This survey represents quite a challenge as all known breeding beaches as well as other beaches with the correct features will have to be surveyed. A number of people have agreed to participate in the Island surveys but more are needed. If you would be interested in helping us, please contact Dan McAskill at 569-4351 (evenings). He will be holding a workshop on the Island in January to provide training on the methods to be used in the surveys.

GREATER HHITE-FRONTED GEESE ON ALL FRONTS by Rosemary Curley

Occasionally, Greater White-footed Geese (or speckled bellies), Anser albifrons, end up in Prince Edward Island, far from the northern breeding, grounds and far from the usual migration routes. The only band recovery of a Greater White-fronted Goose on P.E.I. is of a bird banded in California on November 3, 1965, and shot here in October, 1968. In 1990, we have two records on immature Greater White-fronted Geese on Prince Edward Island, one from Cavendish on October 25 and one from New Glasgow on October 29. These birds were shot by Brad MacArthur and John Clements respectively. In addition to these records, up to 12 Greater White-fronted Geese were present in Bathurst Harbour, New Brunswick from late August through October.

"White fronts“ normally breed in the high Arctic and winter in the southern United States. These birds have pink bills and yellow feet. A second race with yellow bills breeds in Greenland. The birds seen on Prince Edward Island this year were of the Greenland race as confirmed by the yellow bill colour. This agrees with the Peterson Field Guide to the Birds that East Coast stragglers may be Greenland birds. It is not often that we so easily confirm the origins of individual birds.

RARE BIRD ALERT NUMBERS

A number of natural history and bird research groups have established call-in phone numbers to communicate rare bird sightings. Depending on the nature of the system, you can get the latest sightings and locations or leave your sighting. Please note the following numbers:

Nova Scotia Bird Society (902) 852-CHAT

Ontario Rare Bird Alert (519) 586-3959(24 hours) Several members of the Society have suggested that the Society establish a rare bird alert number. What do you think? In the meantime, please ensure that you forward your sightings to the Newsletter Editor (refer to the inner cover).

MISCOUCHE BOG PEAT MINING PROPOSAL

The Miscouche Bog, the Island's largest bog, was identified in 1974 as one of only 14 significant natural areas on Prince Edward Island selected for preservation as one of the world's ecosystems under the International Biological Program. For many years, naturalists thought the property was safe as the land registration documents showed it was owned by the government. Due to the historic ties of the local Acadian community to this land and their claims of certain rights, the government transferred this land to the Acadian Purchase Trust in 1988. Earlier this year, the Acadian Purchase Trust submitted a peat bog development proposal to construct drainage ditches, clear the land, and prepare and ba the 100,000 bales of peat per year for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). The project went to preliminary screening (evaluation) under the P.E.I. Environmental Protection Act and the developer was asked to provide additional information pertaining to the proposal. This information

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