Connecting Albert County - Connecting Albert County - Environment

BIRDS, Birds, Birds Day!

30/4/2023

by Jane Chrysostom

The collective noun for crows is murder! For owls it’s parliament, for eagles it's convocation; but what do you call a group of folks who gather to see, hear, and do all things about birds? We’re not sure, but there was a flock of them at the Harvey Hall greeting in April, and it was amazing!

With the proximity to the popular Mary’s Point Bird Sanctuary, the Harvey Hall’s event planning committee, Debbie James from Hopewell Cape and Jane Chrysostom from Alma, engaged artists, authors, presenters, speakers, exhibitors, sellers, organizations, cooks, and enthusiasts who came from all over New Brunswick to participate in the first BIRDS, Birds, birds Day! Lunch, door prizes, a captivating presentation by local naturalist Gordon Rattray in the morning, and another (with real, live hooting) in the afternoon by owl expert Denis Doucet, caught everyone’s attention and interest.

Christmas Bird Count in Fundy National Park

2/1/2023

by Dan Sinclair

More than 36 different bird species spotted as annual holiday tradition celebrates 58 years!
Birds are fascinating, fun to watch and an important part of our ecosystem. They are mobile and come in many shapes and sizes. Some even connect our hemispheres through their annual migrations.
Their sensitivity to changes in habitats and their environment make them important indicators of whether we are being good stewards of the planet.
Christmas Bird Counts engage bird enthusiasts of all ages to get outside and explore their love for nature while contributing to one of the world's oldest and most important wildlife censuses.
On Friday, December 16th 2022, Fundy National Park hosted its 58th annual Christmas Bird Count. Close to fifty participants explored, observed and counted birds throughout Fundy National Park and the village of Alma count area.
The day began with participants gathering at the Fundy National Park Salt and Fir Centre where they were divided into groups and sent off on specific counting routes.
Over 36 different species of birds were observed. Some of these included:
Black-capped chickadees, American Crows and Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers.
Some of the more interesting observations included: Boreal Chickadees, Northern Cardinals, a Winter Wren, and a Pileated Woodpecker. Even a Great Horned Owl was heard.
Birds were not the only observations made throughout the day. A raccoon, skunk and even a yellow-spotted salamander were seen.
In addition to groups venturing out into the park, a few participants stayed home and observed the activity at their feeders. These counts were submitted at the end of the day.
Observations and data recording contribute to identifying important long-term trends in winter bird communities.
Anyone wanting to participate in a bird count in the future is encouraged to find a count that is local to them. Visit
www.birdscanada.org for more info.

The Dreadful Route 114

30/8/2022

by Amanda Rossiter

The current condition of Route 114 is atrocious. There is no shoulder left on a significant portion of the road and it is down to one lane in several areas between the world famous Hopewell Rocks and Fundy National Park in Alma along New Brunswick’s most popular tourism area.

Take a Guided Tour to a Local Waterfall

29/7/2022

About the tours:
All tours leave a centrally appointed area in Moncton, New Brunswick on selected Fridays at 8:45am, with return to Moncton around 3:30 pm. Our secondary meeting location is Broadleaf Ranch (horse side) at 9:45am. Common elements you'll experience in every tour: 1 or 2 waterfalls, horses, introduction to local trails and other points of interest, a covered bridge, a bit of the history of the area, fun outdoor trivia and prizes, a maple treat and lunch at a local restaurant (cafe or bistro) with homemade, local cuisine. Your tour guide loves taking pictures to capture your special moments so don't forget to smile for the camera!

Clean Up at Greys Island Cemetery

29/7/2022

by Don Bowman

Mysterious things keep happening at and around the Greys Island Cemetery. One mystery about the place of rest; established in 1825, is its name. It was founded on Grays Island Road and mistakenly a plaque at the front gate is labeled Gray’s Island Cemetery rather than Greys Island Cemetery. Recently, the head of the white marble monument, built in memory of Jennie Steeves, was returned to the cemetery. The monument is scheduled to be restored to its original state and will remain a centerpiece to the myth of the Greys Island Ghost hauntings.

Garden of Salem

30/3/2022

by Kris Buck

The Garden of Salem community garden aims to cultivate community while helping others cultivate plants to fill hungry bellies. This is accomplished by building community food production capacity through partnerships and networks within the Albert County community. Over the past couple of years, the cost of food has risen as our sense of community has decreased. Participation in a community garden can help solve both problems. For example, during the COVID 19 pandemic, The Garden of Salem community garden provided a safe and peaceful meeting place for people to gather, build relationships, learn, have fun, and grow nutritious food for themselves, their families and the local food bank. In 2021, together we grew approximately 300 pounds of food to give to the Shepody Food Bank.

Farm Plastic Recycling Project

27/2/2022

by Angela MacDougall

Finally, a solution to plastic waste. We are really excited to be working with a new business, right here in New Brunswick, to reduce farm plastics like greenhouse poly, silage tarps, potting mix bags, feed sacks, bale wrap, etc.

Plaex Building Systems Inc., in Chipman, NB, is now collecting plastics that they recycle into building bricks for construction. We will be working with them as a drop-off/pick-up location for plastics to be recycled.

Why the Leaves Change Colour

24/11/2021

By Michael Elliott

A lot of people find solace in the beautiful colours of the fall. They walk their favourite trails, or travel to their favourite lookout points to admire the shades of red, orange and yellow. Few ponder the question why the leaves change colour.

When fall comes, it gets a little bit colder and windier. The leaves can’t hold on to their precious branches any more and fall to the ground, giving way to one of the most satisfying noises in human history: the leaf crunch. But have you ever thought about why this happens?

It’s actually quite simple!

Shepody River Paddling Routes

27/7/2021

Check out the paddling routes along the Shepody River outside Riverside-Albert, NB. Note, take care when paddling - the wind can come up quickly and create strong currents.
The map was provided by Crooked Creek Convenience in Riverside-Albert.

Experience Fundy Tides and Explore Albert County

27/7/2021

By Janet Wallace
While walking on a sandy beach, you pause and look up at the sea cliffs. Seaweed, still glistening with seawater, hangs from the rocky outcrops far above your head. Welcome to the Bay of Fundy!

You read the stats about the greatest tides in the world, but it’s hard to fully appreciate what the numbers mean until you are on the shores of the Bay of the Fundy. You can walk on the ocean floor and just six hours later, kayak over the same spot, your footsteps covered by up to 15 m (50 feet) of cold seawater.

Glass Recycling

25/6/2021

Help keep glass out of the landfill.

You can give your glass a second life and help keep it out of the landfill by bringing it to be recycled. If you have clean glass, separate it into clear and coloured glass, and bring it to the new drop-off at the Riverside-Albert Rec. Centre (9 Bicentennial Dr). Drop off the glass whenever you’re going by.

That Tree

22/4/2021

By Moranda Van Geest

It has been standing there, rooted in that same spot. She is beautiful during any season of the year. She is a large apple tree with a massive trunk. When I spoke ten years ago to someone who was then eighty years old, he mentioned that this tree was big when he was a little boy. How old this tree is, we don't know, but we are sure she is pushing the century mark. It might not be so significant for a tree to be a century old, you might think. However, this tree was planted by someone to produce food. Food for winter. Yes, she produces apples. These apples carry the name of Bethel. An old variety. They are winter apples you can store during the winter.

When I say she is big, large, tall -- all this is true. She is so tall, when you have a 24-foot ladder, you cannot reach her upper branches. Her trunk has a circumference so large that you cannot touch your fingers if you try to put your arms around her.

Alma Knotweed Eradication Project

22/4/2021

By Keith MacCallum

Do you have this big, leafy plant in your yard that doesn’t seem to die, no matter what you do? Guardian Ecology, a new Albert County- based non-profit wants to take care of it for you.

Knotweed (Fallopia spp.) is an invasive plant species; it’s not from Canada and is taking over many of our natural ecosystems. It grows quickly on freshly dug soil and spreads easily to new places. Its root system – called rhizomes -can grow two metres deep and several metres out from the central plant. Unlike most plants, knotweed loves to be disturbed. It can grow from pieces of its roots or stem that are as small as your little fingernail; this allows it to spread by accident very easily. The root system stores a lot of the plant’s energy, meaning it’ll come back year after year. The roots also break very easily, so having knotweed along a riverbank can actually make erosion worse even though the roots grow deeply. When it arrives in a new area, it creates dense patches that stop other plants from being able to grow.

Profile of the Black-capped Chickadee

21/2/2021

Photo by Denis Doucet

By Michael Elliot

It’s cold outside and that means that we are bundling up in winter coats, wearing mittens and tightening face masks to keep ourselves warm. That’s all well and good for humans, but what about our winged friends out in nature? They can’t exactly shop the latest trends in fashion as easily as we can.

Everybody knows the birds that fly south for the winter (do you blame them?). Every fall we see that familiar V-formation in the air, with geese honking their way towards warmer winds. But what about those birds that stick around with us all winter long? How do they stay warm? Let’s look no further than our very own provincial bird: the Black-capped chickadee. Not only is it arguably the cutest bird in the province, it is also a master at surviving the winter.

Protecting Our Wild Areas

19/1/2021

By Jennifer Dingman

In 2007, UNESCO through the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) program, designated the upper Bay of Fundy as an important and unique ecoregion of the world. Through this prestigious
designation, the Fundy Biosphere Reserve and its partners work to improve biodiversity conservation, help create sustainable communities, and celebrate the cultural diversity and rich
history shaped by the landscape.

Timber Harvest on Shepody Mountain

14/1/2021

Main access trail to the summit of Shepody Mountain (photo D. Carr)

By Deborah Carr

One year ago, during a crowded public meeting to discuss the community’s nomination of Shepody Mountain as a Protected Natural Area (PNA) under the province’s new initiative to increase conservation areas to 10%, Minister Mike Holland surprised the audience when he announced the full 700 ha (1730 acres) of Crown land nominated would be protected.

At the time, he also advised that before the land could be designated as a PNA, JD Irving would be allowed to continue a previously approved select timber harvest of approximately 20 hectares (50 acres), which was a reduction from their original plan to cut 37 hectares (92 acres).

Tips for Fall Prevention While Hiking During Winter Months

29/12/2020

By Sarah Lord of Women of the Wilderness (WOW)

1. Buy a good pair of ice cleats that fit your outdoor boots well (something with teeth rather than pegs or coils...see image and try ice cleats on the boot you'll be wearing before buying). *

2. Don't take short cuts -- take the long way around if it is safer.

3. Use hiking poles.

4. Make sure your path is well illuminated; use a good headlamp.

5. If descending, lower your center of gravity to the ground and, if necessary, slide on your bum.

6. Take your time. Don't be in a hurry.

Looking to connect with the Women of the Wilderness?
We welcome women of Southeastern NB who love to hike, camp, and spend time in nature. Look up Women of the Wilderness (WOW) on Facebook, answer a few simple questions, and we hope to see you soon.

* CAC: These are available at various stores including the Albert County Pharmacy in Riverside-Albert.

Blue carbon: the climate change solution you’ve probably never heard of

20/11/2020

Image by Kat Hallett

This article by Stephanie Wood is reprinted with permission from The Narwhal.

Gail Chmura, a professor at McGill University, had recently joined the school’s geography department in the late 1990s when some of her colleagues were trying to solve a mystery. They were looking at global carbon budgets, and the numbers weren’t adding up. There was a missing carbon sink, sequestering a whole lot of carbon, and nobody knew what it was. They wondered if Canada’s peatlands were part of the missing sink.

Meanwhile, Chmura was sampling salt marshes in the Bay of Fundy, which spans between New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Few people had paid salt marshes any attention as carbon sinks because the data showed pretty low levels of carbon at first glance. But Chmura had a lightbulb moment.

Nature Corner

25/10/2020

Image by Denis Doucet

By Denis Doucet

Blue Jays' fondness for acorns and their remarkable ability to choose those that have not been infested with weevils is thought to have contributed in a significant way to the spread of oaks across North America after the most recent ice age!

Autumn Dragonflies

23/9/2020

Text and Images by Denis Doucet

This time of year, I'm often asked "What's that little red dragonfly that is so common these days?"

"Probably a kind of Meadowhawk, I answer".
Indeed, some folks are surprised to learn there are actually several kinds.

Cape Enrage~ A glimpse of the past

10/8/2020

By Janet Wallace
Imagine you’re at the beach at Cape Enrage. Now, time rolls back 320 million years. There is no Bay of Fundy. Instead, you’re in a forest. Plants like gigantic horsetails and club moss tower overhead. You feel the rush of air as a giant dragonfly zips by. A three-foot long millipede-like creature slithers past you. The moment when the millipede-like creature walked on wet mud has been frozen in time.

Tide tables for Alma, Cape Enrage and Hopewell

29/7/2020

In the Upper Bay of Fundy, the tidal range is incredible -- the difference in height from low to high tide is equivalent of a four story building. And all that water flows in just about six hours. Knowing whether the tide is coming in or out is essential to safely enjoy time on the shores.

Check out the Tide charts for Albert County, NB.

Herring Cove, Fundy National Park
Cape Enrage
Grindstone Island (near Mary's Point)
Hopewell Cape (Hopewell Rocks)

The Magical Moths of Albert County

29/6/2020

Rosy maple moth

By Jennifer Shelby

When people think of moths, they often think of the butterfly’s drab cousin or the annoying pests who gnaw on their wool. They may not realize that Albert County is home to some spectacular moths.

While this list is by no means definitive, I’d like to introduce you to three of my favourite moths: the Rosy Maple moth, the Cecropia moth, and the Luna moth.

Trails Along Routes 114 and 915

30/5/2020

You don't have to go far for a walk...check out the village trails.

See more including our interactive trail map at www.connectingalbertcounty.org/trails

(Picture of Hillsborough Lake Marsh Trail by Annick Butland.)

Fundy National Park Trails

30/5/2020

Maps of Fundy National Park (FNP) are available at both park gates, the Visitor Centre and other locations within FNP. Also, find more details about the trails at www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/nb/fundy/activ/sentiers-trails