When the niger seed is topped up in the feeder they home in 
     
     like bees to nectar. I am used to the cheery yellow goldfinch's 
     
     passion for thistle seed but didn’t know our winter visitors were 
     
     niger tigers. We enjoy groups of three, up to flocks of sixty at 
     
     one time. 
     
    

    
     In the depths of winter only 
     
     about one in ten of these black— 
     
     chinned little creatures sported a 
     
     subdued breast. Now (early March) 
     
     we see about 40% modelling a much 
     
     brighter, nearly red colour in 
     
     front. Does it mean the males are 
     
     assuming the attractive colours of 
     
     spring? The black facial markings 
     
     between the eyes and around the base 
     
     of the beak give them the appearance 
     
     of worried suitors. If I had a 
     
     jaunty red cap like theirs I would 
     
     certainly tip it to these hardy 
     
     survivors, who have showered us 
     
     with many warm moments of. bird 
     
     watching pleasure on some frigid 
     
     winter days. 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     HILLSBOROUGH RIVER NOMINATED 
     
    
   
   
    
     On January 17th, the Canadian Heritage Rivers Board accepted 
     
     the nomination of the Hillsborough River as a candidate Heritage 
     
     River. This is the first river on Prince Edward Island to have 
     
     been nominated. Before the final designation can occur, the next 
     
     three years will see a management plan developed for the river. 
     
    

    
     Maurice Fitzpatrick, Chairman of the Hillsborough River 
     
     Association, was in attendance at the Heritage Rivers Board meeting 
     
     along with P.E.I.'s official delegate, Doug Murray of the 
     
     Department of Economic Development and Tourism. Doug was the proud 
     
     recipient of the River Rat Award at the meeting. 
     
    

    
     To become a member of the Hillsborough River Association, send 
     
     $5.00 to Box 75, Mt. Stewart, P.E.I., COA 1T0. 
     
    
   
   
    
     ENVIRONMENTAL CALENDAR: 
     
    
   
   
    
     Tuesdays and Thursdays - This summer, on Tuesdays, the Macphail 
     
     Woods Project will be offering guided tours of the woods trial 
     
     and nursery on Tuesdays at 9:00 a.m. and, on Thursdays, free 
     
     environmental education courses for 6 to 10 year olds at 9 
     
    
   
   
    
     a.m. and for 11 to 16 year olds at 1 p.m. Contact Gary 
     
     Schneider at 838-2678 to book seats. 
     
     Jul. 4 to Aug. 26 — Environmental Day Camps for children 
     
    
   
   
    
     sponsored by the Institute for Bioregional Studies at 
     
     Strathgartney Provincial Park. Contact Phil Ferraro at 
     
    
   
   
    
     -5-