THANKS EXPRESSED TO THE BOARD AND VOLUNTEERS!

On January 6'“, 2003, the Natural History Society held its annual general meeting. Ben Hoteling, the Past President presented the Nominating Committee report. David Seeler, Dwaine Oakley, Arja Page, Eric Marcum, and Bonnie McOrmand re-offered there services to the Society and were re-eleeted. Donna Martin was elected to the position of Secretary and

The members expressed their thanks to Lois Doan for her two years service as Secretary and a subcommittee member in program support work. Members also expressed their heart felt thanks to the new Board

member and to those who agreed to continue for their significant contributions to the Society’s members and the Island public.

2002-03 CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNTS: Results compiled by Dan McAskill, Ruth Richman, & Vern Laux

Since omithologist Frank Chapman and 27 friends first started the Christmas Birds Counts in 1900, much has changed in North America . This year is the 103rd consecutive CBC and this year marks the 325t consecutive year that Island birders have participated in the Audubon Christmas Bird Counts. Their efforts, combined with those of about 50,000 others who participate in some 1,800 registered counts throughout North America, the Caribbean, Central America and South America, form the basis for comparison of this year’s sightings with over a century of other counts. This data base is accessible on line, simply go to www.birdsource.org and click your way to the results.

Christmas Bird Counts are an annual tradition for most participants in the Island’s counts. It allows them to spend time with both feathered friends and fellow birders, enjoy a days outing, contribute to bird population monitoring, and, for those on the RBI. National Park and Hillsborough counts, enjoy the pot-lucks. For the second year, Vernon Laux organized a fourth Island count encompassing the area from off East Point to the outskirts of Souris. Gary Schneider, Scott Sinclair, and Ruth Richman organized the Montague Count while Dan McAskill coordinated the RBI. National Park and Hillsborough counts.

During this year’s CBCs on the Island, owl surveys were conducted in the East Point and P.E.I. National Park counts. A period of cold before the counts led to most bays and fresh water areas being largely frozen. Notable sightings during the four counts as well as their respective count periods included a Pileated Woodpecker, a Hermit Thrush, a Broad-winged Hawk, Lesser Black-backed Gulls, an unidentified shorebird, Razorbills, Chipping Sparrows, and a Lark Sparrow. With the exception of the American Goldfinch, very few finches were present in any of the four count areas.

Parks Canada staff hosted the pot-luck held at lunch at the Dalvay Shelter during the P.E.I. National Park Count and an evening potluck was hosted at Diane and Kevin Griffin’s home in Stratford after the Hillsborough Count.

The reports for each area are provided below.

Broad—winged Hawk