150 March to May, 2013
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THE HALIFAX FIELD NATURALIST No. 150 March to May, 2013 In This Issue ...................................................... 2 HFN Talks ....................................................... 10 HFN News & Announcements ........................ 3 HFN Field Trips ............................................. 14 Special Reports ................................................. 4 Almanac .......................................................... 17 Special Articles ................................................. 9 Hfx Tide Table: April to June ...................... 19 Nature Notes ................................................... 20 Return address: HFN, c/o NS Museum of Natural History, 1747 Summer Street, Halifax, NS, B3H 3A6 1 Spring 2013, #150 is incorporated under the Nova Scotia NNS ADDRESS Societies Act and holds Registered Nature Nova Scotia, c/o N.S. Museum of Natural History, 1747 Charity status with Canada Revenue Summer St., Halifax, N.S., B3H 3A6 HFN Email: [email protected] (Doug Linzey, NNS Secretary and Agency. Tax-creditable receipts will be issued for individual Newsletter Editor) Website: naturens.ca and corporate gifts. HFN is an affiliate of Nature Canada and an organisational member of Nature Nova Scotia, the provin- EXECUTIVE 2013/2014 cial umbrella association for naturalist groups in Nova Sco- President Janet Dalton .......................................443-7617 Vice-President Clarence Stevens ...............................864-0802 tia. Objectives are to encourage a greater appreciation and Treasurer Ingrid Plache ......................................475-1129 understanding of Nova Scotia’s natural history, both within the Secretary Michael Bradfield................................423-7706 membership of HFN and in the public at large, and to represent Past President Allan Robertson..................................422-6326 the interests of naturalists by encouraging the conservation of Directors Elliott Hayes, Burkhard Plache, Lillian Risley, Nova Scotia’s natural resources. Meetings are held, except for Stephanie Robertson July and August, on the first Thursday of every month at 7:30 COMMITTEES 2013/2014 p.m. in the auditorium of the Nova Scotia Museum of Natural Membership Lillian Risley ......................................422-8652 History, 1747 Summer Street, Halifax; they are open to the Programme public. Field Trips are held at least once a month; it is appreci- Talks/Trips Richard & Grace Beazley ..................429-6626 ated if those travelling in someone else’s car share the cost of Janet Dalton ......................................443-7617 the gas. Participants in HFN activities are responsible for their Elliott Hayes ......................................835-9819 own safety. Everyone, member or not, is welcome to take part Burkhard Plache................................475-1129 Design Stephanie Robertson .......................422-6326 in field trips. Memberships are open to anyone interested in the natural history of Nova Scotia. Forms are available at any Newsletter Editor & Design Stephanie Robertson ........................422-6326 meeting of the society, or by writing to: Membership Secretary, Almanac Patricia Chalmers .............................422-3970 Halifax Field Naturalists, c/o N.S. Museum of Natural History. Taxonomy Ursula Grigg ......................................681-1264 Members receive the quarterly HFN Newsletter and HFN Distribution Bernice Moores .................................422-5292 Programme, and new memberships received from September Labels Doug Linzey ......................................582-7176 1st to December 31st of any year are valid until the end of the Tea Break Regine Maass .................................................. following membership year. The regular membership year is Conservation Bob McDonald...................................443-5051 from January 1st to December 31st. David Patriquin ..................................423-5716 Clare Robinson .................................446-6603 NNS Rep. Burkhard Plache................................475-1129 YNC Rep. David Patriquin ..................................423-5716 PSAs Burkhard Plache................................475-1129 Webmaster David Patriquin ..................................423-5716 CSC Award Doug Linzey ......................................582-7176 David Patriquin ..................................423-5716 FEES 2013/2014 Student ....................................................................$15.00 per year HFN ADDRESS Individual ................................................................$20.00 per year Halifax Field Naturalists, c/o N.S. Museum of Natural History, Family .....................................................................$25.00 per year 1747 Summer St., Hfx, N.S., B3H 3A6 Email: [email protected] Supporting .............................................................$30.00 per year Website: halifaxfieldnaturalists.ca NNS (opt.) .................................................................$5.00 per year Sewer stroll – 64 species seen ...................................15 IN THIS ISSUE ✑ Winter’s Night Sky – 13 (not 12!) zodiacal constellations 1 6 HFN News and Announcements ...........................3 Almanac ......................................................... 17 From the Editor – Doris Butters ...................................3 Natural Events ...........................................................17 Past HFN Presidents – and their terms .......................3 Interesting seasonal phenomena ..................................17 New & Returning – four ................................................3 Organisational Events ..............................................17 Special Reports ...........................................................4 Blom. Nat. Soc. – eclipses, arctic plants, weather ...... 17 Year End Committee Reports – ...................................4 Burke Gaffney Observatory – 1st & 3rd Saturdays . 18 Doris E. (Matthews) Butters – a remembrance ............8 Friends of McNab’s Island – AGM, beach clean-up .. 18 Special Articles ...........................................................9 N.S. Bird Society – lead poisoning in eagles ...........18 Salamanders in Crisis – lessening habitat ...................9 N.S. Dept. Nat. Resources – Parks for People ........18 HFN Talks ...................................................................10 N.S. Wild Flora – AGM, ephemerals Antigonish .......18 SS Atlantic disaster – what happened? .....................10 YNC – contact for spring programme ........................18 Northwest Passage – past and present .....................12 Halifax Tide Table – Apr. to Jun.; all times AST! ..19 Member’s Photo Night – “beautiful just!” ....................13 Nature Notes .................................................. 20 HFN Field Trips .......................................................14 January and February .................................................20 St. Mary’s River Weekend – forest recovery ...............14 GRAPHICS All uncredited illustrations are by H. Derbyshire or from copyright-free sources. Front Cover - Pin Cherry,Bob McDonald; Back Cover -Rhodora, Bob McDonald (yes, hidden - can’t be helped); Tide Table - Canadian Hydrographic Service, Fisheries & Oceans 2 Spring 2013, #150 HFN NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Editorial Bernice Moores – 2004 to 2005 (part year only) Allan Robertson – 2005 (part year only) to 2009 Sadly, on Friday, January 25th, our much-loved Life David Patriquin – 2009 to 2011 (part year only) Member Doris Butters passed away at Northwood Janet Dalton – 2011 (part year only) to – Continuous Care. Doris was on the Newsletter Com- mittee from the Winter of 1978 to the Spring of 1980. She also joined the Board of Directors in January of that year, leaving her newsletter duties in December. She remained a director while rejoining the Newsletter Staff once more in January, 1982, becoming Co-President with John vanderMeer in May. In December she ably 12% BY 2015 assumed sole Presidency and also became Newsletter Editor and sole Newsletter Production Editor as well! On February 28th, the provincial Departments of En- Doris resigned the Presidency in December, 1983, but vironment and Natural Resources outlined a proposed stayed on as Editor and Production Editor until the Sum- plan to add to and expand existing parks, wilderness mer of 1989, when Ursula Grigg took the helm as Editor areas, and nature reserves, which will bring our protect- (while I took over production). She enthusiastically ed spaces to 13% of Nova Scotia’s land area. You can continued to attend hikes and meetings until the hikes read more at http://www.novascotia.ca/parksandpro- became too difficult, and the meetings too late for her. tectedareas/, and also view the full proposal at http:// www.novascotia.ca/parksandprotectedareas/. The Doris was a devoted and long time ‘HFNer’, and an site’s mapping capability allows you not only to explore enthusiastic, cheerful, and energetic naturalist. Her the province, but also to check out the areas that are wonderfully positive and happy personality has been proposed. sorely missed since the time when she could no longer attend our meetings and outings. (For more on Doris’s This plan is strengthened by many other government extraordinary life, please see p. 8.) and non-government conservation efforts, including: the Natural Resources Strategy; the Environmental Goals and Sustainable Prosperity Act; the Climate Change Action