Nature Moncton Information Line

May 5 2020

Posted: 05 May 2020 04:14 AM PDT

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, May 5, 2020 (Tuesday)

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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Transcript by: david.cannon@rogers.com

Info Line # 506-384-6397 (384-NEWS)

** The RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS are arriving. John Inman on Mary's Point Road had one arrive Monday afternoon. It was a very cool day in Miramichi where I was but almost certain a hummingbird zipped by. I did not have feeder up as usually see them later. A feeder promptly went up but it was late in day and did not see it come to feeder Monday.

** Patty McCarthy has been having WHITE-TAILED DEER [Cerf de Virginie] come to her backyard bird feeder area in the Grand Digue area. An albinistic animal joined them on Friday night. A very interesting specimen that has taken albinism to near total body. One would have to wonder how these animals make out at avoiding predators, lacking camouflage, but this good-sized animal has effectively done that.

** Louise Nichols spotted a pair of BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES [Mésange à tête noire]excavating a nest in a fallen log. They were very rapidly taking turns going in and out with wood chips. Louise got a short video of the action. Take a look at the action at the attached link

https://www.dropbox.com/s/lhxr8rkguopa3j4/CHICKADEES%20EXCAVATING%20NEST.%20MAY%204%2C%202020.%20LOUISE%20NICHOLS.MOV?dl=0

** We are in that time window where we see more YELLOW-SPOTTED SALAMANDERS [Salamandre maculée] and BLUE-SPOTTED SALAMANDERS [Salamandre à points bleus] moving about in breeding activity. Bev Schneider's grandson Isaac McPhee got a photo of a Yellow-Spotted Salamander on a mission at Mactaquac on Monday.

** Brian Stone found a WOODLOUSE [cloporte commun] crawling across the floor in his home and, as expected, got photographed! The Woodlouse is not an insect, but a crustacean It comes in 14 parts and it can roll up into a ball to protect itself from overly-aggressive photographers, as one of Brian's photos shows. This insect must have accidentally ventured into the home as it is normally would be found in the woods.

Some internet sleuthing finds this particular species, Armadillidium vulgare, is an introduction to North America from Europe and has become common. It feeds chiefly on decaying plant matter, but also grazed lichens and algae. It has been given so many common names that am leaving it labelled as woodlouse. Was surprised to read that many hobbyists keep them as pets! They are harmless to humans.

nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton