NEWSLETTER NO. 39 APRIL 1979

NEXT MEETING

Time: 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, April 3, 1979 Place: Provincial Health Building, 3rd floor, Room 47 Program: David Cairns has just recently returned from

a four month jaunt around the world. He will

treat us to a showing of slides from Australia and New Zealand.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

NATURE SLIDE COMPETITION - Bring up to 10 nature slides per member to the April_meeting; or leave them at

53 Fitzroy Street, Charlottetown before Arpil 17. All entries will be shown at the May meeting. Prizes are being offered. Good care will be taken of your slides and they will be returned after the meeting.

One of our members, Mr. Wvlie Barrett, reports birds seen in March, 1979 at his feeder in New Dominion: a Mourning Dove (from March 8 to March 16); 4 Downy Woodpeckers; a pair of Hairy Woodpeckers; Boreal Chickadees (interested in pork fat); Black-capped Chickadees (sunflower seed and pork fat); Red- breasted Nuthatch (pork fat); Blue Jays, up to 30 at one

time (sunflower seeds); Evening Grosbeak, up to seven at one time; two Dark—eyed Juncos; two or three Crows; five House Sparrows.

The pork mentioned is raw fat with rind. When nailed to a tree, it remains secure while the birds feed on it.

The Second Annual Francis Bain Birdathon will be held on May 26 or May 27, 1979. Our first birdathon was a tremendous success in terms of raising money for the 1978 Canadian Nature Federation conference, in accumulating knowledge about resident and migrating bird species in late spring, and also in terms of getting naturalists out to do some useful and enjoyable birding. If you would like to participate this year, by doing an area

of your own or by accompanying a team already established, contact one of the Natural History Society executive or

David Smith, birdathon coordinator, Newton, Prince Edward Island David's phone number is 887-2057. Everyone is welcome to v participate. Teams of birders will be distributed throughout the Island.