Natural Histor); Sociefy news . 
     
    
   
   
    
     The April 7 meeting of the Natural History Society was very well— . 
     
     attended and many issues were discussed. Bruce Smith was chosen to be the 
     
     NHS representative to the Island Nature Trust, replacing Pat Doyle. Pat 
     
     held the position for three years and was thanked for his many contributions. 
     
     He was recently elected as President of the Central Queens Branch of the 
     
     PEI Wildlife Federation and couldn't fill both positions (unless someone 
     
     invents a 36-hour day!) 
     
    

    
     Bruce told members about the Challenge '87 Project that the NHS and 
     
     the Conservation Strategy will co-sponsor if approved. Eight students will 
     
     conduct surveys of shorebirds, colonial nesters and raptors. A steering 
     
     committee will be set up if the grant comes through to oversee the project. 
     
     The Conservation Strategy was approved in principle and accepted April 3 
     
     by the provincial legislature. All 65 ‘recommendations were agreed with, 
     
     although not all will be undertaken right away. 
     
    

    
     Another shorebird survey will take place this year, and Mary Willms 
     
     related some of her past experience with the survey. For more information, 
     
     contact Rosemary curley at 651—2585. 
     
    

    
     Concern was voiced at the meeting over the designation of rivers on 
     
     PEI for aquaculture. Escape problems and the physical tie—up of waterways 
     
     are just two of the potential areas of concern. Pat Doyle said that tradi— 
     
     tional uses can be severely curtailed and is trying to get other groups 
     
     besides the Wildlife Federation and the Fly Fishers Association involved. 
     
    

    
     A meeting was held April 9 with Jim Jenkins from Fisheries and Oceans and 
     
     hopefully someone will report on it at the May meeting. 
     
    

    
     Dan McAskill will lead the annual Amphibian hunt, probably towards 
     
     the end of April on a nice, rainy night. 
     
    

    
     Wildlife Parasites: Their World and Yours was the subject of the tall! 
     
     and slide show given by Dr. Rick Cawthorn of the Atlantic Veterinary Coll . 
     
     Great slides may have left some feeling queasy, but Dr. Cawthorn really 
     
     shed a new light on parasites and drew lots of questions afterwards. 
     
    
   
   
    
     MARITIMES 
     
     BREEDING BIRD ATLAS 
     
    
   
   
    
     BY ROSEMARY CURLEY 
     
    
   
   
    
     Saturday, July 4, is Atlas Day and several square 
     
     bashes are planned. Pick the square nearest or of most interest to you and 
     
     bring your binoculars, a lunch and a friend. Field trips are scheduled to 
     
     start at 8:30 a.m. but remember that you can see more birds if you start 
     
     earlier. In the meantime, make a trip to your calendar and reserve July 4 
     
     for the birds. All are welcome. 
     
     WEST POINT PRIORITY SQUARE: The West Point square is about 50% water and 
     
     includes a good mix of wood and farmland, and a varied coastline. Meet 
     
     leader Gerald MacDougall at the Regional Services Centre in O'Leary at 8:00 
     
     a.m. or at the entrance to Cedar Dunes Provincial Park (Rte 14) at 8:30 a.m. 
     
     ALBANY PRIORITY SQUARE: The Albany square is located inland just north of 
     
     Borden and includes small marshes, hardwood and softwood stands, and you ’ 
     
     guessed it, farmland. Meet leader Jennifer Brown at the railway tracks ju