Thanks are extended to everyone who contributed records to this month's newsletter: Winnie Cairns (WEC), Thelma Clark (TC), Frances Curley (FC), Rory Francis (RF), Geoff Hogan (GH), Nelson Hurry (NGH), James Lovering (JL), Mary Lynn McCourt (MLM), Penelope Player (PP), Geoff Robinson (GR), Elinor Vass (EV), David Wake (DW), Carol Wright (CW), John Wright (JW), Mary Wright (MW), Peter Wright (PW).

FEEDER REPORT. On June 17 Mrs. Thelma Clark reported her feeder in Indian

River to be doing a brisk business. A Great Blue Heron, and a pair each of American Black Duck, Blue-winged Teal and American Wigeon were making use of the pond. Blue Jay and PuEple Finch were bringing young to the feeder, while a pair of Mourning Dove, Red-winged Blackbird and Common Grackle (including one with

one leg and another which specialized in peanuts) also came to feed. More than

a dozen chipmunks with their young in tow were showing up at the door for peanuts.

On Aug. 30 Mrs. Clark still had many bird visitors on hand. Ten Mourning Dove (including immatures), Blue Jay (too numerous to count) with their young,

a dozen Evening Grosbeak (including young fed by parents), and a dozen Purple Finch and their young were among the family groups which came to the feeder.

About 2 dozen Common Flicker were present on Aug. 29 and 2 immature Yellow-bellied Sapsucker were there on Aug. 30. In addition a pair of Kingfisher, a pair of Eastern Kingbird (arrived June 6) and 3 pairs of Chipping Sparrow were around through the summer. A Common Snipe appeared on Aug. 12 and Ruffed Grouse were heard in the nearby woods. Bobolink, Red—winged Blackbird and Common Grackle congregated on the lawn. Over the summer three birds struck windows or doors but all recovered: Kingfisher, Common Flicker and Evening Grosbeak.

An unusual sighting was a flock of three dozen thrushes which seemed to be travelling with robins. Mrs. Clark describes these birds as having an eye-stripe plus a dark band across the chest, like a Varied Thrush. On some the band was plainer than on others. Some, she says, were evidently young as they had speckled breasts and were quite rusty, like robins. Readers comments on the identity of these breast-banded thrushes would be most welcome.

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REQUEST FOR SPECIMENS. The U.P.E.I. Biology Department, which maintains an ornithological collection as part of its natural history museum, is continually receiving new specimens to add to the collection. Anyone finding a dead bird in reasonably good condition (road killed, collision with a window - whatever) is asked to save these birds for the university collection. In time we hope to have a complete representation of the avifauna of P.E.I. Common as well as rarer species are all useful. Exotic species (i.e. budgies, cockatiels, finches, etc.) are useful as well, so if a captive bird dies please save it. Please record the date and location where the bird was found. Birds may be kept wrapped in plastic in a freezer until they can be either left at the U.P.E.I. Biology Department or taken to the Natural History Society meetings where I will pick them up. Your cooperation is gratefully appreciated. '

- Geoff Hogan

U.P.E.I. Biology Department