PRESIDENTS' REPORT: by David Seeler

During 2002, the Society‘s efforts were led by David Seeler (President), Dwaine Oakley (Vice-president), Lois Doan (Secretary), Aria Page (Treasurer), Bonnie McOrmand (Communications Director), Eric Marcum (Program Director), and Ben Hoteling (Past-president).

Despite program cancellations to winter storms, the Society's monthly education program at the Farm Centre featured: Glenn Roberts on Astronomy, Bruce Smith on Community Wildlife Enhancement Projects, Leslie Hartling on Amphibians and Small Mammals on Prince Edward Island, Ben Hoteling on Island Wildflowers, Bill Oehlke on the Butterflies of Prince Edward Island, Gary Schneider on Landscaping with Native Plants, and Eric Marcum with a presentation on Waterfowl Identification and the spots to find various species. Eric Marcum led a car-pooled bird field trip in January and a June birding outing to Bubbling Springs trail in the RBI. National Park. A group of Society birders conducted numerous birding field trips during the winter and spring. The Society’s education program was further enhanced by the donation of the late Margaret Mallett’s natural history slide collection by her family.

The Society's Web site was launched in October, 2002 utilizing photographs and slides contributed by members for use on the web site. The Society’s thanks go to Robin Phillips for her greatly appreciated efforts in the development and initiation of the Society’s web pages. Many Society members contributed rare or unusual bird sightings for an electronic distribution list maintained by David Seeler. This prompt method of documentation augmented the sightings for the Island Naturalist and allowed better documentation by multiple observers as well as photographs of some very rare species.

The Society maintained its participation in various interprovincial or North American bird counts. Vernon Laux coordinated the second Christmas Bird Count at East Point while Gary Schneider coordinated and Ruth Richman compiled the Montague Christmas Bird Count. Dan McAskill coordinated the Island’s the RBI. National Park and Hillsborough Christmas Bird Counts, and the Bain Bird Count. Parks Canada set up the Dalvay Interpretive Centre for the P.E.I. National Park Christmas Bird Count potluck while Diane and Kevin Griffin hosted the potluck for the Hillsborough CBC.

Many members contributed their wildlife observations and stories for the Society's Island Naturalist which was published four times this year. Ben Hoteling, the late Hal Hinds, Dover Colouring Books, and Agriculture and Forestry provided original drawings. Dan McAslcill continued as the editor. Linda and Allen Thomas and their family packaged and mailed the newsletter to members and schools.

In addition to these efforts, the Society supported, reviewed, and provided comments on funding applications for the Wildlife Conservation Fund awards, David Seeler represented the Society at the Public Forest Council’s public meetings, the Society wrote to the Minister of Transportation and Public Works on roadside mowing during the bird breeding season, and Lois Doan and Leslie MacIsaac participated in Affiliate Tele- conferences with the Canadian Nature Federation. Dan McAsldll spoke on winter bird feeding in October at the Farm Centre in Charlottetown on behalf of the Society and the Island Nature Trust and represented the Society at a Bird Studies Canada regional consultation on bird monitoring programs and needs. During the year, the Society donated a subscription to the North American Birds to the Robertson Library at U.P.E.I.

Society members Dan McAslcill, Eric Marcum, Ray Marcum, and Island Nature Trust staff combined their efforts to host the annual Neil Bennett Autumn Birding Classic. The donors contributing to this project provided $675 towards the acquisition of Bird Island in Malpeque Bay by the Trust. Bruce Smith led the Great Black— backed Gull egg removal project on the Hillsborough Bridge piers to assist the terns nesting there and continued as the Society’s representative to the Island Nature Trust’s General Council.

The Society completed the year with assets of $6185.66 in its various accounts with almost all of this in the book publishing and projects fund accounts GIC ($5,704.97). _

At this time, I would like to extend my thanks and best wishes to each member of the Society for their participation in the Society for 2002 and I look forward to their continued participation in 2003.