DNR for their prompt action as it appeared to produce a very successful scenario.

On Tuesday afternoon Brian Stone spent some time observing the actions of the Peregrine Falcon fledglings at the Assumption Building area in downtown Moncton. The newly fledged birds were out and about, flying from rooftop to rooftop and perching in different spots to survey the area and become familiar with their new home. Their flight was a bit more weak and awkward than their smooth, strong, and confident parents, but they were improving with each attempt. Before long they will be their parents' equals and become confident hunters, well able to take care of themselves and any future family they may conceive.

**Aldo Dorio left no doubt about it with a beautifully intact Short-tailed Swallowtail butterfly he photographed at Hay Island. Aldo spotted three individuals on Tuesday.

The Maritimes Butterfly Atlas states the following information:

“This species is much rarer and more localized than the Black Swallowtail butterfly. It flies on coastal marshes, dunes, and headlands where the host plant, Scotch Lovage, grows. It is usually seen within 100 meters of the ocean and often flies out over the water when disturbed. Subspecies gaspeensis is rarely observed in the Maritimes - it is most easily found at the summits of various peaks in northern New Brunswick, including Mount Carleton, where individuals are presumably congregating to mate. The Short-tailed Swallowtail has a very restricted distribution - its global range is restricted to areas surrounding the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

In 2010 M. Turgeon found an inland population approximately 20km north of Edmundston, the first inland Maritimes record of the species. In 2011 the species was found in northeastern Maine, the first ever American record for this species.”

**Norbert Dupuis was very pleased to have an Eastern Bluebird pair arrive to his newly minted Nature Moncton nest box and they appeared to immediately adopt it.

Norbert also got a very pleasant photo of a Cedar Waxwing in his yard.

**Maureen Girvan shares a photograph of a male Northern Shoveler duck while she visited Wilson Marsh. This bird appears to be going into eclipse plumage.

She also photographed the many teenage Canada Geese present at the marsh.

**Lisa Morris sends photos of Sarsaparilla, Canada Mayflower, Starflower, Bluebead Lily as well as a Garter Snake’s sudden appearance startling both of them, but Lisa hopes to see it again without the surprise effect.