NEWSLETTER NO. 36 JANUARY, 1979 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     NEXT MEETING 
     
    
   
   
    
     Time: 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, January 9, 1979 
     
    

    
     Place: Provincial Health Building, 3rd floor, Room 47 
     
    

    
     Program: Kathy Martin will present an illustrated talk 
     
     on "The Natural History of the Bedeque Area". 
     
     Plants and animals on the Dunk and Wilmot 
     
     Watersheds will be discussed as wellas some 
     
     recent changes on the landscape. 
     
    
   
   
    
     ANNOUNCEMENTS 
     
    
   
   
    
     Membershi fees are due now for 1979. We would like everyone to renew 
     
     their memgership within the first two months of 1979. Membership rates 
     
     are as follows: Regular - $3.00; Student - $1.00; Family — $4.00. 
     
    
   
   
    
     The 1979 Annual General Meeting of the Natural History Society will be 
     
     held’at the January meeting. We will have the announcement of new officers 
     
     to the Natural History Society executive and a financial report. 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     Committee Reports will also be given at the Annual General Meeting. The 
     
     following people will be asked to outline the activities of their 
     
     committees over the past year: 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     Kathy Martin — Canadian Nature Federation, representative 
     
     director 
     
     Gail Curry - Environmental Advisory Committee 
     
    
   
   
    
     Rosemary Curley - Deroche Point, The Island Nature Trust 
     
    
   
   
    
     Kathy Martin - Natural Areas Advisory Committee 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     Christmas Bird Count Report 1978 
     
    
   
   
    
     Once again the P.E.I. Natural History Society organized two local 
     
     Christmas Bird Counts, following the guidelines laid out by the National 
     
     Audubon Society of New York. The P.E.I. National Park Count held on 
     
     December 16 turned out to be highly successful. No doubt the mild and 
     
     pleasant weather of the day had something to do with the 36 species and 
     
     5227+ individuals recorded, up considerably from the 30 species and 
     
     4213 individuals seen in 1977. Some of the more unusual birds sighted 
     
     included Mourning Doves, Northern Shrikes and a Rusty Blackbird. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Weather on December 30 was less than ideal for the Hillsborough 
     
     Count. Blowing snow in the morning and high winds throughout the day 
     
     kept birds under cover and out of sight. Nevertheless a creditable 28 
     
     species and 6101+ individuals were discovered (as compared to the 30 
     
     species and 4213 individuals of 1977). The specialty of the day was a 
     
     Mockingbird, a species not previously recorded on Christmas counts. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Special thanks to all participants and to Kathy Martin, and Lenore 
     
     and Roger Andrew for opening their homes to the crew of tired and hungry 
     
     counters at the close of a long day in the field. 
     
    
   
   
    
     P.E.I. National Park Count December 16, 1978 — 36 species, 5227+ 
     
     individuals. Total party miles 352 1/2 (15 1/2 mi. on foot, 337 mi. by 
     
     car). Total party hours 45 1/2 (11 hr. on foot, 32 l/2 hr. by car, 2 hr. 
     
     stationary). Species seen during count period but not on count day: 
     
     Brown-headed Cowbird. Participants: Judi Allen, Bill Bowerbank, 
     
    

    
     Winifred Cairns, Rosemary Curley, Winston Johnston, Margaret Mallett, 
     
     Clare Martin, Kathy Martin, Dan McAskill, Ruth Ross, David Smith, 
     
    

    
     Mary Willms (12 observers in 7 parties).