After talking with some lobster fishermen, and our summer tern warden on Sheep Island, and based on 
     
     my birding activities, I am prepared to estimate that some 5,000 to 10,000 warblers and flycatchers perished over 
     
     the Bay during that time. Many 105 of birds came aboard fishing boats up to 15 miles off Grand Manan during 
     
     thick fog and rain. Upon reaching shore at the end of the day, many fishermen said that most of the birds were 
     
     dead. One removed 16 birds from inside his boat. 
     
    

    
     Even on tiny, treeless Sheep Island, only 400 yards from thickly-wooded Kent Island, up to 15 warblers 
     
     and flycatchers spent the day around our tern camp on May 28th. Identified were: 4 Magnolia Warbler, 2 
     
     Yellow Warbler, 2 Blackburnian Warbler, 1 Blackpoll, 1 Common Yellowthroat, l Alder Flycatcher and 1 Least 
     
     Flycatcher. It will be interesting to find out what was on Machias Seal Island last week, as there is a crew there 
     
     now from the University of New Brunswick. 
     
    

    
     By the way, in cases such as this -- which seem to happen once every couple years -- the birds die of 
     
     hypothermia (not starvation), induced by trying to stay above the ocean's surface for hours (water temperature 
     
     40°F) whilst soaking wet. One would think a boat would be a safe spot, but there is nothing to eat. On Sheep 
     
     Island, the warblers and flycatchers fed voraciously on kelp flies, and allowed close approach to within a foot or 
     
     two, allowing for wonderful digital images. 
     
    

    
     (Editor '3 Note: adapted from a NB Net June I", 2004 release) 
     
    
   
   
    
     COMIVION MOORHEN NESTS AT ALLISARY CREEK: by David Seeler 
     
    
   
   
    
     On July 19‘”, Elaine and I headed out to Allisary Creek to look for the Common Moorhen that was 
     
     reported by Bruce Pigot. After considerable searching, we eventually headed home with no luck. Strange how 
     
     water is of no concern at times like these :-) 
     
    

    
     On July 20'”, I headed out to Allisary Creek arriving shortly before 
     
     dawn. After about 10 minutes of searching, I found the family of Common 
     
     Moorhens out in the open along the Pigot Trail in the impoundment area. 
     
     One adult had three juveniles "in tow" and they were in the open for about 
     
     ten minutes before swimming into the reeds. The other adult started to 
     
     construct a new "NEST" right in the open. I watched the process for about 
     
     20 minutes and wonder if this is behavioural or some other process. It was 
     
     fascinating to watch how the bird went about the nest building process. 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     (Editor ’s Note: adapted from a PEI Birder’s List Server July 20‘” , 2004 release) 
     
    
   
   
    
     SUlVIMERSIDE GREAT BLUE HERON FESTIVAL: by Ron Arvidson 
     
    
   
   
    
     As part of the Summerside Blue Heron Festival, Gisele Martin and I assisted with a Shorebird Viewing 
     
     afiemoon Thursday August 12th at 4pm. We met on the deck of the new Shipyard Market Bldg on the 
     
     Summerside Waterfront. Birders who might be interested were invited to join us. 
     
    

    
     As Brenda Penak noted, "This event was part of several BBEMA Activity Days that aimed to raise 
     
     awareness about our environment. This particular activity is a good way to get local people, tourists, bird 
     
     watchers and "bird watcher wannbees" out to enjoy our coastal habitats! Summerside Harbour as you know is 
     
     one of the best places to see a variety of shorebirds on PEI." 
     
    

    
     Gisele and I led the Shorebird walk on August 12'11 and three people from BBEMA participated. The 
     
     improvements to the West end of Summerside apparently have not been as helpful to the birds as there were lots 
     
     of people but not too many birds. We did, however, get to see some Lessor and Greater Yellowlegs, Ruddy 
     
     Tumstones and Black-bellied Plover - surprisingly no peeps! Other birds included Gulls - Great Black-backed, 
     
     Herring, Ring-billed and Bonaparte's Gulls, American Crows, Double-crested Corrnorants and a Great Blue 
     
     Heron. 
     
    

    
     (Editor ’s Note: adapted from two PEI Birder’s List Server Aug. 7’” & 13‘“, 2004 releases) 
     
    
   
   
    
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