and Dan co-produced a video production on the Piping Plover for distribution by 
     
     the Society and the CNF. ' 
     
     Thanks, Winifred Cairns Make, you really are for the Birds! 
     
    
   
   
    
     BIRDATHON AND OTHER EVENTS 
     
    
   
   
    
     In 1978 our Natural History Society organized the first Francis Bain 
     
     Memorial Birdathon which has been held annually since then on the last Saturday 
     
     in May. This has meant 12 more outings at a pleasant time of the year. 
     
    

    
     On Sunday, September 23, 1979 a large gathering of about 200 showed up at 
     
     a mushroom outing on the Bonshaw Hills Trail at St. Catherine's. They kept 
     
     three leaders busy identifying fungi. 
     
    

    
     As time progressed the Society's activity in various environmental action 
     
     issues rose and fell. In 1988 the Society took on one of the largest 
     
     initiatives in its history when it registered a Land Use Appeal on the 
     
     subdivision of Boughton Island, the largest Great Blue Heron colony in Eastern 
     
     Prince Edward Island. Sue Stephenson, Diane Griffin, Ruth Richman, and Gary 
     
     Schneider played key roles in this public hearing. Their action resulted in 
     
     changes to the development proposal. 
     
    
   
   
    
     IN CLOSING 
     
    
   
   
    
     The Natural History Society is profoundly indebted to the long-suffering 
     
     Lunch Committees who have patiently lugged in mountains of delicious goodies 
     
     for the meetings, and doled out barrels of coffee in our 20 years of existence. 
     
     Their hours involved were astronomical. Thank you all most sincerely. 
     
    

    
     To wind up this history, here are the names of all who have been president 
     
     of this Natural History Society: Andre Lavoie 1969 - 1972, Bruce MacLean 1973, 
     
     Eleanor Lowe 1974 - 1975, Diane Griffin 1976 - 1977, H. Winston Johnston 1978 - 
     
     1980, Rosemary Curley 1981, Geoffrey Hogan 1982 - 1984, Jane Symmes 1985, 
     
     Rosemary Curley 1986 - 1987, Susan Stephenson 1988 - 1989, Patrick Nooton 1989. 
     
     All are still members except Jane Symmes who has moved away from the Island. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Author's Dedication: This history is dedicated to Miss Verna Newson for 
     
     providing the spark and to Miss Ruth 1. Ross for fanning it into the flame that 
     
     started the Natural History Society of Prince Edward Island on October 23rd, 
     
     1969. 
     
    
   
   
    
     The author also wishes to acknowledge the Editor, Dan McAskill, for his 
     
     unfailing encouragement and for providing information not obtained from the 
     
     minutes of meetings nor from the author's memory. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Editor's Note: On a July night this past summer, I received a phone call from 
     
     Miss Ruth I. Ross. She was aware of the work on the history and wished all the 
     
     members of the Society to know the key role Margaret played in keeping the 
     
     Society going through these past two decades. 
     
    

    
     Thank you Margaret, from all of us. J.D.M.