oiunieers 
     
     are needed 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     If you are a birder or bird-watcher, we need your help. In June, 
     
     1986, the five-year Maritimes Breeding Atlas gets underway. The final 
     
     product will be a book of maps, one for each breeding bird, accompanied 
     
     by a text. Each map will clearly delineate the breeding range of a par- 
     
     ticular species in the Maritimes, providing information which scientific 
     
     research and birding records have failed to do for most species. The 
     
     breeding range of the crow and robin is well—known, but the maps for the 
     
     Roseate Tern, Bald Eage, Upland Sandpiper and Northern Oriole might be 
     
     surprising. All the field work will be done by volunteers. . 
     
    

    
     The Atlas will be a benchmark record of breeding birds in the Mari— 
     
     times and in future years will be a handbook for scientific researchers 
     
     and birders. The Atlas should also provice information on habitat fea— 
     
     tures attracting certain species. For birders who maintain lists, it 
     
     should enhance the numbers game. The Atlas may also point to the need 
     
     for better conservation techniques to maintain habitat for rarer species. 
     
    

    
     Participating in an Atlas Project is reported to be addictive and 
     
     we expect an influx of volunteers from states and provinces where Atlases 
     
     are now complete. Still, we must rely on our home-grown talent for the 
     
     bulk of the fun. If you want more information or want to participate, 
     
     contact Rosemary Curley at 651-2585. All levels of expertise are needed. 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     During the recent review of the Environmental Impact Statement 
     
     for the Hibernia Development Project, Environment Canada presented 
     
     their position on the oil field. 
     
    

    
     The Hibernia oil field is located on the northeast Grand Banks 
     
     approximately 310 km east of St. John's. Mobil Oil (Canada) Ltd. has 
     
     proposed to start production from the field in 1992 using a concrete, 
     
     gravity base production platform Specially designed to withstand the 
     
     rigours of the Grand Banks. 
     
    

    
     Environment Canada's position, as presented to the panel, was 
     
     that the oil field could be developed in an environmentally accept— 
     
     able manner provide that more thorough evaluations of the environmental 
     
     risks concerning project design, construction, operation and abandon- 
     
     ment were conducted. Ten specific recommendations were presented to the 
     
     panel to assist them in arriving at a decision on mitigation necessary 
     
     to ensure an environmentally safe project. The recommendations included: 
     
     the need to consider a greater impact area on the Grand Banks and to 
     
     include coastal zones; development of an effects monitoring program; 
     
     development of contingency plans; further research on containment and 
     
     cleanup of oil spills on the high seas, and an evaluation of the risk 
     
    
   
   
    
     to seabirds. 
     
    
   
   
    
     For more information contact: John Neate, Environmental Protection 
     
     Service, Environment Canada, P.O. Box 5037, St. John's, Newfoundland, 
     
     AlC 5V3 (709)772-5488.