Nature PEI

May Meeting – “Decline and Fall of Bats in Eastern Canada” – Donald F. McAlpine, Ph.D

Nature PEI — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 00:09:55 +0000

The guest speaker at our May meeting will be Dr Donald McAlpine, Research Curator and Head of the Zoology Section at the New Brunswick Museum who will discuss “The Decline and Fall of Bats in Eastern Canada”. Admission is free and all are welcome.

Donald F. McAlpine, Ph.D. Head, Department of Natural Science, Research Curator and Head, Zoology Section at the New Brunswick Museum is well known to the conservation community throughout the Maritimes and across Canada. Don has published dozens of scientific articles on both vertebrates and invertebrates, from whales to snails, and is the co-editor of the recent book “Assessment of Species Diversity in the Atlantic Maritime Ecozone”. Since 2010 he has coordinated research on bat caves and bats in New Brunswick, both before and after the arrival of White-nose Syndrome.

Nature PEI: Natural History Society of PEI meets at 7:30 pm, Tuesday, May 7^th at Beaconsfield, the Carriage House, corner of West and Kent Street, Charlottetown.

April Meeting – “Canadians, Cacti and Chachalacas”

Nature PEI — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 18:29:37 +0000

Nature PEI monthly meeting is at 7:30pm,Tuesday, April 2 at Beaconsfield, the Carriage House, 2 Kent Street, Charlottetown. It will feature the presentation, “Canadians, Cacti and Chachalacas” in which Sue and John Whitaker will take you along on their four month trip across parts of Canada and the US with their 13 foot trailer and 90 pound dog. They will show some fascinating photos and highlight some of the amazing natural history they experienced on their journey. Admission is free and all are welcome.

March Meeting – The Plight of Two Farmland Birds on PEI

Nature PEI — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 17:28:08 +0000

Nature PEI meets at 7:30 pm, Tuesday, March 5^th at Beaconsfield, the Carriage House, corner of West and Kent Street, Charlottetown. The guest speaker will be Julie-Lynn Zahavich of Island Nature Trust who will discuss “The Plight of Two Farmland Birds on PEI”. Both the once-common Barn Swallow and the Bobolink are species of concern, and may indicate wider problems in the world of birds. Admission is free and all are welcome, so bring along a friend!

Why we should use more native plants in our gardens

Nature PEI — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 02:23:10 +0000

Everyone loves a garden full of colour and variety and that offers surprises all year round. While the common approach is to consider what your neighbours are planting, or what is available at the local garden center, there are other options. As the guest speaker for the February meeting of the Natural History Society of PEI, Karen Samis will explore some of the positive and negative effects of the plants we choose to use in our gardens, and how careful selection of native species can be just as rewarding –with better long-term impacts – as the selection of plants from away. The meeting occurs on Tuesday, February 5th 2013 at 7:30pm in the Carriage House at Beaconsfield, at the corner of Kent and West Streets. Admission is free and all are welcome to attend.

Confederation Trail Growing on PEI

Nature PEI — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 15:38:37 +0000

In early June 2012 we received this notice.

We are very pleased to announce that the project concept plan has been approved by all partners, including the Province of PEI, the Town of Stratford, Island Trails Inc. and the Trans Canada Trail Inc. This is a five-year plan and funding has been approved for the first sections in 2012. One of those sections is located in Stratford along the south side of Shakespeare Drive and the other two are between Mount Albion and Vernon River. Construction is anticipated to begin by mid-summer. The total length of trail being developed this year is approximately 10 kilometres. The announcement of support for the project was confirmed last week by Deborah Apps, the President and CEO of Trans Canada Trail Inc. in Stratford at the annual meeting of Island Trails. The project in PEI is a part of approximately 1800 kilometres of trail being developed across Canada in 2012.

We thank you for your support. Trans Canada Trail was impressed by all of the expressions of interest from the diverse range of organizations among the fifteen letters received.

Doug Murray

TCT Representative for PEI

Island Trails Inc.

and

Chair, Active Transportation Committee, Stratford

Nature PEI – Tuesday, Jan 8th, Meeting Topic — Wildlife and Its Management in Tanzania – Dianne Griffin & Barb Trainor

Nature PEI — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 02:23:09 +0000

Nature PEI - The Natural History Society of PEI will hold its next monthly meetings with the following speaker: Tuesday, January 8^th,Meeting Topic — Wildlife and Its Management in Tanzania – Diane Griffin & Barb Trainor.

NEW LOCATION – AND DATE OF JANUARY 2013 Meeting is 2nd Tuesday (January 8)

All meetings are fully open to the public, and everyone is welcome to attend.

Meetings are held of the first Tuesday of the month (except July, August, and September) at 7:30 p.m. at the Beaconsfield Carriage House, Corner West/Kent St. Charlottetown. Note - NEW LOCATION – AND DATE OF JANUARY 2013 Meeting is 2nd Tuesday (January 8)

2012 Christmas Bird Counts

Nature PEI — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 03:19:06 +0000

Christmas bird counts are taking place across PEI – For more information on these counts contact the individuals coordinating each event:

Saturday Dec 15 – East Point Christmas Bird Counts - Dwaine Oakley – 393-6223 dwaine.oakley@gmail.com
Sunday Dec 16 – National Park Christmas Bird Counts - Dan McAskill 569-4351 jdmcaskill@pei.sympatico.ca
Wednesday Dec 26 – Hillsborough Christmas Bird Counts - Dan McAskill 569-4351 jdmcaskill@pei.sympatico.ca
Sunday Dec 30 – Montague Christmas Bird Counts - scsinclair@pei.sympatico.ca

Tue. Dec. 4th meeting – The Flora and Fauna of Prince Edward Island Springs: Myths and Water Nymphs

Nature PEI — Sat, 24 Nov 2012 21:53:37 +0000

Freshwater springs feed all of the rivers on Prince Edward Island; however, they have many unique characteristics of their own that have been relatively unexplored. Springs are focused areas of discharge from groundwater and in many places seem to bubble out of the ground. These cold temperature habitats have developed a unique assembly of species that are different from the rivers below. Kyle Knysh, a master’s student at the University of Prince Edward Island, has been investigating the plant and animal life that occur in the pool springs of Eastern PEI. His project is examining the effects agricultural land-use has on spring water ecological communities, with an emphasis on the insect species diversity. At the December monthly meeting of the Natural History Society of PEI he will be presenting some results of his thesis work and educating the public on the mysterious biodiversity that call PEI spring waters home. The meeting occurs on Tuesday, December 4^th at 7:30pm at the Farm Center (420 University Ave.). All are welcome.

The Land Use Policy Task Force

Nature PEI — Sat, 24 Nov 2012 21:51:46 +0000

Islanders are encouraged to step forward with views on protecting and managing our natural resources – through ongoing consultations by the Environmental Advisory Council.

Islanders with an interest in the long-term protection of our province’s environment and natural resources can make their voices heard through ongoing consultations by the Environmental Advisory Council, Environment, Labour and Justice Minister Janice Sherry says.

“Islanders are very concerned about protecting this province’s natural heritage. Government wants to hear from Islanders about how we can strengthen this protection and about the measures they think are appropriate for safeguarding this province’s air, land and water,” said Minister Sherry.

The Environmental Advisory Council is consulting with Islanders on how we choose to use, protect and manage our natural resources.

To assist in the discussion, the Environmental Advisory Council has prepared a discussion document – Planning for a Sustainable Future: A Time for Questions.

Islanders can have their say in a number of ways:

• through the on-line discussion forum at www.gov.pe.ca/sustainablefuture

• via email to sustainablefuture@gov.pe.ca or

• in writing to the Sustainable Future Secretariat, Department of Environment, Labour and Justice, PO Box 2000, Charlottetown, PE C1A 7N8.

At the same time as the EAC is conducting its review, government’s Land Use Policy Task Force is undertaking a wide-ranging review of land practices in the province. The Task Force aims to developed a new sustainable development strategy that will help to inform provincial land use policies by identifying principles for decision-making and setting direction for protecting land and resources. The Land Use Policy Task Force and the EAC will be working together to seek the views of Islanders on their vision for a sustainable PEI.

“I know that Islanders put tremendous value on our environment and its protection, and I urge everyone to take this opportunity to provide their ideas and suggestions for finding ways to meet our current and future environmental challenges,” says Minister Sherry. “A sustainable development strategy will help to develop the land use policies, planning standards and development principles that will shape what Prince Edward Island will look like well into the future.”

Nature PEI – November Meeting Topic — Changing the Conversation About our Changing Climate

Nature PEI — Sat, 20 Oct 2012 00:50:30 +0000

According to world-renowned NASA climatologist Dr. James Hansen, climate change is humanity’s greatest challenge. However, climate change is also a very hotly debated subject which is often misunderstood. That is why raising awareness about the subject is extremely important. With the help of noted biologist Irene Novazcek at the University of Prince Edward Island, Jocelyn Plourde has created a presentation aimed at educating the general public about climate change. Using the presentation, Mr. Plourde looks to explain what climate change is, how it will impact Prince Edward Island and what must be done about it. The presentation takes place on Tuesday, November 6th at the Farm Center (420 University Ave.) at 7:30 pm.

All are welcome and admission is free.