FEB. 2h NATURE WALK. There were only seven of us, including the leader, fellow 
     
     member Anne Landry of the P. E. I. National Park. We "went out, not knowing whither 
     
     we wen ", and experienced the delight of making the circuit of two brand-new trails 
     
     at Campbell's Pond in the National Park. Snowshoes-we could take them or leave them; 
     
     for the second trail we left them. On this light overcast, mild and calm Sunday 
     
     afternoon, one could not wish for better weather. Saturday's light snow made a clean 
     
     new surface where snowshoe hares, squirrels, a ruffed grouse and a mink left their 
     
     signatures. Mr. Mink appeared in person, popping in and out of openings in the ice 
     
     on a creek. For us who were there, there cannot be another first time for those 
     
     trails; those who missed out can still look forward to their first time. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Margaret E. Mallett 
     
    
   
   
    
     BIRDS USE THEIR BRAINS. This winter, after cooking 
     
     a pork ham I removed the rind leaving a thick layer 
     
     of fat on it-—for the chickadees, I hoped. Putting 
     
     a washer under the head of a roofing nail, I nailed 
     
     the rind to the south-side of a tree. A week went 
     
     by, and the fat remained untouched. Then one after- 
     
     noon, I saw pesky crows on a porch roof concocting 
     
     a scheme to get the fat which was about 1 meter be- 
     
     yond their reach. Their solution was to Jump across 
     
     and grab onto the fat Just long enough to take 
     
    

    
     two quick pecks before losing their grip. Fortun- 
     
     ately, the crows soon ceased their efforts and went 
     
     away. This activity was not unnoticed by the 
     
     starlings Right away they ass cmbled on the 
     
     porch roof. Some copied the crows' method. Beizig 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     3511331. 337131132”, they 301:1: about :21: ‘ - ' 
     
     losing their grip. other_starlings hovered in front of the fat like humming birds 
     
    
   
   
    
     the most these coul§:get was—two bites before losing altitude. The pork rind was 
     
     peeked clean by evening. ' ' 
     
    
   
   
    
     Margaret E. Mallett 
     
    
   
   
    
     MARCH MEETING REPORT. Professor Earl Wonnacott of the Physics Dept. at U.P.E.I. 
     
     presented a most interesting account of our night skies which included slides of 
     
     seasonal star maps as well as many beautiful shots of neighbouring planets. He 
     
     also updated Society members on developments aimed at improving astronomy facilities 
     
     at the University. The best known of these is the construction of facilities 
     
    

    
     north of the present gym to house the Abegweit Science Centre with its one hundred 
     
     seat planetarium. This structure, a geodesic dome, will be used for projections of 
     
     simulated star and constellation patterns onto its interior surface. Perhaps of 
     
     more interest to amateur astronomers is the observatory being constructed on the 
     
     roof of the new extension to Memorial Hall. It will feature a Celestron lh—inch 
     
     reflecting type telescope and is to be used by faculty and students of the Physics 
     
     Department. Professor Wannacott extended an invitation to the Society to visit 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     A the observatory on its completition. 
     
    
   
   
    
     SLIDE CONTEST DEADLINE. Entries to the nature slide contest are to be submitted to 
     
     Margaret Mallett no later than April 1, 1980 (not April 8 as stated in the last 
     
     newsletter). Slides must have been taken by a member and not have been entered in 
     
     any previous Society contest. Up to ten entries per person will be accepted. Slides 
     
     'll be shown at the May meeting, at which time prizes will be awarded to winners.