PESTICIDE CONTAINER RECYCLING PROJECT by Thane Clark

A pilot recycling program initiated in mid-July has resulted in just over
15,000 empty pesticide containers being dropped off at four designated sites
across the Province (Miltonvale Park, Cardigan, O"leary, and St. Eleanors).
Cooperatively organized by the P.E.I. Departments of Agriculture and
Environment, as well as the Atlantic Council of the Crop Protection Institute,
the Potato Producers Association, and local pesticide dealers, interest and
participation by farmers who took advantage of the program was encouraging. Use
of the different sites was mixed with 95% of all containers collected at the two
Prince County sites.

This pilot program was funded by a per container charge collected from
members of the Crop Protection Institute (Atlantic Council) on 1992 agricultural
pesticide sales. The empty pesticide containers were inspected on site by a
project coordinator, who ensured that they were properly rinsed and contained no
residue. Containers found to have any pesticide residue or milky rinsate were
rejected. The containers have been chipped and will be shipped off-Island to
sites where they can be recycled into items such as fence posts or drainage
tile. An evaluation will be conducted by the P.E.I. Container Management
Committee to determine the feasibility of conducting a similar program on a
continuing basis.

ANIMAL AND PLANT SIGHTINGS

Twelve seals pulled out on ice at Hillsborough Bridge on Mar. 3 (BH); 1
coyote in field at Greenwich on Jan. 6 (GK); 1 skunk at Monticello on Mar. 17
(GeM); 1 Raccoon at Point Pleasant at 1250 hours on Mar. 21 (RC, JDM) and 3 at
Maple Hill on Mar. 23 at 1835 hours (JDM)

Numerous reports of various colour phases of the Red Fox being seen at
close range and even in mid-day. Explanations range from displacement from
deeper woods by coyote, coyote predation pressure, changes in food sources,
release of caged foxes a few years ago, and other explanations.

Cormorant - 1 on ice cake off Panmure Island on Mar. 21 (JDM, RC); Great Blue
Heron - 1 at Donaldston on Jan. 1 (JtR); Canada Geese - 1 at Ellen's Creek on
Mar. 2 (RC); 1 at North River on Mar. 20 (JB, SM, JDM); Snow Geese - 9 seen on
Mar. 13 near Cardigan (GK); Mallard - at North River Causeway on Feb. 6 (SM,
JB, JDM); Northern Pintail - 4 male and 4 female at Flat River and 1 male at
Point Pleasant (JDM, RC); Barrow’s Goldeneye - 8 males and at least 2 females,
one unpaired on Feb. 6, 3 on Mar. 20 and 1 Barrow's/Common hybrid at North River
on Mar. 20 (SM, JB, JDM); 3 females and 13 males at West River on Mar. 20 (SM,
JB, JDM); 1 male at Murray River, 4 males at McClure's Dam, and 1 male at
Cambridge on Mar. 21 (RC, JDM); Common Goldeneye - 600, mostly males at North
River Causeway on Feb. 6 and 200 (90%) males on Mar. 20 (SM, JB, JDM); 30 at
West River on Mar. 20 (SM, JB, JDM); Tufted Duck - First record at the North
River Causeway on Feb. 6th (SM, JB), photographic confirmations on Feb. 7 by SM
& WB, visual confirmations by RC & JDM; Oldsquaw - 1 diving in open water at
Trout River Bridge, Feb. 6 (SM, JB, JDM); Common Merganser - approx. 30 at North
River Causeway on Feb. 6 (SM, JB, JDM); 350 (60% males) at Montague on Mar. 21
(RC, JDM); Red-breasted Merganser - 100+ off Panmure Island on Mar. 21 (JDM,
RC); UID Hawk - large grey hawk was holding a struggling crow in a puddle in
Summerside (reported to GM); Northern Goshawk - 1 at Grandview on Feb. 4 (WM);
Red-tailed Hawk - 1 at Alberry Plains on Feb. 4 (WM); Rough-legged Hawk - 1 dark
phase at Fullerton's Marsh Mar. 16 (JDM); Bald Eagle - 1 at Souris on Jan. 19
(GeM); 1 adult eating a Black Duck on Feb. 4 at Vernon River (WM); 1 adult at
North River Causeway on Feb. 6 (JB, SM, JDM); 1 adult and 1 immature at

ee Hey