THANKS EXPRESSED TO THE BOARD AND VOLUNTEERS! 
     
    
   
   
    
     On January 6'“, 2003, the Natural History Society held its annual general meeting. Ben Hoteling, the Past 
     
     President presented the Nominating Committee report. David Seeler, Dwaine Oakley, Arja Page, Eric Marcum, 
     
     and Bonnie McOrmand re-offered there services to the Society and were re-eleeted. Donna Martin was elected to 
     
     the position of Secretary and 
     
    

    
     The members expressed their thanks to Lois Doan for her two years service as Secretary and a 
     
     subcommittee member in program support work. Members also expressed their heart felt thanks to the new Board 
     
    
   
   
    
     member and to those who agreed to continue for their significant contributions to the Society’s members and the 
     
     Island public. 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     2002-03 CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNTS: Results compiled by 
     
     Dan McAskill, Ruth 
     
     Richman, & Vern 
     
     Laux 
     
    
   
   
    
     Since omithologist Frank Chapman and 27 friends first 
     
     started the Christmas Birds Counts in 1900, much has changed in 
     
     North America . This year is the 103rd consecutive CBC and this 
     
     year marks the 325t consecutive year that Island birders have 
     
     participated in the Audubon Christmas Bird Counts. Their efforts, 
     
     combined with those of about 50,000 others who participate in some 
     
     1,800 registered counts throughout North America, the Caribbean, 
     
     Central America and South America, form the basis for comparison of this year’s sightings with over a century of 
     
     other counts. This data base is accessible on line, simply go to www.birdsource.org and click your way to the 
     
     results. 
     
    

    
     Christmas Bird Counts are an annual tradition for most 
     
     participants in the Island’s counts. It allows them to spend time with 
     
     both feathered friends and fellow birders, enjoy a days outing, 
     
     contribute to bird population monitoring, and, for those on the RBI. 
     
     National Park and Hillsborough counts, enjoy the pot-lucks. For the 
     
     second year, Vernon Laux organized a fourth Island count 
     
     encompassing the area from off East Point to the outskirts of Souris. 
     
     Gary Schneider, Scott Sinclair, and Ruth Richman organized the 
     
     Montague Count while Dan McAskill coordinated the RBI. National 
     
     Park and Hillsborough counts. 
     
    

    
     During this year’s CBCs on the Island, owl surveys were conducted in the East Point and P.E.I. National 
     
     Park counts. A period of cold before the counts led to most bays and fresh water areas being largely frozen. 
     
     Notable sightings during the four counts as well as their respective count periods included a Pileated Woodpecker, 
     
     a Hermit Thrush, a Broad-winged Hawk, Lesser Black-backed Gulls, an unidentified shorebird, Razorbills, 
     
     Chipping Sparrows, and a Lark Sparrow. With the exception of the American Goldfinch, very few finches were 
     
     present in any of the four count areas. 
     
    

    
     Parks Canada staff hosted the pot-luck held at lunch at the Dalvay Shelter during the P.E.I. National Park 
     
     Count and an evening potluck was hosted at Diane and Kevin Griffin’s home in Stratford after the Hillsborough 
     
     Count. 
     
    

    
     The reports for each area are provided below. 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
        
     
       
     
    
   
   
    
     Broad—winged 
     
     Hawk