ISN 0836-060X

Volume 1. Edition 1 .

The Society of canadian Ornithologists (SCO) was formed in 198:, in conjunction with the Canadian hosting of the XIX International Ornitho- logical Congress in Ottawa in June 1986. Since its inception, membership has grown to over 150 members and the Society now publishes Picoides, the Bulletin of the SCO, twice a year.

The objectives of the SCO are to promote ornithology in Canada, whether it is enjoyed by amateurs or professionals, and to provide a common voice and information exchange for persons interested in birds.

You can support this organization by taking out a membership. Send your remittance ($10.00) to Philip Stepney, Provincial Museum of Alberta, 12845-102 Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta T5N 0M6.

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NEWS FROM THE INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL FOR BIRD PRESERVATION:

The following is taken from a newsletter by Martin K. Mc- Nicholl of the ICBP, a committee of the Canadian Nature Federation with representation from World Wildlife Fund (Canada) and the Canadian Wildlife Federation.

Double-crested Cormorant: Little has appeared in print lately on the Prince Edward Island cormorant issue, but our committee member there wrote in February that the provincial officials were still promoting a cull in spite of opposition to it from the Canadian Nature Federation, ICBP-Canada, Canadian Wildlife Federation, Colonial Water- bird Society and Prince Edward Island Natural History Society. No evidence of any substance has yet been pro- duced that the cormorants are harming the fishery, so

the government's moves appear to be entirely to placate fears of fishermen. Richard Yank mentions in a February letter that spraying of eggs was being considered, which would at least reduce the threat from lead shot that shooting would bring (I say reduce, rather than eliminate, because there is some illegal shoot— ing in any case). Similar vandalism at cormorant colonies has been report— ed in the U.S. portion of the Great Lakes and can be expected in Ontario, where the species showed an annual rate of increase of 56% from 1974 to 1982, apparently in response to decreased contaminant levels.

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Answer Key for Native Conifers References: . . Gaudet J.F. 1973. Native A Eastern White Pine f E Red Pine Trees of Prince Edward Island and C Jack Pine the More Common Woodland Shrubs. D Tamarack Dept. of Agriculture and Forestry, E White Spruce Charlottetown. 98 pp. F Black S ruce . . G Red Sprfice H051e, R.C. 1973. Native Trees H Eastern Hemlock 8ftCanad§éOInformation Canada, I Balsam Fir t awa' pp' J

Eastern White Cedar . ‘