ISSUE # 187 APR. - JUN. 2008

If you have not already done so, please renew your 2008 membership

ISLAND NATURALIST

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NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

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 569-1209).

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.

The Society is directed by a volunteer Executive elected from its members.

2008 Executive:

President........................................Dwaine Oakley, Crossroads 569-1815 dwaine.oakley@pei.sympatico.ca

Vice-President................................Dan Kennedy, Vernon River 651-2926 dankennedy@islandtelecom.com

Past President...............................................................David Seeler, West Royalty 566-4505 seeler@upei.ca

Secretary....................................................Beth Hoar, New Glasgow 621-0544 beth@greenthumbphoto.com

Treasurer ....................................................................Rosemary Curley, Stratford 569-1209 rcurley@isn.net

Director - Program.................................Jennifer Roma, Charlottetown, 368-8972 jennifer.roma@gmail.com

Director - Publicity....................................Anne Bergstrom, Charlottetown,892-3129 anne.flute@gmail.com

NEWSLETTERS are normally published quarterly 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, Charlottetown RR # 5, Donagh,

P.E.I. C1A 7J8 or via E-mail to nhspei@isn.net

The next deadline for articles, sightings, or other newsletter information is Jun 15, 2008.

Illustrations/Pictures: The Society extends a special thanks to Bill Glen and Dwaine Oakley for their photographs

and illustrations in this issue.

The Natural History Society gratefully acknowledges support from the Department of Education 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.

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: The Society’s web page is located at www.isn.net/~nhspei See the Society’s picture forum.

Cover Illustration:

This year there was an irruption of finches with large numbers of redpolls and crossbills. A number of members

were fortunate to view Hoary Redpoll and Red Crossbill this winter. These pictures are thanks to Dwaine Oakley.

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2007 PRESIDENTS' REPORT: by Dwaine Oakley

I offer a special thanks to the Society’s members for their support for and participation in the Natural

History Society of Prince Edward Island during 2007. This year’s volunteer Board was led by Dwaine Oakley

(President), Dan Kennedy (Vice-president), Beth Hoar (Secretary), Rosemary Curley (Treasurer), Jennifer Roma

(Director/Acting Publicity Director Program), and David Seeler (Past-President). Dan Kennedy continued as the

Society’s representative on the General Council of the Island Nature Trust and the representative for the Canadian

Nature Network.

The Society’s monthly education presentations featured: “The Society’s Annual General Meeting” & Jackie

Waddell’s presentations on the “Adopt-an-Eagle” and the “Eagle Guardian” programs; the Natural History

Society’s four- part bird course: “Introduction to Birding” featuring Dwaine Oakley, “Introduction to Birding

Featuring Loons, Cormorants, Waterfowl, Hawks and Grouse”; “Introduction to Birding Featuring Rails,

Shorebirds, Gulls, Terns, Owls, Flycatchers & Jays”; “Introduction to Birding Featuring Larks, Sparrows, Wrens,

Warblers, Sparrows, Grosbeaks, Blackbirds, & Finches”; “Kate MacQuarrie’s Wildflowers of Prince Edward

Island”; Todd Dupuis’s “The State of the Atlantic Salmon”; Dwaine Oakley’s “Shorebirds of Prince Edward

Island”; and “A Wildlife Storyteller’s Circle” featuring Gerald MacDougall, Wade MacKinnon and John Clements

(Chief Conservation Officers) with Rosemary Curley moderating the circle. A special thanks goes out to Jean

Blanchard for her service as the lunch coordinator at our meetings and to Rosemary Curley for the monthly prizes.

Dwaine Oakley led Society birding field trips on winter waterfowl and roadside sightings on March 10 fromth

Ellen’s Creek to Oyster Bed Bridge and on April 28 from Brackley to Dalvay. In total, thanks to the records ofth

various sighting contributors, the Island’s 2007 bird list reached 245 species. Ben Hoteling and Dwaine Oakley

judged the natural history entries for the U.P.E.I Science Fair and there were winners at the Junior and Intermediate

levels.

The popularity of the U.P.E.I. Birdlist Server continued to increase and it contributed significantly to the

documentation of new sightings. Rarities identified in the BirdList Server were included in the Island Naturalist

bird column and led to some stories being included. Thanks to David Seeler for maintaining the BirdList server.

The Society maintained its participation in various provincial and North American bird count projects.

Scott Sinclair coordinated the Montague Christmas Bird Count and Dan McAskill coordinated the P.E.I. National

Park and Hillsborough Christmas Bird Counts as well as the Bain Bird Count and reviewed the Island’s Great

Backyard Bird Count reports. Maurice Roy of Parks Canada stoked the stove and set up the Dalvay Interpretive

Centre for the P.E.I. National Park Christmas Bird Count potluck while Dan McAskill hosted the potluck for the

Hillsborough CBC. Rosemary Curley coordinated the Island’s efforts on the Second Maritime Breeding Bird Atlas

Project.

In addition to these efforts, the Society participated in a consultation with Nature Canada affiliates with

Vanessa Roy, the new Executive Director of Nature New Brunswick on the creation of a Canadian Nature Network

on February 16 . The Society explored a “Trust for Trees” fund-raising proposal by Andrew Lush and declined theth

proposal. It also sent a letter to Premier Binns supporting a provincial museum with a strong natural history

component, supported the Maritime Breeding Bird Atlas II workshops, and provided Dan Kennedy to serve on a

steering committee for a study of the Island’s heritage needs. During the year, the Society donated a subscription to

the North American Birds to the Robertson Library at U.P.E.I. and made a donation of $120 to the U.P.E.I. Science

Fair natural history prizes. Jennifer Roma coordinated the E-mail distribution of Society notices about upcoming

Natural History Society events. Dan Kennedy continued as the Society’s web coordinator and added a members

photos section. Dan McAskill continued to coordinate responses to the Society’s E-mail requests.

Thanks to the many Society members and others who contributed their wildlife observations and stories for

the Society's Island Naturalist. This year, the Island Naturalist was published four times. Randy Dibblee, Bill

Glen, Erich Haber, Island Nature Trust, Vince MacIntyre, Dwaine Oakley, Kate Poole, and Peter Sheppard

contributed photographs, illustrations and/or drawings and Dan McAskill continued as the editor. Again this year,

members were offered a chance to obtain electronic issues of the newsletter in Acrobat reader format and more

members accepted this offer. Linda and Allen Thomas and their family packaged and mailed the newsletter to

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members and schools.

Society members Ray Cooke, Fiep de Bie, Dan McAskill, Dwaine Oakley, and Island Nature Trust staff

combined their efforts to host the annual Neil Bennett Autumn Birding Classic. The donors contributing to this

project provided $1,411 towards the Trust’s land conservation program.

Thanks to fund-raising efforts by Rosemary Curley and donor’s generosity in contributing prizes as well as

a rise in membership fees to $20 from the prior rate of $16, the Society’s financial position again remained healthy.

Sylvia Dauphinee contributed a telescope for the Society and it will be raffled off in th near future. Richard

Canning’s book “An Enchantment of Birds”, Nature Saskatchewan’s Prairie Phoenix: The Red Lily, Lilium

philadelphicum, in Saskatchewan books by Bonnie J. Lawrence and Anna L. Leighton, and other items were

donated for the raffle prizes. Sharon Neil, Douglas Sobey, and Don and Doris Woolfenden gave financial

donations to the Society during the year. The Society’s revenues were $2,380.51 while expenses were $1,797.71.

The Society completed the year with assets of $7,424.60 in its various accounts with the majority of this in the book

publishing and project accounts which are held in an one year Guaranteed Investment Certificate valued at

$5,437.58 and savings accounts with $246.39.

THANKS TO THE BOARD AND VOLUNTEERS!

On January 8 , 2008, the Natural History Society held its annual general meeting. The Board was unableth

to replace a number of vacancies and a search committee was struck. Beth Hoar (Secretary), Jennifer Roma

(Program Director), and Rosemary Curley (Treasurer) re-offered their services to the Society and were re-elected

while Anne Bergstrom was elected as the new Publicity Director. Dwaine Oakley (President) and Dan Kennedy

(Vice-President) accepted their positions until such time as replacements could be found. In March, Lynne Douglas

was designated as the Society’s representative on the Island Nature Trust Board of Directors.

Edible Chestnuts imported in 1889 by William (Bill) Glen

The following article was found in the Patriot

newspaper of Charlottetown, dated 12 October 1889th

(page 3, column 1). (Note all spelling and punctuation

has been retained)

“Mr. Newberry has received from the Arnold

Arboreteum, Harvard University, chestnuts such as are

grown in northern China, and the fruit of which is

edible, and will stand 40 below zero. They are being0

planted in different sections of this country. This is the

first edible chestnut to be planted in this Island, and they

are said to be very prolific. The botanical name is

“Castania Pumila”.”

So who was Mr. Newberry? He appears to have

been Fenton T. Newberry a wholesale grocer/ merchant

in Charlottetown. He was born in Italy of an English

father and Italian mother and may have acquired a taste

for chestnuts before coming to P.E.I. His father may

have been George Newberry who in 1881 was living in

Lot 23.

If my memory serves me, pollen collection done

by Kate MacQuarrie over much of the past decade in the

Hazel Grove has picked up low levels of Castanea pollen

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so maybe there are mature trees out there somewhere.

The question, does anyone know if any of this importation or its offspring have survived? If so the author

would very much like to hear about it via E-mail at wglen@auracom.com or at telephone at 675-4315.

OUR NATURAL HISTORY, A NEGLECTED PART OF OUR HERITAGE:

The Natural History Society of Prince Edward Island would like to see more focus on the Island’s natural

history as the IRIS group moves forward in understanding and making recommendations on heritage in Prince

Edward Island.

There is a massive natural history component to Prince Edward Island that has largely been neglected to

date. The Natural History Society of PEI would like to ensure that any future recommendations that the IRIS group

comes up with include this neglected aspect of our heritage.

The Society commends the achievements by the PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation and community

museums, despite their lack of resources, for their performance in the delivery of various parts of the conservation

of our cultural history. However, the mandate of the PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation is "to study, collect,

preserve, interpret, and protect the human and natural heritage of Prince Edward Island for the use, benefit and

enjoyment of the people of the province".

In the past, the PEI Natural History Society of 1889-1903 pressured the government to establish a

provincial museum of natural history, with its efforts culminating in a 1901 petition signed by 131 of the more

prominent and influential citizens of the day. It is high time that a Natural History Museum be developed on P.E.I.

as part of the Museum and Heritage system.

This Natural History Museum must have a dedicated curator and support staff to conduct systematic

collecting of specimens, and a mandate to deliver educational programs to school, college, and university students

and faculty, Islanders and tourists. This museum must have an appropriate structure to tell our Island's natural

history from its formation to the present day. In addition, this facility should ideally be located where it has

representative habitats adjacent to the museum, so that the past can be tied to present habitats.

The delivery of the government's natural history mandate must address methods to encourage citizen

participation in biological surveys (on-line citizen science data collection systems), improve the identification skills

of Islanders and visitors, and conserve unique and rare habitats and species.

Many of the Society’s members attended the various focus groups around the Island, and have been

commenting on an individual basis on the IRIS group’s web site blog. It is hoped that the interest in this aspect of

our heritage is shared by all Islanders and that we will soon see the natural history of PEI on display for all to see.

Note: Submitted by Dwaine Oakley for Natural History Society of P.E.I. Board as a Letter to Editor and published

as an “Opinion” on Saturday, March 15, 2008 in the Guardian A7 & C3 with note on A1.

PEI BIRDERS ARE PUTTING THEIR PASSION FOR BIRDING ON THE MAP!

By Becky Stewart and Ivy Austin

Ask the average person what they plan to do this summer and the response will likely be something along

the lines of, “go to the beach” or “put in a new deck”. However, ask a birder how they plan to spend their summer

vacation and they’ll likely tell you that they “are going to finish their square” or “bump up their number of

confirmations.” What is this strange language you ask? It is the language of the Maritimes Breeding Bird Atlas

volunteer and there are more than 700 of them out there, combing the Maritimes, looking for evidence of breeding

birds.

The Maritimes Breeding Bird Atlas is a five-year, volunteer-based project to determine the distribution,

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abundance and status of all birds breeding in NB, NS and PEI. The first Maritimes Breeding Bird Atlas was

conducted between 1986 and 1990, and the resulting publication (a book describing breeding bird distribution with

maps and text) has been heavily relied on by environmental consultants, policy makers, researchers and wildlife

managers to delineate areas of conservation priority and make effective conservation decisions. Today, this first

Atlas is still the most comprehensive and up-to-date source of breeding bird distribution information for most

Maritimes bird species. But, over the past twenty years land-use patterns and other environmental factors have

changed and these changes have inevitably affected bird distribution and abundance as well. Current information is

needed to direct future conservation policy and protect critical habitat for our Maritimes bird species. Field work

for the second Maritimes Breeding Bird Atlas began in the spring of 2006 and will continue through 2010.

Already, volunteers have spent an astounding 17,000 hours surveying for breeding birds and more than 74,000

individual bird records have been submitted to the online database (5,700 of those records are from PEI—thank-you

to all who have dedicated so much time and effort to the project!).

So how does the Atlas work? The entire Maritimes have been divided into 1,774, 10 by 10 km. squares

which volunteers systematically survey, spending a minimum of 20 hours in each square, searching for breeding

birds and covering all habitat types. Participants record all bird species, as well as, all breeding evidence observed.

Breeding evidence ranges from a bird singing in suitable nesting habitat during the breeding season (considered

evidence of “possible” breeding) to finding a nest with eggs (“confirmed” breeding). Up-to-date species and effort

maps, plus real-time data summaries, are available online (www.mba-aom.ca) and enable participants to see where

different bird species have been found and which squares have been surveyed. Following the project’s completion

in 2010, the website will continue to be maintained and will serve as an extensive database of breeding bird

information that can be queried for numerous research, conservation and educational purposes.

Already many stories are beginning to unfold, from new breeding records (e.g., Purple Gallinule, Sandhill

Crane and Le Conte’s Sparrow) to distributional changes. Turkey Vultures, which were recorded as “possible”

breeders in 7 squares during the first atlas, have been detected throughout NB and 3 Turkey Vulture nests were

found in 2007! The Yellow-throated Vireo, previously detected in one square during the first Atlas, has been found

in all three Maritime Provinces. Palm Warblers, which breed in bogs and other areas with low conifers, were absent

from northwestern NB during the first Atlas. This time around, they’ve been found breeding in many northern NB

squares. Other species are showing signs of population declines. Barn Swallows have been detected in 42% fewer

squares in already surveyed squares compared with the first Atlas. And some rarities, like the Loggerhead Shrike,

Louisiana Waterthrush and Sedge Wren (all detected during the first Atlas) are still waiting to be found.

However, these stories are just the beginning and, over the next three years as more volunteers finish

surveying their squares, many more stories are sure to develop. Of course, it’s not too late to join this important

conservation effort. If you enjoy birdwatching and don’t mind recording your observations, please give us a call at

866-528-5275 or visit our website www.mba-aom.ca. Thank-you again to current volunteers and supporters.

Without you, there would be no Atlas!

The Maritimes Breeding Bird Atlas is a cooperative project of 700 Maritimes birders, Bird Studies Canada, Environment Canada, theprovincial governments of NB, NS and PEI, Nature NB, the NS Bird Society, and the Natural History Society of P.E.I. Current supportersinclude: Environment Canada, NB Department of Natural Resources, NS Department of Natural Resources, PE Department of Environment,Energy and Forestry, NB Wildlife Trust Fund, NB Environmental Trust Fund, NS Habitat Conservation Fund, the Government of CanadaHabitat Stewardship Program for Species at Risk, Atlantic Industries Limited, Jacques Whitford, Bird Studies Canada Baillie Fund, ShellEnvironmental Fund, BMO Nesbitt Burns, NS Bird Society, The John and Judy Bragg Family Foundation and several other anonymous andindividual donors.

2007-08 CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNTS: Results compiled by Dan McAskill & Scott Sinclair

The 108 CBC was scheduled to start on Prince Edward Island with the East Point Count on December 15th th

but a winter storm changed that plan. However, there were good viewing conditions and light winds in the morning

for this year’s P.E.I. National Park Christmas Bird Count which was held on December 16 . The bays were heavilyth

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iced over (95%) and there was little open water. Thus, for the 37 consecutive year, the Society conductedth

Audubon Christmas Bird Counts on Prince Edward Island. Visibility and weather conditions on the Hillsborough

CBC on December 26 were quite good. Count day conditions for the Montague count on December 30 wereth th

good with moderate winds.

Deep field and woodland snow conditions for the P.E.I. National Park and the Montague counts combined

with an influx of crossbills and redpolls caused increases for certain species. Roy stoked the wood stove at the

Dalvay interpretive centre and the participants enjoyed the pot luck. Dan McAskill hosted the Hillsborough pot-

luck. Weather conditions caused postponement of the sixth East Point CBC although a small group of members

did conduct an informal count on December 22 for which no data was submitted. Scott Sinclair organized thisnd

year’s Montague count while Dan McAskill coordinated the P.E.I. National Park and Hillsborough counts.

There were no formal owl surveys this year. Most coastal waters were open but bays and slow moving

freshwater areas were frozen over. There were certainly some memorable sightings during the four count days and

their associated count periods with Hoary Redpoll, lots of Pine Grosbeak, Northern Mockingbird, Green-winged

Teal, Northern Harriers, a Lesser Black-backed Gull and an influx of certain winter finches. Last year’s good

numbers of American Robin were gone. There were relatively light crops of berries and, except for the coastal

white spruce on the P.E.I. National Park, low cone crops on conifers on the Hillsborough and Montague counts.

There was a very good crop of grey birch seed this year.

The reports for the three CBCs for which we have numbers are provided below.

OBSERVATIONS NUMBERS OBSERVED

National Park Hillsborough Montague Total

Dec. 16, 2007 Dec. 26, 2007 Dec. 30, 2007 Dec. 16 - Dec. 31

Common Loon 1 1

Double-crested Cormorant 1 1

Great Blue Heron 4 4

Canada Geese 350 350

Gadwall 1 1

American Black Duck 991 434 334 1,759

Mallard 91 67 6 164

American Green-winged Teal 2 6 8

Greater Scaup 73 73

Common Eider 50 50

Long-tailed Duck 59 105 164

Bufflehead 1 1

Common Goldeneye 457 94 344 895

Barrow’s Goldeneye 5 1 2 8

Hooded Merganser 1 1

Common Merganser 136 61 162 359

Red-breasted Merganser 7 3 23 33

Bald Eagle 34 6 9 49

Northern Harrier 1 1 2

Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 1 3 6

Red-tailed Hawk 3 2 5

Rough-legged Hawk 1 3 1 5

Merlin 1 1

UID hawk sp. 1 3 1 5

Ruffed Grouse 1 1 5 7

Reng-necked Pheasant CW CW

Gray Partridge 39 20 8 67

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Bonaparte's Gull 2 5 7

Ring-billed Gull 6 9 15

Herring Gull 224 276 417 917

Iceland Gull 2 26 1 29

Lesser Black-backed Gull 1 1

Glaucous Gull 1 1

Great Black-backed Gull 27 30 74 131

Gull spp. 6 6

Black Guillemot 6 6

Rock Pigeon (Dove) 256 153 106 515

Mourning Dove 66 103 178 347

Great Horned Owl CW

Belted Kingfisher 1 1

Northern Flicker 2 2 1 5

Downy Woodpecker 11 9 8 28

Hairy Woodpecker 7 6 4 17

Northern Shrike 3 1 4

Blue Jay 254 316 236 806

American Crow 1,036 800 335 2,171

Common Raven 120 26 20 166

Black-capped Chickadee 191 197 146 534

Boreal Chickadee 6 1 2 9

Red-breasted Nuthatch 35 15 8 58

Brown Creeper CW cw

Golden-crowned Kinglet 19 18 7 44

American Robin 4 1 8 13

Northern Mockingbird 2 2

European Starling 671 13,244 1,550 15,464

Bohemian Waxwing 21 30 26 77

Cedar Waxwing 34 35 15 84

Yellow-rumped Warbler 1 CW 1

American Tree Sparrow 129 8 18 155

Song Sparrow 3 1 4

White-crowned Sparrow 1 1

White-throated Sparrow 1 1

Dark-eyed (Northern) Junco 125 100 135 360

Snow Bunting 172 6 83 261

Red-winged Blackbird 2 2

Rusty Blackbird 2 2

Brown-headed Cowbird 1 64 65

Pine Grosbeak 46 17 26 89

Purple Finch 5 CW 5

Red Crossbill 4 8 12

White-winged Crossbill 535 13 11 559

Common Redpoll 208 151 621 980

Hoary Redpoll 1 1 2

Pine Siskin 10 6 16

American Goldfinch 28 156 175 359

Evening Grosbeak 1 8 9

House Sparrow 31 62 40 133

Total Birds 6,581 16,536 5,367 28,494

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Total Species 56 51 54 71

Add Count Week Species 2 2 2

Participants: Field 20 16 14 45

Feeders 2 9 6 12

Mammals:

Red Squirrel 8 37 17 62

Red Fox 2 4 1 7

Snowshoe Hare 4 4

Harbour Seal 3 3 6

Seals (unidentified species) 1 1

Roaming House Cats 11 11

Walked: Km 12 8.75 13.5 34.25

Hours 5.75 5.25 12 23

Driven: Km 524 380.2 471.4 1375.60

Hours 25.83 28.03 19.5 73.36

Earliest Start 700 655 NA 655

Latest Ending 1630 1645 NA 1645

Total Party Hours 31.55 28.28 31.5 91.28

Owling Hours 0 0 0 0.00

Owling Kilometres 0 0 0 0.00

Number of Feeder Reports 2 4 5

Feeder Hours 6.5 2.5 6

Snow Cover - aver. cm. 30 5 45

Salt Water Bays - % frozen 90 95 10

Salt Water - % frozen 0 0 0

Fresh Water - % frozen 90 98 90

Weather:

Bright Sunshine (hrs) 4 4 4

Precipitation 0.1 snow in PM

Cloud % 100 0 to 100

Temperature C. -11.8 to -7.6 -5 to0.2 0

Wind Speed - aver km/hr 4 to 17 13 to 26 10+

Prevail. wind direction NW TO E W TO NW

Max. Wind Speed

where CW = species seen during the count week (three days before and after count day)

For registered counts, the entire data base is accessible on line through www.audubon.org and click your way to

the results under birds and science.

Thanks to the many participants, namely: Jim Aquilani; Ruth Aquilana; Ron Arvidson; Kerry-Lynn

Atkinson; Jean Blanchard; Bill Bowerbank; Sharon Clark; Fred & Janet Connolley; James Crombie; Rosemary

Curley; Wanda Curley; Fiep de Bie; Lois & Victoria Doan; Chris & Blair Fraser; Cathleen Gallant; Diane Griffin;

Gary Griffin; Ben Hoteling; Gordon Jackson; Jason Laverty; Jolene Laverty; Jaime Johnston; Dan Kennedy;

Maureen Larkin; Margie Loo; Raymond Loo; Gerald MacDonald; Linda MacLeod; Virginia MacSwain-Jackson;

Dan McAskill; Bonnie McOrmond; Paul McGuigan; Nancy Murphy; Dot Neilson; Dwaine Oakley; Roberta

Palmer; Brenda Penak; Ruth Richman; Harry Robertson; Maurice Roy; Gary Schneider; David Seeler; Scott

Sinclair; Alma & Don Steeves; John Stewart; Jim Sutton; Linda Thomas; Elizabeth Townshend; Rosalind Waters;

Jean Watts; and Glenda Wright. These counts would not be possible without their participation.

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ISLAND NATURE TRUST LAND LIMIT RESOLVED:

The Lands Protection Act imposed strict land limits on all individuals and corporations on Prince Edward

Island. Almost since its creation, Island Nature Trust representatives have met with ministers of the Government

of Prince Edward Island to push for the removal of natural areas from these land limits. Thus, all those who

support natural areas were extremely pleased with the government’s December 22 , 2007 decision to amend thend

regulations to exempt all lands designated under the Natural Areas Protection Act from the aggregate land holding

limits for both individuals and corporations.

INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF PLANET EARTH DECLARED: Adapted from Toronto Field Naturalists 549

The United Nations declared 2008 as the International Year of Planet Earth. It is being sponsored by the

International Union of Geological Sciences. For those interested in our geological history, two events may be of

interest, namely: the book Canada Rocks: The Geologic Journey by Nick Eyles and Andrew Miall (Fitzhenry and

Whiteside) and A Geologic Journey, a five part series by CBC Discovery Science Network narrated by David

Suzuki.

NEWS FROM ABOUT: Compiled by Dan McAskill

In 2007, there were a total of 103 Piping Plovers recorded on Prince Edward Island nesting beaches, a 6%

reduction from the 1991 International Census year. (From The Prince Edward Island Piping Plover Atlas (2007

Edition) Island Nature Trust report by Tracy MacDonald).

So, how many species and subspecies of reptiles and amphibians occur in North America? Most members

will be surprised by the answer. Its 1,075 odd species and subspecies. (Adapted from Toronto Field Naturalist

(TFN) 554: pp 6-7 a presentation by Sid Daniels “Reptiles and amphibians of eastern North America”).

The Canadian Sea Turtle Network has been collecting sea turtle observations data from fishermen-

members since 1997. This data has revealed that Canadian waters are important habitat for turtles. In an effort to

collect data on jellyfish abundance, they are looking for volunteers to survey certain beaches around Nova Scotia

to conduct jellyfish beach surveys. (Adapted from The Halifax Field Naturalist #127 p.3, 2007)

The volunteer Toronto Field Naturalists is celebrating its 85 anniversary! (TFN 553: p6)th

Nature Canada’s 2007 Douglas M. Pimlott Award was presented to Dr. George Archibald for his over 30

years of work on the conservation of cranes. He co-founded The International Crane Foundation in 1973 and led

visionary work on Whooping Crane captive breeding, acoustical marking, and assisting captive-bred southward

migration efforts. In addition, he worked with governments and local representatives to promote worldwide crane

habitat conservation. (Adapted from Halifax Field Naturalists #128 p.3)

Various frogs and toads have adopted strategies to survive the winter. Some dig in seepages or mud to

avoid the cell damage that would be caused by ice crystals forming in the body. The spring peeper and the wood

frog are land hibernating frogs that overwinter in the leaf litter. They use rapid releases of sugar glucose into the

cells to avoid the cellular damage that would occur in light freezes. For more information see B. Heinrich’s Winter

World - the ingenuity of animal survival Harper Collins, New York, NY and P.J. Marchand’s Life in the Cold - An

Introduction to Winter Ecology University Press of New England, Hanover, NH. (Adapted from TFN 553: p 13

article by Margo Holt from Ermine, newsletter of The Orillia Naturalists’ Club, May 2007)

2007 – A YEAR IN REVIEW FOR THE P.E.I.-BIRDERS LIST: By David Seeler

As 2007 drew to a close, the P.E.I. Birders List which has been in operation for three years had 147

members. More than just a few were from outside of the Maritime Region. Collectively, we reported 245 species

in 2007. I would like to thank all of you for your help in this endeavour.

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Overall the reports for the year seemed to be low. However, as the table below indicates, 2007 was very

similar to 2006 in terms of the number of species reported. A number of rarities for the Island were also reported

this year and many were photographed making it easier to document their presence on P.E.I..

Year 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007Species 236 249 261 247 245

This past year 38 species were reported on January 1 as compared to 44 in 2006, and by month's endst

77 or 31% of the species reported for the year had been observed or heard. In contrast, 84 species had been

reported over the same time period in 2006. The slow start to the year may have been due to the unusually mild

winter which provided many winter species with significant foraging areas in fields. It will be interesting to

compare January 2008 with the current year given the significant snow that has fallen already in the early days

of 2008. By July 1 2007, 204 species (83%) had been reported while in contrast 211 (86%) had been reportedst

by that same date in 2006. Interestingly, only 24 species (10%) were reported for the first time after the first of

September.

The Snowy Owl which had taken up residence by the Hillsborough Bridge continued to remain as

2007 began. Similarly, the Carolina Wrens continued their residence in Summerside (Bob Milligan) and a Pine

Warbler continued to reside at the home feeders of Bill Bowerbank and Evelyn Martin in Charlottetown. Again

this year, the Mew Gull re-appeared in Stratford. Before the month of January had ended, a Golden Eagle was

noted by John Read at Borden. The first of 3 Pileated Woodpecker reports was made in February when one

was observed at Woodville Mills and the subsequent 2 observations were made at separate times later in the

year in the area of Pleasant Grove. A small group of Glossy Ibis made a brief appearance in the Glenfinnan

River area on April 28 . On May 1st, an Indigo Bunting was reported at Monticello, while a House Finchth

made an appearance at the feeders in Murray Harbour North on May 12th. The next day a Brown Thrasher was

reported at the same location. Later that month, two additional Indigo Buntings were reported in the

Charlottetown area. An Island first - a Harris's Sparrow visited the McIntyre's feeders in Corran Ban in late

May. It remained for a week and was well documented and observed by a number of individuals.

The Common Moorhens returned to Allisary Creek for yet another year and were observed by a

number of Island birders. Upland Sandpipers were observed in three separate locales this past year, suggesting

that they are slowly expanding their presence on P.E.I.. The Island's 6th report of Red-Headed Woodpecker

was made on the 6th of June by Molly Colburn in Shamrock. The only egret reported for 2007 was a Cattle

Egret which was observed by Elwood Coakes at the Dunk River Bridge on the 4th of June. On June 20th, a

Willow Flycatcher, a relatively rare visitor to P.E.I., was well documented with video and audio coverage by

Dwaine Oakley. Four days later, Ray Cooke reported the first known occurrence of Hooded Warbler on P.E.I.

when he found a female in the Ashton area.

Marbled Godwit, Curlew Sandpiper, Stilt Sandpiper, Western Sandpiper, large numbers of Red Knot,

Wilson's Phalarope and Red-necked Phalarope were all interesting shorebird reports for P.E.I. made over the

extended "shorebird" season of 2007. The last identified shorebird was a Black-bellied Plover at Covehead in

the P.E.I.NP on the 30th of November, although a report of an unidentified shorebird was made on the 27th of

December along the north shore at St. Peter's Lake. In addition, Dwaine Oakley was able to photograph a Little

Stint at Red Head Harbour mudflats on the 7th of August. The photographs are currently being studied by a

number of shorebird experts courtesy of the "world wide web". Also on the 7th, Elwood Coakes reported

observing a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher in North River, the 5th such report on P.E.I. in the last two years.

P.E.I.'s fourth record of Clay-colored Sparrow was photographed by a visiting birder - Don MacNeill

at Savage Harbour on the 24th of September. The same day a significant "fall-out" of sparrows was noted by

David Seeler at Greenwich within the PEINP. Three days later, Don also located a Field Sparrow in the Savage

Harbour area. Dwaine Oakley reported that the Island's first record of White-eyed Vireo was made on October

10th by members of Ben Hoteling's Wildlife Conservation Technology class at the Cameron’s Island Banding

Station. This record was documented by photographs taken by Shawn Donovan. Five days later, another

visiting birder, Ken McKenna reported observing the Island's 10th sighting of Orange-crowned Warbler at East

Point. Cathleen Gallant was no doubt surprised and equally elated when she located a Western Kingbird (8th

P.E.I. report) at East Point on October 27th. Unfortunately it did not linger, but the group looking for it the

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next day did find a Yellow-billed Cuckoo at the same location. It should be mentioned that a Western Kingbird

was subsequently reported in Newfoundland a day later.

Interestingly, in late November a pair of Carolina Wrens re-appeared at the same feeders in

Summerside where two over-wintered last winter which raises some interesting questions. On November 26 , th

a well documented sighting of a female Bullock's Oriole at Jim Crombie's feeder in Stratford was reported and.

within two days, it disappeared and one showed up at Dwaine Oakley's feeders in Stratford providing P.E.I.

with its 2 documented record of that species since the Northern Oriole complex was split into two species. Asnd

the year came to a close, a very late Northern Mockingbird was reported at the Read's feeders in Clyde River.

It remained for a week and then disappeared by Christmas Day. Lois Doan then reported two in Fairview on

Boxing Day demonstrating that there were some gems out there to be found. Cathleen Gallant completed the

year's cycle as she reported a Snowy Owl at Covehead on the 30th of December, finishing the year as it began.

P.E.I. is again participating in the Winter Bird List and as of the time of writing this article on January

1, we have reported 101 Species. Also the third season of the Maritime Breeding Bird Atlas will commence in

short order as our resident owls begin to set up territories for the nesting season. If interested in participating,

contact Rosemary Curley at "Rosemary Curley frcurley@gov.pe.ca>" .

Finally, and most importantly, may Elaine and I wish each and every one of you and your families all

the best for 2008!

245 SPECIES REPORTED IN 2007 ON PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

Red-throated LoonCommon LoonPied-billed GrebeRed-necked GrebeHorned GrebeGreater ShearwaterSooty ShearwaterLeach's Storm-PetrelNorthern GannetDouble-crestedCormorantGreat CormorantGreat Blue HeronCattle EgretAmerican BitternGlossy IbisSnow GooseBrantCanada GooseWood DuckEurasian WigeonAmerican WigeonGadwallGreen-winged TealMallardAmerican Black DuckNorthern PintailBlue-winged TealNorthern ShovelerRedheadRing-necked DuckGreater ScaupLesser ScaupCommon EiderHarlequin DuckLong-tailed DuckBlack ScoterSurf ScoterWhite-winged ScoterCommon GoldeneyeBarrow's Goldeneye

BuffleheadHooded MerganserRed-breasted MerganserCommon MerganserRuddy DuckTurkey VultureOspreyBald EagleNorthern HarrierSharp-shinned HawkNorthern GoshawkBroad-winged HawkRed-tailed HawkRough-legged HawkGolden EagleAmerican KestrelMerlinPeregrine FalconRuffed GrouseSharp-tailed GrouseGray PartridgeRing-necked PheasantSandhill CraneVirginia RailSoraCommon MoorhenAmerican CootAmerican Golden-PloverBlack-bellied PloverSemipalmated PloverKilldeerPiping PloverAmerican WoodcockWilson's SnipeShort-billed DowitcherLong-billed DowitcherHudsonian GodwitMarbled GodwitWhimbrelUpland SandpiperSpotted Sandpiper

Solitary SandpiperGreater YellowlegsWilletLesser YellowlegsRuddy TurnstoneRed KnotSanderlingSemipalmated SandpiperWestern SandpiperLeast SandpiperWhite-rumped SandpiperBaird's SandpiperPectoral SandpiperCurlew SandpiperDunlinPurple SandpiperStilt SandpiperWilson's PhalaropeRed-necked PhalaropeMew GullRing-billed GullGreat Black-backed GullGlaucous GullIceland GullLesser Black-backed GullAmerican Herring GullBlack-headed GullBonaparte's GullBlack-legged KittiwakeCaspian TernCommon TernPomarine JaegerParasitic JaegerBlack GuillemotRock PigeonMourning DoveBlack-billed CuckooYellow-billed CuckooGreat Horned OwlSnowy OwlBarred Owl

Boreal OwlNorthern Saw-whet OwlNorthern Long-eared OwlShort-eared OwlCommon NighthawkRuby-throatedHummingbirdBelted KingfisherRed-headed WoodpeckerRed-bellied WoodpeckerYellow-bellied SapsuckerDowny WoodpeckerHairy WoodpeckerBlack-backed WoodpeckerNorthern FlickerPileated WoodpeckerYellow-bellied FlycatcherWillow FlycatcherAlder FlycatcherLeast FlycatcherOlive-sided FlycatcherEastern Wood-PeweeWestern KingbirdEastern KingbirdScissor-tailed FlycatcherHorned LarkBank SwallowTree SwallowBarn SwallowCliff SwallowAmerican PipitGolden-crowned KingletRuby-crowned KingletBohemian WaxwingCedar WaxwingCarolina WrenWinter WrenGray CatbirdNorthern MockingbirdBrown ThrasherTownsend's Solitaire

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VeerySwainson's ThrushHermit ThrushAmerican RobinBlue-gray GnatcatcherBlack-capped ChickadeeBoreal ChickadeeRed-breasted NuthatchWhite-breasted NuthatchBrown CreeperNorthern ShrikeGray JayBlue JayAmerican CrowCommon RavenEuropean StarlingHouse SparrowWhite-eyed VireoBlue-headed VireoPhiladelphia VireoRed-eyed VireoPine Grosbeak

Purple FinchHouse FinchRed CrossbillWhite-winged CrossbillCommon RedpollHoary RedpollPine SiskinAmerican GoldfinchEvening GrosbeakTennessee WarblerOrange-crowned WarblerNashville WarblerNorthern ParulaYellow WarblerChestnut-sided WarblerMagnolia WarblerCape May WarblerBlack-throated BlueWarblerYellow-rumped WarblerBlack-throated GreenWarbler

Blackburnian WarblerPine WarblerPalm WarblerBay-breasted WarblerBlackpoll WarblerBlack-and-white WarblerAmerican RedstartOvenbirdNorthern WaterthrushMourning WarblerCommon YellowthroatHooded WarblerWilson's WarblerCanada WarblerYellow-breasted ChatAmerican Tree SparrowChipping SparrowClay-colored SparrowField SparrowSavannah SparrowNelson's Sharp-tailed

SparrowFox SparrowSong SparrowLincoln's SparrowSwamp SparrowWhite-crowned SparrowWhite-throated SparrowHarris's SparrowDark-eyed JuncoLapland LongspurSnow BuntingNorthern CardinalRose-breasted GrosbeakIndigo BuntingBobolinkRed-winged BlackbirdRusty BlackbirdCommon GrackleBrown-headed CowbirdBaltimore OrioleBullock's Oriole

WEATHER EVENTS:

The Pacific Ocean “La Nina” and Environment Canada’s call certainly fit the bill for our old fashioned

weather this winter with many extremes including freezing rain events, many snow storms, torrential rains, and

high wind events. There was little frost in woodland soils this winter. The periodic thaws meant field centres

were open for a good portion of the winter. Fullerton’s Marsh was 30% iced over on Dec. 8 and Red Pointth

Road cove and the Mount Stewart section of Hillsborough River were about 40% covered in lolly ice on Dec.

9. The Hillsborough River was mostly frozen over except for causeway areas by Dec. 22. Hours of freezing

rain caused severe power disruptions with hundreds of poles snapped off in area west of Hunter River.

Harbour ice was heavy until Feb. 9 when the channel opened temporarily to past the wharves on Feb. 10 but a

cold snap quickly reformed the ice later that week. (JDM)

ANIMAL AND PLANT SIGHTINGS: Compiled by Dan McAskill

INSECTS: Mosquitos were still at my Stratford home in first week of Dec. (FRC). Snow fleas at Fullerton’s

Marsh on Feb. 25 (DO, JJo).

AMPHIBIANS/REPTILES:

Very cold spring peeper at St. Peters on Jan. 10 (CGA).

MAMMALS:

2 coyotes calling at New London on Dec. 22 (TW), 6 at Kinkora in Feb. (FMcC), 1 at Cavendish on Feb. 24

(DO, JJo), and calling at St. Chrysostome on Mar. 7 (DCS, DO). Lots of sightings of red fox including those

at Bunbury (1 to 5), Donagh (1 to 2), East Royalty, Johnston’s River, Kinkora, New Argyle, New London,

West Royalty, (DH, FMcC, JDM, DO, RT,TW, LY). Flying squirrel at New London feeders in late autumn

(TW). Up to 4 red squirrels at Donagh feeders and, starting in mid-March 1 to 3 raccoons (JDM).

BIRDS: Red-throated Loon - 2 at East Point on Dec. 7 (AG), 1 at Georgetown Royalty on Dec. 10 (SCS), 1

at Point Prim on Dec. 28 (DCS); Double-crested Cormorant - 1 at Oyster Bed Bridge on Jan. 6 (DCS, TW);

Great Cormorant - 1 at Covehead on Jan. 1 (DCS), 12 to 15 on ice or fishing at Stanley Bridge on Mar. 21

(TW), 4 at East Point on Mar. 25 (CGa); Great Blue Heron - 3 at Cherry Hill and Mermaid in early Dec.

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(WJM), 2 at Murray River on Dec. 24 (JHS), 1 at Margate on Jan. 6 (TW), 2 at Murray River on Jan. 14 & 3

on Jan. 20 (JHS), 1 at Cornwall on Jan. 31 (via RT), 1 at Cardigan on Jan. 22 (FRC), 3 between Fortune Bridge

and Rollo Bay on Jan. 23 (JHS), 1 at Murray River on Feb. 1 (FRC, KMacN), 1 at Seal River on Feb. 9 (FdB),

1 at Fullerton’s Marsh on Feb. 25 (DO, JJo), 1 at Murray River on Feb. 29 (JHS); Snow Goose - 1 at Tryon on

Mar. 16 (RA, FdB, SGC, BCM), 1 with Canada Geese at Victoria on Mar. 17 (DCS); Canada Geese - 9 at

Murray River on Jan. 20 (JHS), 9 on Jan 22 (ADM), 11 on Jan. 27 (DCS), and 3 on Feb. 9 (FdB, SGC), 1 at

Vernon River on Feb. 20 (DK), 3 at Stanhope Marsh on Mar. 7 (JC), numerous at Clyde River and Desable

River on Mar. 7 (RA), calling at Union Corner on Mar. 7 (DCS, DO), 14 at Egmont Bay on Mar. 9 (G&FM),

1000s at Tryon/Augustine Cove/South Melville, Vernon River, and Hillsborough River on March 26-7 (RA,

IS, DK, JDM); Wood Ducks -1 at Summerside area on Jan. 1 (LH, BM) ; Gadwall - loads of ducks,

especially Gadwall, at New Glasgow & 30 at South Rustico on Dec. 19 (JKC, TM), 6 at Chapel Creek on Dec.

23 & 20 on Jan. 26 (DCS), 6 at Ellen’s Creek on Jan. 13 (RA, JBl, SGC, FdB, BCM, ST); American Wigeon

- 4 at Ellen’s Creek on Jan. 13 (RA, JBl, SGC, FdB, BCM, ST), 2 at Ellen’s Creek on Jan. 18 (FdB), name &

female at Ellen’s Creek on Feb. 3 (DCS); American Black Duck - 200+ Nine Mile Creek on Jan. 20 (FdB,

SGC), 80+ at Mink River on Jan 20 (JHS), 200+ grazing on Feb. 4 in grain field in Mermaid (JDM), good

numbers in open water areas around the Island; Mallard - at Margate on Jan. 6 (TW), 11 Nine Mile Creek on

Jan. 20 (FdB, SGC), 11 at Mink River on Jan 20 (JHS), 6 at Cardigan River on Jan. 29 (DCS), 1 at Murray

River on Feb. 9 (FdB, SGC); Northern Pintail - 23 at North Rustico on Dec. 8 (AG), 5 males at South Rustico

& 12 at Clinton on Dec. 19 (JKC, TM), 4 at Cymbia loop on Feb. 3 (SGC), at Harding Creek in Clinton on

Feb. 4 (TW); Green-winged Teal - at Margate on Jan. 6 (TW), 5 at Clinton on Jan. 12 (DCS), 4 at Ellen’s

Creek on Jan. 13 (RA, JBl, SGC, FdB, BCM, ST), 15 at Ellen’s Creek on Jan. 18 (FdB), 4 at Hyde Park on

Jan. 20 (FdB, SGC), at Harding Creek in Clinton on Feb. 4 (TW), 7 at Fullerton’s Marsh on Feb. 25 (DO, JJo),

8 at Ellen’s Creek and 3 at Moore’s Pond in Stratford on Mar. 21 (DCS); Greater Scaup - 20 at Oyster Bed

Bridge on Dec. 23 & 100 on Jan. 1 (DCS), 4 at North River causeway & 66 at Oyster Bed Bridge on Jan. 13

(RA, JBl, SGC, FdB, BCM, ST), 1 at Hyde Park on Jan. 20 (FdB, SGC) & 1 in late Mar. (DO), ~80 at Oyster

Bed Bridge in Feb. to mid-Mar. (DCS); Lesser Scaup - 1 at Oyster Bed Bridge on Jan. 1 (DCS); Common

Eider - 1000+ at East Point on Dec. 22 (DCS); White-winged Scoter - 4 at East Point on Dec. 22 (DCS);

Long-tailed Duck - 5 at Cavendish on Jan. 13 (RA, JBl, SGC, FdB, BCM, ST), 12 at Wood Islands on Jan. 27

(SGC), 29 at Cape Bear on Feb. 9 (FdB, SGC); Bufflehead - 1 at Basin Head on Dec. 22 (DCS), 1 at Rustico

Beach on Jan. 1 (DCS); Common Goldeneye - 100+ at Oyster Bed Bridge on Jan. 1 (DCS), 10 West River

causeway on Jan. 20 (FdB, SGC), 14 at Mink River on Jan. 20 (JHS), 48 at Vernon Bridge on Feb. 9 (FdB,

SGC), 40 to 200 at Oyster Bed Bridge in Feb. to mid-Mar. (DCS); Barrow’s Goldeneye - 3 at Rusticoville on

Dec. 8 (AG), 20 at Oyster Bed Bridge on Jan. 1 (DCS), at Margate on Jan. 6 (TW), 1 at Hyde Park on Jan. 20

(FdB, SGC), 2 West River causeway on Jan. 20 (FdB, SGC), 7 at Vernon Bridge on Feb. 9 (FdB, SGC), 3 at

Murray River on Feb. 9 (FdB, SGC), 1 to 10+ at Oyster Bed Bridge in Feb. to mid-Mar. (DCS), 2 at Hyde Park

Pond in late Mar. (DO); Hooded Merganser - 1 at Murray River on Dec. 24 (JHS), 1 on Jan. 22 (ADM), & 1

on Feb. 1 (FRC, KMacN); Common Merganser - 25 West River causeway on Jan. 20 (FdB, SGC), 50+ at

Murray River on Jan. 20 (JHS), 100+ at Mink River on Jan. 20 (JHS), 90+ at Murray River on Feb. 9 (FdB,

SGC); Red-breasted Merganser - sizable flock at Georgetown Royalty on Dec. 10 (SCS); Osprey - 1 at

Bunbury on Jan. 13 (RT), 1 seen twice at Cavendish in Jan, (KLA), 1 at Savage Harbour on Jan. 13 (ADM);

Bald Eagle - many sightings this winter especially in eastern & central PEI (KLA, RA, SGC, FdB, DK, LH,

DC&ES, TW), 1 to 4 on ice at Hillsborough Bridge on various dates Dec. to Mar. (BDo, JDM, DO, DCS, JHS,

SCS, AW), adult at Cass’s Pond on Dec. 21 (JHR), up to 20 in Suffolk area in early Jan. (GDC), 9 at Mink

River on Jan 20 (JHS); Northern Harrier - male at Cavendish on Dec. 25 (TW), 1 at Point Prim on Dec. 28

(DCS), 1 at Cavendish on Jan. 13 (RA, JBl, SGC, FdB, BCM, ST), 1 at Hyde Park on Jan. 20 (FdB, SGC);

Sharp-shinned Hawk - reported at Bunbury, Crossroads (3 different individuals), Donagh, New London,

South Melville, Tea Hill, West Royalty (RA, FdB, JDM, DO, TW), 1 took Mourning Dove in New London on

Feb. 9 (TW); Northern Goshawk - at South Melville on Dec. 8 (RA), immature crashed into wall attacking a

Mourning Dove on Dec. 28 but the hawk recovered (JDM), 1 at Mayfield on Jan. 1 (TW), 1 regularly in late

Jan. to March at Crossroad’s feeder area (DO), at Harding Creek in Clinton on Feb. 4 (TW); Red-tailed

Hawk - many sightings this winter at Borden, Canoe Cove, Cavendish, Cherry Valley, Clinton, Covehead,

Earnscliffe, East Royalty, Fort Amherst, Hunter River, Indian River, Johnston’s River, Kensington, Maple

Plains (2 on Mar. 16 (FdB, RA, BCM, SGC), New London (up to 3), North Rustico, South Melville, Stanhope,

Summerside, Tea Hill, Upton Farm, West Royalty, York Point (RA, DC&ES, SGC, FdB, JJo, JDM, JHR, JR,

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TW), American Crow attacking a Red-tailed Hawk trying to pick up a dead crow at West Covehead on Dec. 27

(SG); Rough-legged Hawk - 1 dark phase at Cavendish on Jan. 13 (DCS), 1 at New London (TW), 1 dark

phase at Margate on Jan. 17 (TW), 1 at Cavendish on Jan. 20 (TW, SG), 1 at Cherry Valley on Jan. 20 (DCS),

1 at Dalvay on Feb. 16 (DCS); Merlin - 1 at Brackley Beach on Dec. 9 (EC), 1 at Bedford and Cavendish on

Jan. 1 (DCS), 1 at Margate and 1 made strike at crossbills on Dec. 30 (TW); Peregrine Falcon - 1 at Borden

area on Dec. 10 (JR), 1 at Summerside on Jan. 24 (TW); Gray Partridge -3 coveys totalling 16 birds north of

Kensington on Dec. 8 (AG), 8 at Covehead Harbour on Dec. 9 (SGC), 12 at South Melville on Dec. 9 (RA),

largest numbers reported in many years between Dec. 20 & March 15 with coveys of 3 to 12 at Bunbury,

Central Lot 16 pasture, Cymbria, DeSable, Dunedin, Earnscliffe, Mermaid, Rustico Harbour, St. Chrysostome,

Souris, Stanhope, Stanley Bridge, Vernon River, Victoria, Westmoreland, and York Point (ASm, EC, FRC,

SGC, DK, BCM, JDM, DCS, RT, TW); Ring-necked Pheasant -1 at Earnscliffe on Dec. 10 (DK), a group is

still being seen periodically at the 2007 Nova Scotia wild pheasant release site in Mermaid (WJM), 50 wild

live-trapped Ring-necked Pheasants from Windsor, N.S., 5 from Amherst, N.S., and 20 from Sackville, N.B.

were released in late January through March at Mermaid and Hazelbrook with lesser numbers at Upton Road,

Winsloe, and New Glasgow (WJM, RD), 7 at Mermaid grain field on Fen. 17 (JDM), male - first seen in over

2 decades at Tarantum area on Mar. ?? (JDM), male in grain field at Mermaid Rte 21 on Mar. 22 (JDM);

Ruffed Grouse - 2 at South Melville on Jan. 2 (RA), 1 at Oyster Bed Bridge on Jan. 13 (RA, JBl, SGC, FdB,

BCM, ST), 1 at Bunbury this winter (RT), 1 most days in late Feb. & early Mar. at Donagh feeder (JDM);

Sharp-tailed Grouse - 2 at Cable Head on Dec. 18 (CGA); Killdeer - 1 calling in Sherwood on Mar. 24 (RP);

Purple Sandpiper - 1 at East Point on Dec. 7 (AG), 1 at Cavendish in Jan. 12 (TW); Shorebird with red legs

at St. Peter’s Lake shore on Dec. 27 (DBD, BMacD); Bonaparte's Gull - good numbers at Georgetown

Royalty on Dec. 10 (SCS), 1 at Rustico on Jan. 13 (RA, JBl, SGC, FdB, BCM, ST); Ring-billed Gull - 3 at

UPEI on Feb. 28 (DCS); Iceland Gull - 15 at Charlottetown on Feb. 10 & Mar. 21 (DCS), 8 at Summerside

on Feb. 24 (DCS); Lesser Black-backed Gull - 1 at Georgetown Royalty (Ferry Wharf Road) on Dec. 10

(SCS); Glaucous Gull - immature at Doyle’s Cove in Cavendish on Dec. 23 (DC&ES), immature at Victoria

Park in Charlottetown on Feb. 11 (DC&ES); Dovekie - 1 received at AVC from Kinkora area on Jan. 17

(FdB); Black Guillemot - 2 at East Point on Dec. 22 (DCS); Rock Pigeon - ~30 at Upton Road Industrial

Park in Jan. through Mar., ~15 at Morell in Feb. & Mar., 10 at Central Lot 16 on Feb. 3 (JDM), 14 at Fairview

on Mar. 14 (DCS); Mourning Dove - 2 to 6 at West Royalty feeders in Jan. (DC&ES), ~25 at Donagh feeders

on Dec. 15& 35 on Dec. 22 (JDM), 1 to 7 at Donagh feeders in Jan. to Mar. (JDM), 15+ at Tea Hill feeders on

Jan. 20 (FdB), 7 at Charlottetown feeder on Jan. 24 (AB), 28 to 100+ at Margate feeders in Jan. (DCS), 34 at

Crossroad’s feeders in Feb. 10 (DO), 16 at Vernon River feeders on Feb. 11 (DK); Great-horned Owl - at

Borden area on Dec. 10 (JR), 1 calling at South Melville on Jan. 11 (RA), 1 at Taddy Rd (Prince Co.), at St.

Philippe, & 1 at Union Corner on Mar. 7 (DCS, DO); Snowy Owl - 1 at 1 at Covehead Harbour on Dec. 20

(CGa); Barred Owl - pair calling near last year’s nest site at Harrington (PMcC), 1 calling at Fullerton’s

Marsh on Jan. 29 (DO); Long-eared Owl -1 perched on farm gate at Long River on Dec. 18 (WJM); Short-

eared Owl - 1 at Borden area on Dec. 10 (JR), 1 at Stanley Bridge on Dec. 15 (TW), 1 picked up from Burton

on Dec. 20 and delivered to AVC with wing damaged beyond repair (CEG via FRC); Boreal Owl - 1

delivered to AVC (dead from car strike) at French River on Dec. 10 (FdB); Northern Saw-whet Owl - 1

sleeping in shrub at Oyster Bed Bridge on Dec. 19-20 (JKC, TM), 1 at Harmony on Mar. 7 (DCS, DO);

Belted Kingfisher - 1 at North Lake on Dec. 7 (AG), 1 at Murray River on Dec. 24 & on Jan 20 (JHS), & Jan.

22 (ADM), 1 at Indian River & 1 at Margate on Jan. 1 (TW), 1 at Margate on Jan. 6 (TW); Red-bellied

Woodpecker - 1 at Southport feeder on Jan. 11 (JHR); Downy Woodpecker - 2 most days at Charlottetown

suet bag feeders (EMu), 5 at Dromore on Dec. 26 (AC), at Hartsville feeders on Dec. 27 (JWa), 3 at Stratford

feeders on Jan. 20 (JCr), 2 at Vernon River feeders on Feb. 11 (DK), male frequently and once a female at

West Royalty feeders (DC&ES), male & female at Tea Hill on Mar. 13 (FdB); Hairy Woodpecker - 2 at

Dromore on Dec. 26 (AC), at Hartsville feeders on Dec. 27 (JWa), 1 at Vernon River feeders on Feb. 11 (DK),

, female at West Royalty feeders on Feb. 17 (DCS), male & female at Tea Hill on Mar. 13 (FdB); Black-

backed Woodpecker - 1 at North Royalty Road at Georgetown Royalty on Dec. 20 (SCS); Northern

Flicker - 1 at Vernon River on Dec. 22 (DK), 1 at Pleasant Grove feeders on Dec. 22 (SG), 1 at Stratford

feeders on Dec. 25 (JCr), at Hartsville feeders in Dec. (JWa), 1 at Summerside on Jan. 2 (BMi), 1 at Cymbria

on Jan. 6 (DCS), 2 at Rustico on Jan. 13 (RA, JBl, SGC, FdB, BCM, ST), 1 at Winsloe on Jan. 19 (B&RH), 1

at Cornwall lawn and feeder in Jan. (T&JH), 1 periodically at West Royalty feeders this winter (DCS), 1 at

Cymbria on Feb. 22 (DCS), 1 this winter at Cornwall feeders (SN), 1 at Stratford feeders this winter (AMcG);

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Pileated Woodpecker - 1 at Pleasant Grove on Dec. 23 (JMacD, 1 at Dalvay ski trails on Feb. 13 (LDu via

KLA),1 at Brudenell on Mar, 2 (BA, MH via SCS); Northern Shrike -1 at East Point on Dec. 7 (AG), many

sightings this winter including those at Crossroads, Cymbria, Grand Pere Point, Harding Creek, Indian River,

Locke Shore Road, Monticello, New London, Nine Mile Creek, Pleasant Grove, Souris, Stanley Bridge, West

Royalty (CGA, DC&ES, SGC, SG, DO, E&RT, TW) with 3 in Souris area on Mar. 2 (SCS); Horned Lark -

50 north of Kensington on Dec. 8 (AG), 2 at Glenfinnan on Dec. 9 (JDM), in Vernon River area on Dec. 9

(TW), 4 at Rice Point on Dec. 30 (DCS), at Summerside area on Jan. 1 (LH, BM), 3 along Rte 18 on Feb. 9

(FdB, SGC); Gray Jay - 2 at St. Margaret’s on Jan. 11 (CGA, CG); Blue Jay - 40 at Vernon River feeders on

Feb. 11 (DK); American Crow - carrying nest material at Tea Hill on Mar. 13 (FdB); Common Raven -

building nest at Caledonia on Mar. 10 (JHS); Boreal

Chickadee - 4 at East Point on Dec. 22 & 1 at Dalvay

on Jan. 6 (DCS); Red-breasted Nuthatch - reported

at feeders at Charlottetown, Crossroads, Donagh,

Hartsville, New London, Pleasant Grove, Rocky Point,

Stratford, Tea Hill, Vernon River (SGC, DK, JDM,

DO, JWa, TW), ~20 in spruce grove in PEINP on Dec.

30 (TW); White-breasted Nuthatch - 1 at Murray

River on Dec. 24 (JHS), 1 at Summerside on Jan. 1

(BMi, LH, BM), 1 at Harrington feeders on Jan. 2

(PMcC), at Summerside on Jan. 6 (DCS); Brown

Creeper - 1 at Dromore on Dec. 26 (AC), 1 at

Summerside on Jan. 2 (BMi), 1 at Summerside on Jan.

6 (DCS), 2 at Caledonia on Feb. 29 (JHS), 1 at

Crossroads on Feb. 17 (DO), 1 at this winter in

Cornwall (SN) and 1 at Stratford (AMcG); Carolina

Wren - 2 at Summerside Dec. to Jan 5 then 1 to March

(BMi, LH, BM); American Robin - very few

sightings this winter, 1 at Charlottetown on Dec. 23

(SGC), at Hartsville on Dec. 27 (JWa), 1 at Cymbria

& 1 at Rustico on Jan. 6 (DCS) 1 at Marshfield at Jan. 21 (J&RR), 1 at Rustico on Jan. 24 (TW), 1 at New

London on Jan. 27 (TW), 1 along Rte. 18 on Feb. 9 (FdB, SGC), 1 at Crossroad’s on Feb. 9 (DO), 1 this winter

until berries gone at Stratford yard (AMcG), back at South Melville on Mar. 25 (RA); Northern

Mockingbird - 1 at Borden area on Dec. 20 (JR), 2 at Cumberland on Dec. 26 (L&VD); European Starling -

thousands entering roost under Hillsborough Bridge in Charlottetown in Dec. & Jan., 1 with white tail at

Charlottetown on Feb. 7 (WJ via FRC); Bohemian Waxwing - ~90 at North Lake on Dec. 7 (AG), 4 at

Charlottetown feeding on berries on Dec. 17 (GP), 30 to 73 periodically Dec. to Mar. at Crossroads (DO), 5

feeding on crab apples at St, Chrysostome on Dec. 23 (MP), flock at Robinson’s Island on Jan. 20 (TW, SG),

40+ at UPEI on Feb. 4 (FdB), 3 along Rte. 18 on Feb. 9 (FdB, SGC); Cedar Waxwing - see Hillsborough

CBC; Waxwings - at Margate on Dec. 15 (TW), 2 at Riverdale on Mar. 23 (LD); Yellow-rumped Warbler -

1 at Cavendish on Jan. 1 (DCS); American Tree Sparrow - 2 at Maximeville on Dec. 7 (G&FM), first of

winter at Crossroads feeders on Dec. 9 (DO), large flock in cornfield in area 7 during PEINP CBC (BPe, GW),

2 at Stratford feeders on Dec. 25 (JCr), 1 at Dromore on Dec. 26 (AC), at Hartsville feeders on Dec. 27 (JWa),

2 to 5 at Malpeque Bay on Jan. 13 (DCS), 2 to 6 at Donagh feeders Dec. to Feb. (JDM), 6 to 7 this winter at

Bunbury feeders (RT); Chipping Sparrow - 1 at St. Catherine’s on Dec. 9 (EC); Song Sparrow - 1 at St.

Catherine’s on Dec. 9 (EC), 1 to 3 this winter at West Royalty feeders (DC&ES), 1 at Murray River on Feb. 1

(FRC, KMacN); White-throated Sparrow - 1 at Mt. Buchanan on Dec. 28 (DCS), 1 at Mount Stewart feeders

this winter (BP), 1 at West Royalty feeder periodically this winter (DC&ES); White-crowned Sparrow - 1 at

Cavendish on Dec. 23 (DC&ES); Dark-eyed Junco - 40+ increasing numbers at Crossroad’s feeder on Feb.

10 (DO), 18 to 20 at Vernon River feeders on Feb. 11 (DK), 1 to 16 in Feb. to mid-Mar. At West Royalty

feeders (DC&ES); Lapland Longspur - 8 north of Kensington on Dec. 8 (AG), 2 at Harrington on Dec. 8

(DCS), at Summerside area on Jan. 1 (LH, BM), 30+ at Slemon Park in Jan. (DCS); Snow Bunting - 100s

roadside north of Kensington after the ice storm Dec. 8 (AG), at Harrington, Rustico Island and Tracadie

Harbour on Dec. 9 (SGC), ~50 at Donagh in early Feb. (JDM), 40+ along Rte. 18 on Feb. 9 (FdB, SGC);

Northern Cardinal - 1 at Alberton early Dec. to Jan. 1 (BCo for MMB); Red-winged Blackbird - first ofst

Brown Creeper - Photo by Dwaine Oakley

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season at new London feeders on Mar. 15 (TW), first 3 males back at Crossroads feeders on Mar. 24 (DO);

Rusty Blackbird - 1 at Crossroad’s feeders on Dec. 8 (AG, DO, TW), female joined male at Crossroads

feeders on Dec. 25 (DO), 1 male at St. Chrysostome on Dec. 13 to 20 & second individual (female) on Jan. 20

(MP); Common Grackle - 2 this winter at Mount Stewart feeders (BP), 1 at Margate on Jan. 6 (DCS), 1 at

Orwell feeder on Jan. 4 (SL), 1 at New Glasgow feeder on Mar. 15 (BeHo), at Crossroad’s feeders on Mar. 24

(DO), at Vernon River (DK) and Monticello (CGa) on Mar. 25; Brown-headed Cowbird - 3 at Mt. Buchanan

on Dec. 8 (DCS), 2 males at Crossroad’s feeders on Dec. 9 (DO), 12 at Hartsville feeders on Dec. 29 (JWa), 1

male at Crossroad’s feeders on Mar. 24 (DO); Bullock’s Oriole - 1 at Crossroad’s continued Dec. 7 to Dec.

20 (AG, DO, TW); Pine Grosbeak - at Maximeville on Dec. 7 (G&FM), many sightings this winter at

Charlottetown, Crossroads, Cymbria, Donagh, Green Bay, Hartsville, North Milton, Pleasant Grove, St.

Peter’s, South Melville, Tea Hill, Westmoreland (RA, JBl, EC, JCr, FdB, BCM, JDM, DO, GP, JHR, ST, JW,

JWa); Red Crossbill - 2 at White Road on Dec. 13 (DO, BH), 1 at PEINP on Dec. 23 & 7 at Dalvay on Dec.

24 (DC&ES), 25 at Marshfield at Jan. 22 (J&RR), 11 at Crossroads feeder on Jan. 27, 10 on Feb. 2, and 6

irregularly to Mar. 24 (DO), 4 at Bunbury feeders on Feb. 1 (RT); White-winged Crossbill - many reported

in spruce Dec. through March in PEINP (DC&ES, TW), 1 joined the Red Crossbills at the Crossroads feeders

on Feb. 16 and there at least to Mar. 23 (DO); Hoary Redpoll - 1 at West Royalty feeder on Dec. 31 in Feb.

to mid-Mar. (DCS), 1 at Crossroad’s feeders in Jan. to Mar. with 3 on Jan. 26 (DO) & 2 on Jan. 27 (DO), 1 at

Pleasant Grove in Jan. & Feb. (SG), 1 Nine Mile Creek on Jan. 20 (FdB, SGC), 1 at Malpeque Bay on Jan. 26

(DCS), 1 at Tea Hill on Mar. 13 (FdB), 1 at Cornwall feeder feeders this winter (SN); Common Redpoll -

very high numbers with many reporting their presence across the province (RA, AC, SGC, FdB, LD, SG, DK,

G&FM, JDM, DO, DC&ES); Pine Siskin - 1 at Murray Harbour on Dec. 7 (GSa), 1 at Dromore feeder on

Jan. 6 (AC), 1 at Malpeque Bay on Jan. 13 (DCS) 16 at Tea Hill on Jan 20 (FdB), 2 at Charlottetown feeder on

Jan. 24 (AB), 5 at Crossroads feeder on Jan. 27 (DO), increasing numbers at Crossroad’s feeder on Feb. 10

(DO); American Goldfinch - 20 to 30 at Stratford feeders on Jan. 20 (JCr), 50 at Vernon River feeders on

Feb. 11 (DK); House Sparrow - at Hartsville feeders on Dec. 27 (JWa), 15 at Vernon River feeders on Feb.

11 (DK), 5 to 13 at West Royalty feeders this winter (DC&ES).

Thanks to the following contributors who provided records for this listing, namely: BA - Bruce Aho; KLA-

Kerry-Lynn Atkinson RA - Ron Arvidson; AB - Anne Bergstrom; JBl - Jean Blanchard; WFB - Bill

Bowerbank; MMB - Mr, & Mr,s Bowness; AC - Alma Currie; EC- Elwood Coakes; GDC - George Coade;

JKC - John Clements; F&JC - Fred & Janet Connolly; FRC - Rosemary Curley; BCo - Brenda Cobb; JCr -

James Crombie; RC- Ray Cooke; SGC - Sharon Clark; MC - Molly Colburn; DBD - Doug Deacon; RD -

Randy Dibblee; L&VD - Lois & Victoria Doan; BDo - Billy Dockendorff; LDu -Lori Duffy; GBBC - Great

Backyard Bird Count report; CG - Carolyn Gallant; CGa - Cathleen Gallant; SG - Shirley Gallant; CEG -

Chuck Gallison; AG - Alex Gray; MH - Maureen Hayes; T&JH - Tamara & Jack Hinks; B&RH - Ben &

Rosalie Hoteling; BeHo - Beth Hoar; L&JH - Les & Joan Homans; VMJ - Virginia MacSwain Jackson; JJo -

Jaime Johnston; WJ - Winston Johnston; DK - Dan Kennedy; MK - Meike Keunecke; SL - Steve Leath; BM -

Barry Martin; EM - Evelyn Martin; G&FMa - Gisele & Fred Martin; BMacD - Barb MacDonald; JMacD -

Jimmy MacDonald; TM - Trevor MacKinnon; WJM - Wade MacKinnon; KMacN -Kathleen MacNearney;

JDM - Dan McAskill; AMcG - Arlene McGuigan; GMcC - Gail McCourt; ADM - Allie McLennan; PMcC -

Phil McCabe; FMcC - Fred McCardle; BCM (formerly listed as BMcO) - Bonnie McOrmond; BMi - Bib

Milligan; SN - Sharon Neill; EMu - Elaine Murley; DO - Dwaine Oakley; BP - Bruce Pigot; BPe - Brenda

Penak; RP - Roberta Palmer; GP - Geraldine Peters; MP - Melina Plamondon; SP - Shirley Prouse; JR - John

Read Jr.; J&RR - Joost and Ruth Roggeveen; JHR - Jennifer Roma; A&DS - Alma & Don Steeves; ASm -

Ardeth Smith; DC&ES - David & Elaine Seeler; I&DS - Ian & Daphne Scott; GSa - Glenn Saunders; SCS

(formerly listed as SSi) - Scott Sinclair; JHS - Jim Sutton; E&RT - Earl & Ramona Taylor; ST - Steve Taylor;

RT - Reg Dutch Thompson; AT - Aleida Tweten; AW - Anne Wootton; GW - Glenda Wright; JW - Jackie

Waddell; JWa - Jean Watts; TW - Trevor Wadman; WCT - Wildlife Conservation Technology Class; LY -

Lorne Yeo.

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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

Apr. 1 - The Natural History of the Tantramar Marshes in New Brunswick. Colin MacKinnon will be the

guest speaker at the Natural History Society’s meeting which starts at 7:30 pm at the Farm Centre, 420

University Ave., Charlottetown. YN

Apr. 3 - Pisquid River Watershed meeting at 7:30 pm at the Hillsborough River Eco-Centre

Apr. 6 to 12 - National Wildlife Week with the theme Pollinators from flowers to food to our future

Apr. 18 - Island Nature Trust Annual Fund Raising Dinner at the Delta Prince Edward. For tickets contact

the Trust at 892-7513. Tickets are $50 with profits going to the Trust’s land conservation’s activities.

May 6 - Reptiles and Amphibians of P.E.I. Dwaine Oakley will be the guest speaker at the Natural History

Society’s meeting which starts at 7:30 pm at the Farm Centre, 420 University Ave., Charlottetown.

YN

May 16 - Arbour Day on Prince Edward Island.

May 17 - Giving Trees....Giving Hope tree fund raiser with Canadian Breast Cancer Network and Provincial

Forests workshop at St. Patrick’s Road near Peakes Station (for more information contact 961-7296).

Jun. 3 - Getting to Know the Summer Sky . Glenn Roberts will be the guest speaker at the Natural History

Society’s meeting which starts at 7:30 pm at the Farm Centre, 420 University Ave., Charlottetown.

YN

Jun. 14 & 15 - Bald Eagle Festival at the Hillsborough River Eco-Centre in Mount Stewart featuring a Bald

Eagle viewing station on Pigot's Trail in Mount Stewart, Bald Eagle presentations on both days, a

proposed Birds and Breakfast on June 14th with the birding event being at Pigot's Trail and the

Allisary Creek Impoundment, an Irish genealogy workshop at 2 p.m. on June 15th with Marie Daley,

tours of the natural history displays and the cultural artifacts at the Eco-Centre, a bird carving display,

and other activities.

For more information, comments and suggestions for future programs or field trips, please contact

the Society’s Program Director, Jennifer Roma at 368-8972 jennifer.roma@gmail.com

SHARE YOUR LOVE OF NATURE WITH OTHERS: The Natural History Society of Prince Edward

Island is requesting donations of nature equipment, books or resources to allow others to enjoy the wonders of

nature. If you have binoculars, field guides, butterfly nets etc., that you would like to donate, please bring your

donation to the monthly meeting of the Natural History Society, the first Tuesday of each month from October

to June, at the Farm Centre on University.

Carolina Wren at Summerside,

January 23 , 2007rd

Photo by Dwaine Oakley