NEWS ANDJN'OTES 
     
    
   
   
    
     4- 
     
     DECEMRER MEETING REPORT. The Dec. 7th meeting finalized plans for upcoming Christmas‘ 
     
     Bird C0unts. Considerable discussion took place on the format of the proposed poster 
     
     on Island birds. In an effort to increase the number and quality of natural history 
     
     and environmental entries in the provincial science fair, the value of prizes was 
     
     increased and science teachers are to be sent promotional letters. John Wright 
     
     reported on the project to locate Island natural history specimens now housed in 
     
     museums across the continent. 
     
    

    
     Dan McAskill of the P.E.I. Dept. of Forestry gave an illustrated talk on the 
     
     trees of Prince Edward Island. He recounted the various influences and the changes 
     
     they have brought about on Island forests over the past few hundred years, result— 
     
     ing in the kinds of woodlands we have around today. Dan outlined various manage— 
     
     ment options available to woodlot owners wishing to enhance their properties for 
     
     commercial, recreational or aesthetic purposes. The numerous questions from the 
     
     audience indicated the high degree of interest and appreciation for the speaker. 
     
     Thanks Dan for a most informative evening. 
     
    
   
   
    
     JANUARY MEETING REPORT. The annual meeting of the P.E.I. Natural History Society 
     
     was held on Jan. 14, 1983. The treasurer indicated a balance of $882.50 on Dec. 
     
    

    
     31, 1982, plus about $1200.00 in the book account. There are currently about 172 
     
     members. Dan McAskill reported on recent activities of the Island Nature Trust, 
     
     drawing particular attention to the public meeting in Tracadie Cross on Jan. 12 to 
     
     discuss the gateway and fencing proposals to protect the foredunes at Deroche Point. 
     
     Winston Johnston presented an update on the Canadian Nature Federation. Geoff 
     
    

    
     Hooan in his President's report gave a very thorough account of the concerns and 
     
     activities of the society during 1982. Harry Baglole outlined the recently released 
     
     Lord Report on museum development on P.E.I. and strongly urged the N.H.S. to voice ‘ 
     
     its views on the topic, as our society is in a particularly good position to speak 
     
     on behalf of the need for natural history museum facilities. New membership rates 
     
     of $2.00, $4.00 and $5.00 were adopted, but will not affect members already paid 
     
    

    
     up for 1983. The following officers were installed: President Geoff Hogan, Vice- 
     
     President Gerald MacDonald, Past-President Rosemary Curley, Secretary-Treasurer 
     
     Margaret Mallett (assisted by Joyce MacLeod), Directors Julie Singleton and Jane 
     
     Symmes. 
     
    

    
     The evening's speaker was David Cairns of Carleton University, who showed 
     
     slides and spoke on the western Hudson Strait region of the Canadian Arctic. He 
     
     described ongoing research on Thick-billed Murres and Black Guillemots in the Digges 
     
     Island area, contrasting the 'oasis' level of productivity found there with the 
     
     barrenness and low productivity characteristic of most of the Arctic. Thank you 
     
     David for a very enjoyable evening. 
     
    
   
   
    
     GULL ATTACKS MERGANSER. (Dan McAskill observed 
     
    

    
     the following interesting incident during the 
     
    

    
     P.E.I. National Park Christmas Bird Count on 
     
    

    
     Dec. 19.) A Great Black-backed Gull was seen 
     
    

    
     attacking a Common Merganser, both with beak _,/ 
     
     strikes and the grasping of the neck and wings, 
     
     accompanied by vigorous shaking of the head. 
     
    

    
     In the latter the merganser was lifted clear of the ground and tossed back on it 
     
     after several shakes. Our approach caused the dull to leave and the merganser 
     
     flopped its way to the water. The outer appendages of the left wing appeared broken 
     
     and the bird could not fly. _0n reaching the water it swam out from shore in short 
     
     bursts, each of which was followed by a rest period with the bill touching the 
     
     water and the head canted to the side. After 15 minutes the bird was swimming 
     
    

    
     quite well. '