Dec. 19 - The P.E.I. National Park Christmas Bird Count will be held. If you wish to participate as a field counter (there is a small fee for field counters) or feeder watcher (no fee), please sign up at a Society meeting or contact Dan McAskill at 569-4351 in the evening. A lunch pot-luck will be held at the Dalvay Canadian Parks Service shelter.

Dec. 20 - The Montague Christmas Bird Count will be held. Please contact Gary Schneider (838-2678) to register for the count. As this is an unregistered count, there is no fee for participation.

Dec. 27 - This is the date for the Hillsborough Christmas Bird Count. A pot-luck for the counters will be held after the count (starting time approximately 6:00 p.m.). Please contact Dan HcAskill at 569-4351 in the evening to register as a field counter (there is a small charge) or a feeder watcher (no charge).

Jan. 5 - A different venue will be featured at the Annual General Meeting with members giving 5 minute show and tell presentations and a maximum of 5 slides.

Feb. 2 - David MacKinnon will speak on the effect of herbicide spraying of forest songbirds in Nova Scotia at the Society's monthly meeting. The meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Farm Centre.

Mar. 2 - Coastal Birds and Waterfowl will be the topic of Wayne Barrett's presentation for the Society‘s monthly meeting which commences at the Farm Centre at 7:30 p.m.

Apr. 6 - Dr. Lawson Drake will be our monthly meeting speaker and he will be offering a presentation on insects. The meeting commences at 7:30 p.m.

May 4 - The last Society meeting before the summer break will feature the Society's slide contest. The deadline for slide submissions will be about a month before the contest.

WALK-A-WOODLOT THIS AUTUMN by Ken Mayhew P.E.I. Dept. Energy and Forestry

Need an interesting and informative day for the kids this autumn? Have visitors who would be interested in learning more about our Island forests? Looking for a place to enjoy the beauty of an Island woodlot on your day off? If you answered yes to any of these questions then a walk along the trails at any of the Demonstration Woodlots may be just what you need this autumn.

There are six Demonstration Woodlots located across the province. They are situated in Foxley River and Camp Tamawaby in Prince County, Brookvale and Auburn in Queens County, and Valleyfield and New Harmony in Kings County. Each one was created to show how managed forests can contribute to our economic, social and environmental well being, and contains roads, parking facilities, and at least one interpretive/nature trail.

Each trail has it's own booklet which is available at the start of the trail, or from the Forestry Branch office that services that woodlot. The booklet corresponds to the stops found along the trail and describes the operations which have been done at that spot. Trails wind through hardwood and softwood stands, and managed forest plantations. Along the way there are also many examples of wildlife management techniques, and information on natural and Island history. All of this information is designed to provide the visitor with an understanding of the factors which have influenced the development of Island forests.

The woodlots are open to the public seven days a week. Access is usually excellent although extremely wet weather may make some of the forest roads a bit muddy. Good walking shoes and, depending on the weather, insect repellent are also recommended.

Demonstration woodlots make an excellent place to spend an autumn's day and explore our Island's forests. Visit one this autumn.

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