Society meeting and presentations to the Executive. the committee was asked to obtain the necessary permits. develoo an appropriate set of safety precautions. and install gull exclosures on a number of the piers. This project was implemented successfully. . .

Pat Wootton led the beach cleanup project On behalf of the Society. It 'was suggested that we send more information out to the schools as well as other active groups such as the militia. '

_ _ Preliminary investigations are underway on the establishment of a bird hotline for the Society. While this option is being explored. a phone alert system has been established to convey rare bird sightings to thOse members who have expressed an interest in it. I

The Society assisted with the revision of the Field Check List of Birds for Prince Edward Island. Through the Society's efforts with Provincial Parks. separate English and French versions have been prepared so as to-reduce mailing costs and paper waste. reporting instructions have been added to call upon users to report rare bird sightings. and the Society's role as the. primary recorder of natural history sightings has been reinforced. _

'The NHS participated in preliminary reviews of the P.E;I. National Park management plan and a review of the National Parks Policy. In addition. Society volunteers provided input into the new National Forest Sector Strategy development process. the Coastal Area Discussion Paper. the Environmental Impact Assessment process on the Biomass Cogeneration proposal. the Environment Week Advisory Committee. the Recreational Fisheries Award nominations call. a special briefing session with the Hon. Pauline Browse, and the Canadian Nature Federation's Pimlott Award. 1 ~ '

On July 11th, the Society was very pleased to co-host-with Ragweed Press the launching of» Geoff Hogan's

Six issues of the Island Naturalist were published and distributed to our members. school libraries across the Island. the National and Confederation Centre Libraries. and the U.P.E.I. Science Fair natural history - winners. The Society co—hosted bird identificatiOn and feeding workshoos in conjunction with the Island Nature Trust at the Farm Centre.and at Eptek Centre. In addition. the Society assisted Agro Co-op with a workshop on winter bird feeding at the Farm Centre.

Our guest speaker schedule was disrupted this year by both fall and winter storms. Despite these interruptions. the following speakers made presentations: Louise Wootton spoke on The Exploration_of Hydrothermal Vents and other British Columbia Undersea Adventures: Bob Bancroft enchanted his audience with a talk and slide show on Wildlife Encounters: Donald Wilkinson delighted the audience with his presentation on the waterfowl of the world: David Cairns presented an illustrated show on the the Wildlife of Australia: Jean Ouellette spoke on the Amphibians and Reptiles of P.E.I.: and Jennifer

Brown detailed the life information about the Bats of Prince Edward Island. ' Society members participated in the Bain Birdathon. 3 Christmas Bird Counts. an Owl Prowl. and a big bird day..

' HAMPTON FOXES - by. Carolyn Meincke

Although I've heard there has been a population boom of the fox here on Prince Edward Island. I still feel privileged to have had a family of red fox near our farm house in Hampton. It also inspired me to learn more about the fox and to include some facts in my story.

There were seven kits to start: the runt later died. This is a large . litter but apparently fox vixens will share a den and combine litters. Sisters of the vixen will be nearby to help rear the family. Although all the

-4-