_ u _ 
     
    
   
   
    
     along Island ponds, marshes, bays and estuaries. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Great Blue Herons migrate annually in autumn to United States, Central and 
     
     South America. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Red—winged Blackbird 
     
    
   
   
    
     The Red-winged Blackbird breeds Canada wide, and like the Canada Goose is 
     
     a sign of spring. Few people have not heard the male redwings's trill on Island 
     
     marshes, barely before the ice has left. 
     
    

    
     The male is easily recognized by its red epaulettes and brassy manner, 
     
     while the female is a drab brown and is often mistaken for a Sparrow. Camouflage 
     
     is a necessity for the female who incubates her eggs (usually h) in a relatively 
     
     accessible nest in the cattails. 
     
    

    
     The young are fed a variety of insects. In early fall, Redwings form huge 
     
     flocks for migration and are often the cause of destruCtion to cereal crops as 
     
     their diet changes from inSects to seeds. Redwings winter south to Costa Rica. 
     
    
   
   
    
     YOUR CHOICE ? 
     
    
   
   
    
     Should you not wish to vote for any of the birds 
     
     presented here, we have left room for a write-in 
     
     candidate. We recommend that any bird you might 
     
     choose should be reasonably common, well distri- 
     
     buted across P.E.|., easily recognized and a 
     
     breeding bird. Most importantly the bird should 
     
     typify P.E.l. (We tried to avoid birds which 
     
     were already provincial or state emblems. 
     
    
   
   
    
     NOTE TO TEACHERS 
     
    
   
   
    
     Selecting a Provincial emblem is a privilege 
     
     everyone should enjoy. Choosing a Provincial bird 
     
     would make an ideal classroom project for students 
     
     from Grade I to Xll during Environment Week in 
     
     May. Students should be encouraged to research 
     
     further the attributes of each bird. They'll 
     
     probably learn a lot about birds in general and 
     
     develop a greater appreciation for our natural 
     
     environment. 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     Teachers who are interested in conducting a classroom vote should total 
     
     the votes for each candidate and send in the results with the name of their school 
     
     and class. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Some references to books available for further research in most libraries 
     
     are provided: 
     
    
   
   
    
     Godfrey,'Earl, 1966 Birds of Canada, National Museum of Canada, Ottawa. #28 pages. 
     
     Tufts, Robie, I96l The Birds of Nova Scotia, Neva Scotia Museum, Halifax. #8] Pp. 
     
     A number of field guides to the birds are also available. 
     
    
   
   
    
     OFFICIAL BALLOT - PROVINCIAL BIRD 
     
    
   
   
    
     Check one or state candidate 
     
    
   
   
    
     ( ) Belted Kingfisher ( ) Cemmon Tern 
     
    

    
     ( ) Black Duck ( ) Great Blue Heron 
     
    

    
     ( ) Black-capped Chickadee ( ) Herring Gull 
     
    

    
     ( ) Blue Jay ( ) Red-winged Blackbird 
     
     Write in candidate: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 
     
     Your name: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 
     
     Address: . . . . . . . . . . ............................. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Mail ballots before May 30th to Rosemary Curley, I83 North River Road, Charlottetown