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FEBRUARY 2001, No. 31

UP COMING EVENTS !

      The Kennebecasis Naturalist Society usually meets on the 4th Monday of the month at St. Paul's United Church at 7:30 pm.

     February 18: Alma Feeder Tour. Anyone who wish to car pool, please meet at Tim Horton's (across from Bank of N.S.) at 10 a.m. Bring a lunch and dress warmly.

     February 24: Afternoon Sleigh Ride . The cost of $75 will be divided among the participants. Anyone who wish to car pool, please meet at Tim Horton's (across from Bank of N.S.) at 1:30 p.m. (Postponed from Feb. 10 due to bad weather.)

     February 26 - Judy Loo who has Phd in forestry and is currently working for the Canadian Forest Service out of Fredericton, will make a presentation on The Historical Forest of King's County" at St. Paul's United Church in Sussex, New Brunswick at 7:30 p.m. She has co-authored several papers on the subject and is very interested in how the forests have changed over the past 200 years, and how we might go about protected various forests or habitats. In spite of a PhD in forestry, she has managed to lean heavily into conservation.

     March 26: Becky Whittham the Atlantic Canada Program Manager of Bird Studies Canada will be giving a talk entitled "The Canadian Lakes Loon Survey: An Atlantic Canada Perspective". She will also be discussing other programs of BSC, including the owl survey, Project Feeder Watch, and other things...

     April 23: Donald McAlpine will present an illustrated talk "Introduction to NB Amphibians", and will bring recordings of calling frogs.

Bobcat Tales
by various writers

     Jim Brown: Feb. 8th: It was 12:30 and my sister and I were having dinner. Anthea looked out my patio door, with a surprised look, she said a Cat. I grabbed the binoculars and sure enough there was a full grown Bobcat less than 200 feet from my house. We watched as it passed the pond and crossed the road to our old orchard. It spent about a half hour in the orchard then went over the hill to the woods.
      This was the best daytime observation I have had of a live Bobcat.

     Brian Elliot: Jan. 24th: I was working in my shop when I heard an urgent call from my wife to come quickly! She and our grandson, (4 yrs old), were playing in the snow just outside the shop. Following the sounds of their voices I came around the corner of the shop to find them peering down beside our garden tractor. As I stepped closer I saw a cat in the snow beside the tractor.
      Irene carefully prodded it and we realized it was dead. It was a very thin Bobcat kitten that appeared to have starved to death and then frozen. Closer examination revealed several porcupine quills in its nose.
      Photos of the bobcat can be seen at: http://personal.nbnet.nb.ca/belliot/kevin.html

     David Christie: Young Bobcats may have a tough time getting through winter when the snow is deep and without much crust development and there's a shortage of prey. That's about like this year. Three (or four?) winters ago, one took refuge and died in our barn. It had carried in the hind leg of a snowshoe hare.
      I have heard a few reports of rather tame Bobcats being seen close to houses this winter which suggests that this winter is indeed more stressful than normal for them.

Sussex Christmas Bird Count 2000
by Brian Elliot

     20 participants spent Dec 16 taking a tally of birds in the Sussex area. Thanks are extended to those in the Kennebecasis Naturalist Society who took the time to do this important task.
     The total number of birds, (4472), and number of species seen, (44), was down slightly from the 10 year averages, (5230, 45.5), but in no way diminishes the results of the 2000 Christmas Bird Count.
      One species, the Saw Whet Owl was seen for the first time since the count began in the region. Another, the Barred Owl has only been seen once before in the 27 years the count has been held.
      23 Species have been seen each of the past 10 years while 17 species have only been seen once during that time. Numerically the top 5 species for 2000 were European Starling, (1536), Rock dove, (545), Mourning Dove, (493), Common Raven, (310), and the Black-capped Chickadee, (267). These are at or near the top each year.
      Some significant changes this year were the drop in American Tree Sparrows which usually average over 100 per year to 0; Herring Gulls which usually average 64 to 3; American Robins which usually average 17 to 99; and White-throated Sparrows which usually average 4 to 11.
      The raw data compared to teh past five year's data can be seen at: Christmas Bird Count 2000.

Books & Photography Tips On Spiders
by Don Vail

     For beginning identification I would recommend "Spiders and their Kin" by Golden Nature Guides. For more involved identification there is "How to Know the Spiders" by B.J. Kaston. ISBN 0-697-04898. I ordered my copy through the New Brunswick Museum.
     For a good general natural history discussion there is "American Spiders" by Willis Gertsch, ISBN 0-442-22649-7. Somewhat dated now it was first published in 1949. Lots of info and a good read to boot. Well worth checking out.
     More recently, there is "The Red Hourglass: The Lives of the Predators." by Gorden Grice. ISBN 0-385-31887-1. Deals with the Black Widow among others. Not for the faint of heart!
      My cameras are Nikons, F3 and FE. My prime lens for spiders is the 105mm Micro Nikkor along with extension tubes and a 2X teleconverter for a magnification range from 1/2 to twice life size on the film. I also use closeup flash for all of my small animal photography for added depth of field, and action stopping capability.

2nd edition of Hal Hinds' Flora of NB
by David Christie

      I was pleased to learn that the second edition of THE FLORA OF NEW BRUNSWICK by Hal Hinds is now available. This is great news for New Brunswickers interested in plants. Hal's original "Flora" that came out in 1986 stimulated a lot of interest in the vascular plants of our province and has been the authoritative reference for amateur and professional botanists active in New Brunswick.
      In the intervening years, Hal and others have discovered a lot more about our plant species, their status and distribution, and Hal has been working hard to incorporate that information in a revision of his book, i.e. the translation of the generic names; Mi'k Mac and Malacite names of plants; up-to-date scientific names and synonyms; revised glossary near the front of the book and a comprehensive index at the very end; symbols and information about toxic and medicinal, rare and endangered plants and other plant lore; lists of plants to look for in the vicinity of our neighboring state and provinces; a tabulated breakdown of the various groups of plants; a comprehensive bibliography and, most importantly, a new section contributed by Stephen Clayden, Curator of Botany at the New Brunswick Museum, on the history, physical setting and regional variation of the flora.
      The book now covers 1644 species (versus 1520 in 1986), and this time the maps and illustrations, about 1500 of each, are integrated within the text, instead of in separate sections at the back. That's going to save me a lot of flipping back and forth.
     The new "Flora" is available from the Main Office of the Biology Department on the Fredericton Campus of UNB for $50, (plus $8 for shipping). If you request, Hal will inscribe the book for you or someone else. Order or pick up your copy now so you won't be disappointed by receiving an 'out-of-print' notice.

KNS Scholarship Fund

     "The Kennebecasis Naturalist have decided to set up a scholarship fund for those students graduating from high school that are planning to continue their education in one of the Natural or Environmental sciences."
     The Kennebecasis Naturalist Society is offering this $100.00 scholarship to a graduating high school student who will be continuing their education studying ecology, zoology, marine biology, botany, geology, Forestry, Meteorology, or a related field dealing with some aspect of our environment.
      The Society aims to encourage and assist young people in learning more about the natural world around us and thereby develop and promote a healthier, more sustainable environment for all living creatures.
     Eligibility is open to students graduating from Sussex Regional High School, Petitcodiac High School, Hampton High School, Bellislle High School, Chipman High School, or home schooled students within the districts served by the aforementioned schools.
      Selection of the Scholarship candidate will be made by June 15, and Scholarship funds mailed upon receipt of proof of enrollment at selected institution.
      Final selection will be made by a three person Scholarship Committee of the Kennebecasis Naturalist Society.
     Applicants must include:

1. brief essay describing why they are applying for the scholarship and where their future aspirations lie.
2. proof of acceptance at a post secondary institution
3. transcript of marks to the end of the first semester of Grade 12
4. letter of recommendation from a teacher, 4H, Scout or Guide leader or a non-family adult who has been involved with the student in some capacity

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