biological phenomena such as bud flushing, flowering, or bird migration) will be monitored as indicators of global change. [adapted from Delta Vol. 6, 3 & 4, 1995)

Good news from the southwest with Monarchs clustering at their favourite wintering sites in California after several years in which they disappeared. (adapted from Toronto Field Naturalist 459)

N33 SCIENCE PAIR WINNERS: by Rosemary Curley

Ben Hoteling and I were able to attend the rescheduled Provincial Science Fair and selected winners for the Natural History Society prizes. There were virtually no entries at the Intermediate and Senior levels so we gave three prizes at the Junior level (grades 4, 5 & 6). The science fair was a busy spot and there were some really good entries to pick from.

We gave first prize ($30) to Montague Consolidate School students Steven Clements and Andrew Murchinson for their project on finding fossils on P.E.I.

Talking with them made me want to go and look for some fossilized horsetails myself, and now I know where to go (west or south coast P.E.I. are starting points). Second place winner Jacob Harding from Vernon River Elementary is doing what old-time naturalists did as they explored the continent. Like Audubon and others, Jacob is collecting specimens and taking satisfaction in being the first to find particular species. In this case, the particular species are all dragonflies, and a dozen or so have only been found on P.E.I. by Jacob who gets $20 for his efforts. Third prize ($10) went to Russell Campbell of Queen Elizabeth Elementary School in Kensington. Russell has made a good study of paper wasps, following the progress of nests, workers and queens. He’s found some mud daubers too.

ANIMAL AND PLANT SIGHTINGS compiled by Dan McAskill

The winter past has seen little snow across the Island. Very mild conditions left fields bare in March on much of the Island. A brief cold snap on Mar. 28 with wind chills of -30° concentrated waterfowl in some areas.

AMPHIBIANS: First wood frog spring report at Cherry Hill on April 19 (B&RH). Started in Donagh on Apr. 20 (JDM). Spring peepers calling at New Haven for the first time this spring on Apr. 21 (JW) and in Donagh on the same night (JDM).

SNAKES: 2 Garter Snakes and 1 Red-bellied Snake at Cherry Hill on May 3 (8&RH). “ANNALS: first Eastern Chipmunk of season at Argyle Shore on Mar. 23 (B&AC)

BIRDS: Great Cormorant - 1 at PEI National Park on Apr. 18 (RG); Double-crested Cormorant - 1 at Fullerton’s Marsh on May 2 (JDM); Great Blue Heron - none at Covehead on Apr. 18 (RG), 6 on Mar. 9 at Seaview/Cousin's Shore (N558), l on Mar. 20 at Ellen's Creek (ASm); Canada Geese - first seen at Argyle Share this spring on Mar. 17 (B&AC), present in Kensington area on Mar. 18 (KM), 5 flying over Donagh on Mar. 19 and 16 on Mar. 20 (JDM), 6 at Ellen’s Creek on Mar. 20 (JDM), 2 pair at Mt. Albion # 3 compared to 74 in area on this date (Mar. 22) last year (HJ), 40 at Mt. Albion on Mar. 25 (HJ), 30 at Ellen’s Creek and 26 at Locke shore Road on Mar. 28 (JDM), approx. 3,000 in fields at Seaview on Apr. 14 (NSSB), 1000 in field at Mermaid on Apr. 21 (RCa); Brant — back at Tryon River week of Apr. 16 (3H0); American Black Duck — most pairs seen in many years at Mt. Albion Ponds on Apr. 26 (NJ); American Widgeon - 3 to 4 at Mt. Albion on Apr. 26 (NJ); Ring-necked Duck - 4 at Long Pond on Apr. 16 (RG); Greater Scaup - 6 & 9 at Long Pond on Apr. 16 (RG); Red-breasted Nerganser - 40 at National park on Apr. 20 (RG); Northern Goshawk - 1 took red squirrel at Argyle shore feeder on Mar. 4 (BC); Bald Eagle - 1 at Cousin's Pond and also at Seaview on Feb. 22 (N&SB), 2 adult & l immature at Covehead on Apr. 18 (RG); Osprey - 2 at Johnson’s River on Apr. 22 (JDM); Kestrel - l at North Wiltshire on May 1 (JWa); Merlin - l at Emyvale on May 3 (JDM); Ruffed Grouse - l at Emyvale on Apr. 15 (JWa), 9 at Donagh on May 1 (JDM); Gray Partridge - 2 at Johnson's River on Apr. 22 (JDM); Ring-necked Pheasant - 6 at Bloomfield Road first week Mar. (WCl); Piping Plover - none at Cousin’s shore on Apr. 7 or 14 but 3 present on 20th (NESB), 6 back at Covehead with one pair formed and 5 scrapes on Apr. 20 (RG); xilldeer - l regularly Apr. 3 to 8 at Seaview/Cousin’s Shore (N&SB), 1 at Argyle shore on Apr. 22 (3&AC); Black-bellied Plover - 2 at Covehead Harbour on Apr. 20 (RG); Common Snipe - winnowing at Mt. Albion on Apr. 22 (NJ); Gulls app. - concentrations hunting and standing on the edges of the salt marsh near the small ponds at North River causeway

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