It sets about three hours after sunset. It will remain in this part of the sky until the end of July when it races ahead of Earth, passing between us and the Sun in late August.

March through May Saturn resembles a bright, yellowish, steady (non- twinkling) star to the unaided eye. In late March it is high in the western sky during the eveningand, with two stars above it, forms a narrow isosceles triangle in the night sky. On May 23rd Saturn will pass Venus. For a few evenings on either side of this date these two planets will form a pretty, star-like pair in the western sky.

May 5 through May 22 Mercury, the closest planet to the Sun, will be visible low in the western sky about an hour after sunset. Few people have seen Mercury; however, during the middle of May it will be easily visible if one has an unobstructed View of the western horizon. It will resemblea bright star near the edge of the last of twilight.

May 25 (1:00 a.m. to 4:30 a.m. ADT) A total eclipse of the Moon will take place early on this Sunday morning. The Moon begins to enter Earth's shadow at midnight but will not dim noticeably until near 1 a.m. It will be completely in the shadow from 2:03 a.m. until 3:33 a.m. The totally exlipsed'Moon'is one of the most beautiful astronomical sights, especially when viewed through a pair of binoculars. The last total lunar eclipse visible from Nova Scotia was over three yearsago and was partly obscured by clouds; how- ever, if you are unfortunate enough to miss the May eclipse because of clouds or badly needed sleep, there will be another one in the early evening of November 10. ** Roy L. Bishop

‘ Revised from Blomidon Naturalists Society Newsletter March 1975

Some Views on Island Wildlife

Many people when they discuss wildlife, whether they are sportsmen, naturalists or just interested, tend to consider numbers of wildlife as continually declining, perhaps as a result of man's activities. Populations do fluctuate seasonally and in some cases cycle over a number of years. Wildlife populations are highest just after the young are born and lowest just before this period. Weather conditions may obscure impressions gathered from observing wild life. For instance, deep snow conditions improvechances of sighting hungarian partridge and in early spring snowshoe hare are often seen in great abundance along roadway and field edges, feeding on grasses. During this time, hare populations are actually at the lowest level intheir annual cycle. Hence high populations of hungarian partridge may go unobserved during a mild winter and a relatively low population of snowshoe hare may appear abundant in spring.

Consider the good old days when this Island was unSpoiled by man and forests reached maturity unthreatened by the axe. Imagine the wildlife which must have flourished! Think of the wildlife you would see in a large expanse of mature wood: maybe some red squirrels and chickadees, but not much else. On occassion, grouse or hare may travel through such a situation but they never flourish under such conditions. When forests are harvested, vegetation regenerates in the form of diverse young growth providing food and cover. the "edge effect" created by forest cutting and land clearing is very important tovdldlife. Man's activities have altered and improved the habitat for upland game and farm—associated wildlife. Hungarian partridge which were introduced in the late 1920's could never have flourished had it not been forthe intensive farming which altered the landscape. Other animals, common on or near P.E.I. farmland, are fox, native grouse, racoon, and Skunk. The latter two were introduced and could not have been successful in a forested landscape. Farming and forestry practices will only remain compatible with these upland animals if a diverse landscape is maintained.