ever before. It is little wonder that the Field Checklist of Birds for P.E.I. 
     
     (5th edition, 1991) already requires updating in several areas., One 
     
     recommended new entry to the list is that of Townsend's Solitaire under 
     
     "Thrushes and Bluebirds." Two 1991 winter records, almost a year apart, are 
     
     considered here. 
     
    

    
     i The first record is of a bird seen for a total of seven minutes on 
     
     February 27 and 28 at China Point. The observer, John Hayden, noted the 
     
     bird's size (perhaps smaller than a Red-winged Blackbird); its robin-like head 
     
     with a somewhat finer bill; tan wing patches, and white sides on the tail. He 
     
     provided a description to Dan McAskill identifying it as a Townsend's 
     
     Solitaire, and noted differences from other birds. He indicated it to be 
     
     smoother in appearance than a mockingbird and smaller with more rounded wings 
     
     and tail feathers than on a mourning dove. The solitaire was perched on both 
     
     days in open farmland, first on a dead tree, then on a fencepost. On the 
     
     second observation day, Mr. Hayden tried to check for the white eye ring of a 
     
     Townsend's Solitaire, but was unable to see this feature from a distance of 20 
     
     meters. 
     
    

    
     The second siting was recorded December 24, 1991. The fortunate viewer, 
     
     Joyce MacLeod of Greenfield Avenue, Charlottetown glanced at her congregation 
     
     of feeding birds and spotted an oddball. A brownish robin-like bird with a 
     
     white eye ring was behaving much like a robin in the snow laden yew bush 
     
     adjacent to her house. Joyce quickly grabbed her Peterson Field Guide to the 
     
     Birds (4th edition) and flipped to the thrushes. Pictured on the first page 
     
     of the thrush section is the Townsend's Solitaire, and sitting in the yew bush 
     
     was the model for the picture. Joyce easily matched the soft grayish brown 
     
     body, the patchy light areas on the wings, the eye ring and the white tail 
     
     feathers of the bird and picture. 
     
    

    
     ’-The solitaire was alone (surprised?) and stayed only about two minutes. 
     
     Having made a good impression in its one short visit, it has not exposed 
     
     itself since. ‘ ' 
     
    

    
     Townsend's Solitaires are periodically recorded in the Maritimes well 
     
     away from their normal western range, and one might expect a solitaire to turn 
     
     up on Prince Edward Island sooner or later. The first record by John Hayden 
     
     is perhaps less conclusive than the second in that the white-eye ring, a major 
     
    

    
     yfield mark was not discernible. Taken together, the two records provide good, 
     
     evidence that Townsend's Solitaires really do visit P.E.I. The next challenge 
     
     will be to find a group of solitaires. 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
         
     
    
   
   
    
     NEWS FROM ABOUT 
     
    
   
   
    
     Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology released a warning against the use of 
     
     glycerin, an alcohol-like bird bath antifreeze. They noted that it takes a 
     
     30% solution to lower the freezing point to 15 degrees Fahrenheit and that 
     
     this concentration will cause elevated blood sugar levels and possibly the 
     
     death of birds ingesting it in large quantities. At levels required to 
     
     prevent water from freezing during our winters, it causes feathers to mat. 
     
     Matted feathers are poor insulators. The experts recommended electric 
     
     immersion style heaters. (Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology release) 
     
    

    
     The men who shot and killed one of only 33 breeding female Whooping 
     
     Cranes remaining in the wild was fined $10,000 and sentenced to a 60 day jail 
     
     term, 200 hours of community service, and 5 years probation. His accomplice 
     
     received a fine of $2,000, a jail term of 20 days, 200 hours of community 
     
     service, and 3 years probation. In addition, they were ordered to pay $8,100 
     
     in civil damages. (adapted from Birder's World, Feb» 1992) 
     
    
   
   
    
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