FROGS, TOADS, SALAMANDERS, AND SNAKES by Dan McAskill

The Natural History Society will coordinate a monitoring project on frogs, toads, salamanders and snakes to determine the abundance and distribution across Prince Edward Island. Concerns have been raised over . declines in the populations of amphibians on a world wide basis and this project will attempt to provide information on what is happening on the Island. The Society is looking for volunteers who would be willing to either set up a listening post at their home to identify and collect information on the singing of the various frogs and the American toad and/or to venture out over specified routes to listen and record similiar information. Anyone interested should fill in the sheet inserted with the newsletters and mail it to Dan McAskill at RR # 5, Charlottetown, P.E.I. C1A 7J8. An information kit will be sent to potential participants and, at a future date, an audio cassette of the amphibian calls will be sent to those who decide to participate. As a part of this project, two or more Sounds of the Night presentations will be offered to aid naturalists in the identification of amphibians, owls, and other night animals.

NATURE LOVER'S ASSISTANCE REQUIRED by Rosalind Waters

P.E.I. Citizen Advocacy is looking for an advocate for a man who is in his fifties and has a mental handicap. Over the past twelve months we have discovered that he likes to be in the woods, likes to go bird watching, and has talked about fishing. Because he has been institutionalized for a large part of his life, this side of him has had little opportunity to flourish. He has nobody in his life except for professional care givers. He would love to have a friend who would take a special interest in him, take him out (perhaps into the woods) from time to time. If you are interested in being this person, or just finding out more about Citizen Advocacy, please call Rosalind . Waters at 566-3523. air. §!§\:?‘32 P.E.I. Citizen Advocacy receives funds from the United W+L\ Way and the Law Foundation of P.E.I. It is a unique Island \¢ organization which recruits volunteers in the community and matches them on a one-to-one basis with a person who has a mental handicap. The volunteer (advocate) develops a .i‘ . friendship with that person, looks out for them, and ensures ’ that they are not denied opportunities to participate in the community of which we are all a part.

ANIMAL AND PLANT SIGHTINGS

One striped skunk along Appin Road on Nov. 18 and one mink on ice of Wilmot River on Dec. 24 (PF). Coyote seen crossing the Hillsborough Bridge around Jan. 1 (PM). 51 seals resting on bar at mouth of Fortune River, Dec. 10 (BC?)

Cormorant - 1 at Hillsborough Bridge on Jan. 15 (AM); Northern Gannet - 144,

some in a feeding frenzy plus some resting on the water on Nov. 28th at East Point (BCP); Canada Geese - 100 at Bellevue Cove on Dec. 25 (SS); Barrow's Goldeneye - 1 pair at North River on Jan. 3 (SM, JB) with 400+ Common

Goldeneye (SM, JB); Bufflebead - 5 at Black Pond on Nov. 14 (BCP); Northern Goshawk — 1 at Crapaud on Dec. 30 (TX); Sharp-shinned Hawk - 1 at Crapaud throughout Dec. (TK); Rough-legged Hawk - 1 dark colour morph at China Point

on Dec. 15 (RC); Bald Eagle - 1 immature on Dec. 28 in Donagh (JDM); 1 adult

at Crapaud on Jan. 14 (EH & BeH); Northern Harrier - l at Sleepy Hollow on I Dec. 30 (EC); Gray Partridge - 10 at Crapaud on Jan. 2 (TR); 2 at Tryon feeder . in Jan. (BeH)

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