Natural His}:on S 06129 news 
     
    
   
   
    
     The Feb. 2 meeting of the Natural History Society was highlighted 
     
     by Tim Beattie's informative talk and slide show on whales in the Bay 
     
     of Fundy. Although whales are always a favourite amongst naturalists, 
     
     Tim's presentation was both personable and educational, and it took a 
     
     while to get everyone out of the Farm Centre - there was so much inter- 
     
     est in the subject! Rumour has it that at least one group from P.E.I. 
     
     will go to St. Andrews, N.B. (where Tim works) and go out on one of his 
     
     whale—watching tours. Mid-August is supposed to be the best time. 
     
    

    
     The business part of the meeting was no slouch either. New presi— 
     
     dent Susan Stephenson and new recording secretary Teresa Hughes did a 
     
     great job running the meeting. Members talked about ways to increase 
     
     membership and interest in the society. More notices will go out to 
     
     the papers about meetings, and this issue of the Island Naturalist has 
     
     a form on the back that could help bring in new members and have the 
     
     newsletter and the meetings reflect your interests. Please take the time 
     
     and fill out the form. 
     
    

    
     With the fixed link still up in the air, Susan let members know that 
     
     the NHS has received a response from Premier Ghiz in regards to the 
     
     Society's call for a full panel review to assess the environmental issues 
     
     at stake. A joint federal—provincial committee is being set up to assess 
     
     the studies, including the initial environmental evaluation, to deter- 
     
     mine their adequacy and conclusiveness. Mr. Ghiz also said that "thor- 
     
     oughness, not haste, is of utmost importance in this issue. The Canadian 
     
     Nature Federation and the Canadian Environmental Planning and Assessment 
     
     Caucus have also written to Tom McMillan expressing concern over his 
     
     statements regarding a full panel review for the fixed link. Mr. McMillan 
     
     has recently been calling for reform of environmental assessment to 
     
     strengthen the process, but seems to be afraid of more studies on a pro— 
     
     ject in his home province. The Island Nature Trust has also called for 
     
     a panel review of the project. 
     
    

    
     Bruce Smith reported that the land at MacKinnon's bog has been 
     
     purchased by the INT. Dan McAskill will continue to represent the NHS 
     
     at upcoming meetings between environmental groups, National Parks, the 
     
     tourism industry and the Department of Tourism on the piping plover. 
     
    

    
     Bruce also told members about a committee that has been formed to 
     
     talk about the future of some of our railroad lines. Ruth Richman will 
     
     represent the NHS on the committee, which hopes to gain access to the 
     
     rail lines after the tracks are removed, for recreational purposes such 
     
     as bicycling, hiking, skiing and snowmobiling. 
     
    
   
   
    
        
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     January l988 {my ,,/ 
     
    
   
   
    
            
     
    
   
   
    
     80' 9644 
     
     8mm L 
     
     Edmcmnn. A  
     
    
   
   
    
     .w', u L. ‘ 
     
     ,, . 
     
    
   
   
    
     1887 — Gaining Momentum — 1987 
     
    
   
   
    
         
     
    
   
   
    
          
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     Islanders shone in the January 1988 issue of the Wildlife ‘87 news— 
     
     letter. Dan McAskill was pictured twice and had one story (do you think 
     
    
   
   
    
     he has an in somewhere?). The front picture was Dan, Diane Griffin and 
     
     Tom McMillan and his daughter Kelley at the Christmas bird count. The 
     
    
   
   
    
     _ 9 _