NEWSLETTER NO. 36 JANUARY, 1979

NEXT MEETING

Time: 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, January 9, 1979

Place: Provincial Health Building, 3rd floor, Room 47

Program: Kathy Martin will present an illustrated talk on "The Natural History of the Bedeque Area". Plants and animals on the Dunk and Wilmot Watersheds will be discussed as wellas some recent changes on the landscape.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Membershi fees are due now for 1979. We would like everyone to renew their memgership within the first two months of 1979. Membership rates are as follows: Regular - $3.00; Student - $1.00; Family — $4.00.

The 1979 Annual General Meeting of the Natural History Society will be held’at the January meeting. We will have the announcement of new officers to the Natural History Society executive and a financial report.

Committee Reports will also be given at the Annual General Meeting. The following people will be asked to outline the activities of their committees over the past year:

Kathy Martin — Canadian Nature Federation, representative director Gail Curry - Environmental Advisory Committee

Rosemary Curley - Deroche Point, The Island Nature Trust

Kathy Martin - Natural Areas Advisory Committee

Christmas Bird Count Report 1978

Once again the P.E.I. Natural History Society organized two local Christmas Bird Counts, following the guidelines laid out by the National Audubon Society of New York. The P.E.I. National Park Count held on December 16 turned out to be highly successful. No doubt the mild and pleasant weather of the day had something to do with the 36 species and 5227+ individuals recorded, up considerably from the 30 species and 4213 individuals seen in 1977. Some of the more unusual birds sighted included Mourning Doves, Northern Shrikes and a Rusty Blackbird.

Weather on December 30 was less than ideal for the Hillsborough Count. Blowing snow in the morning and high winds throughout the day kept birds under cover and out of sight. Nevertheless a creditable 28 species and 6101+ individuals were discovered (as compared to the 30 species and 4213 individuals of 1977). The specialty of the day was a Mockingbird, a species not previously recorded on Christmas counts.

Special thanks to all participants and to Kathy Martin, and Lenore and Roger Andrew for opening their homes to the crew of tired and hungry counters at the close of a long day in the field.

P.E.I. National Park Count December 16, 1978 — 36 species, 5227+ individuals. Total party miles 352 1/2 (15 1/2 mi. on foot, 337 mi. by car). Total party hours 45 1/2 (11 hr. on foot, 32 l/2 hr. by car, 2 hr. stationary). Species seen during count period but not on count day: Brown-headed Cowbird. Participants: Judi Allen, Bill Bowerbank,

Winifred Cairns, Rosemary Curley, Winston Johnston, Margaret Mallett, Clare Martin, Kathy Martin, Dan McAskill, Ruth Ross, David Smith,

Mary Willms (12 observers in 7 parties).