of our Maritime species and sites. Under the strict criteria of this program which ranks internationally important sites at the population level, no Island sites were listed.

Rosemary Curley raised the concept of a Butterfly Atlas for Prince Edward Island. This atlas project could be conducted in a similar manner as the bird atlas with sightings recorded by square or samples could be collected, conserved according to set instructions, and sent in for identification. If you would be interested in such a project, please contact Rosemary at 368-4807.

How long does it take a Peregrine Falcon to migrate 1,400 km south? An Alberta Peregrine covered the distance between her nest near Robertson Lake, Alberta to 80 km south of Veracruz, Mexico. Satellite tracking of one Peregrine showed only three days. (adapted from TFN 473:25 article originating in London Free Press Sept. 27/97)

The Texans are off and running again! Tourism officials in Texas have started a birding trail contest which promises to become a yearly event. An 800 km automobile route from Port Arthur down the coast to Brownsville, then up the Rio Grande has been designated the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail. When complete, it will feature over 300 prime birding sites and a potential 400 species. (adapted from a Globe and Mail article by Gene & Adele Malott which Dave Stewart forwarded)

For the internet literate try the BirdSource site which is sponsored by National Audubon Society, Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Canadian Nature Federation, and others. http://birdsource.cornell.edu

The world of ecological monitoring, especially monitoring that attempts to interpret population changes and the reasons for them is very interesting to some people. Dr. Thomas Nudds of the University of Guelph recently looked at integrated monitoring and analysis of duck declines. This work showed that where duck populations declines exist over the level that can be attributed to climate change that these declines are in proportion to the amount of agricultural land use and not as a result of nest predation (adapted from Canadian Global Change Program 8(1) 1997).

The news is not all good unfortunately. Loons from the Kejimkujik area tested with the highest levels of blood mercury of any tested ’ population in North America. Fortunately this finding (1995) comes with enough notice that efforts are being made to identify methods of circumventing wide spread population impacts. (excerpt from Blomidon Naturalists Society Vol. 24 #4 article by J.J. Nocera)

QLF’S CARING FOR THE EARTH AWARD

Ted Winter of Trepassey, Newfoundland is the 1997 recipient of the Quebec-Labrador Foundation (QLF) 4

Caring for the Earth Award. Created in 1995, this A<f! annual award recognizes persons in eastern Canada and

New England who demonstrate outstanding leadership, I:: service, and dedication to the field of conservation

and sustainable development.