because of its bright red color and also the quantity produced. One afternoon I 
     
     was working out front when I happened to glance up the street. There must have 
     
     been more than 100 Cedar Naxwings attacking the shrub and how they avoided 
     
     collisions, I'll never know. However, they appeared to have satisfied their 
     
     appetites and came to rest on a rather large shade tree in front of the house 
     
     where we lived. The fruit must have been somewhat laxative because our lawn was 
     
     less attractive after they left! 
     
    
   
   
    
     AN OVATION FOR OLD SOL by Evelyn Meader 
     
    
   
   
    
     Some days my world is sunshine right. This is one of those days. The yards 
     
     thick smooth coverlet of snow has a pair of irregular trails, curved where the 
     
     dog has roamed after tantalizing odors, blotched where she has rolled and 
     
     punctuated where she has bounded after intruding crows. A sun which once 
     
     inspired worship and still could, beams from a gentle blue sky onto a washday- 
     
     white world. Only tall dark trees dare to imprint their dark lines and grey 
     
     shadows on the bleached landscape. 
     
    

    
     The suns heat creates a stream of melted snow, Splashing from the roof as 
     
     if, above, a tap has opened. An active red-naped woodpecker scurries about in 
     
     the old pear tree, bustling from bark bugs to suet log to feeder treats in a 
     
     flurry of frenetic feeding. Cars glide silently along a distant road. Patches 
     
     of snow-free ice on the bay gleam with the sheen of a mirror. 
     
    

    
     Only the splash of a small snow-fed waterfall and the sun-expanding creaks 
     
     of our old farmhouse, forever settling into the scene, reach the ears. It's as 
     
     well that sounds are sparse because the flow of visual stimulation leads my 
     
     eyes to drink and drink until this one sense alone floods the capacity to 
     
     absorb any more of Nature's stimulation. 
     
    

    
     Unlike the woodpecker, not aware of future benefits, urgently feeding for 
     
     the moment, I can easily quaff enough of this scenic performance to satisfy the 
     
     present observation. There will be many seasonal encores of natural theatrical 
     
     spectacles staged by our solar director. As I remain standing in the window my 
     
     spirit soars. Old Sol's production, this day, deserves a salute. 
     
    
   
   
    
     NEWS FROM ABOUT compiled by Dan McAskill 
     
    
   
   
    
     Amidst field trips, a juried Nature Art Show, a Family Night, and work to 
     
     preserve a fescue grassland, the Saskatoon NHS produces a "Nature Notes" column 
     
     in the Star-Phoenix Sunday edition three times a month. (adapted from The Blue 
     
     Jay News, Issue 86, January 1991) 
     
    

    
     For the serious birder, six authors have completed the first 2 volumes of 
     
     "The Birds of British Columbia". These books feature "a comprehensive summary 
     
     of all historic and current information" on the 266 non-passerine species in 
     
     B.C. The 3rd and 4th volumes will appear later. They are available from The 
     
     Blue Jay Bookshop, Sub P.0. 8, 1210 - 7th Ave. North, Saskatoon, Sask. S7K ZWZ 
     
     for $99 plus $8 for shippings and handling. (adapted from Blue Jay News, Issue 
     
     86, January 1991). 
     
    

    
     The April, 1989 issue of the Slasher, Newspaper of the Forestry Commission 
     
     in Great Britain, announced a 5,000 pound prize for the fifth annua 
     
     Laurant-Perrier Champagne Award for Wild Game Conservation. This is certainly a 
     
     proactive way to award outstanding work in game conservation. 
     
    

    
     The Canadian Wildlife Federation's Habitat 2000 challenge to improve 
     
     50 acres (200,000 sq. meters) was accepted by a number of Scout groups. The lst 
     
     Carievale Wolf Cubs, Saskatchewan, constructed and placed both an owl nest 
     
     platform and a Canada Goose platform. Toronto's 65th Grenadier Beavers cleaned 
     
    
   
   
    
     - 7 _