) PRESIDENTS' REPORT: by Ben Hoteling & Jim Jenkins

From January to August, 2001 , the Society's efforts were led by Ben Hoteling (President), Jim Jenkins (V ice-president), Lois Doan (Secretary), Michelle Johnston (Treasurer/Communications), Meike Keunecke (Program Director), Eric Marcum (Assistant Program Director), and Ray Cooke (Past-president). Ben Hoteling resigned his position in September to take on the challenge of President of the Island Nature Trust. Jim Jenkins had agreed to take over the responsibilities of President but a change in job responsibilities prevented him from fulfilling this commitment. Ray and Ben shared chairing the meetings until February when the new Executive was elected.

Despite program cancellations to winter storms, the Society's monthly education program at the Farm Centre featured: Brenda Penak presented a slide tour of western Australia; Dan McAskill used slides and handouts to deliver "Do It Yourself Backyard Wildlife Enhancement"; Ray Cooke used CD players and slides to deliver the third in a three part bird course entitled "Warblers, their Sights and Sounds"; Kate MacQuarrie presented "Plants of Prince Edward Island"; Dwaine Oakley used slides to depict "Preparing for Winter Birding on the Island"; and Rachel Eedy provided her presentation "Stream Insects" and had members try their identification skills.

Thanks to the coordinating efforts of Meike Keunecke and Michelle Johnston, an active field trip program was again offered. A Parks Canada Naturalist led a group on an interpretive tour of sand dunes in Greenwich; Dan McAskill, Jim Jenkins, and Meike Keunecke led an Owl Hoot in April, and Eric Marcum led a car-pooled bird field trip to watch autumn bird migration in October. After the October trip, a group of Society birders commenced a birding field tour on alternate Sundays.

Robin Phillips donated her skills and leadership to research, design and develop the Society's Web site to be launched in 2002. Many member contributed photographs or slides that were scanned for use on the web site. David Seeler and the Society distributed rare or unusual bird sighting reports using E-mail.

The Society maintained its participation in various interprovincial or North American bird counts. Vernon Laux established a new Christmas Bird Count at East Point. Gary Schneider coordinated and compiled the

) Montague Christmas Bird Count. Dan McAskill coordinated the Island’s SuperWatch, the RBI. National Park and Hillsborough Christmas Bird Counts, and the Bain Bird Count, and the International Migratory Bird Count. Parks Canada set up the Dalvay Interpretive Centre for the RBI. National Park Christmas Bird Count potluck while Robin Phillips and Dan McAskill hosted the potluck for the Hillsborough CBC.

Many members contributed their wildlife observations and stories for the Society’s Island Naturalist which was published four times in 2001. Ben Hoteling, Donald Wilkinson, the late Hal Hinds, Dover Colouring Books, and Agriculture and Forestry provided original drawings while Bill Glen contributed 618 based maps for the CBCs article and counts. Dan McAskill continued as the editor. Linda and Allen Thomas and their family packaged and mailed the newsletter to members and schools.

In addition to these efforts,- the Society supported, reviewed, and provided comments on funding applications for the Wildlife Conservation Fund awards, Ray Cooke and Dan McAskill provided input into the I _ Important Bird Areas regional program sponsored by the Canadian Nature Federation and Studies Jim Jenkins served on the Minister's committee to review coyote control, and Lois Doan participated in Affiliate Tele- conferences with the Canadian Nature Federation. Dan McAskill spoke on winter bird feeding in October at the Farm Centre in Charlottetown on behalf of the Society and the Island Nature Trust and represented the Society at a Wildlife Habitat Canada consultation on land stewardship. The Society in cooperation with the Island Nature Trust acted as a co-nominee for a Canada Stewardship Award for 2002.

Society members Linda Thomas, Ray Cooke, Dan McAskill, Eric Marcum, and Island Nature Trust staff combined their efforts to host the annual Neil Bennett Autumn Birding Classic. The donors contributing to this project provided over $1,317 towards the Piping Plover Conservation programs of the Trust. Society members also participated in the International Piping Plover Survey which was coordinated by the Island Nature Trust on RE]. Bruce Smith led the Great Black-backed Gull egg removal project on the Hillsborough Bridge piers to assist the terns nesting there.

The Society completed the year with assets of $5,990.94 in its various accounts with almost all of this in the