1993-4 CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNTS by Dan MCASkill 
     
    
   
   
    
     Since 1971, the members of the Natural History Society of Prince Edward 
     
     Island and their friends have participated in the P.E.I. National Park and the 
     
     Hillsborough Christmas Bird Counts which are registered with the National 
     
     Aububon Society’s American Birds. In 1983, a third unregistered count area 
     
     was established around Montague and Murray Harbour. These counts cover a 
     
     circle 24 kilometers in diameter and thus encompass a large area of land and 
     
     water. 
     
    

    
     Birders are arranged in groups to cover specific areas outlined on maps. 
     
     Normally, there is an attempt made to combine novice birders with experienced 
     
     birders so that the novices have an opportunity to meet a fellow birder and 
     
     learn from him or her. Those participating in the count keep track of the 
     
     number of birds of each species seen, the number of kilometers driven and 
     
     walked, and the amount of time spent driving, walking, or listening. Feeder 
     
     watchers record the number of birds of each species seen at their feeder 
     
     during the count day. 
     
    

    
     The National Park count stretches from Wheatley River to Blooming Point 
     
     and from Hillsborough River to the Gulf of St. Lawrence while the Hillsborough 
     
     count ranges from Cumberland to Point Prim and from Bethel to Governor's and 
     
     St. Peter's Island. The Montague count runs from, Poole’s Corner to Murray 
     
     River and from Valleyfield and Caledonia to the waters off Graham’s Point. To 
     
     tell if you’re in the census circles contact Dan McAskill at 569-4351 or Gary 
     
     Schneider at 838-2678. 
     
    

    
     There is no charge for feeder watchers to participate in the counts. 
     
     However, with the exception of feeder watchers, those participating in a 
     
     registered count must pay a registration fee of $5 to assist in covering the 
     
     costs of publishing the results of the over 1,600 registered counts in North 
     
     America. This year, for the second time there is a title sponsor —— Leica 
     
     Camera, Inc. Leica has joined with the National Audubon Society to assist with 
     
     the substantial publishing costs for the special American Birds Christmas bird 
     
     count issue. 
     
    
   
   
    
     P.E.I. National Park Count Saturday, December 18th 
     
     Hillsborough Count Monday, December 27th 
     
     Montague Count Tuesday, December 28 
     
    
   
   
    
     If you wish to participate in either or both the P.E.I. National Park 
     
     and the Hillsborough counts, contact Dan McAskill in th evening at 569—4351. 
     
     If you are interested in the Montague Count contact Gary Schneider at 
     
     838—2678. 
     
    
   
   
    
     ANIMAL AND PLANT SIGHTINGS 
     
    
   
   
    
     The honeybees were on the crocus at Arlington on Apr. 6 (LP). The fireflies 
     
     in Donagh were in full flight in late May. A dead red-bellied snake was seen 
     
     at Elmwood on Sept. 26 (JWa). Red foxes were seen mating during early morning 
     
     in a Strathgartney field on Feb. 2 (PF). Red fox pup was seen outside a den 
     
     on May 22, Appin Road (EC). A school of Dolphin was seen on Oct. intensely 
     
     feeding at the Hillsborough Causeway channel upstream and downstream sides 
     
     along with a flock of Bonaparte’s Gulls (JDM, DMc). 
     
    
   
   
    
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