Volume 25 Number 15 81 04 16
Biology student publishes guide COU brief to OCUA: Cottage country birds Universities need 16 per cent increase
Funding to Ontario universities must be increased by 16.8 per cent to $1.37 billion if universities are to meet their publicly recog- nized objectives while retaining present levels of quality in teaching, research and community services.
This is the funding requirement recom- Mr. Mills, left, presents mended by the Council of Ontario Universities copy of book to Vice- in its annual brief to the Ontario Council on President Academic, University Affairs, outlining the financial Professor Howard Clark. requirements of Ontario universities for 1982- 1983. The brief was presented at a public A fifth semester biology student, Alex Mills The bulk of the guidebook s text deals hearing in Toronto, April 12. of Barrie, has written and published a bird- separately with each of the species found in watcher s guide to the Muskoka and Parry Muskoka and Parry Sound. Each account OCUA, the goverriment s advisory agency, Sound areas of Ontario. presents, when applicable and available, his- makes recommendatiops to the Ministry of Colleges and Universities. Attending for A Cottager s Guide to the Birds of torical, seasonal and breeding notes, and also Guelph was the alternate COU academic col- Muskoka and Parry Sound is based on person- information placing Muskoka and Parry Sound league philosophy professor, Bill Hughes. al observations and notes by Mr. Mills and in context with the rest of the province. friends which date back to 1972. Student Ontario Nest Records Scheme data, derived This increase would cover only the addi- friends also helped in the publishing of the from nests found up to the end of 1978, are tional real costs incurred by universities due to guidebook. The cover, a portrayal of a North- presented as a block of information. All inflation, modest enrolment growth and basic ern Oriole, was done by Landscape Architec- known breeding localities for each species are adjustments to faculty salaries, says COU. It ture student, Patricia Brickenden of Toronto, also listed. would not permit universities to regain ground and line drawings were rendered by biology Mr. Mills says that the intent of his pro- lost over a number of years of underfunding. student, Jim Mountjoy of Oshawa. ject is not to produce the definitive analysis The Muskoka-Parry Sound territory has of the avifauna of the region or to finish off the In the COU submission, funding require- never been systematically birdwatched, accord- canvas with his own brush. "I have merely ments for 1982-1983 are placed in the context ing to the student who, for the fourth consec- added the colors of my palette." of the province s ability to pay. After exam- utive year, will be an interpretive naturalist at Birdwatching in the name of scientific ining gross provincial general revenue as a Algonquin Park. In 1901, James Fleming knowledge is only the secondary consideration percentage of gross domestic product and as published a list with minor annotations, but for Mr. Mills. "My primary desire has been to a percentage of provincial personal income, the the picture was far from complete. be out in the field in an area I personally brief concludes that Ontario does have the The environment in the region offers a enjoy." Mr. Mills hopes that he fosters in his capacity, without exceeding national norms, large variety in its bird-life because it has a readers a wholesome interest in the natural to generate considerable additional govern- great variety of habitats — lakes, rivers, beaver history of the reader s particular region of ment revenue. If this capacity had been ponds, bogs, various forest types, active and interest. exploited for the current academic year and deserted farmland, and the Georgian Bay Unlike some regions of southern On- universities had attracted their normal share of archipelago. Mr. Mills, whose parents have a tario,where the birdwatching population is this additional revenue, their operating grants summer cottage in the area, believes that more active, there is no Muskoka and Parry would have been $130 million higher. it is home to some 265 species, and he has Sound network of communication among the The COU brief further observes that the observed some 180 of them. Some 100 com- birding fraternity. "I expect this guidebook current level of underfunding of the province s mon birds may be seen during the breeding will bring forth the voices of observers," says universities has contributed to drawing the season. About 50 of the birds listed in the the author who would appreciate any corre- guidebook are rare for the area. spondence from his readers.[] Continued on page 2. National conference planned on rural development challenges Craftsmen sought for Fair November A conference whose planners hope will provide Food, will attend to disclose their govern- ideas and proposals that could influence the ments plans for Canada