NEWS AND NOTES ‘ d 
     
    
   
   
    
     OCTOBER MEETING REPORT. Approximately 40 people attended the first fall meeting 
     
     of the Natural History Society. Ian Scott, the new director of the P.E.I. Museum 
     
     and Heritage Foundation, was introduced. Members were invited to attend the 
     
     nature photography exhibit and lecture series to be held at the Eptek Center in 
     
     Summerside this fall. Dan McAskill reported on the recent Canadian Nature Feder- 
     
     ation meetings in Sackville, N.B. He also announced the upcoming regional CNF 
     
     meeting and urged that letters be written to MP's regarding the Machias Seal 
     
     Island situation. Rosemary Curley reported on the ENGO meetings she had attended 
     
     in Ottawa last spring and encouraged attendance at the regional ENGO meetings in 
     
     Fredericton, N.B. Nov. 19-20. Information was presented on the deteriorating 
     
     state of the pilings of the old Hillsborough Bridge which are now used by nesting 
     
     Common Terns. The possible clean-up of the Francis Bain monument was considered. 
     
     The president agreed to investigate alternate meeting sites which provide more 
     
     space. 
     
    

    
     Daryl Guignion of the Biology Dept. of the University of P.E.I. spoke on the 
     
     Morell River Enhancement Project. He described the diversity of natural features 
     
     and wildlife of the watershed feeding the river system. Over the years erosion 
     
     (mainly from roads) had caused heavy silt deposits to accumulate, in many places 
     
     almost choking off water flow. The enhancement program involved removal of silt 
     
     and the judicious clearing of stream bank vegetation. The result is a clear gravel— 
     
     bottomed river bed, offering much improved habitat for salmon and other fish species. 
     
     Congratulations, Daryl, on the success of the program, and thanks for a most 
     
     interesting presentation. 
     
    
   
   
    
     NOVEMBER MEETING REPORT. Nell over 40 members attended the Nov. lst meeting. Ro'seJ. 
     
     mary Curley reported on the successful lecture series at Eptek, which averaged 20 
     
     people per night. ,Members were encouraged to see the nature photography exhibit 
     
    

    
     at Eptek and to support this venture by purchasing raffle tickets. Dan McAskill 
     
     reported on the regional CNF meeting, and Rosemary Curley agreed to investigate 
     
    

    
     the question of offshore oil drilling safeguards arising from it. Vera Beck will 
     
     obtain estimates for cleaning the plaque on the Francis Bain monument. A donation 
     
     was made to Candy Gallant of Summerside to help support her wildlife rehabilitation 
     
     activities. Volunteers were requested to help stuff newsletters into envelopes. 
     
     Dates were set for Christmas Bird Counts. Members were alerted to watch for The 
     
     Plants of Prince Edward Island, soon to be reprinted. The fall ENGO conference 
     
     will be held in Fredericton Nov. 18-20 focussing on forestry and maintaining the 
     
     land use resource. - 
     
    

    
     Geoff Hogan gave an interesting slide presentation on Governor‘s Island, our 
     
     most distant offshore island. The 100 acre island is low and poorly drained, mostly 
     
     open but with a few patches of woodland. Surprisingly, a few remnants of ash, 
     
     yellow birch and maple are found among the white spruces and alders. In general, 
     
     however, the flora of the island is quite impoverished. Although conditions are 
     
     ideal for insects and amphibians, the latter group is conspicuously absent. Meadow 
     
     voles and hare droppings were found. The island supports a large heronry as well 
     
     as a herd of grey and harbour seals. Thank you Geoff for an excellent introduction 
     
     and tour of Governor's Island. 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
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     DON'T FORGET TO RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP IN THE NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY FOR 1984. 
     
    
   
   
    
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