BIODIVERSITY FORUM 
     
    
   
   
    
     The Canadian Centre for Biodiversity 
     
     'invites members of the Society to join 
     
     their international forum on biodiversity 
     
     which features a new bulletin Canadian 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     Biodive§3ity. This bulletin W111 publlsh. deMu“ $25CDN SZSLLS 
     
     Substantive articles, views, news, and ' 
     
     reViews on biodiversity and CANADIAN BIODIVERSITY 
     
     biosyatematics , ‘ Canadiln Centre for Biodiyenity, c/o Canadian Museum of Nuurs 
     
     , ' P.0.Box3443.Sufion'D' . » 
     
     Ottawa. Ontario KIP‘6P4 FAX: (613) 9904313 
     
    
   
   
    
     NEWS Enos asour 
     
    
   
   
    
     The Toronto Field Naturalists have the VIP - Volunteers in Park 
     
     initiative running again to staff their Nature Information Centre in 
     
     Sunnybrook Park. Their volunteers have operated this pioneer log cabin 
     
     display, brochure, and map centre since 1980. (adapted from TFN # 427) 
     
    

    
     Eleven European nations signed an agreement which obliges its 
     
     signatories to protect bats by locating and conserving their habitats, 
     
     studying them, controlling pesticides and stopping people from killing them. 
     
     (adapted from TFN # 427, April, 1992) , 
     
    

    
     Thanks to research by selma Barkham in the Spanish Archives, the 
     
     Canadian Parks Service located a Basque whaling station at Red Bay, Labrador 
     
     in 1977 and 1978. The underwater archaeology and site inspections have lead 
     
     to the designation of $2.7 million of their Green Plan funds to support the 
     
     development of this site. Basque whaling flburished along the Quebec North 
     
    

    
     ,Shore and Labrador Coast for several decades in the mid- to late-1500s. This 
     
     site is significant in that shore stations include tryworks for boiling the 
     
     whale blubber, workshops where barrels were made, living quarters, a cemetery 
     
     with over 100 burials, and sunken Basque gallions that constitute the only ' 
     
     substantial remains of 16th century sea—going vessels anywhere in the world. 
     
     (Env. Canada PR-HG-091-Sl and Backgrounder) ‘r 
     
    

    
     Congratulations to the members of the Belfast Historical Society who 
     
     were awarded the 1991 Canadian Parks Service Heritage Award. Congratulations 
     
     also to Mr. Hal Hinds of New Brunswick, Dr. George Ledingham of Saskatchewan, 
     
     La societe duventor of Quebec, and La sociéte provancher d'histoire naturelle 
     
     du Canada of Quebec whose significant contributions to natural history were 
     
     recognized by the receipt of a Canadian Parks Service Heritage Award. 
     
    
   
   
    
     WHERE IS'MY HOME ' Elwood Coakes 
     
    
   
   
    
     A two-inch home - a 53 inch home - or one ninety feet off the ground - 
     
     these can all be found on Prince Edward Island. Ornithological homes - 150‘ 
     
     birds have been known or are believed to be building nests on this northern. 
     
     island. Where would one look for bird homes here? Research gives revelation. 
     
     The awkward Great Blue Heron nest high up in spruce or poplar trees on. 
     
     offshore islands whereas the Pied-billed Grebe builds a floating nest. 
     
    

    
     six woodpeckers species nest here and one other may nest here. Usually 
     
     they nest in self excavated tree cavities. The nest locations, heights, and 
     
     other locations where they have been found nesting are described below. The 
     
     Northern Flicker excavates a cavity 3 to 50 feet or more above the ground in a 
     
     tree, post, wall, dead stumps, and live poplars. The Yellow-bellied sapsucker 
     
    
   
   
    
     .-7_