This week’s Wednesday evening walk is on August 19 starting at 6:30 PM at Haut du Ruisseau Nature Park in Memramcook. Traveling on #106 from Memramcook toward Dorchester, turn left on Breau Creek Road, then left toward the park sign, at the corner of Breau Creek Road and Palmer Road. The 5 KM trail system within the park is well-signed and colour coded.

There are 5 kilometres of trails from easy gravel/packed ground to steep climbs and some tree-rooted paths, giving moderate conditions. There is a Porta-Potty in the parking lot. The lot can hold about 10 vehicles with an overflow parking lot below about the same size. There are benches, covered benches, and little buildings to sit in with windows.

Fred and Susan Richards will lead this walk. Long pants and bug repellent are suggested. This excellent hiking trail may be new to many and offers a perfect chance to explore and enjoy it with comradeship and lots of sharp eyes to miss nothing! Please wear your Nature Moncton name tag. Everyone is welcome, member or not.

Urbanization is one of the greatest challenges facing our world’s wildlife. As New Brunswick’s urban centers continue to grow, it is important we understand how our growth impacts the wildlife we share our backyards with. MSc graduate Joshua Christiansen investigated the influence of urbanization on the behavioural and thermal ecology of the Eastern Red-backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus) in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. In this talk, Joshua will discuss his findings on the influence, or lack thereof, of urbanization on this species’ behaviour and thermoregulation and what this means for amphibian conservation in our urban centers.

Joshua Christiansen is a Research Associate in the RBG Labs at Mount Allison University. He holds a BSc in Biology from the University of Regina and an MSc degree in Biology from Mount Allison University. Joshua studied bats in his undergrad years but made the big switch to herpetofauna for his master’s where he studied the behaviour and thermal ecology of Eastern Red-backed Salamanders in urban and non-urban forests. He is now working on a field guide to the amphibians and reptiles of Atlantic Canada.

Don’t miss the chance to learn more about these mysterious inhabitants of our urban yards.  All are welcome, Nature Moncton member or not.

How many times have you seen a crow or a raven and wondered what it is? Just how closely related are they? Do they share the same social habits? Do they eat similar foods? Do they mate for life? Do crows have funerals?

Roland Chiasson has done extensive research on these amazing ‘common’ species that we tend to pass by, looking instead for the more uncommonly seen species. That will not happen after hearing this presentation!

Roland is a graduate from Acadia University in wildlife biology, and he has a Master’s in wildlife conservation via environmental education. He has worked as an interpreter at most of the Atlantic national parks, initiated the piping plover conservation program on the Acadian peninsula with his spouse Sabine, and now operates an environmental coop consulting service, the Aster Group.

Bring your own stories about crows and ravens, and join Roland for an entertaining evening about our complicated corvids!

All are welcome, Nature Moncton member or not.