SOCIETY'S ANNUAL REPORT - 1999:

In 1999, the Society's efforts were led by Ben Hoteling (President), Mary Beth Harris (Vice- president), Michelle Johnston (Secretary), Jim Jenkins (Treasurer), Meike Keunecke (Program Director), Murray Russell (Publicity Director), and Ray Cooke (Past-president).

The Society's monthly education program at the Farm Centre featured: Dan McAskill on "Recent and Anticipated Rare Bird Sightings on P.E.I.", Jesse Francis on "Winter Animals in the RBI. National Park", David Boyce on "Using Stream Life in Water Monitoring", Randy Dibblee on "Muskrat Life on P.E.I", Dr. Shaker on "Astronomy from P.E.I.", Bob & Jacob Harding on "Dragonflies, Darnselflies, and Butterflies", Todd Dupuis on "Community AchieVements Supported by the Wildlife Conservation Fund", Nancy MacLauchlin talked about Greenwich, and Sabine Dietz on "The Important Bird Areas Program".

The Society's educational efforts were expanded late in the year when the Society decided to offer a six night bird course for members starting in December. Dan McAskill and Ray Cooke took on the development and instruction while Jim Jenkins, Michelle Johnston, and Ben Hoteling coordinated registrations and set up for 96 registrants for the course.

Thanks to the coordinating efforts of Meike Keunecke and Michelle Johnston, a very active field trip program was established. Jesse Francis opened the field trip season with an animal track outing from Dalvay, Dan McAskill, Jim Jenkins, and Meike Keunecke led a field trip and survey for "Night Sounds - Amphibians and Owls in April, Gary Schneider led a walk celebrating the spring arrival of the warblers at Macphail Park in May, Rosemary Curley led a field trip for butterflies on Confederation Trail for International Butterfly Count Day in July, Linda Thomas and Jim Jenkins hosted a Society field trip "Exploring life on the shore" in August, Jacob and Bob Harding led a field trip from Mooney's Pond on Dragonflies, Damselflies, and Butterflies in late August, Mark Arsenault and Gerald MacDonald led an interpretive walk at Townshend Woodlot and Naufrage River in October, and Linda Thomas was the Society's field trip leader in Watching the Shorebird Migration in September at Stanhope.

The Society increased its participation in various bird counts. Gary Schneider coordinated the Montague Christmas Bird Count. Dan McAskill coordinated SuperWatch, the RBI. National Park and Hillsborough Christmas Bird Counts, the Bain Bird Count, and the International Migratory Bird Count Day.

Companionship amongst members was built at a variety of events which included some fine pot- lucks. Michelle Johnston and Ray MacDonald hosted a Society potluck in September after a field trip. Maurice Roy set up the Dalvay Interpretive Centre for the RBI. National Park Christmas Bird Count potluck and Robin Phillips and Dan McAskill hosted the potluck for the Hillsborough CBC.

Many members contributed their wildlife observations and stories for the Society's Island Naturalist. E.M. LaChance, Karen Schoenrank, and Ben Hoteling provided original drawings. Dan McAskill 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 the Greenwich National Park Interim Management Guidelines, researched and sent letters on the sea duck kill permit, assisted with the new Wildlife Conservation Fund development and review of applications, and published three issues of the Island Naturalist. Ray Cooke, Ben Hoteling, and Dan McAskill provided input into the Important Bird Areas regional program sponsored by the Canadian Nature Federation and Bird Studies Canada. Dan McAskill spoke on winter bird feeding in October at the Farm Centre in Charlottetown on behalf of the Society and the Island Nature Trust.

Society members Linda Thomas, Roberta Palmer, Ray Cooke, Dan McAskill, Eric Marcum, Michelle Johnston and Island Nature Trust staff combined their efforts to host the fourth Auturrm Birding Classic. The donors contributing to this project provided over $733 towards the land acquisition of 48

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