GLIDERS OF THE NIGHT 
     
    
   
   
    
     by J. Dan McAskill 
     
    
   
   
    
     Prince Edward Island is the home of 3 species of squirrels, 
     
     namely, the red squirrel, the chipmunk and the flying squirrel. 
     
     The former two squirrels are active during the day but the flying 
     
     squirrel is active only at night. Special adaptations for 
     
     nocturnal activity include the presence of very large light 
     
     sensitive eyes and a keen sense of smell. The latter is used 
     
     in feeding and in locating the 2 to 7 young when they are away 
     
     from the nest. 
     
    
   
   
    
     The flying squirrel is quite common in mixed woodland on the 
     
     Island where cavities are available for nesting. It feeds principally 
     
     on fruits, seeds, buds, tree blossoms, and insects. The young are 
     
     born in April or May and they are blind and naked at birth. The 
     
     mother is extremely attentive, and experiments with the southern 
     
     species have demonstrated a strong "retrieving drive" for young 
     
     flying squirrels with one mother retrieving 35 baby flying squirrels 
     
     as they were presented to her. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Contrary to its name, the flying squirrel does not fly. Rather, 
     
     it glides on loose flaps of skin which extend between the front and 
     
     back legs. The tail and legs are used to balance the squirrel in 
     
     flight and to extend the skin folds. The young start gliding 
     
     between branches at about 7 weeks of age and, through trial and error, 
     
     reach the dexterity level of the adult which is capable of the mid- 
     
     air spirals and loops necessary to dodge obstacles in their path. 
     
    
   
   
    
     OSPREY WATCH 
     
    
   
   
    
     by Margaret E. Mallett, Charlottetown 
     
    
   
   
    
     Along the shore a heron flew, 
     
    

    
     And from a speck on high, 
     
    

    
     That hovered in the deepening blue, 
     
     We heard the fish-hawk's cry. 
     
    
   
   
    
     (From "The Unnamed Lake" by F.G. Scott) 
     
    
   
   
    
     July 30, 1980. The Osprey nest rested atop 
     
    

    
     a live spruce tree on the east side of a tidal 
     
     " '“ river. About two o'clock we had approached the 
     
    

    
     river from the west and had concealed ourselves among evergreens directly across 
     
     the river from the nest. All was quiet at the nest. Only the mother osprey was 
     
     in View as she stood guard on the edge of the nest - entirely unsuspicious. 
     
    

    
     Presently a young osprey thrust up a wing from the depths of the nest. Soon 
     
     two heads appeared, then a third. The eldest nestling stood up and flapped its 
     
     wings vigorously - it looked almost full-grown. Now that the youngsters were 
     
     awake - hungry as usual - Mother Osprey decided to go fishing. In a few minutes 
     
     back she came with a fish which she tore apart and fed bit by bit to the young 
     
    
   
   
    
     ° 5’