Society meeting and presentations to the Executive. the committee was asked to 
     
     obtain the necessary permits. develoo an appropriate set of safety 
     
     precautions. and install gull exclosures on a number of the piers. This 
     
     project was implemented successfully. . . 
     
    

    
     Pat Wootton led the beach cleanup project On behalf of the Society. It 
     
     'was suggested that we send more information out to the schools as well as 
     
     other active groups such as the militia. ' 
     
    

    
     _ _ Preliminary investigations are underway on the establishment of a bird 
     
     hotline for the Society. While this option is being explored. a phone alert 
     
     system has been established to convey rare bird sightings to thOse members who 
     
     have expressed an interest in it. I 
     
    

    
     The Society assisted with the revision of the Field Check List of Birds 
     
     for Prince Edward Island. Through the Society's efforts with Provincial 
     
     Parks. separate English and French versions have been prepared so as to-reduce 
     
     mailing costs and paper waste. reporting instructions have been added to call 
     
     upon users to report rare bird sightings. and the Society's role as the. 
     
     primary recorder of natural history sightings has been reinforced. _ 
     
    

    
     'The NHS participated in preliminary reviews of the P.E;I. National Park 
     
     management plan and a review of the National Parks Policy. In addition. 
     
     Society volunteers provided input into the new National Forest Sector Strategy 
     
     development process. the Coastal Area Discussion Paper. the Environmental 
     
     Impact Assessment process on the Biomass Cogeneration proposal. the 
     
     Environment Week Advisory Committee. the Recreational Fisheries Award 
     
     nominations call. a special briefing session with the Hon. Pauline Browse, and 
     
     the Canadian Nature Federation's Pimlott Award. 1 ~ ' 
     
    

    
     On July 11th, the Society was very pleased to co-host-with Ragweed Press 
     
     the launching of» Geoff Hogan's  
     
    

    
     Six issues of the Island Naturalist were published and distributed to 
     
     our members. school libraries across the Island. the National and 
     
     Confederation Centre Libraries. and the U.P.E.I. Science Fair natural history - 
     
     winners. The Society co—hosted bird identificatiOn and feeding workshoos in 
     
     conjunction with the Island Nature Trust at the Farm Centre.and at Eptek 
     
     Centre. In addition. the Society assisted Agro Co-op with a workshop on 
     
     winter bird feeding at the Farm Centre. 
     
    

    
     Our guest speaker schedule was disrupted this year by both fall and 
     
     winter storms. Despite these interruptions. the following speakers made 
     
     presentations: Louise Wootton spoke on The Exploration_of Hydrothermal Vents 
     
     and other British Columbia Undersea Adventures: Bob Bancroft enchanted his 
     
     audience with a talk and slide show on Wildlife Encounters: Donald Wilkinson 
     
     delighted the audience with his presentation on the waterfowl of the world: 
     
     David Cairns presented an illustrated show on the the Wildlife of Australia: 
     
     Jean Ouellette spoke on the Amphibians and Reptiles of P.E.I.: and Jennifer 
     
    

    
     Brown detailed the life information about the Bats of Prince Edward Island. 
     
     ' Society members participated in the Bain Birdathon. 3 Christmas Bird 
     
     Counts. an Owl Prowl. and a big bird day.. 
     
    
   
   
    
        
     
    
   
   
    
     ' HAMPTON FOXES - by. Carolyn Meincke 
     
    
   
   
    
     Although I've heard there has been a population boom of the fox here on 
     
     Prince Edward Island. I still feel privileged to have had a family of red fox 
     
     near our farm house in Hampton. It also inspired me to learn more about the 
     
     fox and to include some facts in my story. 
     
    

    
     There were seven kits to start: the runt later died. This is a large . 
     
     litter but apparently fox vixens will share a den and combine litters. 
     
     Sisters of the vixen will be nearby to help rear the family. Although all the 
     
    
   
   
    
     -4-