SOCIETY'S ANNUAL REPORT - 2000:

In 2000, the Society's efforts were led by Ben Hoteling (President), Jim Jenkins (Vice-president), Lois Doan (Secretary), Michelle Johnston (Treasurer/Communications), Meike Keunecke (Program Director), Eric Marcum (Assistant Program Director), and Ray Cooke (Past-president).

The Society‘s monthly education program at the Farm Centre featured: five of a six part bird identification course taught by Ray Cooke and Dan McAskill; Bob & Jacob Harding used slides and specimens to speak on "Damselflies and Dragonflies of Prince Edward Island"; Katherine Clough spoke on "Mushrooms on P.E.I."; Bob Bancroft gave his presentation on "Raptors" (hawks and owls); Bob Thompson spoke on "Sea Ducks and Musscl Farming"; Bill Oehlke spoke on "Raising Silkworm Moths", Ray Cooke & Dan McAskill presented "Waterfowl Birding on Prince Edward Island"; Jim Jenkins used slides and specimens to depict "Life Along the Shore"; and Ray Cooke used slides and CDs to provide his presentation "Using the Bar and Eye, Identification of the More Common Birds of P.E.I."

Thanks to the coordinating efforts of Meike Keunecke and Michelle Johnston, a very active field trip program was again offered. Members car-pooled for a bird field trip to watch the antics and identify overwintering waterfowl in February, Dan McAskill, Jim Jenkins, and Meike Keunecke led an Owl Hoot in April, Maurice Roy led an amphibian field trip in May, Gary Schneider led a walk celebrating birds at Macphail Woods in May, Ben Hoteling and Dwaine Oakley led a bird course field trip to Cavendish while Ray Cooke and Dan McAskill led an early morning bird course field trip in the Charlottetown area and an evening trip to northern Queens County area in May, Eric Marcum led a field trip to survey breeding birds in June, Rosemary Curley led a field trip for butterflies on Confederation Trail for International Butterfly Count Day in July, Linda Thomas and Jim Jenkins hosted a Society field trip "Exploring life on the shore" in August, Jacob and Bob Harding led a field trip from Mooney's Pond on Dragonflies, Damselflies, and Butterflies in late August, Mark Arsenault and Gerald MacDonald led an interpretive walk at Townshend Woodlot and Naufrage River in October, and Linda Thomas was the Society's field trip leader in Watching the Shorebird Migration in September at Stanhope. In addition, Jim Jenkins offered a "Nest Box Construction" workshop in March.

In May, the Society utilized the VolNet Program of Industry Canada to assist with the acquisition of a computer and an Internet account. Robin Phillips donated her skills and leadership to research, design and create a web site for the Society. Many member contributed photographs or slides that were scanned to be used on the web site. This site will be launched in early 2001. The associated Eamail site was created and the Society may now be contacted on-line at nhspei@isn.net

The Society maintained its participation in various interprovincial or North American bird counts. Gary Schneider coordinated and Ruth Richman compiled the Montague Christmas Bird Count. Dan McAskill coordinated SuperWatch, the P.E.I. National Park and Hillsborough Christmas Bird Counts, the Bain Bird Count, and the International Migratory Bird Count Day. Maurice Roy and Rick Hawkins set up the Dalvay Interpretive Centre for the RBI. National Park Christmas Bird Count potluck and Robin Phillips and Dan McAskill hosted the potluck for the Hillsborough CBC.

Many members contributed their wildlife observations and stories for the Society's Island Naturalist which was published three times in 2000. Ben Hoteling, Dr. Andy Hamilton, Donald Wilkinson, and Dover Colouring Books provided original drawings. Dan McAskill continued as the editor. Linda and Allen Thomas and their family packaged and mailed the newsletter to members and schools.

In addition to these efforts, the Society supported, reviewed, and provided comments on funding applications for the Wildlife Conservation Fund awards and Ray Cooke, Ben Hoteling, and Dan McAskill provided input into the Important Bird Areas regional program sponsored by the Canadian Nature Federation and Bird Studies Canada. Dan McAskill Spoke on winter bird feeding in October at the Farm Centre in Charlottetown on behalf of the Society and the Island Nature Trust.

Society members Linda Thomas, Ray Cooke, Dan McAskill, Eric Marcum, and Island Nature Trust staff combined their efforts to host the 5th annual Autumn Birding Classic which was renamed The Neil Bennet Autumn Birding Classic in memory of Neil Bennett who passed away suddenly this year. The donors contributing

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