family but a little sad for Cass whose hoppy visits were a heart—stirring 
     
     example of a small creature's struggle for life despite adversity. 
     
    
   
   
    
     SWALLOWS OR PLOVERS ' by Ben Hoteling 
     
    
   
   
    
     During beach surveys for Piping Plovers at Greenwich early this May, I 
     
     observed a group of small, dark birds in the distance on the beach. When I got 
     
     close enough, these birds could be readily identified as a mixed flock of Bank 
     
     Swallows and Barn Swallows. The day was very cold and somewhat drizzly so 
     
     there were no insects flying. When I approached the swallows were foraging on 
     
     the beach in much the same manner as plovers would, foraging amidst the sand 
     
     and wrack for insects and other invertebrates. They seemed very tame and only 
     
     moved away a few feet at my approach. ‘ 
     
    

    
     As I slowly made my way through the 
     
     area the birds were using, they would move 
     
     away at my approach by flying a short 
     
     distance then reoccupy the same area 
     
     previously used. Foraging continued 
     
     throughout my intrusion into their foraging 
     
     territory and I was able to approach quite 
     
     close to the birds. The swallows seemed so 
     
     intent on their foraging that they were 
     
     disturbed very little by my presence. 
     
    

    
     The prolonged cold spring of 1992 
     
     could have delayed the hatching of many 
     
     flying insects or changed their flight 
     
     behavior so that these swallows were forced 
     
     to adapt to other foraging strategies in 
     
     order to ensure their survival. This 
     
     unusual behavior of swallows was ' 
     
     interesting to observe. 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     ENVIRONMENTAL CALENDAR 
     
    
   
   
    
     Feb. 8 - "An Islander's Guide to Woodlot Management will commence at the 
     
     Holland College Technology Center in the West Royalty Industrial Park and 
     
     run for 10 to 12 consecutive and at least one Saturday field trip. The 
     
     cost is $35. Contact Ken Mayhew regarding registration 368-4700. 
     
    

    
     Feb - Mar - The P.E.I. Department of Agriculture will be hosting courses across 
     
     the Island on Pesticide Safety. Contact Ken Lingley at 368-4044. 
     
    

    
     Feb. 23 - The Souris Branch of the Wildlife Federation will host another bird 
     
     night at the school starting at 7:30 p.m. There is a $2 charge to offset 
     
     expenses. 
     
    

    
     Feb. 24 — The Henry Dunsmore Island Nature Trust video presentation "Endangered 
     
     Spaces" will be launched at the Farm Centre at 7:30 p.m. All are welcome 
     
     and it is hoped that it will be on sale. 
     
    

    
     Feb. 27 - Tracadie Lions Club will be the site of a workshop on the human 
     
     history of the Hillsborough River. It starts at 1:30 p.m. 
     
    

    
     Mar. 2 - Coastal Birds and Waterfowl will be the topic of Wayne Barrett's 
     
     presentation for the Society's monthly meeting which commences at the 
     
     Farm Centre at 7:30 p.m. 
     
    

    
     Mar. 6 - The third in a series of workshops on the Hillsborough River will 
     
     start at 1:30 p.m. at the Fort Augustus Recreation Centre. 
     
    

    
     Mar. 11 - Lady Slipper Naturalists meeting at 7:30 p.m. at Summerside Library 
     
    
   
   
    
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