NEWS AND NOTES

DECEMBER MEETING REPORT. The Dec. 6th meeting was held in the Coles Building, attended by 32 people. Ontario’s moves to adopt the Blue Jay as its provincial emblem were discussed, as was the possibility of having the P.E.I. emblem changed. Details were given on upcoming Christmas Bird Counts. David Cairns presented infermation on the need for offshore oil drilling safeguards, and on a proposal to have society members conduct seabird surveys from the P.E.I. ferries. Dan MCAskill reported on the recent meetings of ENGO in Fredericton and CNF in Ottawa.

The evening’s guest speaker was Jim Hornby, who spoke on the bears of P.E.I. From the arrival of the first white settlers until the last bear was shot in 1923, bears were relentlessly pursued. They were feared for the threat they posed to livestock, but were valued fer their skins, meat, fat and the bounty on their noses. The bear's last stronghold before eventual extirpation was in eastern Kings County. Thank-you Jim fer a very fascinating evening of bear lore.

JANUARY MEETING REPORT. The Annual General Meeting was held in St. Paul’s Church Hall on Jan. 17, attended by 40-50 people. Reports were presented by Dan MbAskill (Canadian Nature Federation), Rosemary Curley (Canadian Environmental Network or ENGO), and Pat Doyle (Island Nature Trust). Geoff Hogan reviewed the activities of the society over the past year. Rosemary Curley presented the report of the nominating committee, which was duly adopted. A set of 12 lovely sketches of Island birds was shown to the group. Donated by Connie Gaudet, the drawings will be used as a coloring poster calender for school children.

The evening's speaker was Andy Dean, who presented a very beautiful and moving slide-tape program of his personal experience of the natural beauty of Prince Edward Island. Thank-you Andy fer an evening we shall carry with us for a long time.

NATURE PHOTO RAFFLE WINNER. The winner of the recent [nature photo raffle sponsored by the Natural History Society and the Island Nature Trust was Randy Dibblee. Congratulations to Randy and thanks to all others who supported the endeavour.

COMING EVENTS

FEBRUARY 7 MEETING. John sylvester, a winner in last year’s CNF national photo competition,will show a variety of wildlife slides including a selection from a Newfoundland seabird colony.

AMRCH 6 MEETING. Vicki Friesen, a biology student at U.P.E.I., will talk about the wildlife of the Arctic.

APRIL 3 MEETING. Dr. Lawson Drake of the Biology Dept. of U.P.E.I. will speak on wasps and hornets.

MAY 1 MEETING. The annual showing of the nature slide contest entries will take place.

DIANE GRIFFIN will speak on the human aspects of natural areas at 8:00 p.m. on Feb. 18 in the Robertson Library at U.P.E.I. She will also speak the following evening at a public meeting of the Island Nature Trust at 8:00 p.m. at Beaconsfield.

ARBOR DAY. May 28. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the celebration of Arbor Day on P.E.I.

FIELD TRIP". Wztch f r details in the next newsletter fer field trips to C;ge Tryon in late April :r‘ the annual amphibian hunt in early spring.

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