familiar with the distinguishing features for separating the Whimbrel and the Eskimo Curlew, watched a curlew for an hour and noted the key distinguishing features. Unfortunately, they did not have a camera to record the sighting for scientific confirmation that the species is not extinct

Its been 18 years since a condor egg laid in the wild was batched in the wild. This spring, it happened at the Los Padres National Forest in Ventura County of California. The parents were reared in captivity but were released in 1995. (Adapted from www.ens-news.conr/ens/am2002/20021-04-16-07 .html and forwarded by FRC)

The Island’s newest culture and nature interpretation centre opened at Murray River on June 8‘”, 2002. The Interpretive Centre of the Eagles View Golf and Interpretive Centre features a equal blend of cultural and natural history. The natural history side includes a bird identification centre (books and audio CD) for self training, a shell display, illustrations of some of the plants and animals of estuaries and fresh water ponds, panels on local plants, amphibians, birds, mammals, habitats and much more. One of two interpretive trails is now open and it extends from the centre to run along side MacLure’s Pond and onto the bridge spanning the pond before returning to the Interpretive Centre.

The Island Nature Trust has been very busy this year raising the necessary ftmds to purchase Bird Island. This wooded island is located in the northwestern corner of Malpeque Bay. The Trust is buying the entire 200 acre island for $171,500 and must complete the fund raising by March 31, 2003. The Nature Conservancy of Canada and the Eastern Habitat Joint Venture together have agreed to contribute just over 50% of the total purchase price. The EJLB Foundation and McCain Foundation have also confirmed their financial support. The Trust’s challenge is to raise the balance and complete the purchase before the end of the year. You can help, see the article below on the Neil Bennett Autumn Birding Classic Fund Raiser. (Adapted from Island Nature Trust information)

Congratulations go to plant ecologist and historian Dr. Doug Sobey and to the Dingwell’s family farm “Modhaiedh Farms” at Morell on winning Hon. J. Angus Maclean Natural Areas Awards for 2002. (adapted from Island Nature Trust Update, July 2002).

THE BAIN BIRD COUNT 2002: by Dwaine Oakley, David Seeler, Eric Marcum, & J. Dan McAskill

Two birding teams provided reports on this year‘s Bain Bird Count held on May 25th. Gerald, Eugene, Martha, Richard, and Carolyn MacDonald, Jean Watts, Paul and Arlene McGuigan made up the first team in northeastern Prince Edward Island. Dwaine Oakley, David Seeler, and Eric Marcum formed the second team and traveled to Peakes and Morell to try some owling, then on to Little Harbour for the rails and bittem. East Point was next for seabirds, then along the North Shore and Route 303 for woodland birds and warblers, back through Souris for gulls at the lagoon and wharf before heading west to St. Peter's Harbour, Mount Stewart for marsh ducks, Pisquid River where we got the Great Egret, then on to Covehead for shorebirds, finally ending up at the Charlottetown Airport for Upland Sandpiper and the last bird of the day an American Kestrel which was perched on a runway marker.

The weather was variable with rain and wind in the early morning. This team got rained out in Peakes and Morell while owling but the weather then gave way to clear skies and sun by the time they reached East Point at sunrise. Temperatures were cool until lunch time. One of highlights was the very aggressive response of a Sora to it‘s taped call with the rail charging the tape recorder on two separate occasions. The time frame for the birding was between 3:30 am and 9:00 pm. Together, the two teams seen 112 species.

Common Loon Pied-billed Grebe Northern Gannet Great Cormorant Double-crested Cormorant American Bittem Great Egret Great Blue Heron Canada Goose