. Mountain while other data suggests stable

populations.

Merlin Most data suggests they are increasing significantly.

Peregrine Falcon Significant increases since the 19705.

Owls: Few owl species are effectively monitored.

Great Horned Owls The Mixed Wood BBS showed no significant trend but the CBC data showed significant increases.

Barred Owls Long term increase in the BBS Mixed Woods surveys but show a short term decline. CBC data suggests stable population.

Short-eared Owl The Prairie BBS shows a significant long-term decline and CBC shows a continental decline

Screech Owls CBCs showed significant increases

Long-eared Owl CBCs showed a significant decline

(adapted from D.A Kirk, D. Hussell, and E. Dunn, Raptor population status and trends in Canada in Birds Trends)

GUARDIAN ANGELS REQUIRED: Jackie Waddell

Piping Plovers are in decline in the Maritimes and increasing elsewhere in their range. The Maritime population represents 10% of the world's population which breeds entirely in North America. This species cannot afford to lose any of its breeding birds. We have to protect what we have.

he Guardian program is the only support program available to these birds on drince Edward Island outside the National Park.

This species is particularly sensitive to disturbance during egg laying and chick rearing. We must work hard at reducing disturbance to these birds, particularly at critical times. Heavy disturbance times are the May and July lst long weekends. We need more guardians to help prevent disturbance on beaches occupied by Piping Plover at these times in particular as well as the weekend following hatching when the chicks are very young and must feed almost constantly. Please mark the long weekend dates in your calendar and volunteer to make a guardian visit during this time.

So, can you help? Will you ask a friend or friends to help? We need to know in May where the birds are. Hence, we need people to check key breeding areas on the Island. Once these beaches are identified, they must be posted with signs and symbolic fencing to encourage beach goers to stay out of the breeding area. Ben Hoteling has kindly offered to help Fish and Wildlife staff get the signs out early this year. After that is accomplished, we need volunteer guardians to visit the beach and ask people who approach a Piping Plover breeding area to avoid entry. We provide training materials and a few .iardians have volunteered to introduce new guardians to the beach access

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