FROM THE NEW PRESIDENT

As the new president of the Natural History Society, I would like to thank Geoff Hogan, as out-going president, for all his hard work

over the past three years.

Geoff assures me that this "lofty" position is really quite easy to cope with, and if nothing else, it will build character: I look forward to having fun arranging field trips and interesting speakers

for the members' enjoyment.

As I don't have an adequate scientific background, I would hope that those members knowledgeable about various environmental concerns will continue to offer their time and energy and represent the NHS at the numerous committees, hearings, etc. Your work will be more than

appreciated:

The next few months will see some interesting speakers including our annual visit from Dr. Lawson Drake, who promises to entertain us with the "antics" of the grasshopper and its kin. I look forward to meeting many of you at the monthly meetings and hope that together we can accomplish as much as the past executive.

ures two downy woodpeck- ers - the female on the left and the male on the right. About 6%" long, the downy has a white back and front, with mainly black wings. The male has a small red patch at the back of his head. Found mainly in wooded areas.

JANE SYMMES AND THE EDITOR

Putting together this newsletter is something I look forward to. I hope the NHS members are enjoying it also. There seems to be a problem of timing with the newsletter that, if solved, would make it more useful to members. Ideally the newsletter should arrive in your mailbox about a week before the monthly meeting - for example, the March - April edition would arrive a week before the April meeting (to en- tice you to attend and keep you in— formed). That means that the final layout would have to be at the printer about March 12 and the copy would all have to be in by about March 7. You see the dilemma - it's the first of February and I'm just finishing the January - February issue, which will probably not get to members until near the end of the month. The weather and the bird counts were to blame for part of this delay, but I'm hOping that copy for the March — April issue will reach me before March 7 (that includes feeder reports) so that the newsletter can get back on schedule. Thank you for your help and a special thanks to all those who contributed to this is- sue. Please note that since Jane has taken over as president of the NHS, all newsletter material should be sent to my address on page 2.

GARY SCHNEIDER