'aRD REPORT .

Since the last newsletter winter has quietly slipped away and spring has made a dramatic return. With' open weather rapidly baring the countryside, feeders became of less importance early this year and most seem to have been discontinued by about the first of April. The break up of ice on rivers, bays and shorelines during the second week of April brought a rapid dispersal of wintering duck populations and opened feeding places for migrants of other species.

The Great Cormorants, some of which had wintered on the Island, were first reporte roosting at nesting sites on the Cape Tryon cliffs on Mar. 30 and the majority had arrived there ‘y Apr. h. Meanwhile their Double—crested cousins had to come from further south, the first vanguard appearing between Apr. h and 12. Early Great Blue Herons were seen at the Rustico Island heronry on Mar. 30 and soon showed up in small numbers at scattered sites around the Province. Migrating Canada Geese were first seen on Mar. 7. Concentrations peaked during the first few days of April and then quickly dispersed with ice break—up.

From mid March on small groups or pairs of Black Ducks, sometimes joined by Mallards, were seen frequenting small creeks and marshy estuaries and most had dispersed from wintering sites by early April. Meanwhile the earliest of the returning ducks, Pin— tail and Green-winged Teal were first reported in mid March. Goldeneye and Common Mergansers'had largely disappeared by the end of March, the latter replaced by their Red—breasted cousins in early April.

Some Iceland Gu_ls lingered at the ferries till :ii April, and a few Ring—billed . Gulls were Sighted from the end of March on. d .

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‘est nests of the season goes to two pairs of Rock Doves which were le e ni‘h u in cliff—side cave on Cane Tr‘on on Apr. & S - -

The earliest Robins were reported on Apr. 2 and by Apr were common

throughout. A wave of Red-winged Blackbirds came t‘e en than their cousins the Common Crackle which had appeared became numerous by the last week. Song Sparrows returned i April there seemed to be one singing on every fence pos

Holman Feeder at 153 North River Road in Charlottetown (Maximum 2“ be er a " one time from March h to April 1; species seen daily are starred*)-l i

on Mar. 9 (after unsuccessfully trying to capture a small bird at the feeder it perched in a nearby tree for 15 min. before flying off); 6 Rock Dove*, 2 DOwny Woodpecker*; 1 Common Crow (active nest building from Mar.22 on); S Black-capped Chickadee* on

Mar. 8; 20 Common Starling on Mar. 12 (usually 5 to lo); 20 to 25 House Soarrow* on

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Mar. 12 (usually 3 to 10); Common Crackle—2 on M r 2h, 5 on Mar. 29 and from then on daily in small groups of l to 5; Brown-headed Cowbird-2 on Mar.3, l on Mar. 9h a 2 on Mar. 31; 60 to TO Evening Grosbeak* on Mar. l0; 1 Pine Siskin on Mar. 2h‘ 3 MO American Goldfinch* on Mar. 10 (l on Mar. 9 note‘ to be moulting to summer :31

l Dark—eyed J‘inco on Mar. 29; 2 Song Snarrow“. .

-reported by Geoff Hogan.