store. Phone 368-6600. 
     
    

    
     If you know of someone, a group, or an agency that has been instrumental in the 
     
     protection of our Island's natural areas through protection, lobbying, education or 
     
     some other action, please consider nominating them for an Island Nature Trust award. 
     
     All it takes is a letter describing the individual or group’s activities. Supporting 
     
     documentation such as newspaper clippings or reports is helpful. The deadline for 
     
     submissions to the Executive Director, Island Nature Trust, P.O. Box 265, 
     
     Charlottetown, PE C1A 7K4 (Fax 902-628-6331) is March 28th. (adapted from INT 
     
     release) 
     
    

    
     The Canadian Wildlife Federation is conducting a coast to coast butterfly 
     
     survey this year. If you would be interested in participating, please contact CWF at 
     
     2740 Queensview Drive, Ottawa, ON K28 1A2. (adapted from Toronto Field Naturalist 
     
     464, Dec 1996). 
     
    

    
     Congratulations go out to two very committed Islanders who were honoured for 
     
     their contributions to our natural heritage by the P.E.I. Museum and Heritage 
     
     Foundation. Dr. Ian MacQuarrie was presented the Award of Honour during the Heritage 
     
     Awards Dinner held at Confederation Centre. Ms. Diane Griffin was honoured with the 
     
     Meritorious Achievement Award during the Heritage Day proclamation ceremony by the 
     
     Hon. Gilbert Clements. 
     
    

    
     The Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology has commenced a new bird research project 
     
     titled "Birds in Forested Landscapes". This project will focus on the study of the 
     
     habitat requirements of seven species of thrushes as well as the Sharp-shinned Hawk 
     
     and Cooper’s Hawk. By collecting critical data on distribution and nesting success 
     
     of these species, participants will help with the development of conservation 
     
     strategies to help forest-bird populations. To obtain a sampling kit, contact the 
     
     BFL, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, 159 Sapsucker Woods Road, Ithaca, NY 14850, call 
     
     607-254-2440, or e-mail birdeducatiochornell.edu 
     
    

    
     Birdwatching and hiking topped the ten fastest-growing outdoor recreation 
     
     activities in persons 16 years or older in the U.S. according to a recent National 
     
     Survey on Recreation and the Environment. The respective growth rates were 155.2 and 
     
     93% between 1982 and 1995. (adapted from Kennebecasis Naturalist Society Newsletter 
     
     #19 Feb. 1997) 
     
    
   
   
    
     ANIMAL AND PLANT SIGHTINGS: Compiled by J. Dan McAskill 
     
    
   
   
    
     The winter to date has been surprisingly mild. The first significant snow in 
     
     the central part of the province occurred on Nov. 3 (DW). On Dec. 20th, a severe 
     
     wind storm hit the Island with winds gusting to 130 km/hr. Individual trees were 
     
     snapped off or blown over in many places and the car ferry John Hamilton Gray was 
     
     swept onto a sandbar and, despite efforts to free it, remained in place for over a 
     
     day. A severe ice storm laid down a coating of ice 1/4 inch thick on tree branches 
     
     and caused considerable twig and branch breakage on January 11 and February 22-23. 
     
    
   
   
    
     BIRDS: Also refer to the Christmas Bird Counts which are not covered in the 
     
     following summary. Great Blue Heron - 1 at North River Causeway in mid—Dec. (DWa), 2 
     
     at North Rustico and 1 at Brackley Beach on Dec. 21 (DWa), 1 flying at Summerside on 
     
     Jan. 11 (GMa), 1 at Haunted Woods Trail in Jan. (JM, MR); Canada Geese - 3 at 
     
     Ellen's Creek on Jan. 14 (JDM), 35 at Orwell on Jan. 19 (JDM, BB), 7 at Cymbria on 
     
     Feb. 16 (JDM, BB); Mallard - 15 at Cavendish Pond on Nov. 9 (GMa, SE), 31 [19 in 6 
     
     plumage] at Ellen’s Creek on Feb. 16 (JDM, 83); Black Duck - 150 at Summerside 
     
     Harbour on Nov. 10 (GMa, ES), 250 at Ellen's Creek on Jan. 8 (JDM), 285 at Ellen’s 
     
     Creek and 0 at North River on Feb. 16 (JDM, 88); Northern Pintail - 6 at Summerside 
     
     Harbour on Nov. 10 (GMa, ES), 2 6 and 1 9 at Murray River on Feb. 12 (PRO), 2 6 
     
     feeding in small pond at Hayfield on Feb. 16 (JDM, BB);  300 at 
     
     Cavendish Pond on Nov. 9 (GMa, ES); Con-on Goldeneye - 1,100 at North River 
     
     Causeway, 54 at West River Causeway, 1 at Desable, 4 at Hunter River, 5 at New 
     
     Glascow, 61 at Rusticoville, & 117 at Oyster Bed Bridge on Feb. 16 (JDM, BB); 
     
     Barrow's Goldeneye - 1 6 at Vernon Bridge on Jan. 19 (JDM, BB), 2 6 at Montague on 
     
     Feb. 12 (FRC), 6 6 and 4 9 at North River Causeway & S 6 & 4 9 at Oyster Bed Bridge 
     
     on Feb. 17 (JDM, BB), 1 6 hybrid Barrow's/Common Goldeneye at North River Causeway on 
     
     Feb. 16 (JDM, BB); Goldeneye - 75+ at Gough’s Bridge this winter (GMa); Bufflehead 
     
    
   
   
    
     - a _