Chickadee Pudding

1 1/2 c. melted suet (melt & cool to lukewarm) 2 tbsp. peanut butter

1 1/2 c. dry bread crumbs

1/2 c. oatmeal

1/2 c. graham flour

1/2 c. sugar

l/2 c. millet seed

1/2 c. peanut hearts

Sometimes I add budgie seed or mixed bird seed for the last two ingredients. If the ingredients are added when the suet is lukewarm, it's firm enough to form into a ball which can be put in the fridge to harden. After, it may be put in a net bag such as those small plastic net onion bags and hung on a tree high enough so a dog can't jump and reach it.

This recipe was submitted by Lenore Andrew from Montague. It was one she used when she was in Ontario. She also wrote: "When I was helping with the Guelph Junior Naturalists Club, we bought bulk bird seed and sold it to raise money for the club. Would this be a possibility for the P.E.I. Natural History Society?"

Oulton's Island Appeal

The Natural Areas Advisory Committee (NAAC) has launched an appeal to the Land Use Commission in which it opposes the decision of the Land Use Service Center to grant "approval in principle" to a proposed cottage subdivision development on Oulton's Island. The Natural History Society discussed this proposed development at the November meeting and voted to support the stand taken by NAAC. It was decided that representatives from the Natural History Society would attend the hearing and table a brief. Several points of opposition in this brief will focus on the fact that Oulton's Island has the largest Great Blue Heron colony on Prince Edward Island. It is also very close to the valuable and fragile Alberton (Hog Island) chain of Sandhills which have been identified as nationally significant by the International Biological Program. For more information on these offshore islands, refer to the following article by Jock Hooper titled "The Sandhills". Also, Oulton's Island is of historical importance as silver foxes were first successfully raised and reproduced in captivity. Subsequent breeding stock from this Island was sold throughout North America in the early twentieth century.

If you would like to express your opinions towards this proposed development, you may attend the hearing or submit a letter stating your views to the Land Use Commission. If you would like to add comments to the Natural History Society brief, please forward comments to Diane Griffin at 675-3163 in New Haven.

The hearing will be held on December 10, 1:30 P.M. at the Farm Centre on University Avenue. The Natural History Society urges all its members to attend this hearing as we feel it might have important implications for future land use decisions on Prince Edward Island.

Kathy Martin NHS Representative to NAAC