The day concluded with a chance for individuals and groups to present their own local concerns and exchange ideas and strategies. Some of the issues raised were uranium exploration in Nova Scotia, Fundy tidal development proposals, and freshwater aquaculture. All participants agreed the day had been a most informative and beneficial exercise, and are looking forward to next year's meeting in Charlottetown. ~

CLOSE ENCOUNTER :5: u”. r:

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OF A HAPPY KlND

A "*2. a f E by Margaret E. Mallett, Charlottetown -: July 18, 1982. One of the most delightful -_-.-:-,?_'57fl/V,.D;.;'JZ fifl-z‘i; days of a glorious summer was beckoning us to Z {1pmg fiw.lhy°1,'rj;{ifi” 9“ Prince Edward Island's north shore. Packing a lg?” . lunch, we headed out to Brackley Beach and .‘g "' “ P’Eéfif‘”tf“ ‘ Rustico Island. ‘—*” - ..- Leaving the car in the last parking lot on’ n . Rustico Island, we walked out the sandspit on l’,,yC” ' z the remnant of the Gulf Shore Road that thus 7 /3/’ ,g f far has survived the ravages of the sea. At ?' yU/J . y I” hflflvi¢ the end of the paved roadway we became aware ofv ’ ’ f /1 filigy’waf” f¢f¢ M 17%;, v/l'ln’lr “5 I' " " l f / [I . 1/

. . . . . / f/T little voices of Piping Plover in the grass /4{/' ._w I U, ,Hg, TIA-Um 1/71/7’1'1/17‘Zl/ll,/ My;

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/ along the seaward side of the roadway, and we '1éz/ noticed several plovers moving about. ’fxf

On the beach below were two people near 1

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the road, and, out by the Gulf were two other ‘1 “ ‘53 ‘-—§:’V———§.’1;4>=t- persons near the water. Therefore the Piping :i'i‘fl/STLQO 3,47%: Plovers were hiding in the grass instead of __:-‘__ “" ‘”’ '- —:“" finding food out by the water's edge of the ‘;:——» ' ’T=> — ,,;:z: outside beach. “‘ —- ,w—~—:;“'

Now alert to the fact that we had invaded Piping Plover territory, we struck off across the few yards of grass down to the Rustico Bay beach. Looking back as we went, we were pleasantly surprised that the plovers obviously regarded us as three friendly giants, and were following us, at a discreet distance. We took off our shoes and began walking away in the water. Immediately the Piping Plovers-- two adults and four chicks-- came out of the grass and scattered along the shore of the bay to look for food-- although this was doubtless only a stopgap for their preferred feeding ground along the edge of the Gulf.

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ON PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND NATURAL HISTORY SPECIMENS. An inventory of Natural Science Specimens is being developed as as Island Studies Project by the Department of Extension at the University of Prince Edward Island. This project is an initial step in the possible development of a provincial natural sciences museum collection. We are interested in viewing preserved or mounted birds, mammals, insects, fish, plants, shells, fossils, and rocks from Prince Edward Island. If you have a collection or know of someone who dOes, please contact: Kathy Martin or Geoff Hogan, Biology Department, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, P.E.I. CIA 4P3 (phone 892-4121).

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