the East Coast. Rockweeds (Fucus vesiculosus, F. spiralis, and F. edentatus) and the knotted 
     
     wrack (Ascophyllum nodosum) grow in heavy layers along the rocks on much of this region. The 
     
     characteristic air bladders cause the plant's fronds to float when the plant is submerged. 
     
     These plants harbour a host of organisms which are fundamental to the food chain of the near 
     
     shore. Proposals to begin commercial harvesting of this algae have raised the concern and/or 
     
     the ire of many environmentalists along the Bay of Fundy. A number of meetings have been 
     
     held to explain the harvesting process and potential impacts. (expanded from St. John 
     
     Naturalist March-April 1995 meeting note and an article by Cheryl Gass) 
     
    

    
     The Toronto Ornithological Club held their 70th Christmas Bird Count on December 27th. 
     
     Seventy-three field participants and 5 feeder watchers sighted 40,831 birds of 84 species in 
     
     161.5 party hours. Rarities included the second ever Golden Eagle, and first sightings of 
     
     Double-crested Cormorants and Pine Warbler. (Toronto Field Naturalist # 450) 
     
    

    
     The Mid-winter Waterfowl Inventory of the entire Canadian shore of Lake Ontario yielded 
     
     the highest count ever with 135,541 waterfowl. During the past two years, the number of 
     
     waterfowl has increased 35 to 45%. This dramatic increase is in the numbers of Greater 
     
     Scaup, White-winged Scoter, and Common Goldeneye. (TFN # 450) 
     
    

    
     As with the birds its members have worked to conserve, The International Council for 
     
     Bird Preservation (ICBP) has evolved. It is now called BirdLife International. In Canada, 
     
     the BirdLife mission is led by the Long Point Bird Observatory and the Canadian Nature 
     
     Federation. In the United States, the three organizations affiliated with ICBP have 
     
     reassessed their roles and they merged their tasks to become the American Bird Conservancy 
     
     (ABC). Its Projects Advisory Council will focus on Latin American and neotropical bird 
     
     issues while its Policy Advisory Council will take on the responsibilities of the former 
     
     -United States Section. (adapted from winging It 7:3, March 1995) 
     
    

    
     The Yukon Conservation Society represented by the sierra Legal Defense Fund is suing 
     
     the federal government for its refusal to assess the environmental impacts of mineral 
     
     exploration work in the southwest Yukon. A Department of Indian and Northern Affairs land 
     
     use permit allowed heavy mining equipment to travel across the calving area of the threatened 
     
     Aishihik caribou herd which has declined from 1,500 animals to 785 animals between 1982 and 
     
     1991. This occurred, despite extensive input from biologists, First Nations, 
     
     environmentalists, and outfitters, because DIAND did not consider comments about the 
     
     exploration work to be relevant to its review of the permit application. (adapted from Nature 
     
     Alert 5:1 Winter 1995 and Working for Wildlife Winter 1995). 
     
    

    
     A huge development project to straighten, dredge, and channel the Paraguay-Parang River 
     
     system, the second largest river system in South America, for ocean-going vessels is being 
     
     challenged by the World Wildlife Fund’s Guardians of the Rainforest. Through proposed 
     
     dynamiting of a unique geological formation called “the cork", this project will threatens 
     
     the world's largest wetland the Pantanal as well as 1.7 million acres of forest, a multitude 
     
     of wildlife, and local indigenous people. Concerned individuals are being asked to write Hr. 
     
     Guy Lavigueur, Executive Director for Canada, Inter-American Development Bank, 1300 New York 
     
     Avenue N.W., Washington, D.C. 20577, USA. 
     
    

    
     Atlantic Bluefin Tuna has made the World 
     
     Wildlife Fund U.S.'s second annual "Top 10 Most 
     
     Wanted Species". This occurred just prior to the 
     
     meeting of the Convention on International Trade 
     
     in Endangered Species (CITES) meeting in Florida. 
     
     (adapted from WWF Working for Wildlife Winter 
     
     1995). 
     
    

    
     In 1993, studies by two German students on 
     
     Shepody Bay led, to concern over the possible 
     
     -decline of mud shrimp, Corophiwm volutator in 
     
     areas of the bay of Fundy. This species of 
     
     shrimp is extremely important for fat buildup in migrating shorebirds and is one of the 
     
     primary reasons such large numbers congregate in the Shepody Bay. Further studies by two 
     
     post-graduate students working for the CWS showed declines in some areas and increases in 
     
     some others. The speculation on cause seems to be again related to human intervention 
     
     through harvesting of polychaete worms for bait and causeway construction. (adapted from an 
     
     article by mary Majka in N.B. Naturalist 21(2-4), December 1994) 
     
    

    
     On Water, On Wings, In the Woods - A Guide for Maine Wildlife Watchers is available 
     
     from the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, 284 State Street, station #41, 
     
     Augusta, ME 04333. It describes 62 areas selected by veteran Maine wildlife observers. The 
     
     cost is $4.95 US. (Adapted from NB Naturalist 21(2-4) article by C. Packard) 
     
    
   
   
    
         
     
    
   
   
    
     Bluefln Tum 
     
    
   
   
    
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