ISLAND NATURALIST

ISSUE # 201 OCT. - DEC. 2011 NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF P.O. BOX 2346, CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. C1A 8C1

Meetings are held of the first Tuesday of the month (except July, August, and September) at 7:30 p.m. at the Farm Centre, 420 University Avenue, Charlottetown. Each meeting commences with a brief business meeting followed by a nutrition break and a guest speaker. Members and non-members are welcome.

Membership is open to anyone interested in the natural history of Prince Edward Island. Membership is available at any meeting or by contacting the Treasurer at P.O. Box 2346, Charlottetown C1A 8C1 (phone 368-1224). Annual membership is $20 and renewals are due in January. Membership expiry dates are shown in the top right hand corner of the mailing label or by a notice provided to those receiving electronic newsletters.

The Society is directed by a volunteer Executive elected from its members. 2012 Executive: President ...... Dwaine Oakley, Stratford 569-1815 [email protected] Vice-President ...... Barbara MacDonald, Charlottetown 368-3268 [email protected] Past President ...... Ian Scott, Charlottetown 892-5796 [email protected] Secretary ...... Heather Fenton, Sherwood 940-1192 [email protected] Treasurer ...... Susan Stephenson Whitaker, Springvale 368-1224 [email protected] Director- Program- Publicity...... Christina Pater, Charlottetown 368-8193 [email protected] Director - ...... Ron Arvidson, South Melville 658-2566 [email protected]

NEWSLETTERS are normally published quarterly and are available in Acrobat Reader colour format via E-mail or in black & white hard copy delivered by mail. Hard copies are printed on recycled paper. Articles, notes, reports, drawings, bird sightings, plant records, etc. are welcomed from members and non-members. If you have seen anything unusual, please share it with us. It is important to have your observations recorded so that others may learn from them. All contributions should be sent by mail to Dan McAskill, Newsletter Editor, NHSPEI, 368 Brazel Road, Donagh, P.E.I. C1B 0T9 or via E-mail to [email protected] The next deadline for articles, sightings, or other newsletter information is March 5, 2012.

Illustrations/Pictures: The Society extends a special thanks to Dwaine Oakley, Glen Kelly, Ron Arvidson, Donna Martin, George Mills, and Suzanne Getson for their photographs in this issue.

Reprinting: Editors of other newsletters and teachers wishing to copy classroom materials are welcome to reprint articles from the Island Naturalist (except when copyrighted). Due acknowledgment must be provided to the Island Naturalist, the author and illustrator.

Web page: www.NaturePEI.ca

The Natural History Society gratefully acknowledges support from the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development which enables distribution of newsletters to schools and libraries desiring it. The Natural History Society is an affiliate of Nature Canada and has representation on the board of the Island Nature Trust. The Society is a registered, non-profit organization (Part 2, Companies Act). Tax receipts are issued for donations to the Society and these funds are used to further the work of the Society.

Cover Illustration: This Fork-tailed Flycatcher image captured at Marshfield was photographed by Glen Kelly on October 10th. Glen and Michelle Kelly were hearing the unusual call the evening before and searched for it the following morning finally finding it on the wires over the Jenkin’s Road. This is the Island’s first photographic record of this species although there was a previous report on PEI. This flycatcher is normally found in South America but reports of it are often found annually along the Atlantic Coast and very rarely elsewhere.

2 2011 SOCIETY’S PRESIDENTS' REPORT: by Ian Scott

My special thanks to the Natural History Society’s members and Executive Committee for their participation and support of natural history on Prince Edward Island during 2011. Commencing in January, this year’s volunteer Board was led by Ian Scott (President), Diane Griffin (Past-President), Dwaine Oakley (Vice- President), Whitney Kelly-Clark (Secretary), Lois Doan (Publicity Director), Christina Pater (Programs Director) and Rosemary Curley (Treasurer). Lynne Douglas remained the Society’s representative on the General Council of the Island Nature Trust and Dan McAskill continued as the Editor of the Island Naturalist. In addition to the Society’s normal work described below, the Society partnered with eight other groups to hold a well attended All Candidate’s Environmental Forum for the Federal Election in at the Murphy Centre in April and the Provincial election on September 20 which was rescheduled to the Culinary Institute. The Society corresponded or met with representatives of the PEI Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal regarding proposed road changes which would negatively affect Strathgartney Provincial Park’s Natural Area designated hardwoods. In addition, they along with other group representatives met with Minister Richard Brown, Deputy Minister John MacQuarrie and other officials of PEI Department of Environment, Energy and Forestry’s regarding the assessment process for additional wind turbines at Black Marsh (North Cape) and East Point. After the Provincial Election, ministerial changes and subsequent deputy minister and government reorganization, the Society renewed its efforts on these files. The Society’s monthly education presentations featured: “The Society’s Annual General Meeting and Dwaine Oakley’s “Chasing Rare Birds on PEI: Five Year’s of Exciting Finds, First Records and Photographic Evidence”; Kerry-Lynn Atkinson’s “On the Brink of Extirpation: Recovery Strategies for the Gulf of St. Lawrence Aster on PEI”; Whitney Kelly-Clark’s “Feeding Wild Birds; Emergence of a Parasitic Disease in Maritime Wild Finch Populations”; Randy Dibblee’s “Decline in Great Cormorant Populations”; Cindy Crane’s “Estuaries in PEI”; Pierre-Yves Daoust’s “The Canadian Seal Hunt - Our Ever Changing Relationship with Wildlife”, Gary Schneider’s “The Beauty in Rare Island Plants . . . and What You Can Do to Help”; Paul Giroux’s “Ecological Integrity in PEI National Park”; and Ron Arvidson’s “The Virtual Birder”. In addition to the audio-visual presentations, the Society organized the following field trips: “Butterfly Identification and Atlasing” held at the J. Frank Gaudet Tree Nursery led by Donna Martin and Rosemary Curley; “Butterfly Identification and Atlas Volunteering” cosponsored with PEI National Park and Atlantic Canada Conservation Data Centre led by John Klymco and Rosemary Curley; and “Field Trip to Greenwich” led by Diane Griffin. These presentations were publicized in The Buzz, Guardian Community Notice columns, CBC radio and released on the Society’s e-news list and web site. A special thanks goes out to prize donors and to Rosemary Curley for the coordination of the periodic draw prizes which fund the PEI Science Fair natural history prizes. Thanks to the records of sighting contributors, the Island’s 2011 bird list reached 241 species. Dwaine Oakley and Rebekah Hodder judged the natural history entries for the PEI Science Fair at UPEI and there were winners at two of the three category levels. The Society held seven Executive Committee meetings during the year. Efforts to recruit new Executive Committee members were successful. The Society’s efforts to establish a provincial natural history museum component to a provincial museum through PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation continued. John Klymko of the Atlantic Canada Conservation Data Centre led the second year’s efforts for a Maritime Butterfly Atlas and Rosemary Curley expanded efforts to recruit participants for the Maritimes Butterfly Atlas through workshops in July and August. David Seeler again maintained the UPEI BirdList server for use of Island birders, issued updates to birders on the records to date and compiled both the 2011 bird list and winter bird list. The List Service (UPEI Birdlist Bronze Copper at Sherbrooke Server [email protected] ) continued to increase in popularity with NHS Photo by Donna Martin ©2011 members and it again contributed to the documentation of new sightings. Rarities identified there were included in the Island Naturalist bird column. The Society maintained its participation in various provincial and North American bird count projects. Scott Sinclair coordinated the Montague Christmas Bird Count (CBC), Dwaine Oakley coordinated the East Point CBC, and Dan McAskill coordinated the PEI National Park and Hillsborough Christmas Bird Counts as well as the

3 Bain Bird Count. Dan reviewed the Island’s Great Backyard Bird Count reports. Kara Grant, of PEI National Park, set up the Dalvay Administration Interpretive Centre for the PEI National Park Christmas Bird Count potluck while Diane and Kevin Griffin hosted the potluck for the Hillsborough CBC. During the year, the Society made a contribution of $180 to the PEI Science Fair natural history prizes. Christina Pater researched and arranged speakers for the Society’s monthly education programs. Lois Doan coordinated the E-mail distribution of Society notices about upcoming Natural History Society events. Efforts to resurrect the Society’s website were quite successful and, thanks to the efforts of Ian Scott, Dwaine Oakley, Serge Serviant and Dan McAskill, a functional website became operational in the spring of 2011. Comments were requested from members during the summer and early autumn. The final 2011 version was completed in December at the NaturePEI domain site. The work on the section editors will be completed in 2012. Thanks to the many Society members and others who contributed their wildlife observations and stories for the Society's Island Naturalist with three issues being released and one in press. Dwaine Oakley, Allie McLennan, Ian Scott, Greg Feetham, Chris Martin, Wayne Cameron, Wanda & Kevin Curley, Dwayne Lepitzki, Kristina Ovaski, and Trevor Wadman, contributed photographs, illustrations and/or drawings and David Seeler, Dwaine Oakley, Ian Scott, Bird Studies Canada, Kate MacQuarrie, Rob Ranconi, Ray Cooke, Gerald MacDonald, Gene MacDonald, Jean Watts, Paul & Arlene McGuigan, Valentin Moser, Dwayne Lepitzki, Kristina Ovaski, Roberta Palmer, Linda Thomas, and Scott Sinclair contributed articles or their content. Members were again afforded the opportunity to obtain electronic issues of the newsletter in Acrobat reader format in full colour. Dan McAskill packaged and mailed the newsletter to members and schools. Society members Ray Cooke, Dwaine Oakley, Fiep de Bie and Dan McAskill served as the Society’s lead team for the 12th annual Neil Bennett Autumn Birding Classic. This effort was expanded with the addition of two new teams with the Trust’s Team Dodo (Jackie Waddell, Shannon Mader, Molly Stevens and Shirley Gallant) and Ron Ardvison’s team which included Ron, Donna Martin, Jean Blanchard and Ian Scott. The Island Nature Trust’s Barb McDonald handled coordinated hosting efforts for the Neil Bennett Autumn Birding Classic. The donors and sponsor contributing to this project provided almost $4,147.50 towards the Trust’s land conservation program. The PEI Department of Environment, Energy and Forestry and Fitzpatrick & Company Chartered Accountants provided the Birding Classic’s corporate sponsorships. (See Island Naturalist Issue 201 article) Thanks to donors’ generosity in maintaining memberships and contributing prizes, the Society’s financial position again remained healthy. Evelyn Martin, Bill Bowerbank, Meika Keunecke, Ardeth Smith, the Wildlife Conservation Technology Class, Dutch Thompson, Ian Scott and others contributed birding and related books, nest boxes and other items for the raffle prizes used to support the NHSPEI’s PEI Science Fair prizes. Deborah Martens, Douglas Sobey, and Jean Watts gave financial donations to the Society during the year. The Society’s revenues were $1,966.91 while expenses were $1,719.06. The Society completed the year with assets of $9,031.52 most of this reserved for book publishing and project funds.

2012 SOCIETY EXECUTIVE ELECTED:

The Natural History Society of Prince Edward Island Inc. held its Annual General Meeting on January 3rd, 2012. Diane Griffin, Ian Scott and Dwaine Oakley served on the Nomination Committee. Ian presented the following Nomination Committee’s recommendations, namely: Dwaine Oakley as President; Barbara MacDonald as Vice-President; Susan Stephenson Whitaker as Treasurer; Heather Fenton as Secretary; Christina Pater and Ron Arvidson as Directors; and Ian Scott as Past President. As there were no further nominations from the floor, Ian declared the slate of officers elected by acclamation. Rosemary noted that she would be covering the Treasurer’s position until March when Susan takes over these duties. On behalf of the Society’s membership, Ian Scott thanked Rosemary Curley for her 5.75 years of service as Treasurer and also serving as the Society’s Program Director two of these years. In addition, he thanked Lois Doan for her service as Publicity Director for the past year.

4 STRATHGARTNEY ROAD CHANGE PROPOSAL:

After months of efforts by the Natural History Society to obtain the proposed new road route from the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal, the Society was advised on October 18th, 2011 that they were invited to a briefing on the three proposed route changes on October 19th. At that time, they received copies of the maps for the change in routing Route #1 (Trans-Canada Highway) at Strathgartney (Churchill) and Crapaud and North Tryon. This project is a $16,000,000 Atlantic Gateway Federal/Provincial 50:50 funding initiative designed to create efficiencies in the transportation of goods. The Society advised that the Strathgartney proposal was unacceptable and identifies reasons. The Natural History Society, Island Nature Trust, and Island Trails Inc., Environmental Coalition of PEI, and many others worked to raise awareness utilizing a brochure providing the issues at hand, letters to the editor, public meetings and personal letters. Society members attended the public meetings at the Dutch Inn at North River on October 25th and Crapaud Hall on Oct. 27. The Society officially expressed concerns over the potential loss of several rare species and the intrusion of the road through two designated Natural Areas and a Provincial Park. Many individuals also did so. On December 20th, the Province announced that the route would be changed to the north of the proposed route through the natural areas and the Provincial Park. Since this route also has potential concerns, the Society will be exploring the environmental assessments on this new route.

THE 12th NEIL BENNETT AUTUMN BIRDING CLASSIC:by Dan McAskill, Ray Cooke, Dwaine Oakley, Fiep de Bie, Ron Arvidson, Jackie Waddell, Shannon Mader, Molly Stevens, Shirley Gallant

The Natural History Society of Prince Edward Island and the Island Nature Trust designed the Autumn Birding Classic in 1995 as a long-term fund raising partnership for the Trust’s land conservation program and as a bird migration monitoring count for early autumn. The Autumn Birding Classic was renamed the Neil Bennett Autumn Birding Classic in 1999 in memory of Neil’s significant contributions to the Trust. This year there were three birding teams and the counts occurred on Saturday, September 24th. The Society’s lead team of Ray, Dwaine, Fiep, and Dan started at 3:00 AM amidst cloudy skies, ground mist and a 17EC. temperature. There was almost no wind so night acoustic conditions were excellent. Despite a forecast of some rain showers overnight, the day was beautiful for birding. Temperatures rose to 23 EC. Minimal winds meant incredibly good visibility over the gulf and bays with almost smooth water and minimal heat shimmer. The cloud remained present throughout the day which meant the birds vocalized throughout much of the day and only a few drops of rain occurred in late afternoon. The last of the counters quit the field at 8:05 PM. The Society’s lead team travelled 316.4 km, walked about 1.5 km and observed or heard 96 species. The Society’s Lead Team started birding at the Hillsborough River bridge piers with hundreds of Double- crested Cormorants. Watervale brought our first bird heard with a distant Great Horned Owl. Dwaine used an I- Pod to play various combinations of the calls of Saw-whet Owl, Barred Owl, Long Eared Owl, Great Horned Owl, Sora Rail, Virginia Rail and American Bittern at Watervale, Dromore, Pisquid East, River Wetlands (near St. Peter’s) and Dingwell’s Mills. Some or all members of the Society’s Team were successful in obtaining Great- horned Owl, Barred Owl, Northern Saw-whet Owl, American Bittern, Swamp Sparrow, American Goldfinch, White-throated Sparrow, Sora Rail, American Black Duck, Alder Flycatcher and Hermit Thrush as well as a few rancourous raccoons, lots of crickets, spring peepers, tree frogs, and northern leopard frog. Around first light, we started picking up birds in earnest at Souris and Little Harbour. Subsequent stops at Red Point Road brought a cluster of warblers and woodland birds and a stop at MacVane’s Creek augmented the woodland bird totals with the highlights being a Blackpoll and Blackburnian Warblers. We reached East Point just after 10:00 AM, amidst an almost glass smooth sea. There were small numbers of Northern Gannets moving as well as eider, scoter and gulls. Incredible views of several Razorbill just off the point were one of the days highlights as was Dwaine’s location of a flock of 38 Black-legged Kittiwake and shortly thereafter a Parasitic Jaeger sitting a short distance away. There were very few migrating birds at East Point and, not surprisingly considering the low number of birds present, only a Northern Harrier along Lighthouse Road and a group of five Bald Eagles at Beaton’s Point. A group of 14 Sanderlings, a Semipalmated Plover, and 2 Semipalmated Sandpipers suggested we might have a good day for shorebirds.

5 From East Point, we continued along Route 16 with the windows open to alert us to woodland bird calls and went to coastal hot spots including East Lake, North Lake, Priest Pond, and Naufrage. These were relatively quiet for rarities except for a single American Pipit calling over the North Lake Harbour breakwater. However, our Campbell’s Cove stop brought a Red-necked Grebe which we seldom find during this count. Besides those listed for East Point and Campbell’s Cove, the highlights of the day’s outing were a Barred Owl within 20 metres at Dromore, a Bobolink, an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull, an Osprey and a Merlin at Red Point, a Blackpoll Warbler at MacVane’s Creek, a Blackpoll Warbler and an American Redstart at Lighthouse Road at East Point, two Black-and-White Warblers and a Blackpoll Warbler at Campbell’s Pond, several Dunlin at St. Peter’s, an American Kestrel and a Merlin feeding on a small bird at Red Head Harbour, a Ruddy Duck at Allisary Creek Impoundment, good numbers of Northern Flickers (~15), drake Wood Ducks at the Community of East Point and St. Peter’s Lagoon, and a large group of Red Knot amidst about 1,000 shorebirds at Tracadie Harbour. In total, the Society’s Lead Team observed or heard 96 species, up significantly from last year’s 81 but less than and 2008's 108. In addition to the birds seen below, we also observed several foxes, four striped skunks, a beaver, raccoons, close up looks of grey seals, a few harbour seals, a minke whale, a snowshoe hare, a muskrat, two bats and about a dozen red squirrels. There were small numbers of cabbage white and sulphur butterflies seen at scattered locations with the highest numbers at St. Peter’s. As well, there were good numbers of dragonflies flying for the season. There were also several fire flies still lighting the East Branch of Pisquid River at High Bridge Road, an unusual sighting for the season, . There was a large crop of berries on showy and American mountain ashes and, in some areas at the Community of East Point a good crop of viburnum. On certain white spruce, there was a large crop of cones. Ron Arvidson’s team was composed of Ron, Ian Scott, Donna Martin and Jean Blanchard. They started at 5:30 AM and continued through until 7:30 PM. They covered the area of Borden-Carleton and the North Shore from Cavendish to Dalvay. The most notable berry crop seen was mountain ash. They experienced less favourable (i.e. “crappy”) weather with overcast sky and mist, fog and some spitting rain. Despite these conditions, they found 58 species during their day’s journey covering 210 km by vehicle and approximately 4 km of walking. Their highlights included a Palm Warbler and a Black-and-White Warbler at Bubbling Springs Trail in PEI National Park, 6 Northern Shovelers in the ponds at Borden Lagoons, 5 Lesser Scaup at Long Pond, a Barred Owl at Stanley Bridge (seen by Ian), 4 Caspian Terns, 40 Gadwall, high numbers of Green- winged Teal, Sanderling everywhere, an Osprey on a platform at Cymbria and North Rustico, an American Kestrel at Rattenbury Road and a cool interaction between a Great Black-backed Gull with a Ruddy Turnstone trying to poach a meal from underneath the gull which was eating something. In addition to the latter, one of the most unusual Great Blue Heron sightings was what appeared to be a grey lump on a pond in the PEI Photo by Ron Arvidson © 2011 National Park in Stanhope. Then a head appeared. It was a Great Blue Heron in a very weird, tail in the water pose. By day’s end, no one could believe that the team had not gotten either a Bald Eagle or Northern Harrier. Despite this, their salutation to the end of their report was “A Great Day out with Great Company”. The fund raising expert team, Team Dodo, who issued a public challenge to all other teams/fund raisers consisted of Jackie Waddell, Shannon Mader, Molly Stevens and Shirley Gallant. They started their day with a rather respectful 7:00 AM start for a team expounding fun and fund raising rather than birding expertise. They covered the area from Green Bay, Hunter River, Kensington, Wellington, southern and eastern Malpeque Bay localities, Stanley Bridge and finished at Hunter River with 210 km of driving and 3.5 km of walking. They observed 45 species. They faced similar weather conditions to that of Ron’s team with 15EC, fog, low wind (<10 km/hr) but had less cloud cover (60%). Their high lights included 6 Red-necked Phalarope, a Willet and 40 Dunlin at Shipyard Creek saltmarsh as well as a Palm Warbler in a shrubby upland nearby, and a Red-eyed Vireo at Camp Tamawaby. In addition, they seen and heard a large number of red squirrels bickering over cones and creating huge middens of cones at Camp Tamawaby. During the 15 years since its creation, this Natural History Society and Island Nature Trust partnership has raised some than $21,665. This year there was enhanced outreach with articles in the September issue of the Buzz,

6 the Island Nature Trust’s Update, and Island Naturalist #200 as well as a great article by Mary MacKay in the September 19th issue of the Guardian. In addition, the Trust reached out to potential corporate donors. Thanks to the generosity of this year’s many donors, the Trust’s pledge collectors and team members collected pledges of $4,147.50 and two Corporate Sponsors, PEI Department of Environment, Energy and Forestry and Fitzpatrick & Company Chartered Accountants contributed $500 each to the 2011 Neil Bennett Autumn Birding Classic. In total, 102 species of birds were either seen or heard during the day. These are listed below.

Pied-billed Grebe Osprey (3) Black-legged Kittiwake (50) American Pipit (1) Red-necked Grebe (1) Bald Eagle (10) Caspian Tern Cedar Waxwing Northern Gannet Northern Harrier (4) Common Tern Northern Parula Double-crested Cormorant American Kestrel (2) Razorbill (7) Magnolia Warbler Great Cormorant Merlin (2) Black Guillemot (1) Yellow-rumped Warbler American Bittern Sora (3) Rock Pigeon (Dove) Black-throated Green Great Blue Heron Black-bellied Plover Mourning Dove Warbler Canada Geese Semipalmated Plover Great Horned Owl (1) Blackburnian Warbler Wood Duck Greater Yellowlegs Barred Owl (3) Palm Warbler (2) Gadwall (42+) Lesser Yellowlegs Northern Saw-whet Owl (1) Blackpoll Warbler American Wigeon Willet Belted Kingfisher Black-and-White Warbler American Black Duck Spotted Sandpiper Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (3) Mallard Whimbrel Downy Woodpecker American Redstart Blue-winged Teal Ruddy Turnstone Hairy Woodpecker Common Yellowthroat Northern Shoveler (6) Red Knot Northern Flicker Savannah Sparrow Northern Pintail Sanderling Alder Flycatcher (1) Song Sparrow Green-winged Teal Semipalmated Sandpiper Red-eyed Vireo Lincoln’s Sparrow Ring-necked Duck White-rumped Sandpiper Blue Jay Swamp Sparrow Greater Scaup Dunlin American Crow White-throated Sparrow Lesser Scaup (5) Red-necked Phalarope Common Raven Dark-eyed Junco Common Eider Parasitic Jaeger (2 or 3) UID swallow Bobolink Surf Scoter (1) Bonaparte’s Gull Black-capped Chickadee Red-winged Blackbird White-winged Scoter Ring-billed Gull Red-breasted Nuthatch Common Grackle Black Scoter Herring Gull Golden-crowned Kinglet American Goldfinch Common Goldeneye Lesser Black-backed Gull (1 Hermit Thrush House Sparrow (1) Common Merganser adult) American Robin Red-breasted Merganser Great Black-backed Gull European Starling Ruddy Duck

Note: Species in italics are rarely seen here at this time of year. Numbers in brackets denote the number of birds where it was unusual for this time of year.

CONGRATULATIONS TO DAVID SEELER: by Barbara MacDonald

In 2011, Parks Canada celebrated its centennial as the world’s first national park service. As part of the centennial celebrations, during the month of September, the Agency recognized the contributions and dedication of its volunteers across the country. One hundred volunteers, each nominated in their respective sites, received special recognition for their contributions. Thus, on September 26th 2011 at Province House, David Seeler was awarded one of 100 National Park Volunteer Awards issued during the National Parks’ Centennial. The citation for David’s award reads “Dave has been collecting shorebird data from priority sites within Prince Edward Island National Park for several years, ensuring that the data set has been uninterrupted during a thirty + year period. Through a collaborative agreement with the Canadian Wildlife Service, this data feeds the Atlantic Canada Shorebird Survey, and provides invaluable information of the species and population of migrating birds on Prince Edward Island. Dave is an expert birder who is passionate about his hobby, and spends countless hours on the beach throughout the migrating season. His eagerness to embrace this responsibility in a professional and competent manner makes his contribution invaluable and very much appreciated.”

7 THE HONORABLE ANGUS MACLEAN NATURAL AREAS AWARD: by Jackie Waddell

On September 22nd 2011, the Island Nature Trust was very pleased and honoured to announce that Mr. Wendell Profitt had been selected as the winner of the 2011 Hon. J. Angus MacLean Natural Areas Award. Wendell worked for the protection of natural sites through his employment for many years with the PEI Government as well as through his volunteer activity with the Island Nature Trust. Wendell Profitt was born in Margate, PEI and is a veteran of WWII. Wendell is the proud father of Judy and Allen and grandfather of two. His late wife Dorothy, or Dot as she was well known, was such a strong influence in his life and is dearly missed. Wendell served as a member of the Trust’s General Council (Board of Directors) for many years, most of which coincided with his being the Treasurer. While Treasurer, Wendell did all the bookkeeping, payroll for three employees and up to 6 summer staff, all record keeping required for the annual Birdseed Sale and much more. Current staff that spend hours doing this work every week can only imagine Wendell’s sigh of relief when a bookkeeper was hired and Barb McDonald took over the day to day payments for staff, services, supplies and more. Back in these days, the Trust was located on the third floor of the PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation’s Beaconsfield House. Wendell would climb the stairs at Beaconsfield to the Trust’s offices, up to three times a week to do this work, a pocket full of candy to be distributed to one and all, before delivering his most recent accounting work. Jackie and Barb have often said they would love to have Wendell for a grandfather! Wendell, a graduate UNB forester , was also a willing volunteer for fieldwork, where his forestry background was invaluable when woodland sites were being studied. Many hours were spent tramping around potential natural areas, wet and dry to record the plants and animals there. Wendell played a very active role in the Trust's fund raising projects such as the annual bird seed sale and fund raising dinner. Occasionally he represented the Nature Trust as an advocate at such things as a presentation to the Royal Commission on the Land. He was a dedicated supporter of the Island Nature Trust even after his term on the board finished and continues as a member and supporter of the organization today. On the work side of life, Wendell was one of the first two foresters hired by the Provincial Government after he graduated from UNB in forestry. He and Frank Gaudet started up the Forestry Division in 1951, planted trees throughout PEI and raised awareness of the importance of forests to the Island. They co-authored the very popular “Native Trees and Shrubs of Prince Edward Island”, thousands of which have been provided to students and adults over the past four plus decades. The provincial parks arose out of the Forestry Branch but were later set apart as their own administrative unit. Because of his fondness for parks, Wendell chose to move on with parks rather than stay in forestry. Under his guidance, the PEI Provincial Parks system grew from the three original parks (Lord Selkirk, Brudenell and Strathgartney) to a provincial wide system of parks. While some were very small, and basically roadside picnic sites, most were more substantial in size. The three original parks were expanded and other new reasonably large parks helped to protect trees and other natural features such as riparian zones and sand dunes. Some of these include Cabot Park, Bloomfield Park, Cedar Dunes, Brookvale, Green Park and Mill River. All of these specific examples remain within the provincial park system while some of the smaller sites and parks within municipalities, such as Tea Hill park, have been devolved to the communities or closed. Some have been moved into private ownership but still operate as campgrounds and beach access, such as Campbell's Cove. The provincial parks play an important role in getting people into the out-of-doors in a province that has a small amount of provincially owned land available for public use. Wendell’s efforts in Provincial Parks several parks also include NAPA designated Natural Areas and are an important part of a network of protected areas on PEI. Cedar Dunes, Strathgartney, Cabot, Brudenell Pines and Townshend Woodlot each have this protection in place.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED - CANADA WIDE SCIENCE FAIR 2012 AT UPEI:

Thousands of Island students have participated in local school Science Fair competitions on PEI since the 1960s. The Natural History Society has judged natural history PEI Science Fair exhibits by those student scientists doing natural history projects and the Natural History Society of PEI has provided prizes in natural history to the winners for many decades. This coming year, the national Canada-Wide Science Fair (CWSF) will be held at UPEI from May 13-18th.

8 The first national CWSF competition with 45 student winners representing 12 regions was held in 1962. Since then, this national competition has grown to more that 100 regional science fairs across Canada. Needless to say, the 2012 CWSF is a tremendous opportunity for the winning students who represent these regions and who will be competing for the national awards organized by Youth Science Canada and the local Host (UPEI) in partnership with government and local businesses. It is also a unique opportunity for volunteers to assist with the delivery of this event. Volunteers will be needed in many capacities from judging to hospitality, communications, food services, administration, school tours, exhibit set up, decorating, public viewing and more. It is estimated that some 200 to 300 volunteers will be needed in the various capacities. If you have some time that you could contribute, please contact John Burka via E-mail at [email protected] If you are particularly interested in judging, please contact the Chief Judge, Barry Linkletter [email protected]) . . . you can both judge and volunteer for other activities! Francophone judges (and volunteers) are particularly needed. The Host Committee is planning a Community Launch for the Fair with an opportunity to sign up as a volunteer. This will be from 4 to 5 PM on Thursday January 19th at the Atlantic Veterinary College Learning Commons. We would like to have all our volunteers signed up by mid-February so we can order appropriate clothing and supplies. Copies of the volunteer sign-up sheet are on the Society’s web site (www.NaturePEI.ca)

Adapted from information provided by John Burka.

PLOUGHING A HAZARD TO RING-BILLED GULL: By Lou Daley

I spoke with a former student, Craig Dingwell of Marie in October. Craig told me that he was ploughing last week and the gulls were coming in at a great rate feeding on the worms which the plough exposed. He noticed that some gulls were getting very near the plough. The next thing he knew, one bird was just ahead of the plough and reached down for a worm and was buried by the shears. Craig noticed that only its wing was sticking out so he figured it was dead but stopped the tractor anyway and got off to take a look. He dug in with his hands and uncovered its head first. He said the bird was mad as hell and cut him a couple of times with its beak. He had to hold the beak closed with one hand and uncover the remainder of the body with his other hand. When he completely unearthed the bird, it just flew away.

Editor’s Note: Spud Stewart reported a similar incident of a Ring-billed Gull being buried by a plough many years ago.

BIRD ATLAS REVEALING MANY CHANGES IN OUR BIRDS: by Kate Bredin, Bird Studies Canada

The Maritime Breeding Bird Atlas results show Maritime breeding bird population changes over the last 20 years. Thanks to 49,000 hours of field work and untold hours of data entry from 1,000 volunteers, the results from the second Maritimes Breeding Bird Atlas reveal significant changes in bird populations over the 20 years since the first Atlas (1986-1990). Some of the changes have been disturbing, others encouraging, and several were totally unexpected! The results show . . . declines in mature hardwood forest species . . . an unexpected proliferation of some woodland species . . . species expanding northward . . . and good news about species that were once on the brink! And we are pleased to inform you that Margaret Campbell has joined the Maritimes Breeding Bird Atlas as our new Editorial Assistant. Welcome Margaret! The Atlas website has been updated with the latest news: www.mba-aom.ca

9 CHARLOTTETOWN EXPERIMENTAL FARM:

On October 8th, the Friends of the Farm and the Experimental Farm hosted a ceremonial planting of trees by the Premiers of Prince Edward Island to complete the Premiers’ Grove at the Charlottetown Research Station. During the two ceremonies, trees were planted by Senator , , Counsel General Pat Bills, and Premier . Janice Simmons, Chair of the Friends of the Farm, and Maria Rodriquez, Director of Agriculture and Agri-Foods Canada for the PEI Region hosted the ceremonial plantings.

LOSS TO MARITIME BIRDING COMMUNITY: Adapted from Maritimes Breeding Bird Atlas’s Atlas Latest News November 30, 2011 “A Tribute to Brian Dalzell”

Local birders and friends were deeply saddened with the sudden death of Brian Dalzell in November, 2011. An enthusiastic birder who started birding at age 11 and joined the Moncton Naturalist Club at age 14. At the time, he was the youngest birder to surpass the 300 bird species mark on his New Brunswick list. He was a tremendous contributor to many birding projects in the Maritime Provinces especially both Maritime Breeding Bird Atlases. He surveyed an amazing 211 squares and observed more species than any other Atlasser. In addition, he was Coordinator of the First Maritimes Breeding Bird Atlas during its final two field seasons. When he was on PEI, he participated in Natural History Society events and was a regular contributor to bird list servers, Christmas Bird Counts, and other birding projects on PEI and Labrador. He was an expert birder and conducted environmental assessments through his consulting company on wind turbine and other development projects that required expert bird identification skills and reporting skills. Brian was the driving force behind the establishment of a bird observatory and landbird banding station on Grand Manan in 1995, after spending time at the Long Point Bird Observatory to become a Master Bander. The Grand Manan Whale and Seabird Research Station helped to administer this short-lived Grand Manan Bird Observatory (GMBO) until it was dissolved to create the Fundy Bird Observatory (FBO). Brian loved to involve children in birding adventures when possible and was thrilled to have them attend his banding demonstrations at Anchorage Provincial Park and elsewhere. For a number of years, Brian provided birding tours for the Elderhostel programs run from the Marathon Inn on Grand Manan. He always made it a point to help fellow birders find sought-after birds, and once brought an Indigo Bunting from his mist nets to the ferry parking lot to show departing birders a treasure they had just missed. After graduating from Holland College in 1987, Brian worked as a journalist and produced well researched and widely read nature columns in the Quoddy Times, authored the 3rd edition of Grand Manan Birds (1991) and the Birds of New Brunswick: An Annotated List (2004). He served for the last few years as winter season editor of the Atlantic Canada Region report in North American Birds. In addition to these efforts, Brian monitored the Natural History Society’s Island Naturalist and the UPEI Bird List Server often contributing information on either past records or providing insights on bird behaviour. We will miss Brian’s enthusiasm and contributions. His records have substantially improved our knowledge on birds in this region.

NEWS FROM ABOUT: Compiled by Dan McAskill

Long Point Bird Observatory was pleased to receive a capital grant of $15,000 from the Ontario Trillium Fund for the repair the roof of the old lighthouse keeper’s house at the tip and install a generator as a backup for solar power. Positioned as Bird Studies Canada’s longest running program, LPBO has been conducting research at the Tip of Long Point since 1960, and also acts as the local steward for this fragile environment. This house is used by the volunteers and researchers working at the tip. The Ontario Trillium Fund is an agency of the Government of Ontario. (Adapted from BSC Latest News Sept. 2, 2011) Québec Breeding Bird Atlas is in its second year. This year, the first nest of an Eurasian Collared Dove was found in the south of the province in Sainte-Brigide-d'Iberville. This species was introduced on the Bahamas in the mid 1970s and has since been rapidly spreading across North America. The Québec Breeding Bird Atlas is

10 managed by the Regroupement Québec Oiseaux (RQO), the Canadian Wildlife Service of Environment Canada, and Bird Studies Canada. (Adapted from BSC Latest News Jul. 22, 2011) An Imperial Woodpecker, the largest woodpecker that ever lived and the closest relative of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker, probably went extinct in Mexico in the late 20th century concludes a paper just published in the October 2011 issue of The Auk, the scientific journal of the American Ornithologists’ Union. It was thought that no photos or film of the two-foot-tall, flamboyantly crested bird existed until a biologist from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology tracked down a 16-mm film shot in 1956 by William L. Rhein, a dentist and amateur ornithologist from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Dr. Rhein went to Mexico in 1953, 1954, and 1956 specifically to film and record the sounds of the Imperial Woodpecker. He succeeded in filming it using a hand held camera in 1956 while camping in a remote location in the Sierra Madre Occidental in Durango State. While no sounds were recorded by him or any other recordist, the film footage captures the last confirmed sighting of an Imperial Woodpecker. (Adapted from BSC Latest News Oct. 27, 2011) Up to September, the 2011 Baillie Birdathon raised over $226,000. A portion of funds raised through BSC’s annual Baillie Birdathon fundraiser are allocated to the Baillie Fund to provide grants to individuals or groups for projects that further BSC’s mission. Since 1978, the Baillie Fund has provided grants totalling nearly $640,000 to 550 bird research and conservation projects across Canada. It offers three types of grants (Regular, Small, and the James L. Baillie Student Award for Field Research). In reviewing grant applications, the Baillie Fund Trustees give priority to well-designed projects that engage the skills and enthusiasm of amateur naturalists and volunteers to help us understand, appreciate, and conserve Canadian birds in their natural environments. For more information about the Baillie Fund grant programs, past grants, and how to apply for a grant for your project, contact Birds Study Canada’s web site, the Baillie Fund Secretary at [email protected] or 1-866-518- 0212. (Adapted from BSG Latest News release Sept. 30, 2011 & Oct. 28)

WEATHER EVENTS:

A very large low pressure system stalled for a few days over the Maritimes while Hurricane Ophilia passed offshore. This weather system dropped 54 mm of rain on Oct. 1-2 was followed by a nor-easter afew days later with very heavy rains (158 mm on Oct. 4-5), high winds (sustained winds of up to 110 km/hr and a gust of 138 km/hr & gusts up to 120+ km/hr at Confederation Bridge), and storm surges on Oct. 4-6, 2011. The latter storm caused some local flooding but minimal damage in part due to the storm occurring during a low part of the monthly tide cycle. It marked the first snow in certain areas of this winter with either snow pellets or sleet. There was no accumulation and it quickly disappeared. By coincidence, these dates marked the anniversary of the Yankee Gale of 1851 which destroyed approximately 200 schooners (1/3 of the Gloucester boats fishing off PEI). Heavy rain on Oct. 20th (54 mm at Harrington) then snow flurries on Oct. 29 at Riverdale and then 36 mm of rain at Harrington on Oct. 30 with high northerly winds (87 km/hr) and storm surges. October’s total rainfall amounted to 284 mm at the Harrington Weather Station. The mild weather conditions continued until early January 2012 with a few days of snow around November 18th and November 24th and then about one week of snow covered fields on Christmas eve before melting again cleared the fields for New Year’s Day.

ANIMAL AND PLANT SIGHTINGS RECEIVED UP TO JAN. 10, 2012: Compiled by J. Dan McAskill

PLANTS: Tree colours in the Bonshaw Hills peaked on the weekend of Oct. 10th although the vibrant reds of cherry and red maple had largely disappeared by then. By Oct. 24, red oak leaves were dropping on certain trees in Donagh and mountain ash leaves had dropped.

FUNGI: A small flush of meadow mushrooms (Agaricus) was seen at Red Point on Sept. 24th. There was a good flush of Boletus mushrooms (the ones that look like a sponge underneath rather than gills) in Donagh on Oct. 4 (JDM). There were also small flushes of meadow mushrooms at Miscouche on Oct. 10 as well as inky cap or shaggy mane mushrooms (Copernicus) on Oct. 10 at Miscouche and Sherwood on Oct. 24 (JDM).

INSECTS: An occasional crane fly was still being seen in late Sept. (JDM). Sulphur butterfly were seen going after goose

11 droppings on Oct. 4 in Donagh. They were common on warm days in the week of Oct. 21st at Sherbrooke, Donagh and Argyle Shore and there were some still flying at Sherbrooke and Argyle Shore until Nov. 8 (JDM). 25 reported Oct. 21st in South Melville (EC). In addition, there was one wood nymph at Sherbrooke on Nov. 8 (JDM).

AMPHIBIANS/REPTILES: Very few American toads seen or heard this year (RoA, JDM)

MAMMALS: Cross fox frequenting Donagh yard since last winter (JDM); House cat frequent encounters with a skunk at Stratford (FRC). Mink at Johnston’s River on Oct. 28 (JDM) & 1 coming out of the Gulf with a fish at Monticello on Nov. 1 (JGM). A bat was foraging at Newtown Cross on Selkirk Road on Nov. 7 (GS). 8 grey seals at East Point on Nov. 13 (FdB, RA, SGC, BCM, DMa)

BIRDS: Red-throated Loon - 3 non-breeding season plumage at East Point on Sept. 28 (DO, WCT), ~35 at Cavendish West on Oct. 14 (DO, WCT), 20 to 25 at Cavendish East on Oct. 16 (G&SF), many at East Point on Oct. 16 (SCS, GS), 3 at East Point on Nov. 13 (FdB, RA, SGC, BCM, DMa), 8 at Dalvay on Dec. 1 (SCS, GS); Common Loon - 2 at Cavendish West on Oct. 14 (DO, WCT), 3 at East Point on Oct. 23 (DO, JDM) & 1 on Nov. 13 (DCS, DO), 2 at Monticello on Nov. 1, 7 on Nov. 16 (JGM), 2 at Victoria Harbour on Nov. 13 (RA), 1 at East Point on Nov. 13 (FdB, RA, SGC, BCM, DMa); Red-necked Grebe - 1 at East Point on Sept. 28 (DO, WCT), ~10 at East Point on Oct. 23 (DO, JDM) & 2 on Nov. 13 (DCS, DO), 1 at Victoria Harbour on Nov. 13 (RA); Horned Grebe - 1 at East Point on Oct. 23 (DO, JDM); Wilson’s Storm-Petrel - 1 at Tracadie Harbour on Oct. 6 (DO, WCT); Leach’s Storm-Petrel - 1 at Covehead Bridge on Oct. 6 (DO); Sooty Shearwater - 1 at Bothwell Beach on Nov. 13 & 1 at MacFarlane’s Road in White Sands on Dec. 1 (GSa, JA); Northern Gannet - 100+ flying past point from Strait at East Point on Sept. 28 (DO, WCT), 1 found on land at East Prince Waste Facility was captured and released on Ellis River and 1 was found at a backyard in Cable Head and released nearby on Oct. 6 (DBl, DA, JWh via FRC), 1 adult & 2 immature at East Point on Nov. 13 (FdB, RA, SGC, BCM, DMa), 1 at Dalvay on Dec. 1 (SCS, GS), 1 at Blooming Point on Dec. 1 (SCS, GS); Double-crested Cormorant - 100+ at Hillsborough River bridge piers and Maritime Electric rocks on Oct. 29 (JDM) and periodically seen flying or swimming nearby until late Dec. (JDM, DO); Great Cormorant - 15+ at East Point on Sept. 28 (DO, WCT), 100+ at West Cape in late Sept. (FdB), 1 immature flying at Hillsborough Bridge on Dec. 15 (JDM); American Bittern - 1 at Wilmot River on Oct. 17 (REM); Great Blue Heron - 1 at Brackley entrance marsh on Nov. 26 (KMacA), 1 immature at Harding Creek on Dec. 3 (TW); Cattle Egret - 1 at Marshfield on Oct. 16 (ReH); Turkey Vulture - 1 at Tea Hill on Sept. 25 (FdB), 1 in NE PEI in late Sept. (BH, WCT), 1 at Hermanville on Oct. 2 (JtR), 1 at Wood Islands on Oct. 11 (BH), 1 at Traveller’s Rest on Nov. 9 (JDM), 1 adult at Scales Pond on Jan. 9 (ADM, DO, WCT); Snow Goose - immature shot in Blue Shank Road in mid-Oct. (Wing seen JDM); Canada Geese - large influx at Rollo Bay in third week Sept. (Via JDM), 5,000 at Rollo Bay on Oct. 23 (DO, JDM), ~1,000+ over field in Southampton on Dec. 19 (JDM), ~2,500 at Vernon Bridge cornfield on Dec. 28 (JDM), over 2,000 at Earnscliffe cornfield along with about 100 Black Ducks on Jan. 2 (DO, DCS, RC, JDM); Cackling Goose - 1 heard and seen at Argyle Shore on Oct. 8 (DO, JDM), 1 shot at Sherbrooke on ~Oct. 24 (LY, HY); Wood Ducks - 2 at Borden lagoons on Sept. 26 & 4 on Sept. 29 (RA); Eurasian Wigeon - 1 at Barbara Weit River late Nov. (BMo via GW & DO); American Wigeon - 3 at Ellen’s Creek on Dec. 4 (SGC); American Black Duck - good numbers in many areas but the large flock of blacks seen in recent years near Riverside Drive on the Hillsborough River was absent this autumn (JDM), a leucistic (white) individual was seen on the Hillsborough River at the QEH in late Dec. (LFJ via DO) & early Jan. (GW); Mallard - 40 at Breadalbane on Oct. 22 , 25 at Wilmot River estuary at Summerside on Nov. 19 (JDM, LY), 21 feeding voraciously in a West Royalty soybean field on Dec. 17 (JDM) ; Northern Shovelers - at Borden lagoons on Sept. 26 (RA), 10 at Borden on Oct. 16 (RA, FdB, DMa, SGC), 2 at Pisquid Pond & 1 at Marshall’s Pond in Covehead in early Oct. (GW), 1 at North River on Dec. 10 (GW via DO); Northern Pintail - 12 at Long Pond in Dalvay on Nov. 26 (KMacA) & 5 on Dec. 1 (SCS, GS), 15 to 20 at Harding Greek on Dec. 3 (TW); Green-winged Teal - 20+ at Borden on Oct. 16 (RA, FdB, DMa, SGC), 4 at Borden lagoons and 3 at Breadalbane on Oct. 27 (FdB, DMa, MK), at Ellen’s Creek & Hyde Creek on Dec. 4 (SGC); Redhead Duck - 2 up west in Nov. (JT via DO), 1 with large group of Greater Scaup at Oysterbed Bridge on Jan. 9 (DO, WCT); Ring-necked Duck - 7 at Borden on Oct. 16 (RA, FdB, DMa, SGC), at pond in Souris on Nov. 13 (FdB, RA, SGC, BCM, DMa); Scaup - 20+ at pond in Souris on Nov. 13 (FdB, RA, SGC, BCM, DMa); Common Eider - 1,000 at East Point on Oct. 23 (DO, JDM), ~2,000 at East Point on Nov. 13 (DCS, DO), 6 at Dalvay on Dec. 1 (SCS, GS); Harlequin Duck - 1 drake & 3 hens at North Cape on Nov. 9 (BMo via GW & DO), 2 at East Point on Nov. 13 (DCS, DO, FdB, RA, SGC, BCM, DMa); Surf Scoter - 20+ at East Point on Oct. 23 (DO, JDM), 35 at Victoria Harbour on Nov. 9 (EC); White-winged Scoter - at Cavendish West on Oct. 14 (DO, WCT), 20 at East Point on Oct. 23 (DO, JDM), at East Point on Nov. 13 (DCS, DO); Black Scoter - 3 at East Point on Sept. 28 (DO, WCT), 50+ at East Point on Oct. 23 (DO, JDM), at East Point on Nov. 13 (DCS, DO), 40+ at East Point on Nov. 13 (FdB, RA, SGC, BCM, DMa); Long-tailed Duck - 50 at East Point on Oct. 23 (DO, JDM), 4 at Monticello on Nov. 1 (JGM), 30+ at East Point on Nov. 13 (FdB, RA, SGC, BCM, DMa), 6 at Dalvay on Dec. 1 (SCS, GS); Bufflehead - 3 at pond in Souris on Nov. 13 (FdB, RA, SGC, BCM, DMa), 5 at Blooming Point on Dec. 1 (SCS, GS); Common Goldeneye - 3 at Monticello on Nov. 1 (JGM), 2 at Dalvay on Dec. 1 (SCS, GS); Barrow’s Goldeneye - at Hyde Creek on Dec. 3 (SGC), 1 male & 2 females at

12 Vernon Bridge on Jan. 1 (JDM), 10 at Oysterbed Bridge on Jan. 9 (DO, WCT); Common Merganser - 12 at Blooming Point on Dec. 1 (SCS, GS); Red-breasted Merganser - 30 at East Point on Oct. 23 (DO, JDM); Hooded Merganser - 1 at Borden on Sept. 24 (RA), 1 at Miscouche lagoon in late Sept. (FdB), 2 males & 1 female at Moore’s Pond in Stratford on Nov. 13, 3 on Nov. 15 (FdB), & 2 males & 3 females on Nov. 20 (RA), at MacFarlane’s Road in White Sands on Dec. 1 (GSa, JA); Bald Eagle - 2 immatures flying and vocalizing at Donagh on Oct. 29 (JDM); Northern Harrier - 1 at Maximeville on Oct. 31 (G&FM), female at Monticello on Nov. 16 (JGM), 1 at New London on Dec. 11 (BH); Sharp-shinned Hawk - 1 at Sherbrooke on Oct. 21 (DO, JDM, LY), several at East Point on Nov. 13 (DCS, DO), 1 at New London on Dec. 3 (TW), 1 at Red Head Harbour on Dec. 1 (MK), 1 at Monticello on Jan. 4 (JGM); Northern Goshawk - 1 at Rock Barra on Nov. 13 (DCS, DO); Broad-winged Hawk - juvenile near pond on Nov. 13 (FdB, RA, SGC, BCM, DMa), 1 at Route 17 Point Pleasant on Dec. 27 (KD&RG); Red-tailed Hawk - 1 between Clinton and Norboro on Oct. 1 (JDM), at Sherbrooke - Traveller’s Rest in early to late Oct. (JDM, LY, DO), 1 or 2 periodically at West Royalty between Oct. 22 and early Jan. (DO, JDM), 1 at Carleton Cove on Nov. 6 (RA, DMa), 1 at East Point on Nov. 13 (FdB, RA, SGC, BCM, DMa), 1 at MacFarlane’s Road in White Sands on Dec. 1 (GSa, JA), 1 at Cavendish on Dec. 1 (JtR), 6 between New London to Margate along Route 6 on Dec. 3 (TW), 1 at St. George’s Dec. 5 (JDS), 1 at Victoria & 1 at Sandy Point Road on Dec. 7 (RA); Rough-legged Hawk - 1 between Clinton and Norboro on Oct. 1 (JDM), 1 at Souris on Nov. 13 (FdB, RA, SGC, BCM, DMa), 1 at Argyle Shore on Oct. 16 (EC), 1 at Cherry Valley on Dec. 1 (SCS, GS), 1 at Crapaud on Dec. 7 (RA), 1 dark phase at Cherry Valley on Jan. 1 (JDM), 1 at Earnscliffe on Jan. 2 (DO, DCS, RC, JDM); Merlin - 2 hunting passerines at East Point on Oct. 23 (DO, JDM); Peregrine Falcon - 1 at Georgetown Royalty on Sept. 19 (SCS), 1 at East Point on Sept. 28 (DO, WCT), 3 at East Point on Oct. 23 with 1 successfully taking 4 small passerines migrating towards land and missing several others (DO, JDM), 1 at East Point on Nov. 20 (RC); Gray Partridge - 2 at Mayfield on Nov. 12 (LY, JDM); Ruffed Grouse - 1 at Donagh on Sept. 23 (LY), 5 feeding on hawthorn berries at Stanhope on ~Nov. 19 (B&RH), 1 at Maximeville in early Dec. (G&FM); Shorebirds - large number at Borden-Carleton beach on Sept. 29 (RA); Sandhill Crane - 2 at Darnley on Sept. 19 to at least Oct. 5 (GMi (via DO, JW), DB, DSn, GF); Black-bellied Plover - 6 flying at Donagh on Oct. 3 (JDM), 150 at Borden on Oct. 16 (RA, FdB, DMa, SGC), ~150 on sand flats at Rollo Bay on Oct. 23 (DO, JDM), at PEINP on Nov. 2 (D&ES); Semipalmated Plover - 150 at Borden on Oct. 16 (RA, FdB, DMa, SGC); Yellowlegs - 30 at Borden Lagoon on Oct. 12 (RA); Greater Yellowlegs - 30+ at Legion Shore on Sept. 18 (DO), 12 at Borden on Oct. 16 (RA, FdB, DMa, SGC), 9 on Oct. 27 (FdB, DMa, MK), 5 at flooded field beside UPEI on Nov. 1 (KMacA), at PEINP on Nov. 2 (D&ES); Lesser Yellowlegs - 20+ at Legion Shore on Sept. 18 (DO), at Borden on Oct. 16 (RA, Sandhill Cranes at Darnley FdB, DMa, SGC); Solitary Sandpiper - 1 at Lindon Hall Pond in South Melville Photo by George Mills © 2011 on Sept. 1 (RA), 1 at Legion Shore on Sept. 18 (DO); Ruddy Turnstone - 1 at Borden-Carleton beach on Sept. 29 (RA), 1 at Borden on Oct. 16 (RA, FdB, DMa, SGC); Red Knot - 1 at Corran Ban bridge on Oct. 6 (DO, WCT); Sanderling - 20+ at East Point on Sept. 28 (DO, WCT), many at Borden-Carleton beach on Sept. 29 (RA), 60+ at Borden Lagoon on Oct. 12 (RA), 200 at Borden on Oct. 16 (RA, FdB, DMa, SGC), 3 at East Point on Oct. 23 (DO, JDM), at PEINP on Nov. 2 (D&ES), 135 at Carleton Cove on Nov. 6 (RA, DMa), 4 at Dalvay on Dec. 19 (RH); Whimbrel - 16 at Legion Shore on Sept. 18 (DO); Hudsonian Godwit - 6 at Borden Lagoon on Oct. 12 (G&SF), 1 at Borden on Oct. 16 (RA, FdB, DMa, SGC), 2 at Borden Lagoons on Oct. 27 (FdB, DMa, MK) & 4 at PEINP on Nov. 2 (D&ES); Semipalmated Sandpiper - 2 on Oct. 27 (FdB, DMa, MK); Least Sandpiper - 7 at Legion Shore on Sept. 18 (DO); White-rumped Sandpiper - 2 at Legion Shore on Sept. 18 (DO); Pectoral Sandpiper - 1 at Legion Shore on Sept. 18 (DO); Purple Sandpiper - 1 at East Point on Nov. 13 (DCS, DO) & Nov. 20 (RC); Dunlin - 4 on Oct. 27 (FdB, DMa, MK), 800 at Borden on Oct. 16 (RA, FdB, DMa, SGC), 100s at Tracadie Harbour on Oct. 27 (DK), at PEINP on Nov. 2 (D&ES), 265 at Carleton Cove on Nov. 6 (RA, DMa); Short-billed Dowitcher - 4 at Legion Shore on Sept. 18 (DO), 2 on Oct. 27 (FdB, DMa, MK); Long-billed Dowitcher - 4 at PEINP on Nov. 2 (D&ES); Common Snipe - several flying in predawn hours and calling at Donagh pasture in early Oct. 3-4 (JDM), 1 at PEINP travelling with dowitchers on Nov. 2 (D&ES), 1 at Sherbrooke on Nov. 19 (JDM, LY, HY); Red-necked Phalarope - 100 at Covehead Bridge on Oct. 6 (DCS, DO, WCT); Parasitic Jaeger - 2 at East Point on Sept. 28 (DO, WCT); Black-headed Gull - 1 at Tracadie Harbour on Dec. 1 (SCS, GS); Bonaparte's Gull - 100s at East Point on Nov. 12 (DCS, DO), small numbers in Tracadie Bay area on Dec.

13 1 (SCS, GS); Common Gull - this European form of the Mew Gull was videotaped at Beaton’s Shore at East Point on Oct. 23 (DO, JDM); Iceland Gull - 1 being chased by crows at Charlottetown on Nov. 23 (KMacA); Lesser Black-backed Gull - 1 at Charlottetown on Oct. 11 & Nov. 1 (DO, KMacA), 4 adult and 1 1st year at Fredericton on Oct. 22 (DO, JDM), 2 adults at Chepstow on Oct. 23 (DO, JDM), 1 at Georgetown Royalty on Dec. 5 (SCS); Glaucous Gull - 1 at East Point CBC on Dec. 17 (DO), first winter individual at Stanley Bridge on Jan. 9 (DO, WCT); Sabine’s Gull - 3 reported at Schooner Creek on Sept. 25 (awaiting verification details)(PE); Black-legged Kittiwake - 20+ at East Point on Sept. 28 (DO, WCT); Caspian Tern - 2 at Glenwood Pond on Oct. 7 (ADM, FRC); Common Tern - 1 at Borden on Oct. 16 (RA, FdB, DMa, SGC); Common Murre - 1 found dead at Desable Bridge on Dec. 9 (AMacL via EEM & DO); Razorbill - 3 at East Point on Sept. 28 (DO, WCT), 3 at East Point on Oct. 16 (SCS, GS), 6 at East Point on Oct. 23 (DO, JDM), 3 dozen at East Point on Nov. 13 (DCS, DO), ~100 at East Point on Nov. 20 (RC); Mourning Dove - good numbers at various locations (DO, JDM); Snowy Owl - there has been a large influx (~20 owls) of these birds this winter on PEI with 2 at Blooming Point beach on Nov. 14 (CM via DO), 1 at St. Peter’s on Nov. 20 (LDa), 1 at East Point on Nov. 20 (RC), 1 at Sherbrooke on Nov. 25 (TW, G&SF), 1 at Brackley dunes on Nov. 26 (BH, SGC, KMacA) & 1 picked up at Brackley and taken to AVC on ~Nov. 30 (EEM), 1 at Tignish on Dec. 26 (Weather Network picture WHa via DB); 1 at Stratford on ~Nov. 28 (Doug Kelly via DO), 1 at Hillsborough Bridge piers on Dec. 4 (DC&ES) & Dec. 11 (DO, BH), 1 at Mermaid on Dec. 4 (WJM), 1 at Borden on Dec. 5 (FRC), 5 in Borden area on Dec. 13 with two fighting in a field where one was found dead the next day (JR), 1 at Robinson’s Island on Dec. 14 (RT), 1 at Georgetown (BDP), 1 at Hillsborough Bridge piers on Dec. 25 (DO) & Jan. 2 (KT via DO), several picked up and delivered to AVC (1 from Alberton, 1 from Covehead, 1 Snowy Owl at Hillsborough Bridge Dec. 4 from Brackley (electrocuted) in Dec., 1 individual rehabilitated at AVC was Photo by Dwaine Oakley © 2011 released at UPEI on Dec. 24, 1 at Pisquid West ( Clark’s Creek) in late Dec. (CR), 1 picked up from Traveller’s Rest and delivered to AVC on Dec. 30 (DGM), 1 seen at Maximeville on Dec. 31 (G&FM), 1 at MacMillan Point Road on Jan. 6 (JSh via BH), 1 at Souris on Jan. 8 (CGa), 1 at Summerside on Jan. 9 (SJ),; Northern Hawk Owl - 1 at Cavendish on Dec. 4 (G&SF, LH) & Dec. 5 (DC&ES, DO); Long-eared Owl - 1 at Dalvay- Stanhope on Sept. 26 (JtR); Barred Owl - 2 calling at Donagh on Oct. 10 (DO, JDM), 1 photographed roadside at Portage on Jan. 2 (JMi via SG); Northern Saw-whet Owl - 1 at Harmony Line Road on Dec. 29 (G&SF); Common Nighthawk - 1 at Victoria on Nov. 9 (EC); Chimney Swift - ~12 at Kilmuir on Oct. 10 (SAW); Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 1 photographed on Oct. 22-3 at feeders in Stratford on Oct. 22-3 (MMcC via SG, DO); Belted Kingfisher - 1 at Bedeque on Oct. 27 (FdB, DMa, MK), 1 at Fullerton’s Creek on Jan. 7 (DO, HF); Red-headed Woodpecker - 1 present on ~Nov. 12 (GG) and photographed and videotaped at Blooming Point on Nov. 26-9 (GG, DO, DCS)& on Dec. 1 (SCS, GS), still present on Dec. 18 (GG, JDM, D&AS); Red-bellied Woodpecker - 1 at Marshfield on Nov. 12 (DO, DCS), 1 at Port Hill on Nov. 25 to Dec. 9 (PR), 1 at Crapaud from Dec. 13 through to early Jan. (LM, DD), 1 at Charlottetown on Nov. 29 (DW), 2 at Montague feeders on Dec. 11 (CN), 1 photographed in O’Leary in late Dec. & early Jan. (SG), 1 at Marshfield feeders on Jan. 3 (GK); Downy Woodpecker - several at Crossroads feeders this winter (DO), 1 at Donagh feeders in late Dec. & early Jan. (JDM); Hairy Woodpecker - at Crossroads feeders this winter (DO); Black-backed Woodpecker - 1 at Whitlock’s Pond trail on Oct. 23 (JDS), 1 at North Granville on ~Dec. 12 (RH); Northern Flicker - 1 at Strathgartney on Oct. 12 (RA), 1 at Monticello on Nov. 1 (JGM), 1 at Charlottetown on Dec. 3 (SGC), 1 at Cornwall feeders on Dec. 25 (SEN), 1 at Morell on Jan. 3 (BS), 2 at Donagh feeders for first time in winter at this location on Jan. 7 (JDM), 3 at Stratford on Jan. 9 (A&PM); Pileated Woodpecker - 1 seen and responded to tapes at Cardigan Head on Oct. 23 (DO, JDM), 1 at Caledonia on County Line Road on Nov. 13 (JHS), 1 at Selkirk Road on Dec. 19 (GS, RS); Northern Shrike - 1 Immature Red-headed Woodpecker at Monticello on Oct. 22 (JGM), 1 at Little Harbour Beach on Nov. 13 (FdB, at Tracadie Cross in late Nov. RA, JBl, SGC, DMa), 1 at East Point on Nov. 20 (RC), 1 at New London Photo by Dwaine Oakley © 2011 feeders on Nov. 26 (TW), 1 juvenile at Cavendish on Dec. 4 harassing Northern Hawk Owl (DCS, DO); Fork-tailed Flycatcher - heard on Oct. 9th and photographed on the Jenkins Road in Marshfield on Oct. 10 (GK, MK, JJ, JRo); Gray Jay - at Whitlock’s Pond trail on Oct. 23 (JDS), 2 at Monticello on Nov. 26 (JGM); Horned Lark - 1 at North Cape on Sept. 25 (NPD), 1 at North Cape on Sept. 25 (NDP), 50 at Sherbrooke on Oct. 21 (DO, JDM, LY), at Donagh & Argyle Shore in early to mid Oct. (DO, JDM); Cliff Swallow - 1 at East Point on Oct. 23 (DO, JDM) accompanied by 2 other UID swallows; Black-capped Chickadee - 6 at

14 Monticello on Dec. 16 (JGM); Boreal Chickadee - 1 at Monticello on Dec. 16 (JGM); Red-breasted Nuthatch - at Strathgartney on Oct. 12 (RA), calling at Donagh on Nov. 14 (JDM), 2 at Donagh feeders periodically from mid-Nov. to Jan. 1 (JDM), calling at Monticello on Dec. 16 (JGM); Brown Creeper - 1 at Strathgartney on Oct. 12 (RA), 1 at Watervale on Dec. 29 (AC); Golden-crowned Kinglet - good numbers this winter (DO, JDM, DCS, RC); Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 1 at East Point on Oct. 23 (DO, JDM); Northern Wheatear - 1 at Covehead Harbour on Oct. 7, 1 at Abram’s Village at latitude 46º27'21" longitude 64º5'25" on Oct. 9 (RoA) and photographed on Oct. 10 (DO, DCS, RoA, G&FM), 1 seen and photographed at Sherbrooke on Waite Road at and near latitude 46.42812N longitude 63.76271W on Oct. 10 (DO, JDM, LH, G&SF, RC, DC&ES) and seen again on Oct. 19 (G&SF); Eastern Bluebird - 5 adults and 3 to 4 juveniles at Point Prim on Oct. 4 (DO, WCT); Swainson’s Thrush - 1 predated by squirrel in mist net at Cameron’s Island in early Oct. (DO); Hermit Thrush - 1 at East Point on Oct. 23 (DO, JDM); American Robin - very few being reported in late Sept. despite a large crop of mountain ash and a good crop of Viburnum berries (JDM), few feeding on mountain ash in Charlottetown (JBu), 2 at Donagh on Oct. 3-5 (JDM), 4 at Killdeer on Oct. 3 (G&SF), ~200 flying over East Point at various heights on Oct. 23 (DO, JDM), 12 at Bayview on Dec. 29 (CAS); European Starling - 2,000 at Norboro on Oct. 22 (DO, JDM), thousands entering the Hillsborough River bridge roost in the evenings in mid November onward (JDM). ~1,000 at Hunter River on ~Dec. 1 (RA), 1,000+ at farm and adjacent cornfield at China Point on Jan. 1 (JDM); Waxwing - 15 feeding on bayberries at Monticello on Nov. 24 (JGM); Bohemian Waxwing - flock feeding on mountain ash in Charlottetown (JBu), 11 at Monticello on Dec. 20 (JGM); Cedar Waxwing - 30 at Corran Ban on Dec. 1 (SCS, GS), 30 at Covehead on Jan. 8 (DC&ES); Orange-crowned Warbler - 1 at Cameron’s Island Banding Station on Oct. 11 (DO, WCT); Yellow-rumped Warbler - 3 on Oct. 27 (FdB, DMa, MK); Pine Warbler - 1 at Charlottetown on Nov. 26 (KMacA); Palm Warbler - few at Cameron’s Island in Point Prim on Oct. 8 (RoA); Eastern Towhee - 1 male at Whale Cove Cottage on Nov. 10 (NME via BCo & DCS), 1 photographed at Charlottetown on Nov. 21 (HC); American Tree Sparrow - 2 at Rocky Point on Dec. 27 (LD); Fox Sparrow - 1 at Donagh on Oct. & 3 on Oct. 23 (JDM), 1 at East Point on Oct. 23 (DO, JDM); Song Sparrow - 1 at Stratford feeders on Dec. 30 & Jan. 5 (A&PM); White-throated Sparrow - ~8 seen flying into East Point on Oct. 23 (DO, JDM), 1 at South Melville feeders on Dec. 29 (R&AA); White-crowned Sparrow - immature at East Point on Sept. 28 (DO, WCT), 2 at Donagh feeders on Oct. 5-6 (JDM), 1 at Summerside on Dec. 16 (G&SF); Dark-eyed Junco - ~7 flying into East Point on Oct. 23 (DO, JDM), 8 at South Melville feeders on Dec. 29 (R&AA), 6 at Milltown Cross on Dec. 30 (KD&JG), 2 or 3 at Donagh feeders since Christmas but 6 on Jan. 5 (JDM); Snow Bunting - at Sherbrooke on Oct. (DO, LY), 50 at Maximeville on Oct. 31 with 12 to 50 most days in early Nov. (G&FM), 6 at Monticello on Nov. 1 (JGM), 125 feeding on field vegetation at Donagh on Dec. 26 (JDM); Indigo Bunting - 1 photographed at Summerside on Nov. 5 (G&SF); Red-winged Blackbird - very few being seen in mid-late Sept. (JW, JDM, DO, DCS), 10 to 15 at 2 marshes in NW PEI on Oct.1 (G&SF), ~200 in one flock at Kingston on Oct. 18 (JDM); Yellow-headed Blackbird - 1 immature male at Marshfield cornfield with ~300 mostly Red-winged Blackbirds, 20+ Brown-headed Cowbirds, and small numbers of grackles on Nov. 12 (DO, DCS, RC, LH, G&SF), 1 photographed at Crapaud Dec. 13 -15 (LM, DD); Common Grackle - small numbers around eastern Prince County in early Oct. (G&SF), 1 second week of Dec. at Marshfield; Brown-headed Cowbird - 8 at Baltic on Oct. 4 (G&SF), 3 at Crossroads feeders on Dec. 28 (DO); Baltimore Oriole - 1 at Summerside Dec. 27 & 3 on Jan. 5 (JMcC); Pine Grosbeak -~12 at East Point on Nov. 13 (DCS, DO); Purple Finch - few at Sherbrooke on Oct. 21 (DO, JDM), at East Point on Nov. 13 (DCS, DO); Red Crossbill - flock at St. George’s on Nov. 20 (JDS); White-winged Crossbill - 12 at East Point on Nov. 13 (DCS, DO); Common Redpoll - at East Point on Nov. 13 (DCS, DO); Pine Siskin - 8 at South Melville feeders on Dec. 22 (RA); American Goldfinch - 40 at South Melville feeders on Dec. 29 (R&AA).

Old Records: EC reported a hunter’s story of 7 Cattle Egrets being seen in 1991 at Emyvale (EC). Laughing Gull reported at Brackley Beach in August, 2009 as reported in E-bird and followup by DCS with author (TC via DCS & RA). Adult male Red-headed Woodpecker photographed at North Granville in ~1984 (DB), 1 adult male found dead in Parkdale in 1969 (RC).

Thanks to the following contributors who provided records for this listing, namely: AA - Anne Arvidson; DA - Donna Arsenault; JA - Jim Aquilani; RA - Ron Arvidson; RoA - Ron Arsenault; DB - Dwayne Biggar; DBl - Darren Blanchard; JBl - Jean Blanchard; JBu - John Burka; NDP - Nancy Doyle-Peters; WFB - Bill Bowerbank; AC - Alma Currie; BCo - Brenda Cobb; EC- Elwood Coakes; FRC - Rosemary Curley; HC - Helen Cottreau; RC- Ray Cooke; SGC - Sharon Clark; TC - Tony Chubbs (Labrador); FdB - Fiep de Bie; DD - Daphne Davies; KD&RG - Kate Dewar & Robbie Gallant; LD - Lois Doan; LDa - Lou Daley; VD - Victoria Doan; PE - Peter Eppig; G&SF - Greg & Sandra Feethan; CGa - Cathleen Gallant; CEG - Chuck Gallison; DFG - Diane Griffin; GG - Gary Griffin; SG - Suzanne Getson; B&RH - Ben & Rosalie Hoteling; L&JH - Les & Joan Homans; RH - Rick

15 Hawkins; ReH - Rebekah Hodder; WHa - Wilfred Handrahan; DK - Dan Kennedy; JJ - June Jenkins; LFJ - Locke Jones; SJ - Scott Johnson; DK - Dan Kennedy; GK - Glen Kelly; MKe - Michelle Kelly; MK - Meika Keunecke; ADM - Allie McLennan; A&PM - Arlene & Paul McGuigan; BCM - Bonnie McOrmond; BMo - Ben Moore; CM - Chris Mutch; DMa - Donna Martin; DMacN - Don MacNeil; DGM - Gerald MacDougall; EM - Evelyn Martin; EEM - Erin McEvoy; FMcC - Fred McCardle; G&FMa - Gisele & Fred Martin; GMi - George Mills; GMcC - Gail McCourt; JDM - Dan McAskill; JGM - Gerald MacDonald (formerly listed as GM); JMcC - James McClean; JMi - Joeylynn Milligan; KMacA - Kathleen MacAulay; KEM - Kate MacQuarrie; KMacN - Kathleen MacNearney; LM - Luann Molyneau; MM - Matt MacKenzie; Red-bellied Woodpecker at O’Leary in Dec. MMcC - Melanie McCarthy; NME - Nancy MacLean-Eveson; Photo by Suzanne Getson © 2011 REM - Rosanne MacFarlane; WJM - Wade MacKinnon (formerly WmacK); CN - Carol Nicholson; SEN (formerly listed as SN)- Sharon Neill; DO - Dwaine Oakley; NPD - Nancy Peters-Doyle; BDP - Brad Potter; CR - Clarence Ryan; RP - Roberta Palmer; JR - John Read Jr.; JRo - Joost Roggeveen; JtR - John te Raa; ASm - Ardeth Smith; BS - Bruce Smith; CAS - Charlotte Stewart; DC&ES - David & Elaine Seeler; D&AS - Don and Angela Stephens; DSn - Duck Schnare (Nova Scotia); GS - Gary Schneider; GSa - Glenn Saunders; JDS - John D. Somers; JSh - Jake Shaw; RS - Rob Skarkie; SCS - Scott Sinclair; JHS - Jim Sutton; KT - Kenny Trainor; JT - Jason Thistle; RT - Reg Dutch Thompson; AW - Anne Wootton; DW - Donald Wilkinson; GW - Geoff Wood; JW - Jackie Waddell; JWa - Jean Watts; JWh - Jean Whitty; TW - Trevor Wadman; WCT - Wildlife Conservation Technology Class; SAW - Sid Watts; LY - Lorne Yeo.

NORTHERN WHEATEAR by Dan McAskill & Dwaine Oakley

This autumn the Island experienced an influx of Northern Wheatears, a bird which we had not recorded here before. David Seeler had a very brief look at one at Covehead Harbour on Oct. 7, 2011 but it could not be located again. A few days later, Ron Arsenault picked up and reported another at the Abram’s Village on Oct. 9th at the sewage lagoon fence and an adjacent pasture. He quickly posted it on the web and several keen birders headed to the site. Dwaine Oakley and David Seeler were able to locate and photograph it on Oct. 10 and Gisele and Fred Martin were also able to find it. Others were not so successful. As chance would have it, Dan McAskill and Dwaine Oakley headed by west on Oct. 10th to find the bird at Abram’s Village and chanced upon another Northern Wheatear at Waite’s Road in Sherbrooke. This bird was feeding actively along a recently excavated Northern Wheatear at Sherbrooke ditch edge and Dwaine was able to digiscope this image Photo by Dwaine Oakley © 2011 for the Society’s records. This bird was being very cooperative and Dwaine was able to start a phone callout starting with Les Homans who was literally located across the field from the site. Les joined us and confirmed the bird then Greg and Sandra Feetham and Ray Cooke were able to observe and photograph the bird. Later that evening, David and Elaine Seeler were also able to view this bird. It disappeared for a period of time but was seen again on Oct. 19th at the same site by Greg.

16 ENVIRONMENTAL CALENDAR: Note: All Society presentations and field trips are open to the public. Society meetings start at 7:30 PM at the Farm Centre at 420 University Avenue in Charlottetown. YN = young naturalists encouraged to attend or participate

Jan. 18 - Protecting Areas for Cormorants? What’s with that? Jackie Waddell of the Island Nature Trust will speak on the cormorants. . Presentation starts at 7:00 P.M. at the Confederation Public Centre Library Nature Series Jan. 19 - Canada-Wide Science Fair Volunteer Recruitment. See article starting on page 8. This event will be held at the AVC Learning Commons (enter the main doors and it’s the big room with large windows on your left) from 4:00 to 5:00 PM Feb. 7 - Wildlife Photos. Shirley Gallant will be the guest speaker for the Natural History Society’s meeting which starts at 7:30 pm at the Farm Centre, 420 University Ave., Charlottetown. YN Feb. 9 - Birds and the Great Backyard Bird Count & Desable Watershed Management Plan. Ron Arvidson will be the guest speaker on birds and the Great Backyard Bird Count for the Desable River Enhancement and Activities Management, Inc. (DREAM, Inc.) Public Meeting. This meeting will be held at Kelly’s Cross Community Centre at 7:00 PM. In addition to Ron’s presentation, there will be a presentation on the Desable Watershed Management Plan. All are welcome. Feb. 17 to 20 - Great Backyard Bird Count. A great citizen science project that allows birders to add their backyard or field birding sightings to this North American winter birding project held in conjunction with the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Audubon Society, and Birds Studies Canada. You can access the data entry portal at http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc/ and the entry process is designed for easy entry and for all levels of birders. Mar. 6 - The American Kestrel Project. Dwaine Oakley will be the guest speaker for the Natural History Society’s meeting which starts at 7:30 pm at the Farm Centre, 420 University Ave., Charlottetown. YN Apr. 3 - White-nosed Syndrome in Bat Populations. Heather Fenton will be the guest speaker for the Natural History Society’s meeting which starts at 7:30 pm at the Farm Centre, 420 University Ave., Charlottetown. YN May 1 - Projects of the Souris and Area Watershed Group. Fred Cheverie will be the guest speaker for the Natural History Society’s meeting which starts at 7:30 pm at the Farm Centre, 420 University Ave., Charlottetown. YN May 26 - The Natural History Society’s Bain Bird Count. Members are encouraged to form teams and participate in this Society spring bird count. Please contact Dan McAskill at 569-4351 or by E-mail at [email protected] Jun. 5 - Wildlife of Ranthambore National Park, India. Diane Griffin and Rosemary Curley will be the guest speakers for the Natural History Society’s meeting which starts at 7:30 pm at the Farm Centre, 420 University Ave., Charlottetown. YN

NORTHERN HAWK OWL: Dwaine Oakley

In infrequent visitor to the Island, Greg and Sandra Feetham and Les Homans found this bird in the Cavendish - North Rustico area on December 4th and alerted other birders to its presence. A number of birders headed out to find it and, after a considerable search, David and Elaine Seeler were able to relocate it on Oct. 5th and Dwaine Oakley photographed it shortly thereafter.

Northern Hawk Owl Photo by Dwaine Oakley © 2011

17 Weekly Minimum Shorebird Numbers Observed in the PEINP During 2011 170 Excursions from 13th April to 21 November, 2011 © David Seeler Month Apri May June July August September October Novem l ber

Species 18 25 2 9 16 23 30 6 17 20 27 4 11 18 25 1 8 15 22 29 5 12 19 26 3 10 17 24 31 7 14 21

2 5 36 71 2 99 138 23 116 25 4 BBPL 1 52 1 1 4 8 1 8 16 3 110 125 84 160 247 253 135 57 249

AMGP 1 1 6 3 1 1 1 29 8 55 139 261 413 185 151 153 71 168 11 5 SEPL 0

KILL

SPSA 1 1 1 9 48 34 43 17 5 4 1 2 6 21 62 76 6 34 33 65 87 71 30 21 50 33 42 14 13 8 1 GRYE 3 0 6 6 8 12 6 8 9 30 2 9 8 WILL 6 7 15 25 1 1 1 1 LEYE 1 2 5 0 56 70 86 2 106 214 161 25 211 18 17 18 6 5 3 8 1 WHIM 4 6 2 17

HUGO 1 33 1 1 2 2 4 6 7 5 9 5 13 2 2

2 9 2 RUTU 1 1 2 2 2 16 4 11 18 11 4 1 2

REKN 8 6 2 18 7 12 3 132 67 21 10 50 21 12 20

54 10 19 1 SAND 1 5 11 87 257 235 318 363 79 81 7 5 185 218 718 513 520 566 241 483 56 1 SESA 2 3 40 48 5

LESA 33 4 3 1 3 4 8 31 23 12 7 1 WRSA 4 7 1 10 7 14 6

BASA 1 2

PESA 1 45 24 32 2 3 19 246 10 6 DUNL 2 1 67 249 894 407 516 9 1 2 4 19 10 15 28 4 134 151 106 71 55 44 3 9 5 4 SBDO 4 5 4 0 5 6 LBDO 1 4 1 3 4 4

CUSA 1 WISN 1

RNPH 64

Island Naturalist Editor’s Note: My apologies, problems with conversion between software programs has caused layering of certain cell numbers. Please read numbers from left to right and top to bottom where this has occurred.

18