ornamental, but is definitely native at this site. It’s known from boggy habitats like this in southwestern New Brunswick. Other new finds include the native Carex Iasiocarpa (W ooly-fruit Sedge), Carax pauciflora (Few- flowered Sedge), Amelanchier sanguinea (a Serviceberry), and Bidens hyperborea (Estuary Beggars-tick), plus a host of exotic species. Additionally, this work is uncovering interesting and highly diverse botanical communities in areas such as Indian Marsh, Miscouche and George’s Island, plus spectacular sites, such as a population of thousands of the rare Dicentra cucullaria (Dutchman’s Breeches) near Millvale.

The fall and winter were busy with confirmation of identifications, data management & quality control, and specimen preparation. A “mounting bee” in March 2004 saw team members gather at UPEI for a day to properly glue voucher specimens on herbarium paper. These are the “gold standard” for confirmation of plant records, and will later be stored at the EC. Smith Herbarium at Acadia, with duplicate specimens being made available to UPEI and other institutions.

For the upcoming year, funding support from the George C. Metcalf Foundation will allow INT to dedicate one full-time position to this project. Funding for travel and other necessary components has not yet been confirmed. This summer will be the final field season, followed by another session of data management and specimen preparation. Writing and mapping will take place in 2005, followed by layout, design and printing. The PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation has agreed to be the publisher; if we can secure funding on schedule, the new Flora should be available in 2006.

For more information on this project, please contact Kate MacQuan'ie at 368-4705. If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation to this important work, please contact INT Executive Director Bruce Smith at 892- 7513, or send it to PO. Box 265, Charlottetown, CIA 7K4. Thank you!

Estuary Beggars-tick ;

Bidens hyperborea

BIRD RECORDS ON THE ISLAND IN 2003: Compiled by David Seeler

A summary of the bird sightings reported for the Island to the Natural History Society of Prince Edward Island in 2003 is provided below:

SPECIES Observed From 1/1/2003 to 12/31/2003

Prince Edward Island 236 Species Observed

LOONS Red-throated Loon Common Loon

GREBES Pied-billed Grebe Red-necked Grebe Horned Grebe

STORM-PETRELS

Wilson's Storm-petrol

Leach’s Storm-Petre1(~3 Km off shore)

GANNETS Northern Gannet

CORMORANTS Double-crested Cormorant Great Cormorant

HERONS, EGRETS AND BITTERN S

Great Blue Heron

Great Egret

Snowy Egret

American Bittern

VULTURES Turkey Vulture

DUCKS AND GEESE Snow Goose

Canada Goose Brant

Barnacle Goose Wood Duck Eurasian Wigeon American Wigeon Gadwall Green-winged Teal Mallard

American Black Duck Northern Pintail Blue-winged Teal Northern Shoveler Ring-necked Duck Tufted Duck Greater Scaup Lesser Scaup Common Eider Harlequin Duck