. U 
     
     -6- 
     
    
   
   
    
     If mixed flocks of Blackbirds seen together at places other than 
     
     roosts are held together by any other bond than a mutual food 
     
     supply, it is not known to the author. Bronzed Grackles and 
     
     European Starlings are prominent on the ground of newly harvested 
     
     hayfields feeding on insects that have fallen off the hay. 
     
     Brown-headed Cowbirds associate with Starlings in the vicinity 
     
     of cattle. Blackbird flocks also feed on plant seed. They are 
     
     fond of grain, some of which is waste, but sometimes it repre- 
     
     sents damage. The Rusty Blackbird is sometimes seen with other 
     
     Blackbirds in spring. The only record for fall the author has 
     
     of it mixing with other birds is a lone bird seen with a flock 
     
     of 190 Cowbirds at Marie on October 9, 1966. The Cowbird is one 
     
     of the few birds that appear to associate well with burned-over 
     
     fields. The author has no flocking records for the Bobolink. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Blackbird flocks which could have been migrants were Red-winged 
     
     Blackbirds seen on October 7, 1950 (60) and October 15, 1966 
     
     (150), both in Mount Stewart Marsh. A flock of 100+ Cowbirds on 
     
     April 9, 1967 at Souris was seen with some Grackles and Starlings. 
     
     Some of the other flocks mentioned in this article could have 
     
     been migrants. 
     
    
   
   
    
     With the exception of those seen about roosts, the European 
     
     Starling can be met with in flocks of over 50 birds in any season 
     
     but the nesting season (May-June). Flocks peak in spring in 
     
     March and April, and again in fall in September and October. 
     
     Flocks seen in winter are usually congregated about a food 
     
    

    
     source (e.g., Janaury 24, 1964, a flock of 1,500+ at Charlottetown 
     
     dump). 
     
    
   
   
    
     Bruce C. Pigot 
     
     Mount Stewart 
     
     Prince EdWard Island 
     
    
   
   
    
     A CHALLENGE 
     
    
   
   
    
     There are no groups on Prince Edward Island, other than Natural 
     
     historians, which fill the niche of recording increases, declines 
     
     or status of our furred and feathered co—inhabitants. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Hence, a challenge to all you naturalists, rookies and old timers 
     
     alike: 
     
    
   
   
    
     The geese have returned, snow is melting and the clamor of spring 
     
     has begun. Get out where the action is, become exposed to the 
     
     variety of enjoyable experiences that natural areas of Prince 
     
     Edward Island offer you and share your interesting observations 
     
     with others, either by writing them down yourself or by telling 
     
     someone who will. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Kathy Martin 
     
     Editor 
     
     N.H.S. Newsletter 
     
    
   
   
    
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     into your home 
     
    
   
   
    
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     For membershtp brochure write: 
     
     Canadian Nature Federation 
     
    

    
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     Ottawa, Canada K1P 5K6