NATURAL HISTORY UPDATE

APRIL MEETING: The usual monthly reports at the April 2 meeting in— . cluded a release from the CNF regarding the recent."Conservation Re- port Card on the Provinces". This study, which took 2 years to complete, rated the provinces on 9 environmentally related categories and gave eachcnuaa grade. (See article in next newsletter). P.E.I. rated 8th among the ten provinces. Dan McAskill also reminded members of the CNF annual meeting to be held in Ottawa starting July 5 - contact Dan for details. Rosemary Curley reported that Joyce MacLeod and Cathy Grey are planning to attend the Canadian Environmental Network meeting in Halifax. Rosie also discussed plans for the Maritime Bird Breeding Atlas project that is scheduled for 1986. Money for the project will be supplied for the Department of Supply and Services and the Canadian wildlife Service . Meetings are planned for May 11 and 12 in Halifax and Moncton to discuss the setting up of the project and anyone inter- ested in participating should contact Rosemary Curley at 651-2585. Rosemary has also planned a practice session for June 15 which is North American Atlas Day; anyone interested in having a practice in collecting information for a breeding atlas is invited to join Rosie in the Glenfinnan area that day. Come out and look for various species, nest sites, singing males or adults carrying food to young. UPEI SCIENCE FAIR: Other business discussed included the winners at the Science Fair held March 29. There were 2 winners in the Grade 4,5 & 6 group and 2 winners in the Grade 7, 8 & 9 group; there were no projects in the Grade 10, 11 & 12 group that fit into the NHS category. The four projects that were chosen included a study of the Irish moss industry on PEI; clear-cutting vs woodlot management; "Do plants have feelings?" and a study of the effects of acid rain in the Kensington/Margate area. Many thanks to Col. Pat Wooton and Bruce Smith for their time and in- terest. It was announced that John Sylvester will be the judge for the annual members‘ slide show to be held at May's meeting. Unfortunately, Dr. Lawson Drake was unable to give his annual talk due to sickness, and we would like to thank Randy Dibblee for filling in at short no- tice. He enlightened us on the life cycle of the muskrat with slides to illustrate the theme. (Hopefully, Dr. Drake can join us next fall.) THE MAY MEETING is the last of the season. Meetings will resume the first Tuesday in October. We look forward to seeing you then. Have a good summer and keep track of all the wildlife you see. Also we would like to hear from people regularly throughout the summer for bird sightings for the newsletter. Please note new address below.

NEW EDITOR, NEW ADDRESS

After this issue of the Island Naturalist, Jane Symmes will be taking over as editor. Jane is already busy as president of the Natural History Society, so I'm sure she would appreciate getting bird sight- ings and articles in as early as possible and ideas for future news- letters. Ruth Richman and I will be leaving in mid—June on an extended bicycle trip and may not be back until next spring. Thanks to all those who have sent in sightings, articles and comments and best of luck to Jane.-Please send all correspondence for the newsletter to Jane Symmes, P.O. Box 1716, Ch'town, ClA 7N4 (675-4806)

GARY SCHNEIDER