of the areas in which the presence of the Stemless Lady’s Slipper has been recorded.

PIPING PLOVBR MONITORING PROGRAM by P.E.I. National Park & Parks and Peoples Association Inc.

The purpose of the 1993 Piping Plover Monitoring Program was to monitor, protect and document all Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) activities in Prince Edward Island National Park (PEINP), commencing with the arrival of the birds through to the fledging of the young. Management measures include closing and patrolling areas, erecting nest exclosures, and performing flood and sand rescues.

The five main study areas were Cavendish Sandspit, Rustico Island Sandspit, Rustico Island Causeway, Covehead, and Blooming Point. All Piping Plover breeding areas in PEINP were monitored daily.

In 1993 there were 56 nesting attempts by 21 nesting pair. Six nests (10.7 %) were successful and 12 chicks fledged, for a fledging success rate of 0.6 chicks per nesting pair. This was the lowest fledging rate ever recorded in PEINP (1981 — 1993). Fifty nests were unsuccessful. The causes of nest loss included flooding (21 nests), predation (8 nests), drifting sand (9 nests), eggs abandoned due to unknown causes (7 nests), eggs missing due to unknown causes (3 nests), multiple disturbances (1 nest), and avian disturbances (1 nest).

It is suggested that this monitoring program be continued with the recommendations implemented.

Editor's Note — The Piping Plover protection program of the P.E.I. National Park has been one of the primary reasons for the survival of this plover on the Island.

BBTHING OSPREY by D.G. Stewart

Yesterday (August 8th), a lovely day when all sensible souls were at the beach, I decided to take a walk through the Valleyfield Demonstration Woodlot. Except for a couple of Wood Peewees, the ubiquitous chickadees, and a cock Gray Partridge who was quite indignant about my being around his chicks, the walk was unrewarding as far as birding was concerned.

Later, however, as I crossed the Valleyfield River, I looked about 200 meters upstream and saw an Osprey having a bath. The process was being watched with some interest by a pair of Black Ducks with a few almost fully grown young ones. The Osprey was up to its belly in the water and was splashing away with its wings and appeared to be having a very pleasant time. Finally one of the young ducks, perhaps thinking that public bathing by a raptor was unsuitable conduct, swam over closer, and gave a few indignant squawks. Whereupon, the Osprey took wing, circled the area a few times, then landed in water almost up to its neck to continue its ablations. The ducks turned their backs and swam slowly away in apparent disgust. After having completed what was necessary, the Osprey once again took off, shook the water off in a great shower near the vicinity of the ducks, and flew off in a leisurely fashion.

The remainder of the day was uneventful.