LARGE ACORN CROP 
     
    
   
   
    
     For the first time in several years the acorn crop at 
     
     the Royalty Oaks Natural Area was good. While it was 
     
     not a bumper seed year (these are expected at 6 to 12 
     
     year intervals) there should be many new seedlings next 
     
     summer. 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     SOCIETY HINS ENVIRONMENT AWARD 
     
    
   
   
    
     Pat Nootton, the current president of the Natural History Society, had the 
     
     honour on behalf of the Society of receiving the 1989 P.E.I. Environmental 
     
     Award for environmental conservation by a group. In addition, Sue Stephenson, 
     
     the former president of the Society, received the individual achievement award. 
     
     The Hon. Gilbert R. Clements presented the awards in October. The other 
     
     recipients were: the Bird's Eye Nature Store (business category) and Glen 
     
     MacEachern (educator category). Congratulations to all the winners for their 
     
     contributions to a better environment on the Island. 
     
    
   
   
    
     PIPING PLOVER MEETING 
     
    
   
   
    
     The Atlantic Region Piping Plover Recovery Team held its second annual 
     
     meeting in Sackville on November 8th. Dan McAskill attended the meeting on 
     
     behalf of the Society and the Canadian Nature Federation. The most exciting 
     
     news presented at the meeting was the incredible work being done by a new 
     
     Magdalen Islands conservation group created to focus attention on the plight of 
     
     ~ the Piping Plover. Lucie D'Amour presented their report on a host of awareness 
     
     projects including brochures, signage, newspaper releases, radio spots, sand 
     
     building displays, information booths, and other projects. They started with in 
     
     kind contributions and accessed an $18,000 RENEW project. 
     
    

    
     The big event for the future with regard to the Piping Plover is the range 
     
     wide survey planned for the first week in June of 1991. The Society will 
     
     require a number of volunteers to cover our beaches so that this inventory can 
     
     be carried out successfully. If you can help out with the planning or 
     
     implementation of this survey or if you would like further information on the 
     
     meeting contact Dan McAskill at 569-4351 (evenings). 
     
    
   
   
    
     ENVIRONMENTAL CALENDAR 
     
    
   
   
    
     Jan. 26: This marks the deadlines for nominations for P.E.I. Environment 
     
     Awards. This is a prestigious award on the Island and if you know an 
     
     individual, industry, educator, or group who is deserving you should 
     
     forward a nomination to the Environmental Advisory Council, Box 2000, 
     
     Charlottetown, P.E.I. CIA 7N8. Further information is available from the 
     
     Conservation Strategy office at 368-5905. 
     
    

    
     Feb. 6: Natural History Society meeting at 7:30 p.m. at the Farm Centre. 
     
     Rosemary Curley will speak on the Maritimes Bird Atlas project and update 
     
     us on what has to be completed this summer. 
     
    

    
     Early Feb.: ECOPEI will hold its annual meeting in the Charlottetown area. 
     
     Watch your local newspapers or listen to the radio PSAs for announcements. 
     
    

    
     Feb. 16 - 17: The Department of Environment is hosting a conference titled 
     
    
   
   
    
     _ 9 _