Nature Moncton Nature
News
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well as any naturalist in New Brunswick or beyond, are invited to share their
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The camera on the peregrine
falcon nest box on the summit of Assumption Place is now live. When
checking the link to watch the activity, scroll down to the first large image,
which shows what is happening in real time.
The male and female take
turns incubating the eggs almost constantly now. The female is on the nest most
of the time, but the male always seems to be ready to give her short breaks so she can leave the precious cargo.
Action may seem quiet, but
one can be assured that action within the developing embryo is proceeding at
full speed.
(Editor's note: the female was on the nest this morning, as photographed in a screenshot, showing features that distinguish her from the male. Note the deviation in the nares on the left side, a white spot on the dorsum of the head, and the size seeming to take up more of the nest box space.)
https://www.zoodemagnetichillzoo.ca/nest-cam
**John Massey reports he
has an extraordinary amount of mason bees using his big house. They are
blue and he is wondering if they would be blue orchard mason bees. It is the first time he has seen these blue
ones in all the years he has had bee houses up. He has been trying for a photo,
but they don't stop long enough. Hopefully, persistence will give a photo.
(Editor’s note: There is a
blue orchard mason bee (Osmia lignaria) that does have a distinct, dark
metallic blue or blue-green sheen. They are a bit larger than honeybees.
Hopefully, John will get that elusive photo to confirm.)
**Brian Stone sends a
series of photos of the tree swallows at Wilson Marsh taken over the
last week as they were flying around feeding on insects and resting on tree
branches before beginning their nesting behavior.
Brian also shares a video
of their acrobatics:
**Nelson Poirier has had
to hold back on bird feeding for the moment due to the horrendous number of
blackbirds that clean every feeder within minutes.
However, he can maintain
one hanging feeder under the deck roof that seems to appeal to everything
except the blackbirds.
Nelson Poirier
Nature Moncton
