NATURE MONCTON NATURE NEWS
October 14, 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
**A heads up on the Nature Moncton October
meeting coming up Tuesday night, (tomorrow) Oct 15, is at the end of this
edition and will be upfront tomorrow.
The new Owl technology will be used, with improvements gleaned from its first use last month, so the virtual
audience, room audience, and speaker can interact.
**Chris Antle
comments that her favourite herb Borage is still buzzing with bumblebees
and honeybees.
(Editor’s
note: I have heard many comments about the popularity of Borage with
pollinators. I tried unsuccessfully to get it growing in my yard. I'm hoping
for better luck next year.)
**Peter and Deana
Gadd had a rewarding day in Percé QC on Sunday. After they spent two days looking, Harlequin
Ducks made their appearance just off the Percé beach, in the early morning
light.
Peter and Deana then traveled to Bonaventure
Island to see the Northern Gannet colony which, although reduced in
numbers from earlier in the summer, is still estimated at10,000 birds. It is thought that they will be gone in two weeks.
There were a number of gannet pairs displaying bonding
behaviour. Most typical is the “fencing” where they rub beaks together with
necks extended. Also, there were a few males bringing in nesting
material, a courtship behaviour aimed at impressing a partner. There were
a few immatures that will have to get their act together soon if they are to
depart on time. One had considerable down feathers. One interesting sequence
was a 'family meal'. A youngster tapped its parent's beak to ask to be fed. It
was fed eventually, but briefly. Then the other parent came in to bond with the
other adult by “fencing”. The youngster then 'asked’ the second parent (mom?)
for food and was briefly rewarded again. This sequence is captured in a video
clip along with more photos at https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBMZnS.
(Editor’s note: the link Peter has provided above is
truly a visit to Bonaventure Island, leaving your American Express card at home!!
This island, just off the coast at Perce, on the Gaspé
Peninsula coast of Québec is not a great distance from New Brunswick. It is
home to the largest Northern Gannet nesting colony in the world at
approximately 51,000+ birds. There are many other species of birds that nest on
the cliffs and the mainland of the island. The island is accessible by tour
boat and is a VERY RECOMMENDED destination for any birder or naturalist.
The editor has been fortunate enough to visit this
area twice and to have many wonderful memories similar to what Peter and Deana are
sharing. We thank them for the time they took to share their visit with us.)
**Aldo
Dorio recently noticed a feeding frenzy of approximately 500 gulls and
a group of Double-crested Cormorants off the coastline of Hay Island
feeding on what appeared to be small fish. The gulls appear to be predominately
Bonaparte’s gulls and Ring-billed gulls.
Recent
reports on social media reported similar incidents in Miramichi Bay. A person
was able to catch one of the fish and photograph it to show it was an Atlantic
Silversides (Menidea menidea). This numerous small saltwater fish is
approximately six inches long and a very important food fish for birds and larger
predatory fish.
**Lisa
Morris checked her three Nature Moncton nest boxes on Sunday. The first box was empty- the first time in 10+ years- it usually houses chickadees, and there were lots around
this summer.
The second box
had a suspected Black-capped Chickadee nest which she photographed.
The third box caught Lisa by surprise as live mice were inside.
A couple jumped (or possibly fell) out so she took a quick photo and
closed up the box. There were 3-5
mice in the box. The front entrance was widened this spring so Lisa suspected
a squirrel nest and perhaps mice took up winter housing. Lisa made a deal
with the mice- they can remain rent-free until March but they must stay out of
her home.
Topic: Shorebirds in Atlantic Canada
Tuesday, October 15, 2024, at 7 PM
Mapleton
Park Rotary Lodge
Presenter: Dr. Diana Hamilton
Every
year in late summer, large numbers of Arctic-breeding shorebirds migrate
through our region, stopping to fuel up before continuing their long journey to
their tropical non-breeding grounds where they spend the winter. Atlantic
Canada provides critical habitat for these birds which are facing challenges
and population declines throughout their range. Diana Hamilton, a professor in
the Biology Department at Mount Allison university, has been studying these
birds for over 25 years. Working with colleagues at Environment and Climate
Change Canada and many students, Diana’s lab has examined many aspects of
shorebird ecology. She will share some of their group’s insights on
Semipalmated Sandpipers and other shorebird species during their time in our
region.
Diana
has been a professor at Mount Allison since 2005, and the Biology Department
Head since 2018. Prior to joining Mount A, Diana did postdoctoral work at UNB,
where she developed her fascination with shorebirds and their intertidal
habitat. Before working on shorebirds and mudflats, Diana completed a PhD at
the University of Guelph, where she examined combined effects of predation by
Common Eiders and disturbance on rocky intertidal communities.
This
presentation will be in-person. It will
also be available via Zoom to those at home at the following link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88578685751?pwd=A1jqgfJ73g3QIKOSr5pIe2aSR6ybEO.1
All are welcome, Nature Moncton member or not.
Don’t forget your name tag!
Nelson Poirier
Nature Moncton
