THE HALIFAX FIELD NATURALIST No. 130 March to Ma y, 2008 In Thi s Issue 2 HFN Field Trips 12 News & Anno unce me nts 3 Alma nac 17 Special Reports 5 Hfx Tid e Ta ble: April to June 19 HFN Talks 9 Nature Notes 20 Return add ress:HF N, c/o NS Museum of Natural History, 1747 Summer Street, Halifax, NS, B3H 3A6 Is incorporate d und er the Nova Scotia HFN ADDRESS Societies Act and holds Halifax Field Natura li sts, c/o N.S. Museum of Natu ral H F N Registere d Charity status with History, 1747 Summer St., Halifax,N.S., B3H 3A6 Canada Revenue Agency. Ta x-credita ble receipts will be Em ail : [email protected] a iss ued for individual and corporate gifts. HFN is an affi liate of Webs ite: ch ebuct o.o rg Nature Canada and an organisational mem ber of Nature NS NNSADDRESS (Fede ration of Nova Scotia Naturalists), the provincial umbrella Nat ure Nova Scotia, c/o N.S. Museum of Natural History, 1747 association for naturalist groups in Nova Scotia. Ob jectiv es Summer St., Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 3A6 are to encourage a greater app reciation and understand ing of Email: doug @fundymud.com (Doug Linzey, FNSN secretary Nova Scotia 's natural history, both with in the membership of and Newsletter Editor) HFN and in the public at large, and to represent the interests of Website: naturens.c a naturalists by encour aging the conservatio n of Nova Sco tia's natural resources. Meeti ngs are held. except for July and EXECUT IVE 2008/2009 August, on the first Thursday of every month at 7 :30 p.m. in the Pres ident All an Robertson 422·6326 Peter Web ster 453· 9244 audito rium of the Nova Scotia Museu m of Nat ura l History, 1747 Vice- PresIdent Summer Street, Halifax; they are open to the publi c. Field Trea s urer Jan et Dalto n 443-7617 Richard Beaziey 429-6626 Trips are held at least once a month; it is apprec iated If those Secret ary Bob McD onaid 443-5051 travelling in someone else's car share th e cos t of the gas. Past Pres ident Directors Brian Bartlett, Richard Beazley, Grace Parti cipants in HFN activities are responsible for their own Beazley, David Patriquln, Burkhard Plache, safety . Everyone, me mbe r or not , is we lcome to take part in Ingrid Plache, Lilli an Risley, Ste phanie field trips. Memberships are ope n to anyone interested in the Robertson natural history of Nova Scotia. For ms are available at any mee ting of the society, or by writin g to: Membe rship Secreta ry, COMMIT TEES 2008/2009 Halifax Field Nat ural ists, cia N.S. Mus eum of Nat ural History. Mem be rs hip Liilian Risley 422-8652 Members receive the quarterly HFN Newsletter and HFN Pr og ramme Programme, and new memberships received from September 1st TalksfTrips Burkhard & Ingrid Plache 475-1129 to December 31st of any year are valid until the end of the Design Ste phanie Robertson 422-6326 following membership year. The regular mem bership year is Newsletter from January 1st to December 31st. Editor Ste pha nie Robert son 422-6326 Design Step hanie Robertson 422-6326 Alm anac Patricia Chalmers 422-3 970 Taxonomy Ursula Grigg 681-1264 Distr ibution Bern ice Moo res 422-5292 Labels Dou g Lin zey 582-7176 Tea Break Reglne Maass Conse rv ation Peter Web ster 453·9244 Bob McD onald 443-505 1 NNS Rep. Peter We bster 453-9244 HFN Websi te Linda Payzent.. 861-1607 FEES 2008/20 09 . Indlv lduel 515.00 per year Fam il y 520.00 per year Supporting $25 .00 per year IN THIS ISSUE ~ Netu re NS (o pt.) $ 5.00 per year News & Announcements 3 Hope for wil dlife 14 Editorial; eclipse tidbits 3 Fiat Lake Hike 15 HRM Greenhouses Open House 3 Almanac 17 Avo n Peninsula Quar ry dispute 3 Natura l Events 17 Nature Canada's 38th AGM 3 Importa nt seasonal phenom ena Shubie Park update 3 Organisational Events 17 N.S. Natural Resources; chance for input 4 8 10m. Naturali st Society - Fundy; Russia; Astronomy; mussels Jean Rivers Sawyer 4 Bu rke Gaffney Observetory - 1st & 3rd Saturdays New & Retu rning 4 Fr iends of McNab. Isl and - their website has events ...... 18 Special Reports 4 N.S. Bird Society - 18 tripsl & 1 talk - at White Point Beach 2007 yea r-end reports : 5 . N.S. Mus. of Nat. Hlst. - the Arctic; reptile zoo; Monarchs; bats The Importance of Trees to Cities 8 N.S. Wildflower Soc. - Po rt Joli; skunk cabbage; HRM flora HFN Talks 9 N.S. Inst. Sc Ience - Brown Spru ce l ong-horn ed Beetle Wate rton Lakes Park 9 Royal Astronomical Society - 3rd Friday of each month Adventures Jamaica n 10 Halifax Tide Table 19 AGM /Members' Slide Ni9ht 10 Apr il to Jun e; don't forget; all ti mes are AST Field Trips 12 Nature Notes 20 Arnell Biota Survey results 12 Jan J08 - Corvids; Raptors; Rats; Snow Bunting behaviour . Sewer Stroll notes & species 13 Feb J08 - Y.·breasted Cha t; Redpoils ; crossb ills; Ch. Sparrows Mar.l08 - B.-backed Woodpecker; Barred Owl; early buttercups G RA PHICS All uncredited illu strations are by H. Derbyshi re or from copyrig ht-free sources . Front cover - Wild Pear, Amelanchier liB Vis, Bob McD onald; p.12 -duck and young, John H. Dick, Birds and their Way s, Robie W. Tu fts, 1972; Back cover - Rhodora, Rhododendron canadense, Bob McD onald; Tide Tables - Canadian Hydro graphic Service, Fish eries and Oceans Canada. Spring 2008, #130 2 HFN NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS EDITORIAL.... .. .. AVON PENINSULA QUARRY ~ Despite the vast and foggy Atlantic's proximity, It was Dr. David Patrlquin has been working with the Avon a beautifully clear and starry night for a splendid rusty­ Peninsula group to fight against the extension of the red eclipse of the moon in February. Gypsum Quarry In their area. The Environmental Climatologist Richard Keen of the University of Assessment has taken place, and the Quarry has been Colorado in Boulder, U.S., says the colour and depth of registered. Members of the public had to submit com­ shadow in a lunar eclipse is directly attributable to IIght­ ments on the proposal before March 6th. blocking volcanic dust in the atmosphere. During I have offered a submission regarding the disruption of eclipse, Earth blocks sunlight from reaching the Moon the watershed, the destruction of habitat (Gypsum karst directly. But some light still does get through, refracted topography, rather rare In N.S.), the effect on 'listed' through Earth's atmosphere, and this light varies with species like the Yellow and Ram·s Head Ladyslippers. how much dust from volcanic eruptions is floating around the negative impact on the inhabitants in the area, and at high altitudes. the projected run-off into the large and small rivers. etc. Because this dust hinders the passage of sunlight, To follow the situation and for more information, and/or more of it makes for a darker Moon during its eclipses. to become involved and give your support, go to the "All the darker dimmings of the Moon during eclipses can Avon Peninsula Watershed Preservation Society's be attributed to specific volcanoes.", says Keen. He and website at www.apwps.ca. his collaborators have charted the brightness of eclipses - Bob McDonald back to 1960, and also for a few years around the time of the 1883 eruption of Indonesia's Krakatoa. The most ~ ~ recent eclipse, February 20th to 21st, was a particularly NATURE CANADAAGM bright one. measuring a 3 (the second-brightest level) on Hosted in Montreal by Bird Protection Quebec, from an eclipse-rating scale that ranges from 0 (darkest) to 4 the 13th to the 15th of June. YOU'll explore the diverse (brightest). ecology of one of the world's great rivers. as well as the This Is In line with eclipse data taken since 1995. The lively atmosphere of Montreal in the summer - music. stratosphere has been especially clear since then, with people, and quiet corners in which to relax. very little haze-producing volcanic activity compared to Participate in symposia on the biology, geology, and the previous three decades of 1965 to 1995, Keen says. ecology of the St. Lawrence River Valley. take field trips Things to note in this issue: how to get involved In the to discover its flora and fauna, and attend social events protectionof the Avon Peninsula, (atright); the coordinates with fellow nature lovers at this 38th conference and AGM. for publicInputand submissions to how Nova Scotia's natu­ Go to naturecanada.calabout_agm.asp, for more ral resources,including water, should be managed p.-4,·and information and registration details. a thoughtful tribute to Jean Sawyer, p.4. Under "Conservation", p.8., there is a hopeful report, ~ "The Importance of Trees to Cities", and how it relates to SHUBIEPARK HRM's Urban Forest Master Plan. There have been changes since our HFN visit last - Stephanie Robertson summer to Shubie Park. On a recent outing to the trails along the Shubenacadie Canal, it was noted that the 17 Historical Panels have now been installed, and they include latitudinal and longitudinal details for those who ~~~ are interested. As well, by following the panels, one can revisit the history of this area as it unfolded over time. OPEN HOUSE ~ ~ People and places, and early maps and drawings, make HRM's Horticultural Department will be having an It all the more Interesting when on site.