[NatureNS] nature notes May 17,18,19/16 - swifts, bull frogs, toad,

From: Jim Wolford <jimwolford@eastlink.ca>
Date: Thu, 19 May 2016 16:53:25 -0300
References: <73ACF79B-816F-4DB0-8AA0-5C03CBC3587A@eastlink.ca>
To: naturens <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca>
Precedence: bulk
Return-Path: <naturens-mml-owner@chebucto.ns.ca>
Original-Recipient: rfc822;"| (cd /csuite/info/Environment/FNSN/MList; /csuite/lib/arch2html)"

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Begin forwarded message:

> From: Jim Wolford <jimwolford@eastlink.ca>
> Subject: nature notes May 17,18,19/16 - swifts, bull frogs, toad, new? ea=
gle nest, pigeons, 2nd Breeding Bird Atlas, etc.
> Date: May 19, 2016 at 4:42:20 PM ADT
> To: Nature BNS <nature@blomidonnaturalists.ca>, John Gilhen <GILHENJA@gov=
.ns.ca>
> Cc: Jim Wolford <jimwolford@eastlink.ca>, "Ally (Allison) Manthorne" <ama=
nthorne@bsc-eoc.org>, Mark Elderkin <elderkmf@gov.ns.ca>, Pam Mills <millsp=
l@gov.ns.ca>, Kimberley Huskins <HUSKINKD@gov.ns.ca>
>=20
> MAY 17, 2016 - MINER=92S MARSH in mid-afternoon =97 sunny, but windy & co=
ol.
>=20
> - red elderberry in bloom in at least 3 places;
>=20
> - 2 male bull frogs jug-a-rumming and well spaced apart in the marsh =97 =
this seems early to me for bull 	frogs to be calling already?;
>=20
> - 1 American toad was trilling near the picnic table near the river bridg=
e;
>=20
> 	[on May 14/16 there were nice afternoon choruses of trilling toads in tw=
o places: Van Nostrand=92s 	Pond at Starr=92s Point, and in Gesner=92s Pond=
 (n. of Kentville along Middle Dyke Rd.);
>=20
> - 1 pied-billed grebe calling but not seen;
> - 2 muskrats seen;
> - lots of red-winged blackbirds (one female nest-building) and grackles, =
but no swallows seen.
> =97=97=97=97=97=97=97=97=97=97=97=97=97
> Earlier I went to the New Minas former potato-chip factory location (ACA =
Co-op) to take some photos of the new? bald eagle nest in a pine on the top=
 of the bank of the Cornwallis River.  I checked in the office of the ACA C=
o-op, and those who were there didn=92t even know about the presence of thi=
s nest, just to the north of the truck depot =97 this suggests that this ne=
st is indeed new? =97 again no eagles of any age were seen there today.
>=20
> - low-bush blueberry was in bloom on top of the riverbank.
> =97=97=97=97=97=97=97=97=97=97=97=97=97
> MAY 18, 2016 - Yesterday evening at dusk Claire Diggins somehow counted 4=
08 CHIMNEY SWIFTS entering the chimney of Middleton Regional High School!  =
And Ken McKenna saw almost as many, 378? (number needs to be checked?), ent=
ering the chimney of the former Temperance St. School in New Glasgow.
>=20
> Today in Wolfville I got a bad report on the rock pigeons that are nestin=
g on a lamp under the canopy of the Robie Tufts Nature Centre.  Anna Chisli=
ng is the kind one-person guardian of the pigeons and other birds associate=
d with the nature centre, and today she had to helplessly watch one or two =
crows capture and eat one of the two nearly-full-grown nestling pigeons.  N=
ature often can be unesthetic.  Now the pigeon Anna says is the male is gat=
hering sticks for another nesting attempt, even though there is still one l=
arge nestling in the nest.
>=20
> CHIMNEY SWIFTS at dusk at Robie Tufts Nature Centre in Wolfville =97 suns=
et time 8:39 p.m. =97 I arrived at sunset time =97 sky completely clear, no=
 wind, and cool (8 to 7 C.).  Bright waxing Moon fairly high in south-south=
east, and high and due south was bright Jupiter.=20=20
>=20
> I think a single SWIFT DEPARTED? from the chimney at 9:02.  Then at 9:05 =
about 35 SWIFTS descended and dropped into the chimney over less than a min=
ute of time =97 then laggards joined them at 9:08 (1), 9:12 (2), and 9:14 (=
2), after which it was just too dark to continue watching.  Thus tonight=92=
s total for Wolfville=92s RTNC was 40 CHIMNEY SWIFTS.
> =97=97=97=97=97=97=97=97=97=97=97
>=20
> MAY 19, 2016 - MINER=92S MARSH during the noon hour, when I walked and li=
stened to CBC Radio=92s Maritime Noon at the same time =97 today=92s call-i=
n was about plight of many North American birds and also the recent and ong=
oing release of the new coffee-table book, =93The Second Atlas of Breeding =
Birds of the Maritime Provinces=94 (copyright 2015, but being released/laun=
ched in several locations, e.g. Moncton tonight).  Marnoon guests were Laur=
a Tranquilla and Greg Campbell? of Bird Studies Canada.  Folks who wish to =
listen to the calls and responses can get the entire show at cbc.ca/maritim=
enoon/.
>=20
> During my walk around the marsh, I noticed pin cherry in bloom + red elde=
rberry.  Also I saw 2 + 1 pied-billed grebes, two of which were courting an=
d probably copulating on a nest-like platform in the cattails.  And I saw 1=
 + 2 Canada Geese =97 the pair also had the brood of 6 goslings in tow with=
 them.
>=20
> Cheers from Jim in Wolfville.
>=20


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<html><head><meta http-equiv=3D"Content-Type" content=3D"text/html charset=
=3Dwindows-1252"></head><body style=3D"word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-=
mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space;"><br><div style=3D""><b=
r><div>Begin forwarded message:</div><br class=3D"Apple-interchange-newline=
"><blockquote type=3D"cite"><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0p=
x; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;"><span style=3D"font-family:'Helve=
tica'; color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 1.0);"><b>From: </b></span><span style=3D"font-f=
amily:'Helvetica';">Jim Wolford &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:jimwolford@eastlink.c=
a">jimwolford@eastlink.ca</a>&gt;<br></span></div><div style=3D"margin-top:=
 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;"><span style=
=3D"font-family:'Helvetica'; color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 1.0);"><b>Subject: </b></s=
pan><span style=3D"font-family:'Helvetica';"><b>nature notes May 17,18,19/1=
6 - swifts, bull frogs, toad, new? eagle nest, pigeons, 2nd Breeding Bird A=
tlas, etc.</b><br></span></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right:=
 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;"><span style=3D"font-family:'He=
lvetica'; color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 1.0);"><b>Date: </b></span><span style=3D"fon=
t-family:'Helvetica';">May 19, 2016 at 4:42:20 PM ADT<br></span></div><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-lef=
t: 0px;"><span style=3D"font-family:'Helvetica'; color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 1.0);"=
><b>To: </b></span><span style=3D"font-family:'Helvetica';">Nature BNS &lt;=
<a href=3D"mailto:nature@blomidonnaturalists.ca">nature@blomidonnaturalists=
.ca</a>&gt;, John Gilhen &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:GILHENJA@gov.ns.ca">GILHENJA=
@gov.ns.ca</a>&gt;<br></span></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-ri=
ght: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;"><span style=3D"font-family=
:'Helvetica'; color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 1.0);"><b>Cc: </b></span><span style=3D"f=
ont-family:'Helvetica';">Jim Wolford &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:jimwolford@eastl=
ink.ca">jimwolford@eastlink.ca</a>&gt;, "Ally (Allison) Manthorne" &lt;<a h=
ref=3D"mailto:amanthorne@bsc-eoc.org">amanthorne@bsc-eoc.org</a>&gt;, Mark =
Elderkin &lt;elderkmf@gov.ns.ca&g=
t;, Pam Mills &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:millspl@gov.ns.ca">millspl@gov.ns.ca</a=
>&gt;, Kimberley Huskins &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:HUSKINKD@gov.ns.ca">HUSKINKD=
@gov.ns.ca</a>&gt;<br></span></div><br><div><meta http-equiv=3D"Content-Typ=
e" content=3D"text/html charset=3Dwindows-1252"><div style=3D"word-wrap: br=
eak-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space;"=
><div style=3D"margin: 0px;"><b>MAY 17, 2016 - MINER=92S MARSH</b> in mid-a=
fternoon =97 sunny, but windy &amp; cool.</div><div style=3D"margin: 0px; m=
in-height: 14px;"><br></div><div style=3D"margin: 0px;">- <b>red elderberry=
</b> in bloom in at least 3 places;</div><div style=3D"margin: 0px; min-hei=
ght: 14px;"><br></div><div style=3D"margin: 0px;">- 2 male<b> bull frogs</b=
> jug-a-rumming and well spaced apart in the marsh =97 this seems early to =
me for bull <span class=3D"Apple-tab-span" style=3D"white-space:pre">	</spa=
n>frogs to be calling already?;</div><div style=3D"margin: 0px; min-height:=
 14px;"><br></div><div style=3D"margin: 0px;">- 1 <b>American toad</b> was =
trilling near the picnic table near the river bridge;</div><div style=3D"ma=
rgin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br></div><div style=3D"margin: 0px;"><span c=
lass=3D"Apple-tab-span" style=3D"white-space:pre">	</span>[<b>on May 14/16<=
/b> there were nice afternoon <b>choruses of trilling toads</b> in two plac=
es: Van Nostrand=92s <span class=3D"Apple-tab-span" style=3D"white-space:pr=
e">	</span>Pond at Starr=92s Point, and in Gesner=92s Pond (n. of Kentville=
 along Middle Dyke Rd.);</div><div style=3D"margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"=
><br></div><div style=3D"margin: 0px;">- 1 pied-billed grebe calling but no=
t seen;</div><div style=3D"margin: 0px;">- 2 muskrats seen;</div><div style=
=3D"margin: 0px;">- lots of red-winged blackbirds (one female nest-building=
) and grackles, but no swallows seen.</div><div style=3D"margin: 0px;">=97=
=97=97=97=97=97=97=97=97=97=97=97=97</div><div style=3D"margin: 0px;">Earli=
er I went to the <b>New Minas former potato-chip factory location (ACA Co-o=
p)</b> to take some photos of the <b>new? bald eagle nest </b>in a pine on =
the top of the bank of the Cornwallis River.&nbsp; I checked in the office =
of the ACA Co-op, and those who were there didn=92t even know about the pre=
sence of this nest, just to the north of the truck depot =97 this suggests =
that this nest is indeed new? =97 again no eagles of any age were seen ther=
e today.</div><div style=3D"margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br></div><div =
style=3D"margin: 0px;">-<b> low-bush blueberry</b> was in bloom on top of t=
he riverbank.</div><div style=3D"margin: 0px;">=97=97=97=97=97=97=97=97=97=
=97=97=97=97</div><div style=3D"margin: 0px;"><b>MAY 18, 2016</b> - Yesterd=
ay evening at dusk Claire Diggins somehow counted 408 CHIMNEY SWIFTS enteri=
ng the chimney of Middleton Regional High School! &nbsp;And Ken McKenna saw=
 almost as many, 378? (number needs to be checked?), entering the chimney o=
f the former Temperance St. School in New Glasgow.</div><div style=3D"margi=
n: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br></div><div style=3D"margin: 0px;">Today in W=
olfville I got a bad report on the <b>rock pigeons</b> that are <b>nesting<=
/b> on a lamp under the canopy of the Robie Tufts Nature Centre.&nbsp; Anna=
 Chisling is the kind one-person guardian of the pigeons and other birds as=
sociated with the nature centre, and today she had to helplessly watch one =
or two <b>crows</b> capture and eat one of the two nearly-full-grown nestli=
ng pigeons.&nbsp; Nature often can be unesthetic.&nbsp; Now the pigeon Anna=
 says is the male is gathering sticks for another nesting attempt, even tho=
ugh there is still one large nestling in the nest.</div><div style=3D"margi=
n: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br></div><div style=3D"margin: 0px;"><b>CHIMNEY=
 SWIFTS</b> at dusk at Robie Tufts Nature Centre in Wolfville =97 sunset ti=
me 8:39 p.m. =97 I arrived at sunset time =97 sky completely clear, no wind=
, and cool (8 to 7 C.).&nbsp; Bright waxing Moon fairly high in south-south=
east, and high and due south was bright Jupiter. &nbsp;</div><div style=3D"=
margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br></div><div style=3D"margin: 0px;">I thi=
nk a single SWIFT DEPARTED? from the chimney at 9:02.&nbsp; Then at 9:05 ab=
out 35 SWIFTS descended and dropped into the chimney over less than a minut=
e of time =97 then laggards joined them at 9:08 (1), 9:12 (2), and 9:14 (2)=
, after which it was just too dark to continue watching.&nbsp; Thus tonight=
=92s total for Wolfville=92s RTNC was 40 CHIMNEY SWIFTS.</div><div style=3D=
"margin: 0px;">=97=97=97=97=97=97=97=97=97=97=97</div><div style=3D"margin:=
 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br></div><div style=3D"margin: 0px;"><b>MAY 19, 2=
016 - MINER=92S MARSH</b> during the noon hour, when I walked and listened =
to CBC Radio=92s <b>Maritime Noon</b> at the same time =97<b> today=92s cal=
l-in</b> was about plight of many North American birds and also the recent =
and ongoing release of the <b>new coffee-table book, =93The Second Atlas of=
 Breeding Birds of the Maritime Provinces=94 (copyright 2015</b>, but being=
 released/launched in several locations, e.g. Moncton tonight).&nbsp; Marno=
on guests were Laura Tranquilla and Greg Campbell? of Bird Studies Canada.&=
nbsp; Folks who wish to listen to the calls and responses can get the entir=
e show at <a href=3D"http://cbc.ca/maritimenoon/"><font color=3D"red"><b>Ma=
ilScanner warning: numerical links are often malicious:</b></font> cbc.ca/m=
aritimenoon/</a>.</div><div style=3D"margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br></=
div><div style=3D"margin: 0px;">During my walk around the marsh, I noticed =
<b>pin cherry in bloom</b> + red elderberry.&nbsp; Also I saw 2 + 1 <b>pied=
-billed grebes</b>, two of which were <b>courting</b> and probably copulati=
ng on a nest-like platform in the cattails.&nbsp; And I saw 1 + 2 <b>Canada=
 Geese</b> =97 the pair also had the <b>brood of 6 goslings</b> in tow with=
 them.</div><div style=3D"margin: 0px;"><br></div><div style=3D"margin: 0px=
;">Cheers from Jim in Wolfville.</div><div><br></div></div></div></blockquo=
te></div><br></body></html>=

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