CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNTS 
     
    
   
   
    
     All across North America, in every Canadian province, every American state, 
     
     many Central American countries and numerous West Indian islands the Christmas 
     
     Bird Counts are the big birding event of the year. ' 
     
    

    
     During the period December 17-January 2, in all of these areas, groups of 
     
     people will try to amass, in a single calendar day, the biggest possible list 
     
     of birds in a designated area. By tradition, the "count area" is a circle of 
     
     15 mile diameter. Within this circle, the count organizer will field as many 
     
     observers as possible, grouped in parties, each with a section rf the circle 
     
     that they will cover.Apart from its attraction as a social and sporting event, 
     
     the counts shed much light on the early winter distribution of different bird 
     
     species, where they are, and in what numbers. All of the information from 
     
     acroSs the continent is published in the July-August issue of the journal 
     
     AMERICAN BIRDS (available in the library at U.P.E.I.), the editors of which 
     
     organize and run the annual extravaganza. 
     
    

    
     The first Christmas Bird Count was held in 1900 and they have grown every 
     
     year since. The counts began on P.2.I..in the early 1970's. 
     
    

    
     On P.E.I. we have two official count areas and another "for the fun of 
     
     it", Following each count day, a pot-luck supper is held that evening for the 
     
     counters to thaw out over hot chocolate and excellent cuisine while swapping 
     
     stories of the day's events. The competition is friendly and the company 
     
     enjoyable. » 
     
    

    
     This year's count dates have been established as follows: 
     
    

    
     P.E.I. National Park - Sat. Dec. 22 
     
     Hillsborough - Sat. Dec, 29, 
     
    

    
     - . MOHtague - Sat.. Jan. 5 
     
     Volunteers are needed to host the pot-luck suppers again this year so please 
     
     help out ' ' 
     
    

    
     For more information about getting involved in the count day activities 
     
     contact organizer Geoff Hogan (894-5995) or Jane Symmes (675-4806).or Sid 
     
     Watts 
     
    
   
   
    
     NORTHUMBERLAND STRAIT FIELD TRIP 
     
    
   
   
    
     On Saturday October 13, 8 people boarded the Wood Islands ferry for a bird- 
     
     watching trip across the Strait. It was a sunny,clear, mostly warm day and 
     
     despite a cool breeze a great number of bird species were sighted: altogether 
     
     18 species of birds as well as 2 seals. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Common Loon—16 Semi-palmated Plover- 10 
     
    

    
     Red-throated Loon-3 Black-bellied Plover- 5 
     
    

    
     Storm Petrel species - l skimming the waves.Greater Yellowlegs- l 
     
    

    
     Gannetsemature and immature Sanderling- 73 
     
    

    
     Double-crested Cormorant- numerous Great Black-backed Gull- several 
     
     Great Blue Heron- 25+ Herring Gull,Ring—billed Gull-several 
     
     Black Duck- 2 Bonaparte's Gull- 60+ 
     
    

    
     Bufflehead— 1 female? Tern species-3+ several immatures 
     
     White-winged Scoter— 5 and l immature Harbour Seal-1 
     
    

    
     Surf Scoter- 16+ Grey Seal-l 
     
    
   
   
    
     Merganser species-1 
     
    
   
   
    
     Altogether it was a successful and enjoyable field trip. 
     
     Submitted by Jamie Burton.