PROJECT FEEDERWATCH NEWS 1996-97: adapted from Birdwatch Fall 1997 
     
    
   
   
    
     Last winter, 1,326 Canadian bird feeders representing all provinces and territories in Canada participated in 
     
     Project FeederWatch. This project allows the observations of backyard bird feeders to be compared statistically so that 
     
     their observations can be utilized to record and follow population trends across huge areas. 
     
    

    
     In the winter of 1996-97, the top ten species recorded in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island was as follows: 
     
    
   
   
    
     Species % feeders visited Mean group size 
     
     Black-capped Chickadee 97.6 4.2 
     
     Blue Jay 95.2 3.7 
     
     Dark-eyed Junco 88.1 7.2 
     
     American Crow 81.0 3.0 
     
     American Goldfinch 78.6 7.0 
     
     European Starling 71.4 5.5 
     
     Downy Woodpecker 66.7 1.2 
     
     Hairy Woodpecker 66.7 1.2 
     
     Mourning Dove 64.3 4.5 
     
     Red-breasted Nuthatch 57.1 1.3 
     
    
   
   
    
     Past results for the Common Redpoll showed that this species peaks in numbers on a two year cycle. Last year 
     
     most of the population stayed in the north country. The Evening Grosbeak showed its largest drop since 1988-89. 
     
    
   
   
    
     ASSIST ING NATURAL HISTORY EDUCATION: by Gary Schneider 
     
    
   
   
    
     When I ask someone for dead animals, they usually roll their eyes, but believe me there is a good reason for 
     
     asking. The Macphail Woods Ecological Forestry Project is entering into an exciting new initiative that will assist us in 
     
     teaching natural history and forest restoration at the Sir Andrew Macphail homestead in Orwell. ‘ 
     
    

    
     Over the past six years the Macphail Woods project has become very active in the area of environmental 
     
     education, especially regarding forests and natural history. With the help of many naturalists in the community, we have 
     
     offered regular walks and talks on bird identification, owls, wildflowers, mushrooms, ferns, tree and shrub identification 
     
     and forest ecology. As well, we have developed a summer children‘s program, offer school tours and have promoted 
     
     plantings at schools across the province. 
     
    

    
     We are now in the process of creating a large, natural 
     
     history centre as part of the forestry project. With our extensive 
     
     tree, shrub and wildflower nursery, wildlife garden, pond, 
     
     streams, three trails and wide range of forest types, Macphail 
     
     Woods is an ideal spot for combining indoor learning with 
     
     outdoor education. Schools and our summer students will benefit 
     
     immediately, but we hope the building will be used for a wide 
     
     range of adult education as well. This could 
     
     be everything from more intensive bird courses to elderhostel programs. 
     
    

    
     This fall, with support from the Federal-Provincial Infrastructure Program, the provincial Employment 
     
     Development Agency and Human Resources Canada, we began the work to stabilize the barn. The building needs a 
     
     foundation, new roof shingles, insulation, floors, finish work, wiring and plumbing to suit our needs. But the results will 
     
     be worth it. The entire building will be used to promote and teach natural history. We already have about 40 mounted 
     
     birds and want to extend this collection. Displays will highlight native plants, small mammals, birds, amphibians, insects, 
     
     and a history of what the Island would have looked like before European settlement. Reading material and computer 
     
     facilities will also be available. 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     Common Green Darner Anaxjunius