conditions. If funding is obtained, there may be a small stipend and living accommodations for those committing a month or more. Contact Charles Graves, President, Grand Manan Bird Observatory Inc., 1216 Sand Cove Road, Saint John, N.B. E2M 5V8 or Ellen Pike, Treasurer at fax 506-648-5574 or E-mail pike@unbsj.ca (adapted from Federation of Nova Scotia Naturalists 8:1 March 1998)

Canada and Mexico are each contributing $1.2-million to create a 795,000 ha refuge for migrating monarch butterflies. (from Globe & Mail Jan. 24/98 via TFN 474 p 22 via Globe).

Those familiar with Long Point Bird Observatory and its many conservation programs, will be interested to learn that LPBO has become Bird Studies Canada. BSC will continue to operate and develop LPBO while it expands its effort to assess and understand Canada's bird populations and work towards their conservation.

On April 7th, the President of the United States established the American Heritage Rivers Initiative Advisory Committee with a 2 year mandate to seek and review nominations for up to 20 rivers for American Heritage Rivers designation. (adapted from the Presidential Documents forwarded by the River Manager's Society to Fred Horne)

The whitemarked tussock moth occurs naturally throughout North America. Localized population irruptions have occurred in the Maritimes since at least 1937. The adult female is Wingless and the older larvae stages have tufts of hairs arising at points along the body. The airborne hairs can cause irritation to the skin of sensitive individuals and, if breathed into the lungs, can cause a condition called tussockosis. The latest irruption is in a 60,700 ha area of Colchester, Pictou, Cumberland, Antigonish, and Guysborough counties of Nova Scotia. The Nova Scotia government has decided to spray the biological insecticide Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki to: protect the timber at risk. (adapted from Nova Scotia DNRE press release)

CROSSROADS FEEDER COUNT: by Dwaine Oakley

A full count of the birds at a feeder in Reeve's Estate for the weekend of April 4th and 5th.

12 Mourning Doves 1 Red—breasted Nuthatch 1 Pine Siskin

2 Hairy Woodpecker 4 American Robin 40+ American Goldfinch

2 Downy Woodpecker 12+ European Starling 16 Dark-eyed Junco

6 Crows l3 Red-winged Blackbird 2 White—throated Sparrow 14 Blue Jay 30+ Common Grackles m

12 Black-capped 12+ Common Redpoll 2 Song Sparrow

Chickadee 4 House Sparrow

ANIMAL AND PLANT SIGHTINGS: Compiled by J. Dan McAskill

Mayflowers in first bloom in Murray River on Apr. 29th and few flowers left on May 7 (th). Leaves on many deciduous trees and shrubs half flushed on May 9 with the

exception of ash. Staminate alder catkins shedding pollen on May 7. White violets in flower on May 7 and first purple violets in flower on May 10. Marsh marigold in

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