. Jr . 
     
    
   
   
    
     Black-Capped Chickadee 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     The Black-Capped Chickadee needs little introduction. It 
     
     breeds Canada—wide and is a permanent resident of Prince Edward 
     
     Island. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Though small, it is never inconspicuous and its song is 
     
     common in our woodlots, particularly in winter when it is at its 
     
     cheerful best. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Six to eight eggs are laid in a small cavity lined with moss, 
     
     hair, and feathers. Both parents participate in incubation and 
     
     care of the young. The Chickadee is an insect eater and contributes 
     
     much to the control of harmful forest insects. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Blue Jay 
     
    
   
   
    
     The Blue Jay is a permanent resident in most provinces of 
     
     Canada, being replaced in British Columbia by Stellar's Jay. 
     
    
   
   
    
     In P. E. I. it is commonly seen collecting a winters food 
     
     supply in autumn and is a handsome addition to winter feeding 
     
     stations. In summer it becomes more secretive, retreating to the 
     
     spruce woods to raise its young. From 4 to 6 eggs are laid and 
     
     incubated 18 days. 
     
    
   
   
    
     The Blue Jay eats a variety of foods including the eggs and 
     
     nestlings of other birds. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Common Tern 
     
     The Common Tern breeds in most of Southern Canada. 
     
    
   
   
    
     A total of ten known colonies exist on Prince Edward Island, 
     
     most of them located on remote sandspits where the young can be 
     
     raised without disturbance. Though the tern rarely troubles to 
     
     build a nest, it is not unconcerned about its young (usually 3). 
     
     Invaders of a tern colony are greeted by dive-bombing adults, 
     
     uttering an accompanying "machine-gun" threat. 
     
    
   
   
    
     While the tern is often mistaken for a gull, it small size 
     
     and scissors tail make it easily identifiable. This handsome 
     
     sea—bird migrates south to winter in Mexico, Central and South 
     
     America. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Herring Gull 
     
    
   
   
    
     Herring Gulls are among the world's most widely distributed 
     
     birds and breed throughout most of Canada. Most commonly called 
     
     "seagull" the Herring Gull is a noted scavenger and is credited 
     
     with keeping our beaches clean. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Four breeding colonies of Herring Gulls are known on P. E. I., 
     
     all of which are located on off-shore islands. Three eggs are laid, 
     
     usually in a straw mound on theqround,but sometimes in a tree-top 
     
     nest. Once fledged the young bird travels considerable distances 
     
     until it reaches maturity at three years. 
     
    
   
   
    
     The Herring Gull is a year-round resident of P. E. I. and not 
     
     surprisingly is the subject of many photographs and conversations. 
     
    
   
   
    
     The Great Blue Heron 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     The Great Blue Heron is the largest, most widely distributed 
     
     and most common heron in Canada. 
     
    
   
   
    
     In P. E. I. there are 12 known heron colonies where large tree— 
     
     top nests of sticks are located in close proximity to one another. 
     
     Three eggs are laid and incubated for 20 days. By August the young 
     
     have gone through the transition from "ugly duckling" to the 
     
     magnificent motionless fisherman and picturesque flier so often seen