NATURE
MONCTON NATURE NEWS
April 5, 2025
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 and the proofreader Louise Nichols
at 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 nicholsl@eastlink.ca
To view the live feed of the Peregrine Falcon
nest cam on the summit of Assumption Place in Moncton, click on the following link:
https://www.zoodemagnetichillzoo.ca/nest-cam
**After several very unplanned complications with the arrangements for live camera monitoring of the newly replaced peregrine falcon nest box on the summit of Assumption Place in Moncton, everything has come together, and live feed is available at the above link. The first egg of four appeared at this time last year but has not appeared yet as of this edition. Hopefully, that will take place soon, and family life will begin in earnest with anyone anywhere able to monitor the progress as it happens with no disturbance to the birds.
**Jane LeBlanc captured photos of a white-breasted
nuthatch and a fox sparrow in her yard. Later, walking on the beach,
she noticed at least five turkey vultures overhead.
(Editor's note: Jane’s photo nicely shows the breast
markings of the fox sparrow that we don’t often get to see so clearly.)
**At Hay Island, Aldo Dorio photographed his first great
blue heron of the season sporting its breeding plumage of a white crown
with black lateral crown stripes and plumes, and showing a nearly complete yellow bill.
Aldo also photographed snow buntings showing their
white breeding plumage. This species will be migrating to their northern breeding
grounds.
**Alyre Chiasson had a suspected juvenile Cooper’s
hawk drop by his yard for lunch on Thursday afternoon with a mourning dove on
the menu. It spent almost 20 minutes consuming its prey, but about 80% of its
time was spent watching for predators. Alyre was able to get a documentary
video clip which can be viewed by clicking the link below:
**Brian Stone sends some photos from a morning's outing
around the Salisbury area. At the Salisbury Wetlands sewage lagoons on
Government Rd., Brian saw a few ducks in the lagoons, including one common
goldeneye duck, several ring-necked ducks, a northern shoveler
duck, and a late-winter-plumaged Iceland gull in flight.
On Taylor Rd. in
Second North River, Brian saw a long stretch of bright, fully opened coltsfoot
flowers and some freshly beaver-chewed trees, plus a male hairy
woodpecker. At Wilson (Bell) Marsh, some American robins and a Canada
goose were photographed, and other birds were heard in the distance, but
not much else was seen.
**Cathy Simon is initiating a new activity for Nature Moncton, as described below. The event will not begin until April 27, but Cathy encourages participants to register as soon as possible, as space is limited:
Nature Moncton members, do
you like to read? We are starting a small book club, and the first book we’re
going to read is called Big Lonely Doug by Harley Rustad. This book explores
the impacts of deforestation in British Columbia, recounting the story of how
one massive Douglas Fir tree made a significant difference to the forestry
industry and conservation efforts in that province.
Leader: Cathy Simon
Meeting dates: We’ll meet at
Cathy’s home to discuss a third of the book and then go for a short walk in
the nearby woods at Mapleton Park.
- Sunday, April 27 from 1:30 - 3:30 PM -
Chapters 1-4
- Sunday, May 11 from 1:30 - 3:30 PM -
Chapters 5-8
- Sunday, May 25 from 1:30 - 3:30 PM -
Chapters 9-13
Meeting location:
Cathy’s home in Lutes Mountain. The exact address will be shared with those who
register.
Registration is required and
limited, with priority given to Nature Moncton members. Please email Cathy
Simon at smittybatman@hotmail.com to
sign up.
How to get the book:
Option 1: Place a hold
on a copy from one of the NB Public Libraries. There are seven paper
copies and one digital copy in the Province. This option is recommended because
it is the most cost-effective choice and has a positive impact on nature
compared to purchasing a new paper copy.
Option 2: Look for a second-hand
copy at a local used bookstore.
Option 3: Buy the book
from your favourite retailer.
Nelson Poirier.
Nature Moncton
