Dr. Peter Pearce was awarded a Gulf of Maine

Visionary Award for his long term his work in

environmental education with the Federation of New

Brunswick Naturalists and his research on wildlife . I toxicology with the Canadian Wildlife Service.

(Adapted from Turning the Tide, Oct/92) Another New Brunswicker and friend of the

Society has also won an award for his achievements,

namely, Hal Hinds. Hal won the Milton F. Gregg award,

the most prestigious award for conservation offered by the Conservation Council of New Brunswick. (adapted from Brenda Penak’s CNF report at Dec. 7 Society meeting)

A new raptor migration hot spot has been discovered through the efforts of teams from the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, Hakaatch International, and Ecosfera. Over 2.5 million birds including 900,000 Broad-winged Hawks and 400,000 Swainson’s Hawks were documented using this corridor between the Sierra Madres and the Gulf of Mexico near Veracruz during the September lst to November 15th period. (adapted from Birds of the Wild, Spring 1993 issue).

An alert has been issued to check Bald Eagles for the presence of a 0.8. Fish and Wildlife Band on one led and a bluish-purple or black band on the other. Over 600 of these birds were marked in Michigan and birders are asked to report sightings to the Bird Banding Lab, Laurel, Maryland 20708 (301—498—0403) and to Sergei Postupalsky, 1817 Simpson, Apt. 201, Madison, Wisconsin 53713 (608-221-8228). (adapted from "Birding Briefs" in Birder’s World, April 1993).

AWARD

THE TELEPHONE RINGS by Elsie Cannon .

On November 29th, 1993 we received a telephone call around 0830 from Dave Harbord who had rescued a bird from a very muddy area beside a construction site on Water Street East in the Wilmot area (adjoining Summerside). He described the bird to us but, having no idea what it was, we left immediately to have a look. We still had no idea so we started thumbing through Roger Tory Peterson’s Guide to the Birds East of the Rockies; and there it was - a Leach's Storm Petrel! What was so interesting about it was the Petrel’s "tubed bill". We had never seen this before or this species.

Lloyd took a couple of pictures of it and we then transported the tired bird down to the shore which was close by. We tucked him into a sheltered spot as the winds were high off the harbour. By this time, the petrel was almost standing.

This was not the end of the story! On the way home, we stopped to have coffee and a muffin as breakfast was skipped. Half way through our coffee, in walked Les and Joan Homans, avid bird watchers! Having finished our coffees, we all went back to the shore to check the petrel but he had departed. Needless to say, the Homans were quite disappointed in having missed this

petrel . . The evening before, there were very high winds all night long. We felt it must have been blown off course.