SUGGESTED CHANGES TO PEI BIRD CHECKLIST

- prepared by W.Cairns (April, 1981)

With the passage of time knowledge and information may change, and so too may bird abundances and distributions. Even when it first appeared in 1978, the P.E.I. Field Check—List of Birds (second edition) was felt by some to contain some questionable species and Status listings. Since then other candidates for addition, deletion or status change have come to light. While she was at the University of P.E.I. a number of these were compiled by Kathy Martin. Maritimes Nest Record Scheme holdings (to 1979), the Avifaunal Survey of P.E.I. National Park (1979), bird sightings printed in the P.E.I. Natural History Society Newsletter and records filed with the P.E.I. Fish and Wildlife Division are other sources of information. After checking these sources and consulting with Rosemary Curley of the Fish and Wildlife Division, I suggest the following tentative list of proposed changes. (This list is not intended to include changes in species‘ names, unless the species has also undergone a proposed change in status.) Comments from readers would be most welcome.

The symbols and season dates are the same as those used in the 1978 P.E.I. Bird Check-List.

Spring March 16 — May 30

Summer June 1 — August 15 Autumn August 16 — December 14 Winter December 15 — March 15

VC - Very common, 50 or more birds per day

- Common, 10 - 49 birds per day

Fairly common, 1 — 9 birds per day

— Uncommon, 1 — 12 birds per fortnight

— Rare, 1 — 5 birds per season

- Occasional, seen only 1 — 9 times per decade Accidental, 9 or fewer records per century

- Hypothetical, unconfirmed sighting

- Irregular

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Thanks is extended to everyone who contributed bird and animal records to this month‘s newsletter: Lenore Andrew (LA), Milly Birt (MB), Elizabeth Cairns (EMC), George Cairns (GAC), Winifred Cairns (WEC), Earl Carmody (EWC), Thelma Clark, Diana Clarke (DC), Frances Curley (FC), Rosemary Curley (FRC), Beverley Dumville, Andrew Forsythe (AF), A1 Godfrey (APG), Earle Hickey (EH), Geoff Hogan (GH), Nelson Hurry (NGH), Winston Johnston (HWJ), Anne Landry (AL), Doug Lee (DL), Alanagh MacDougall (AM), Gerald MacDougall (GM), Gerard Buddy MacIntyre (GBM), Margaret Mallett (MEM), Marguerite Wheatley (MWh), Mary Willms (MWi), Carol Wright (CW), John Wright (JW), Peter Wright (PW), Stan Vass (SEV).

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