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IN LATE DECEMBER, a female Baltimore Oriole was attacked by a cat at 67 Ambrose Street. Andre Lavoie has the bird in captivity and is feeding it "Harvest Crunch" cereal.

BETWEEN DECEMBER 25 AND JANUARY 3, Daryl and Margo Guignion sighted robins on several occasions on or near their property in Green Meadows. The morning of January 6 where food had been provided 24+ Blue Jays,

2 Slate Cblored Juncos and 2 Evening Grosebeaks were sighted feeding.

A SUMMARY OF THE TWO CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNTS showed a total of 47 dif— ferent species seen on count days, and another, a Gray Jay, seen in count week. A grand total of 6983 individuals were observed in the P.E.I. National Park area and the Hillsborough area combined.

THE ANNUAL MEETING

The annual meeting of the Natural History Society of P.E.I. was held January 4, 1977. Two new directors were elected; the other officers were re—elected. The 1977 Executive is: Past President, Eleanor Lowe; President, Diane Griffin; Vice-president, Dr. Winston Johnston; Secretary—treasurer, Margaret.Mallett; Assistant Secretary-Treasurer, Helen Duffey; Directors, Dr. Katherine Clough and R. Bruce MacLaren. Kathy Martin will continue to edit the newsletter.

Items of business included the motion to extend commendation to Minister of Environment, Hon. Gilbert Clements for new regulations banning non~ returnable bottles in Prince Edward Island. There was a motion that

10 cents at least be added to'the purchase price of each bottle of liquor or wine, to be refunded when the bottle is returned. It was further suggested that the government inquire into means of recycling these bottles. One motion requested that a letter be written to the Liquor Commission asking why the commission is not accepting empty beer bottles as is done in some other provinces. Reply is requested. All motions carried unanimously.

DUCKS UNLIMITED POND AT MT. ALBION

On the Hillsborough Christmas Bird Count, Margaret Mallett and Mary Willms walked 1/4 mile along the railway east of Mt. Albion siding and found a pond where none had existed the year before. A dam had been thrown up across an old beaver meadow, and a steel culvert with a small fish ladder had been installed in the brook. Several small islands had been bulldozed up to make nesting grounds for ducks. Fringe benefits are: the pond is used for irrigation, and it made a fine place for children to skate--and they were doing just that. In time, trout may find their way in and it may become a fishing pond. It is reported to cover 30 acres. A "beaver meadow" is what develops after a beaver dam breaks and the pond drains away. Various swamp-type grasses and plants grow up on the old pond bottom. "Ducks Unlimited" is a habitat- oriented group which, with the consent of land owners, provides improved breeding areas for ducks.

Margaret Mallett 53 Fitzroy Street Charlottetown, P.E.I.