was the "right" whale to hunt because of its slow speed and oil—rich body, which floated when it was dead. After centuries of exploitation off our shores, it is listed as endangered and since 1972 there have been no Can- adian whale hunts. While this has protected the whales, it has removed the best method scientists had to measure whale numbers. It takes a lot of ex— pensive flying and shipboard time to find and count these animals, and, apart from oil companies and some United States investigators, few sources of money are available for whale censuses.

The World Wildlife Fund Canada is supporting a research project in the southern Bay of Fundy this fall and winter to invest- igate the right whale's feeding grounds located 15 kilometres offshore. These areas of dense zooplankton are critical parts of the whales' habitat where conflicts with marine traffic take their toll on feeding grounds.

This past summer, COSEWIC listed the roseate tern as "threatened", which is the next step up from endangered. There are 3100 breeding pairs in North America and up to 125 pairs nest on Nova Scotia's south shore beaches and Cape Breton. Ornithologist Robie Tufts reported historical tern nesting colonies had been taken over by increasing populations of the more aggres— sive herring gulls. Roseate terns are found along the seaboards on both sides of the Atlantic. Unfortunately on the birds' winter range in South America, hunters still collect the birds for their feathers.

Whether rare, threatened or endangered, the best policy for animal protection is protecting the habitat. A 1985 policy statement by the gov- ernment of Nova Scotia set up a committee to examine wildlife habitats and gave authority to protect vital habitats. The new forestry legislation in— troduced in 1986 dictates that wildlife habitats will be considered in forest management plans on Crown lands and guidelines will be drawn up for private lands.

However, accidents will happen and animals like the Whitefish may be lost if their small habitat is damaged. But if extensive habitat is opened up to the Whitefish, the population will grow by itself and overcome the risks. Habitats will change as a forest matures or is harvested but if re- presentative samples of different ages of forest are designed into the for- est management plan, (remnant mammals like) the Gaspe shrew will always find the mature hardwood forest on steep talus slopes it needs.

Checklist df Canadian Birds

The Canadian Society of Ornithologists has arranged for the publication of a Checklist of Canadian Birds/Liste de reference des oiseaux du Canada. The list, prepared by Dr. R.D. James of the Royal Ontario Museum gives the scientific, French and English common names and breeding status of all 579 species of bird recorded in Canada up to the end of 1984. It corresponds to the birds described by Earl Godfrey in his second edition of The Birds of Canada.

The list is bound in pocket—size form and would be a useful addition to any naturalist's field gear. Copies of the checklist can be obtained by sending two dollars to:

Ornithology Checklist c/o Dr. W. Bruce McGillivray, Provincial Museum of Alberta, 12845—102 Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta, T5N 0M6.

(from the B.C. Naturalist, Dec. 1986) _ 10 _