In recent years, between 80 and 100 species have been found by the Society's Birding Team. 
     
    
   
   
    
     UPEI SCIENCE FAIR NATURAL HISTORY AWARDS: by Ben Hoteling 
     
    
   
   
    
     Last spring, students from across the Island competed in science fairs at their schools. The 
     
     students judged to have the best displays and presentations went on the regional competitions and the 
     
     successful ones at that level went on to the UPEI Science Fair. In recent years, the Natural History 
     
     Society has provided judges and prizes for a student display and presentation at the Senior, 
     
     Intermediate, and Junior levels. This year, Tracey Brown and I had the joy of reviewing the displays and 
     
     asking questions of the students. We awarded three prizes from the Society to the winners in each 
     
     category. These were: Brittany Michael and Mary Jane Doucette of Charlottetown Rural High School for 
     
     their display on Forest Measurement", Lilla MacDonald of Montague Intermediate School for her 
     
     presentation on Buffer Zones; and Constance Holman of West Kent School in Charlottetown for Bird 
     
    
   
   
    
     Brain? Think Again, Colour Preference in Birds. Their teachers were Mike Fitzgerald, Paul Power, and 
     
     Mrs. MacAuley. 
     
    
   
   
    
     NEWS FROM ABOUT: Compiled by J. Dan McAskill 
     
    
   
   
    
     Congratulations go out to Holland College's Ben Hoteling who was successful in achieving the 
     
     certification of the College's Renewable Resource Management Program which he instructs. This 
     
     certification from the North American Wildlife Technology Association recognizes the graduates as 
     
     Wildlife Technologists. 
     
    

    
     Congratulations to the Hillsborough River Association who worked with the P.E.l. Department of 
     
     Transportation and Public Works to have unique signage developed and placed at the access routes to 
     
     the Island's only Canadian Heritage River. 
     
    

    
     Great news from Florida, at least 27 right whale calves were born last winter in Florida's coastal 
     
     waters. This is more than all the right whale calves born in the past five years in this area. While two 
     
     perished, this is still a great increase in calf production (adapted from Recovery, An Endangered Species 
     
     Newsletter, June 2001) 
     
    

    
     Thanks to the leadership of Rosemary Curley as well as the commitment of many 
     
     volunteers and staff, the P.E.I. Fish and Wildlife Division in conjunction with Bird Studies 
     
     Canada launched owl surveys across the Island this past spring. 
     
    

    
     Shorebird population trends in Canada have been assessed using Breeding Bird 
     
     Survey Data. The long term trends from 1966 to 1999 showed marginally significant 
     
     declines in ten of thirteen species with the Killdeer, Lesser Yellowlegs, and Willet 
     
     showing significant declines (-2.4%, -8.4% and -1.6% respectively). (adapted from Bird 
     
     Trends #8. Winter 2001 ). 
     
    

    
     Congratulations to George Webster, a Middleton farmer, on his being the inaugural winner of the 
     
     Honourable Gilbert Clements Award for Excellence in Sustainable Agriculture. Among other efforts, Mr. 
     
     Webster is the Bedeque Bay Environmental Management Association's partner in the Maple Plains Agro- 
     
     Environmental Demonstration Site (adapted from BBEMA newsletter, April 2001). 
     
    

    
     The Museum of Natural History staff are working with Nova Scotia students to collect the dates of 
     
     natural seasonal phenomena such as the blooming of a type of flower or the first flight of Canada Geese 
     
     in spring. This form of science is termed phenology i.e. the science of nature's cycles and the recording 
     
     of these natural events. The dates observed this year will be compared to those recorded 100 years ago 
     
     when the Dr. Alexander MacKay, the superintendent of education, had students across Nova Scotia 
     
     record these events. For a preview of the MacKay project visit www.thousandeyes.ca (adapted from 
     
     Blomidon Naturalists Society Vol. 28 #2, Summer 2001) 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
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