NATURAL HISTORY UPDATE

FEBRUARY MEETING: The meeting was held Feb. 5 at the Public Health
Building. After the usual reports from Dan McAskill (CNF), Pat Doyle
(INT), Rosemary Curley (CEN) and Evelyn Meader (Acid Rain), there were
several discussions about logging the virgin forest on Moresby Island
in B.C., CWS financial cuts, and (closer to home) the fishermen of PEI
wanting to have open season on cormorants. Geoff Hogan outlined the
"plan of attack" to hopefully prevent any change in legislation regard-
ing the cormorants' protected status and has sent letters to the prov.
Minister of Cultural and Community Affairs George McMahon and copies

to Fish and Wildlife. The field trip to Potts Sleigh Ride in Bonshaw
was held Sat., Feb. 16 at 3 p.m. It was a great day for a ride, despite
the "speedy” horse pulling the sleigh. The speaker for the evening was
Rosemary Curley, who gave us a rather soggy view of the Saint John .
River in full spring flood last year during her work with a Ducks Un-
limited project. Thanks, Rosie.

MARCH MEETING: The March meeting was not held unitl March 12 due to
bad weather the previous week. Geoff Hogan gave an update on the cor-
morant situation. The provincial minister responsible (George McMahon)
has said he would like to see further studies of their feeding habits
before changing the legislation. Dan McAskill gave a report on CNF's
financial status - the members voted to send $100 donation to CNF to
help defray costs. Regarding the Moresby Island, CNF is involved with
other groups in trying to save the natural area but the area is strict-
ly a provincial one (cutting rights, etc.) and the provincial govern-
ment and MacMillan-Bloedel have strong voices. Direct any letters of
protest to Premier William Bennett and the MacMillan-Bloedel Corp.

Dan also suggested that if PEI wishes to host a CNF annual meeting in
1989 (NHS's centennial year) then it would be advisable to start plan-
ning now. The Island Nature Trust will be drawing the winning lottery
tickets on March 15 and the fund-raising dinner is planned for April

12 with Charlie Farquharson as speaker. Tickets are available for $25
from INT members. At the public meeting held in February, INT learned
the best way to change the environmental curriculum in schools was to
talk to school principals who have the most influence within the °> =-
schools. The Canadian Coalition on Acid Rain will be getting a $50
membership renewal from NHS to help keep the supply of news releases,
etc. coming - Evelyn had a substantial amount of items from the group.
Barb MacDonald gave an informative presentation on the Galapagos Is.
including slides of the fauna and flora - particularly the iguanas of
the archipelago. Thanks, Barb for a most enjoyable evening. It certain-
ly enlightened us as to what the islands are like.

Anyone interested in receiving a complimentary issue of "Birdfinding
in Canada" please send your name and mailing address to Jane Symmes,
Box 1716, Charlottetown, ‘CliA: 7N4.°\1 "11 ‘forward the list. to: the "publi-
cation. The monthly newsletter covers bird sightings from coast-to-
coast, including a section called "Birding the TCH" describing routes
to birding hot-spots along the way, articles such as Pembroke Swallow
Roost, September on the Golden Horseshoe - interesting reading to avid
birdwatchers. Please send info as soon as possible - preferably by the
end of April (for forwarding).

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