While the failure of three nests is alarming, it is felt that the actual numbers of nesting pairs on P.E.I. is much greater than indicated by the aerial surveys. Nests in less dense vegetation in Prince County were easily sighted, whereas the Boughton River nest was not seen at all from the air. Ospreys appear to be

increasing throughout Prince Edward Island and the Division plans to conduct a more comprehensive survey this summer.

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Osprey on P.E.I. return from the wintering areas in Florida after ice break-up in early May. The nest is a huge bundle of sticks measuring up to 4 feet across and in P.E.I. is usually in a spruce tree since these are most available. Of five nests examined, three were located in dead spruce and two in living spruce. The clutch of usually three eggs is incubated about 28 days with the young hatching out in mid to late June and fledging by August.

- Nelson Hurry Fish & Wildlife Division

TURN ON TO SOUND

Young and old are initiated to natural history education with a host of motivations associated with the outdoors generally. One of the major stumbling blocks to greater involvement with nature comes with nothing more than the setting of the sun. We are afraid of the dark! Introduction to the sounds of nature can open up a new dimension, experience can provide a security blanket.

When one is conducting a field trip for novices, it is frequently rewarding to emphasize relationships rather than identification. Through your eyes, students may get turned on by new relationships they see. However, how you learn is frequently as important as what you learn. Seeing provides me kick.in itself. Next spring, find a quiet wood or field, sit your-class down~for an hour or so in silence and identify the songs and tiny rustles. You will be pleasantly surprised to find that discovery through sound has a kick. Today in our well-lit world, too little emphasis is placed on hearing. With experience everyone can learn to identify not only with what is making the sound but, in some cases, even its intentions. With a little effort people will learn to marvel at the activities of the evening instead of fear them especially on P.E.I. where there are no wild animals which would inflict harm on humans.

Kathy Martin Revised from Alberta Naturalist Volume 4, No. l, 1974

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