SOCIETY'S ANNUEL REPORT - 1995:

The Society's efforts in 1995 were led by the volunteer Executive composed of Ray Cooke (President), Mary Beth Harris (Vice-president), Jean Watts (Secretary), Alma Steeves (Treasurer), Meike Keunecke (Program Director), David Cairns (Publicity Director), and Barbara Currie (Past-president). Dan McAskill continued as Newsletter Editor and coordinator of the P.E.I. National Park, Hillsborough Christmas Bird Counts, and Bain Birdathon. Ruth Richman and Gary Schneider coordinated the Montague Christmas Bird Count. Donald Wilkinson judged the slide show and both wrote and illustrated the new birding column in the Island Naturalist while Linda Thomas and her family distributed the newsletter.

The Environmental Education program of the Society was very active. The monthly program started with the members night show of slides and natural history items. Our monthly speakers program featured: David Lemon (Kestrel Nest Box and Banding Program on P.E.I.); Jim Jenkins (Marine Mammal strandings and Policies); Scott MacDonald (Food Habits of the Eastern Coyote on P.E.I.); Fred Horne and the Hillsborough River Association's video; the members slide night with .... Dan Kennedy, and Diane Griffin of the Island Nature Trust winning; Brenda Penak on the Bedeque Bay Environmental Management Program; Tom Duffy (The Value of Island Wetlands); and Irene Novaczek (Ocean Life and Global Warming). In addition to these efforts, the Society participated in the Forestry Division’s open house, contributed prizes to the Wildlife Week radio program, contributed several issues of Island Wings to a school class for a project, coordinated three Christmas Bird Counts and two potlucks, participated in the P.E.I. Environmental Network’s Earthcare Fair, and published four issues of the Island Naturalist. The Society utilized its slide education collection to loan slides to Kate MacQuarrie and Dan McAskill for lectures and their book on trails.

Members were encouraged to participate in the International Migratory Bird Day and the Butterfly ( Count Day in July. Thanks to D.G.

Stewart for coordination of the former count results. The lack of autumn bird information and the need for natural areas funds led the Society and the Island Nature Trust to combine their efforts to host the first Autumn Birding Classic. This project raised just over $1,000 for the Trust as well as partnership funding monies for the Friends of Macphail.

The Society, aided by members and friends, assisted national efforts to create Federal Endangered Species legislation by attending workshops and contacting MPs. Efforts on the Piping Plover forefront were led by Neil and Sally Bennett this year. High tides, low numbers or returning Piping Plover, and disturbance led to disappointing fledging numbers outside the P.E.I. National Park.

Meike Keunecke and Kathy Sieg judged the exhibits at the U.P.E.I. Science Fair on behalf of the Society. One individual was selected for the quality of their presentation in each of the three age categories. The winners were: Wayne Sandler of Montague Junior High School on "The Tides on P.E.I."; Dale Burden of O'Leary Elementary on the Piping Plover; and Kevin McLennan and Daniel Murray of Queen Elizabeth Elementary "A Closer Look at Fish".

Charitable activities: thanks to contributors, the Society raised S 257 during its Bain Birdathon for contribution to the Island Nature Trust’s Natural Areas acquisition program and the Society’s bird records program; the Society contributed Audubon Field Notes to the U.P.E.I. Library. It contributed $ 100 to the Island Nature Trust's Natural Areas Honourary Deeds program to purchase natural areas.

The Cormorant control issue again heated up and the Society reviewed the information presented by the Fish and Wildlife Division. At a special meeting called on the issue, the Society led efforts to call for changes to control measures to alleviate the decline of the Great

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