People can help us out in many ways. We are looking for: I. mounted birds or mammals in good condition that we could use for displays. We are also seeking frozen specimens that we could get mounted. 2. nature books, binoculars, microscopes or any other equipment that would be suitable for a teaching centre. 3. good quality filing cabinets, display cases or office furniture. 4. a good quality used computer or printer. 5. your time and ideas, whether for fund raising, carpentry, painting or planning displays 6. cash donations will help us with the many articles that we will have to purchase, including the mounting of more bird specimens. We can issue receipts for tax

purposes.

Please contact me at 583-3068 if you can help with any of these needs, and I hope to see you out at Macphail Woods over the next year.

NEWS FROM ABOUT: compiled by J. Dan McAskill

Our heartiest congratulations to Mr. Ted Winter of Trepassey, Newfoundland, the third recipient of the Quebec Labrador Foundation’s Caring for the Earth Award. Mr. Winter is "a school teacher who has developed and led a d successful community recycling program in spite of many logistical and other challenges".

Congratulations go out to the Baillie Birdathon which raised close to $140,000 by the end of August. Mr. George Pond signed pledges for $5,694. In the twelve years he has helped out with the birdathon, he has raised over $60,000! It goes to show what an individual can do for conservation.

Dragonflies and Damsell'lies books appropriate for our region include The Dragonflies and Damselflies of Algonquin Provincial Park($2.95 + $1.72 (P&H) from the Friends of Algonquin Park, P.O. Box 248, Whitney, ON KOJ 2M0 and Dragonflies and Damselflies of Cape Cod ($10.95 US + $3.00 (S&H) from Cape Cod Museum of Natural History, PO. Box 170, Brewster, Mass 02631. (adapted from Kenebacasis Naturalist Newsletter #21).

Congratulations to Winifred (Cairns) Wake on the recent publication of A Nature Guide to Ontario. Winifred took on the formidable task of editing this 469 page book featuring more than 600 natural areas throughout Ontario. The book is available from University of Toronto Press for $19.95 (adapted from article in Toronto Field Naturalist # 469, September 1997.

Be on the look-out for tagged Monarch Butterflies. 114 have been tagged on Grand Manan so, if you see a Monarch, have a look on the right wing and let the newsletter editor know (569-4351). (adapted from Kenebacasis Naturalist Newsletter #21). .

Congratulations as well to Brian Dalzell, a former Society member, who established the Grand Manan Bird Observatory in 1996. He has operated it as a migration monitoring station since that time. Despite start up difficulties, banding commenced in August, 1996 and, by the end of October, 1996, 1,472 birds had been banded with 1,557 net hours. Memberships are $25 for individuals, $15 for students, and $500 for life memberships. Make cheques payable to Grand Manan Bird Observatory, c/o Eileen Pike, 11 Park Lawn Court, Saint John NB EZK 237 Donations in excess of memberships should be made payable to G.M.W.S.R.S. (adapted from The Razorbill, Volume 5 1996)

For those who have had a dog or cat sprayed by a skunk, the odour is certainly memorable, especially at the back of the throat. Thanks to the efforts of chemist Paul Krebaum, a home recipe was developed to eliminate the odour. The recipe is based on one he developed to oxidize thiol compounds in a lab. The recipe is: 1 quart of 3 % hydrogen peroxide, 1/4 cup of baking soda, and 1 teaspoon of liquid soap. The latter is supposed to break up the oils and allow the remaining ingredients to neutralize the odour. The solution is applied and then rinsed off with tap water until completely removed. (adapted from The Smallholder #83)

Thanks to efforts from a host of partners, a beetle diversity study was conducted in Nova Scotia. Over 17,000 beetles were caught representing more than 200 species. Thirty had never been recorded before. The beetle diversity was higher in hardwood than softwood forests. Diversity was also higher where large woody material was present that was

-5-