This survey represents quite a challenge as all known breeding beaches as 
     
     well as other beaches with the correct features will have to be surveyed. A 
     
     number of people have agreed to participate in the Island surveys but more are 
     
     needed. If you would be interested in helping us, please contact Dan McAskill 
     
     at 569-4351 (evenings). He will be holding a workshop on the Island in January 
     
     to provide training on the methods to be used in the surveys. 
     
    
   
   
    
     GREATER HHITE-FRONTED GEESE ON ALL FRONTS by Rosemary Curley 
     
    
   
   
    
     Occasionally, Greater White-footed Geese (or speckled bellies), Anser 
     
     albifrons, end up in Prince Edward Island, far from the northern breeding, 
     
     grounds and far from the usual migration routes. The only band recovery of a 
     
     Greater White-fronted Goose on P.E.I. is of a bird banded in California on 
     
     November 3, 1965, and shot here in October, 1968. In 1990, we have two records 
     
     on immature Greater White-fronted Geese on Prince Edward Island, one from 
     
     Cavendish on October 25 and one from New Glasgow on October 29. These birds 
     
     were shot by Brad MacArthur and John Clements respectively. In addition to 
     
     these records, up to 12 Greater White-fronted Geese were present in Bathurst 
     
     Harbour, New Brunswick from late August through October. 
     
    

    
     "White fronts“ normally breed in the high Arctic and winter in the 
     
     southern United States. These birds have pink bills and yellow feet. A second 
     
     race with yellow bills breeds in Greenland. The birds seen on Prince Edward 
     
     Island this year were of the Greenland race as confirmed by the yellow bill 
     
     colour. This agrees with the Peterson Field Guide to the Birds that East Coast 
     
     stragglers may be Greenland birds. It is not often that we so easily confirm 
     
     the origins of individual birds. 
     
    
   
   
    
     RARE BIRD ALERT NUMBERS 
     
    
   
   
    
     A number of natural history and bird research groups have established 
     
     call-in phone numbers to communicate rare bird sightings. Depending on the 
     
     nature of the system, you can get the latest sightings and locations or leave 
     
     your sighting. Please note the following numbers: 
     
    

    
     Nova Scotia Bird Society (902) 852-CHAT 
     
    

    
     Ontario Rare Bird Alert (519) 586-3959(24 hours) 
     
     Several members of the Society have suggested that the Society establish a rare 
     
     bird alert number. What do you think? In the meantime, please ensure that you 
     
     forward your sightings to the Newsletter Editor (refer to the inner cover). 
     
    
   
   
    
     MISCOUCHE BOG PEAT MINING PROPOSAL 
     
    
   
   
    
     The Miscouche Bog, the Island's largest bog, was identified in 1974 as one 
     
     of only 14 significant natural areas on Prince Edward Island selected for 
     
     preservation as one of the world's ecosystems under the International 
     
     Biological Program. For many years, naturalists thought the property was safe 
     
     as the land registration documents showed it was owned by the government. Due 
     
     to the historic ties of the local Acadian community to this land and their 
     
     claims of certain rights, the government transferred this land to the Acadian 
     
     Purchase Trust in 1988. Earlier this year, the Acadian Purchase Trust submitted 
     
     a peat bog development proposal to construct drainage ditches, clear the land, 
     
     and prepare and ba the 100,000 bales of peat per year for an Environmental 
     
     Impact Assessment (EIA). The project went to preliminary screening (evaluation) 
     
     under the P.E.I. Environmental Protection Act and the developer was asked to 
     
     provide additional information pertaining to the proposal. This information 
     
    
   
   
    
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