NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND P.O. BOX 2346, CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. ClA 8C1

MEETINGS are held of the ﬁrst Tuesday of the month (except July, August, and September) at 7:30 pm. at the Farm Centre, 420 University Avenue, Charlottetown. Members and non-members are welcome. Please bring your coffee cup so that we will contribute as little as possible to the waste stream.

Membership is open to anyone interested in the natural history of Prince Edward Island. Membership is available at any meeting or by contacting the Treasurer at PO. Box 2346, Charlottetown ClA 8C1 (phone 367-2251).

Annual membership is $16 and renewals are due in January. Membership expiry dates are shown in the top right hand comer of the mailing label.

The Society is directed by a volunteer Executive elected from its members.

2004 Executive: President ............................. ..Dwaine Oakley, Crossroads 569-1815 Vice-President .................. ..Ron Arvidson, South Melville 65 8-2566 Past President ....................... ..David Seeler, West Royalty 566-4505 Secretary ......................................... ..Fiep deBie, Stratford 569—1413 Treasurer .......................................... ..Arja Page, Stratford 367-2251 Director - Program ........... ..Eric Marcum, New Dominion 675-305 6 Director - Publicity ..................................... ..Sharon Clark 626-3566

NEWSLETTERS are normally published quarterly on recycled paper. Articles, notes, reports, drawings, bird sightings, plant records, etc. are welcomed from members and non-members. If you have seen anything unusual,

please share it with us. It is important to have your observations recorded so that others may learn from them. All contributions should be sent to:

Dan McAskill, Newsletter Editor, NHSPEI Charlottetown RR # 5, Donagh, P.E.I. ClA 7J8 E-mail: nhspei@isn.net The next deadline for articles, sightings, or other newsletter information is May 15‘“, 2004

Illustrations/Pictures: The Society extends a special thanks to the Ben Hoteling, Dwaine Oakley, Rudy Stocek, the late Hal Hinds, and Dover Colouring Books for their illustrations in this issue.

The Natural History Society gratefully acknowledges support from the Department of Education and Human Resources which enables distribution of newsletters to schools and libraries desiring it. The Natural History Society is an afﬁliate of the Canadian Nature Federation and has representation on the board of the Island Nature Trust. The Society is a registered, non-proﬁt organization (Part 2, Companies Act). Tax receipts are issued for donations to the Society and these funds are used to further the work of the Society.

Reprinting: Editors of other newsletters and teachers wishing to copy classroom materials are welcome to reprint articles from the Island Naturalist (except when copyrighted). Due acknowledgment must be provided to the Island Naturalist, the author and illustrator. Web page: The Society’s web page is located at www.isn.net/~nhspei

Cover Illustration:

The calls of Canada Geese are again being heard in various areas of the Island as pairs are setting up nesting areas and vocalizing around the nesting sites. The current Canada Geese nesting population on P.E.I. originates from the release of young from adults raised in captivity by individuals including the late Harold Jenkins. The creation of nesting islands and platforms seems to have enhanced the local population. Dr. Doug Sobey did note John Stewart’s 1806 book which indicated a few wild geese were nesting on RBI

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