beginning of the nests; hatch; and banding. During initiation, several areas within the colony were searched daily for fresh nests and new eggs in previously found nests. Eggs were numbered so they could be sequenced as to the order in which they were laid. This information was useful to both Dr. Cooke and other universities.

At hatch the nests were monitored and as the goslings hatched they were wing- tagged with individually numbered metal tags so when they were later caught, we would know which nest they came from.

The last part of the goose work was the ten to fourteen days spent banding the geese. This took place in the last two weeks of July since this was the time that the adults were melting and could not fly, and the goslings were still too young to fly. These birds were also individually banded, the main reason being to see which birds return to the same colony the next summer. -

To band the birds, they were first rounded up in large flocks on the flats. While four people kept them from running away, the huge banding nets were set up, then the geese were herded in. Two benches were placed on either side of a small ‘catch pen' in which about forty geese at a time were herded. These were picked up by the people in the catch pen and handed to the actual banders, three on each bench. These people banded the geese, looked for web tags, then gave the geese to various 'runners' who would carry the geese to either the scales or the vets taking blood samples. The geese were released together to help keep the family groups intact.

Banding signalled the end of the summer's work for the goose crew, and the people working on shorebirds left with them. The ptarmigan crew left a few weeks later, while the 'plant people' from U of T planned to stay until the first week of September. They ran into a few problems at the onset of the polar bear migra- tion and had to close camp early.

50 the chicks and goslings were left to try and survive the winter, some to return and become targets for next year's study.

can‘t from page 13

Gulls in the winter plumage may show a dusky "cap" on the head which is absent in Bonaparte's and Black-headed‘Gulls.

Records of Black-headed and Little gulls are far more numerous for Nova Scotia and New Brunswick than for P.E.I. although both species have been seen here. I suspect thet Little and Black-headed gulls occur here regularly, mixed in with flocks of Bonaparte's Gulls, but are simply overlooked. Check the distinguishing features of all three species in your field gu1de, then watch the flocks of Bonaparte's. You may see a rarity. Please submit any records you have to our newsletter editor.

FOLKLORE SIGNS FOR COLD STORMY WEATHER AHEAD - Tree leaves fall late - Corn husks grow tight to the ear - Thunderstorms occur in the fall - Squirrels start to gather nuts in September - Ant hills are built high

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