In recent years, between 80 and 100 species have been found by the Society's Birding Team.

UPEI SCIENCE FAIR NATURAL HISTORY AWARDS: by Ben Hoteling

Last spring, students from across the Island competed in science fairs at their schools. The students judged to have the best displays and presentations went on the regional competitions and the successful ones at that level went on to the UPEI Science Fair. In recent years, the Natural History Society has provided judges and prizes for a student display and presentation at the Senior, Intermediate, and Junior levels. This year, Tracey Brown and I had the joy of reviewing the displays and asking questions of the students. We awarded three prizes from the Society to the winners in each category. These were: Brittany Michael and Mary Jane Doucette of Charlottetown Rural High School for their display on Forest Measurement", Lilla MacDonald of Montague Intermediate School for her presentation on Buffer Zones; and Constance Holman of West Kent School in Charlottetown for Bird

Brain? Think Again, Colour Preference in Birds. Their teachers were Mike Fitzgerald, Paul Power, and Mrs. MacAuley.

NEWS FROM ABOUT: Compiled by J. Dan McAskill

Congratulations go out to Holland College's Ben Hoteling who was successful in achieving the certification of the College's Renewable Resource Management Program which he instructs. This certification from the North American Wildlife Technology Association recognizes the graduates as Wildlife Technologists.

Congratulations to the Hillsborough River Association who worked with the P.E.l. Department of Transportation and Public Works to have unique signage developed and placed at the access routes to the Island's only Canadian Heritage River.

Great news from Florida, at least 27 right whale calves were born last winter in Florida's coastal waters. This is more than all the right whale calves born in the past five years in this area. While two perished, this is still a great increase in calf production (adapted from Recovery, An Endangered Species Newsletter, June 2001)

Thanks to the leadership of Rosemary Curley as well as the commitment of many volunteers and staff, the P.E.I. Fish and Wildlife Division in conjunction with Bird Studies Canada launched owl surveys across the Island this past spring.

Shorebird population trends in Canada have been assessed using Breeding Bird Survey Data. The long term trends from 1966 to 1999 showed marginally significant declines in ten of thirteen species with the Killdeer, Lesser Yellowlegs, and Willet showing significant declines (-2.4%, -8.4% and -1.6% respectively). (adapted from Bird Trends #8. Winter 2001 ).

Congratulations to George Webster, a Middleton farmer, on his being the inaugural winner of the Honourable Gilbert Clements Award for Excellence in Sustainable Agriculture. Among other efforts, Mr. Webster is the Bedeque Bay Environmental Management Association's partner in the Maple Plains Agro- Environmental Demonstration Site (adapted from BBEMA newsletter, April 2001).

The Museum of Natural History staff are working with Nova Scotia students to collect the dates of natural seasonal phenomena such as the blooming of a type of flower or the first flight of Canada Geese in spring. This form of science is termed phenology i.e. the science of nature's cycles and the recording of these natural events. The dates observed this year will be compared to those recorded 100 years ago when the Dr. Alexander MacKay, the superintendent of education, had students across Nova Scotia record these events. For a preview of the MacKay project visit www.thousandeyes.ca (adapted from Blomidon Naturalists Society Vol. 28 #2, Summer 2001)

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