paintings for each plumage, accompanied with notes on behaviour or unique ﬁeld marks, descriptions of voice, range maps and similar confusing species all on the same page, so did the idea of the painting of the flying birds at the top of each page.

Mr. Sibley, who was 38 when the book was published, and his wife Joan Walsh, credit Mr. Dunne of the Cape May center and Will Russell, who operates a natural history tour company called Wings, with enabling him to compete the project. Mr. Dunne hired Mr. Sibley as a hawk counter in Cape May, giving him a base from which to operate. Mr. Russell hired him to conduct birding tours.

Expert birders who have seen the book call it a must have guide for anyone interested in birds...

Editor's Note: The above article was excerpted from Vernon's original article which was published in the New York Times on September 26, 2000. Vernon is the author of "Birding News” (Four Walls Eight Windows, 1999). Vernon recently purchased a home in North Lake. He is a very welcome addition and brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the Island’s birding community.

PROJECT FEEDERWATCH: adapted from 880 web site by Dan McAskilI

A change in the membership structure for Bird Studies Canada means that members can participate in the various counts without additional charges. They will also receive great information releases. One of the wonderful projects that you can participate in is Project FeederWatch. This winter long, volunteer based, bird survey allows backyard bird feeders to contribute sightings from their feeders to a monitoring system that collects and studies this scientiﬁc information on birds.

Its really simple to participate. Record the highest number of each species of birds you see in your view at one time at your feeder once every two weeks between November and April. Upon joining you will be sent an information package as well as some great bird feeding information and an identiﬁcation poster. You can enter and retrieve data and information via the intemet at http:/Iwww.bsc-eoc.org

You can join Bird Studies Canada by sending $25 to Bird Studies Canada, PO. Box 160, Port Rowan, ON NOE 1M0. This single payment makes you a member and you get to participate in the various bird counts. In addition, you receive 4 issues of Bird Watcher and the 880 Annual Report.

NEWS FROM ABOUT: Compiled by J. Dan McAskilI

A hearty thanks to Minister Chester Gillan and the staff of the Department of Fisheries,

Aquaculture & Environment for releasing the pamphlet "Home Heat Tank Safety" to reduce home heating oil spills!

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Thanks to the willing participation of many feeder watchers, the Island Nature //- Trust's Seeds of Conservation Bird Seed Sale sold nearly 7,000 lbs of seed and raised u/ just over $4,000. (adapted from Island Nature Trust Update #74. Nov. 2001) Congratulations to Diane Grifﬁn who became Vice-Chair of Birds Studies Canada (formerly Long Point Bird Observatory) recently. 880 has plotted a development path for its many birding programs as well as the expansion of birds studies in Canada. Becky Whittam is their Atlantic Canada Program Manager and has worked with various partners to get its Atlantic Canada Programs up and running in the past year. (adapted from the BSC's Latest News from BSC)

Congratulations to the Three Rivers Heritage Association on the acceptance of their nomination documents for the Cardigan, Montague, & Brudenell Rivers as Canadian Heritage Rivers. Now their team has the task of preparing a management plan laying out the steps to protect and preserve the heritage features on the three rivers. If the plan is accepted, the Three Rivers area could join the Hillsborough River as a Canadian Heritage River. (adapted from Fall News from the SEA. (3:2)

The power of insects cannot be under estimated. Insects prefer to ﬂy in low wind speed