NEWS FROM ABOUT: compiled by Dan McAskill 
     
    
   
   
    
     The Institute Of Island Studies video production, Like the Back of My 
     
     hand, had sold 239 copies by the end of December, 1994. Mr. Ian MacDonald, 
     
     the Chair of the Institute, presented a donation of $ 476.81 to the 
     
     Department of Alumni, Development, and Public Relations as a donation to 
     
     the Geoffrey Hogan Honours Biology Scholarship Fund. This represents a 
     
     royalty of 10% on the retail value. These funds support scientific studies 
     
     by students enrolled in the Honours Biology program at U.P.E.I. 
     
    

    
     Sometimes fact is indeed stranger than fiction. In August, botanists 
     
     searching a remote area of the Wollemi National Park in Australia's Blue 
     
     Mountains, 200 kilometers west of Sydney, discovered a grove of 39 pines 
     
     trees thought to have become extinct 150,000,000 years ago. These 40 meter 
     
     high pine trees have been termed the Wollemi Pines. (adapted from the 
     
     Guardian, December 15, 1994) 
     
    

    
     The 1994 Baillie Birdathon had 486 participants and raised $147,500 
     
     for bird conservation. One of the teams, the Lorne Lakers, raised 
     
     $9,552.40 and won the most money raised while the Walsh Public School 
     
     raised $3,223.03 and was awarded 25 pairs of Bushnell "Birder" binoculars 
     
     (adapted from Long Point Observatory Newsletter 26:3, Fall 1994). 
     
    

    
     After many years of effort, the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act 
     
     and the Act to Amend the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act were 
     
     proclaimed into law on January 19th, 1995. The four key regulations, 
     
     namely, the Law List, the Inclusion List, the Comprehensive Study List, and 
     
     the Exclusion List have also come into effect. To obtain further 
     
     information call the Transition Team at 819-997-1000. 
     
    

    
     To counter night poaching, Newfoundland’s Wildlife Division has 
     
     equipped field staff with night vision equipment. These devices are 
     
     similar to those used in the military and have diodes that provide infrared 
     
     illumination in total darkness (adapted from Salar 13:4, Nov. 1994). 
     
    

    
     . The Common Loon was designated on 
     
     June 23rd as Ontario's Avian Emblem. 
     
     This culminates a campaign that started 
     
     in 1987 when the Minister of Natural 
     
     Resources asked 10 and 11 year olds to 
     
     choose a bird and their favourite was 
     
     the Common Loon (adapted from Long Point 
     
     ‘<-_(f Observatory Newsletter 26:3, Fall 1994). 
     
     ‘ ‘-—-———' f The Federation of Nova Scotia 
     
     ‘E\\\1_____~pfl~’_ Naturalists News (4:3) reported that the 
     
     Osprey had been designated the 
     
     provincial avian emblem for Nova Scotia. 
     
    

    
     Department of Fisheries and Oceans’ plans to divest itself of 
     
     hatcheries in Atlantic Canada seems to fly in the face of the much touted 
     
     "cooperative programs" of federal departments. At a time when cooperation 
     
     programs with local stream enhancement groups have reached an all time high 
     
     and two very successful Atlantic salmon semi-natural rearing programs have 
     
     been established, DFO has recommended the divestiture of the hatcheries to 
     
     private operators. 
     
    

    
     Bring Back the Birds, a program initiated in 1992, was created to 
     
     promote the conservation of migratory songbirds and their habitats. This 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
         
     
    
   
   
    
     -10-