Nature PEI

Leaders’ Forum on Environmental Issues

Leaders of the Green, Liberal, New Democratic and Progressive Conservative Parties of PEI will come together on Monday, April 8th for a discussion of environmental issues and to answer your questions. Various environmental organizations (including Nature PEI) have prepared questions but the floor will be open to the public to bring their questions forward as well.

Monday, April 8, 2019 at 7 PM

UPEI – McDougall Hall – Alex H. MacKinnon Auditorium – room 242.

Nature PEI’s April meeting offers a rare glimpse into the family life of red foxes with Donna Martin.  Through her vivid photography and her observations of their natural behavior, Donna will take us on a journey following some red fox families that reside and raise their families in and around the Summerside area. Donna will also share some fun fox facts, variation in coat colors, and some behavioral observations. Donna notes that “the red fox has certainly earned it reputation for its intelligence and cunning” adding that “here on PEI, foxes are extremely adaptable around our human environments and can be found almost everywhere, from our sand dunes and beaches, to our farms, suburban areas, and even within our cities”.

Photo credit 2019 – Donna Martin

Donna has always had a passion and interest in nature and conservation, and is an avid birder and an amateur photographer who likes to portray wildlife in its natural setting, and also in wood. She is a graduate of Holland College’s Renewable Resource Management Program and has a diploma in Wildlife Technology. Donna is also a recent recipient of the PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation “Volunteer of the Year Award” for her contribution to the preservation of the heritage of PEI.

All are welcome to Beaconsfield’s Carriage House, Tuesday, April 2 to meet Donna and learn more about the fascinating family life of our Island foxes.  The meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. with a raffle and refreshments, and the main presentation begins at 8 p.m.

See event posting on Nature PEI’s Facebook page.

PEI ISC 4th Annual Workshop Schedule of Events 29 March 2019

An exhibit of botanical paintings by Brenda Whiteway will be on display at Ravenwood House, the home of Island Nature Trust, located at 15 Crown Drive in Charlottetown from Monday March 4th until Thursday March 21st. Viewing is open during the Nature Trust’s hours which are 8:00 am until 4:00 pm Monday through Friday.

The botanical paintings are a component of a larger artistic project focused on observing,
recording, and visually expressing aspects of the weather patterns, light, tidal shifts, flora and fauna, history and cultural ecology within an area located along the Northumberland Strait in south eastern PEI. The coastal area is ever-changing and the plant life there is a reflection of the conditions occurring throughout the seasons and from year to year. The paintings are based on direct observation and celebrate the diversity of wild plants common to PEI.

Aloha all,

If you want to instill a warm breeze into our long, cold winter and lift your spirits ahead of spring then come to Nature PEI’s March meeting for a tropical tour of the birds of Hawaii with Denise Motard. Through her photos, videos and anecdotes, Denise will share information on birds endemic to Hawaii, some introduced species and also ‘winter visitors’. “No, not the human tourist kind” points out Denise, “they are migratory birds, who have discovered those Paradise Islands long before us humans”.

As a child living in the middle of a big city with few green spaces, Denise Motard was introduced to nature by attending learning sessions at the Montreal Botanical Garden. Her passion for wildlife and gardening, and environmental and conservation issues grew from there. In her ‘retirement’, Denise works on various projects including websites on some Birds of the World, Birds of PEI, and Gardens of the World.

All are welcome Tuesday, March 5, 7:30 pm at the Carriage House, Beaconsfield, to meet Denise and learn more about the unique and varied bird life of Hawaii.

I also want to send all a warm reminder that Nature PEI  is celebrating its 50th anniversary all year long. Throughout this 50th anniversary year, a variety of free events will be held to celebrate nature and highlight the ongoing role Nature PEI plays in citizen science. It will also host a bird identification course, complete writing  a history of the past 50 years, and hold a 50th anniversary weekend  celebration.Visit the Nature PEI website, or connect on Facebook to learn more about our anniversary celebrations, and  the autumn nature walk that began it all 50 years ago.