Note from Ian McLaren: North American records of Pink-footed Goose: These Pictou County records are, of 
     
     course, the first noted in NS, but are not unknown in North America. A 1924 bird in Mass. was considered by AOU 
     
     1983 as an escapee, but one in NF in 1980 considered acceptable. I believe there have been at least two sightings 
     
     in NF since, but haven ’t checked these. Quebec has eight reports, beginning I 988 and 1990, and in late 1997, and 
     
    
   
   
    
     springs of 1998, 1999, and 2004. I believe these have all been sightings of single birds. In 1997, 98, 99, there 
     
     were spring, fall and winter reports of what may have been (haven ’t fully checked) the same individual from 
     
     Massachusetts to Pennsylvania. Dwayne Oakley observed a non-staying bird on PEI Nov. 28, I993. 
     
    

    
     The sighting of three birds on PEI and here is particularly interesting. Lone waterfowl are always a little 
     
     suspect, and some (many?) of the above records may involve the same individual, wandering outside its normal 
     
     range over the years - maybe even an escapee. This is why it would be good to establish the age of the "loner" of 
     
     the trio — a family group might be particularly convincing of wild origin. 
     
    
   
   
    
     UPEI SCIENCE FAIR: 
     
    
   
   
    
     By Fiep de Bie & Dan Kennedy 
     
    
   
   
    
     On Tuesday April 7, 2005, Dan Kennedy and I attended the Provincial Science Fair and thoroughly 
     
     enjoyed the experience. After reviewing the natural history projects, we made the following selections. 
     
    

    
     For best project in the grade 4 to 6 category, we chose "Trees - A vital part of P.E.I.'s ecosystem" by‘Emily 
     
     Wolfe and Hannah Bigelow (both 11 years old) from Miscouche Consolidated School. Emily and Hannah had an 
     
     elaborate display on the importance of trees. They demonstrated how contamination would leach through a cleared 
     
     area, whereas the wooded area would filter and reduce runoff. The topic was well researched and presented. 
     
    

    
     In the 7 to grade 9 category, we selected "Crows and your Garbage" by Carrie Drake (13) and Laura 
     
     MacNeil (14) from Stone Park School, Charlottetown. In this original project, Carrie and Laura tested the 
     
     intelligence and preference of crows for certain types of garbage bags. Their test showed that crows are mostly 
     
     attracted to shopping bags. The crows learned quickly that not much food was there to be found in blue and black 
     
    
   
   
    
     garbage bags. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Unfortunately,there were no natural history related projects in the grade 10 to 12 category. 
     
     Each winner received $15 and a Natural History Society membership. Good job Emily, Hannah, Carrie and 
     
    
   
   
    
     Laura, congratulations! 
     
    
   
   
    
     SIGNS OF SPRING? 
     
    
   
   
    
     By Dwaine Oakley 
     
    
   
   
    
     Many American Robins over-wintered this winter on PEI this year. I tool a picture of one that was 
     
     observed defending piles of apples in my backyard and even once tearing the back feathers out of another Robin 
     
     that got too close. I have since put out three separate piles of apples in different locations but to no avail since the 
     
     dominant one thinks he owns them all. The other two birds do get to eat in his absence though. 
     
    
   
   
    
     PEI WINTER BIRD LIST 2004/2005 
     
     1 March 2005 
     
    
   
   
    
     123 SPECIES REPORTED 
     
    
   
   
    
     LOONS 
     
     Red-throated Loon 
     
     Common Loon 
     
    
   
   
    
     GREBES 
     
     Horned Grebe 
     
    
   
   
    
     GANNETS AND BOOBIES 
     
     Northern Gannet 
     
    
   
   
    
     CORMORANTS 
     
     Double-crested Cormorant 
     
     Great Cormorant 
     
    
   
   
    
     HERONS, EGRETS AND 
     
     BITTERNS 
     
    

    
     Great Blue Heron 
     
    

    
     Snowy Egret 
     
    
   
   
    
     DUCKS, GEESE AND SWANS 
     
     Pink-footed Goose 
     
    
   
   
    
     4 
     
    
   
   
    
     Compiled by David Seeler 
     
    
   
   
    
     Canada Goose 
     
     American Wigeon 
     
     Gadwall 
     
     Green-winged Teal 
     
     Mallard 
     
    

    
     American Black Duck 
     
     Northern Pintail 
     
     Greater Scaup 
     
     Lesser Scaup 
     
     Common Eider 
     
     Harlequin Duck