[NatureNS] absence of insects

From: "John Kearney" <john.kearney@ns.sympatico.ca>
To: <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca>
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Date: Thu, 23 Jun 2016 08:25:28 -0300
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D'&gt;In response to Susann=E2=80=99s question regarding whether 
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As always Donna, you have given an excellent explanation of the possible =
effects of forestry on Black Fly populations. In addition to the lack of =
food for birds resulting from fewer flies, the Black Fly larvae are an =
important food source for fish and the larvae of larger aquatic insects =
such as mayflies and damselflies. As filter feeders, the Black Fly =
larvae play a crucial role in incorporating organic matter into the =
aquatic food chain. As filter feeders, they could also serve as =
indicator species for aquatic pollution, and in Nova Scotia especially, =
for mercury pollution. The adult male Black Fly, which feeds on nectar, =
may even play some role in pollination. Here we have a species that is =
crucial to both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Certainly the Black =
Fly is a keystone forest species.

John

=20

From: naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca =
[mailto:naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca] On Behalf Of Donna Crossland
Sent: June-22-16 19:20
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
Subject: [NatureNS] absence of insects

=20

In response to Susann=E2=80=99s question regarding whether other birders =
have noticed a lack of insects:  I=E2=80=99ve noticed the past couple of =
years that black flies seem to =E2=80=98not be what they used to =
be=E2=80=99.   Mostly, the season seems to be noticeably abbreviated.  =
Also the past two spring have witness very cold temperatures in the =
mornings (last Saturday there was a frost at Milford House and only 4 C =
when I arrived at 5:20 am).   I measure the temperature at every bird =
survey post and notice that 10-11 C is required before I need to put on =
some bug deterrent.  By then, on most mornings until the warm temps of =
this week, I=E2=80=99ve pretty well completed the bird survey.

=20

Earlier this spring, some of the fishermen were commenting that the =
blackflies were biting just like in the old days.  Things started out =
=E2=80=98normally=E2=80=99 enough, but then we hit the prolonged cold =
snap and waters were rapidly dropping, too.  The blackflies quickly =
became less of an issue.

=20

I=E2=80=99m not a bug expert, but I grew up in one of the buggiest areas =
of the province.  My theory with the black fly is that it=E2=80=99s =
traditionally successful life cycle in NS has been altered somewhat from =
the rampant levels of deforestation.  On private lands, it seems that =
operations have reverted back to cutting right up to the stream edges =
with no trees remaining (I=E2=80=99ve got photos of last =
winter=E2=80=99s cuts in the southwest).  Even where buffers are left as =
per legal requirements, the lack of trees remaining on the rest of the =
landscape serve to let streams rapidly fill after a rain and then empty =
quickly, rather than retain moderate flows from filtering through =
forests.  For the black fly, if waters keep running more will emerge, =
but streams are now drying up more quickly than before when our great =
Acadian forest blanketed the landscape.  The black fly season is =
shortened. =20

=20

Also bear in mind that breeding success of black flies is sensitive to =
water pollution in streams (which may be relevant to some areas of our =
great province).

=20

Most folks will herald the shorter black fly season, but I=E2=80=99ve =
become more reflective about our migrant birds now than I used to be.  =
Neotropical birds have been coming to this land solely for  its =
=E2=80=9Cbugs=E2=80=9D and the remarkable =E2=80=98forest =
habitats=E2=80=99 found here for centuries!  What are we indirectly =
doing to their precious food supply needed to feed young birds?  (I =
won=E2=80=99t go into habitat issues.)  When I watch the chimney swifts =
and tree swallows flying around, I wonder how things are going for them =
and their progeny...   =20

=20

Donna Crossland

=20

=20

From: naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca =
<mailto:naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca>  =
[mailto:naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca] On Behalf Of =
rita.paul@ns.sympatico.ca <mailto:rita.paul@ns.sympatico.ca>=20
Sent: June-20-16 8:48 AM
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca <mailto:naturens@chebucto.ns.ca>=20
Subject: Re: [NatureNS] Golden-crowned Kinglet family group

=20

Maybe birders are noticing a lack of insects Susann!=20

but anglers seem not in agreement but maybe birders=20

blood is not in this year! Just like wine.

Enjoy the last days of spring

Paul

 =20

On June 20, 2016 at 7:02 AM Susann Myers <myerss@eastlink.ca =
<mailto:myerss@eastlink.ca> > wrote:=20

Pat McKay and I did some woods birding yesterday along the Old Mineville =
Road, a very quiet rough track that runs between West Porters Lake and =
Mineville, HRM.  In one area there were a lot of Golden-crowned Kinglet =
calls, and we saw a group of more than 4 kinglets flitting around in the =
woods together, feeding and calling.  We couldn't get a good enough look =
to confirm fledgling plumage, but this appeared to be a family group.=20

 =20

A little research confirmed that this is the right season for a first =
brood of fledglings to be out of the nest and moving about with their =
parents.  Tufts gives April 16 for the average start of nesting on =
Wolfville Ridge, and roughly mid-May for the completion of egg laying.  =
The Birders' Handbook indicates that incubation takes 14-15 days, and =
fledging another 14-19; it also indicates that this kinglet typically =
has 2 broods.=20

 =20

Also notable were a good showing of butterflies and a lack of other =
flying insects - no black flies, and the only mosquitoes that bothered =
us were at a salt marsh in the early morning, where we went to hear =
Sora.  Although the day became windy, there was no wind felt down at =
ground level in the woods.  Are other birders noting this absence of =
insecs?=20

 =20

Cheers,=20

Susann Myers=20

 =20

 =20


 =20


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