Blue Jay, vol.6, issue 3 and 4

OFFICIAL B'JLLFTIN

of the

yORKTON NATURAL HISTORY

SOCIETY

In Co-opers'Jon with
The Saskatchewan Provincial Museum

THE BLUE JAY

With this issue "The Blue Jay”, as the official organ of the
Yorkton Natural History Society, will cease to exist. Those who have been
responsible for its publication since the death of Mrs, Priestly, after much
thought and serious consideration, have come to the conclusion that under
the present set-up it would not be wise to continue.

Much credit is due to the Editor, Associate Editors and to the
officers of the society, who have freely given so much of their time in order
that each issue might bring something of worthwhile interest to nature lovers
throughout the Province, Special mention must be made of the untiring efforts
and splendid work accomplished by our Editor, Mr, Cliff Shaw, He has been
keenly interested in the "Blue Jay” and it is due, in no small measure, to
his personal enthusiasm that its publication has been made possible during
the past two years*

With the assured assistance of Mr, Fred Bard, Director of the
Provincial Museum, it is hoped that the publication of the "Blue Jay” will
continue. The success of the venture will depend entirely on the active
support given by the subscribers. We invite you to read the preface to the
questionnaire on the last page of this issue then answer the questions and
send your answers to the Provincial Museum by January 8, 1949.

"VJHAT IS THE BLUE JAY”

The seeds from which the Yorkton Natural History Society had its
beginnings probably had their origin in July, 1942, At that time, Mrs,

Priestly, with the help of several Yorkton bird enthusiasts, prepared a
short annotated list of birds entitled ”A List of Birds Identified in the
Yorkton District in Recent Years.” This list received very favorable comrent
in the columns of A, G. Lawrence's "Chickadee Notes” in the Winnipeg Free
Press, and the demand for it exceeded all expectations. Encouraged by this,
and by the interest shown by a number of Yorkton people during the preparation
of the list, it was decided to formally organize a small nature group. To make
up for the absence of a bird column in any of the Saskatchev/an daily newspapers,
it was thought a few pages of mimeographed notes and observations might be
distributed from time to time.

The organization meeting was held in the home of Dr. C. J. Houston
on September 11, 1942, and it was decided to adont the name of the Yorkton
Natural History;- Society, Mrs, Priestly was elected President; J. R. Foreman,
Vice-President, C. Stuart Houston, Secretary-treasurer, and Miss Ethel Lloyd,
Mrs, E, Johnson, Vernon Barnes and Harvey Beck, Directors, It is interesting
to note that the secretary and two of the directors were collegiate students.

The executive decided to begin publication of a quarterly bulletin, the "Blue
Jay”. Circular letters, soliciting subscriptions to the new publication, were
sent out to all those who had written for copies of the bird list. The first
issue of the "Blue Jay” came out that same fall, 125 copies being mimeographed.
Though this number was deemed to be more than ample, it was exhausted in very
short order. For the first two years, the membership fee, including a sub¬
scription to the "Blue Jay”, was only 25<^ per year. The bulletin was written
and edited by Mrs, Priestly, mimeographed by Stuart Houston and finally made
ready for mailing by a "Bee” of members who stapled it together, rolled and
addressed it. In fact, a number of members were even persuaded to revert
to childhood for the time-consuming task of coloring in, with blue crayons,
the title letters on the front page.

VOLUPiE 6 NO, 3, 4.

APR. TO SE"T., 194S.

- 2 -

Mrs. Priestly’s friendly, informal style rapidly attracted a grow¬
ing number of subscribers, while favorable comment concerning the scientific
value of the information contained in the "Blue Jay" was received from lead¬
ing ornithologists throughout Canada and the United States, and even the
famous British Museum of Natural History requested a subscription. The late
P. A, Taverner, author of "Birds of Canada", wrote that: "It is one of the

meatiest things of the sort I have seen - There are many notes of interest

worthy of the attention of naturalists,"

In the fall of 1945^ the secretary left Yorkton to begin his
University studies, and Miss Ruth Beck took over his secretarial duties,
while the Provincial Museum kindly offered to assist with the publishing of
the "Blue Jay", It was intended at that time that Mrs. Priestly should
move to Regina and carry on the editing, of the "Blue Jay" from that point,
in co-oneration with the Provincial Museum, Such plans, however, came to
an abrupt end with Mrs. Priestly’s unexpected death on April 23, 1946,

Though they knew it would be next to impossible to maintrdn the high
standard of quality set by Mrs, Priestly, the Y,N,H.S, determined to continue
the publication of the "Blue Jay" as a tribute to Mrs, Priestly’s memory.

Cliff Shaw, although a very busy man, took on the heavy task of being both
president of the Society and editor of the "Blue Jay," Miss Pauline Summers
was elected secretary. However, the Society became progressively more
handicapped as its keenest members, all former officers — Miss Ethel Lloyd,
Miss Gladys Frasef, J, R. Foreman, Jim Smith, Sgt. A. E. Smith, W, A. Brownlee,
Jack Brownlee, Harve3?- Beck and Vernone Barnes — left Yorkton.

Nevertheless, Mr, Shaw was fortunate in being able to secure the
assistance of a capable group of assistant editors from other centers in
the Province: Maurice G, Street of Nipawin, Wm, Fuller of Saskatoon,

Lloyd 0, Peterson of Indian Head, L, T, Carmichael of Regina, and Fred G,

Bard, director of the Saskatchewan Provincial Museum, In this way, the
publication of the "Blue Jay" has been carried on for the last two years.

By One of the Founders of the Society,
ISABEL M. PRIESTLY

Many subscribers to the "Blue Jay" did not have the privilege of
knowing Mrs, Priestly to whom the maj^azine is now dedicated. For this
reason, it was felt that this issue, would not be complete without some
mention of her work,

•

Mrs, Priestly was the founder of the Yorkton Natural History
Society, and also the originator ox the "Blue Jay". From its inception
until her death, she edited every issue, and wrote literally hundreds of
letters each year in connection with its publication.

To those who knew and loved her, Mrs, Priestly’s most outstanding
characteristic was her joy in the world about her, She delighted in every
aspect of nature, from the song of the robin to the shape of a snowflake.
Children loved her, and were constantlj'' bringing her everything from live
bats to dead houseflies. No matter how simple their contribution, she
always took time to discuss it with them, and many young people in Saskat¬
chewan owe their interest in nature to Mrs, Priestly’s enthusiasm. She
was not only an outstanding naturalist, but was also a charming, person.

♦

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At the time of her deaths Mrs, Priestly was planning to move to
Regina^ and intended to take the "Blue Jay" with her, continuing its pub¬
lication from there. Now, perhaes, if it is the sincere wish of all the
subscribers of the "Blue Jay" a Provincial Organization will be formed,
which v/ill publish the "Blue Jay" from Regina, We cannot heir but feel glad
that ilrs. Priestly's plans are at last materializing. We hope the "Blue Jay"
will continue to be dedicated to her, in memory of her important contribution
to the study of natural history in Saskatchewan.

Ruth Beck,

PHENOLOGY

Have you ever considered why our native Grey Alder nuts forth
blossoms ahead of leaves or the reason behind the fact that Witch Hazel nuts
forth flowers while the snow still remains in the woods? These phenomena and
countless others occurring in wild and cultivated plants form the basis of the
intriguing, study of phenology. Phenology is the science of the relationship
of local climate to periodicity of living things such as leafing, blooming,
seed ripenin^^, etc.

There are increasing demands for information having to do with
forest seed setting in various uarts of Canada. We often hear of reports of
success or failure of the apple crop in Eastern and Western Canada but how
many people are conscious of the reproductive value of a f^ood crop of seed
from our most valuable tree species, the white spruce? Vdiite spruce has been
known at times to break its own branches with its near half-ton load of
seed-producin^ cones. At other times cones are scarcely visible,

The Saskatchewan Forest Service has been recording observations on
the cone crops of forest trees as supplied by its field men for a number of
years. The aim of this survey, is to discover the periodicity of favourable
seed years for the profitable harvesting of nursery seed in periods of abundance.
Systematic phenological observations tied with climate might point the way to
improved forest management practices and will provide authentic information
on one of the fundamental factors of the regeneration of a forest, that is,
the production of seed.

Cone Crop Census in the Forest Re^^ion of
Saskatchewan by Major Forest Districts,

19L2

1943

1944

1945

1946

1947

194S

White Spruce (Pi-

District
Meadow Lake

cea canadensis)

3 1

2

1

2

1.3

2.8

Prince Albert

2.5

1

3

1

1

1.5

2.8

Hudson Bay

3

1

2

1

1.5

1.5

3.2

Average

2.8

1

2.3

1

1.5

1.4

2.9

Jack Pine (Pinus
MeadoTftf Lake

banksiana)

3 1

3

1

2

1.6

2.5

Prince Albert

3

1

2

1

2

2.5

2.7

Hudson Bay

3

1

2

1

2

2.3

Average

3

1

2.3

1

2

2.1

2.6

- 4 -

Note

Kex

. 0 - No crop Statistics compiled from seed reports of

P 1 - Li^ht crop 60 co-operatives in widely scattered sections

2 - Medium crop of the forest belt,

3 - Heavy crop

U - Very heavy crop

The table reproduced above is a tentative study for white spruce
(Picea canadensis) and Jack pine (Pinus banksiana) in the matter of seed
production. It indicates a medium to heavy crop every alternate year since
1942 including the present year 1948. A series of consistent annual seed
surveys may indicate a definite two year cycle and perhaps also a longer
cycle in which bumper crops are produced.

Such a variation is known to exist from district to district in
other parts of Canada and a further detailed and comnrehensive study may bring
this interesting angle into focus. Even the origin of tree seed in climatic
regions affects the survival of the resulting transplants in forest nurseries
according to their geographic position.. This would indicate that some seeds
are not climatically adaptable to strange sites. For this reason in Norway,
seed origin and quality is examined very carefully and the highest quality
seed-producing regions are early discovered and earmarked as reliable sources
of supply for forest nurseries whose ultimate purpose is the growing of trees
for timber.

The introduction of phenological calendars should form a part of the
program of every natural history society. If you are interested in the subject
I will describe what a phenological chart deals with and how it can be put to
local use for the study of plants,

R, F, Arnold, Prince Albert,

' ash borer, podosesia fraximi lug

Importance of Pest and Recognition of Damage

The ash borer is known to attack green ash, white ash, and mountain
ash, but in the Prairie Provinces has been found only in green ash. During
the current season infestations reported to the Indian Head Laboratory were
more numerous than in past years. These occurred at Pennant, Swift Current,
Moose Jaw, Re^jina, Radville, Estevan, Strasbourg, and Saskatoon, Sask,

Several of them were very severe.

The visible signs of ash borer injury are holes or burrows onenings
in the bark. These vary from one-eighth to one-quarter inches or more in
diameter. Such openings may occur singly if infestations are new, or if
small trees are affected, but in older infestations in larger trees they
are usually grouped together and are often associated with dead sunken areas
on the trunks. In addition to the exposed burrow openings, thickened bands
almost encircling the stem may be present on the smaller trees and on some
of the branches of the larger trees. These bands usually occur at the base
of a branch or twig and are scar tissue which has overgrown horizontal
surface burrows made by young borers which have failed to survive. Any
\ part of the bole or limbs of a tree may be attacked by the ash borer, but

the base of the trunk and the portion just below the canopy, especially

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if the lower branches have been removed by pruning, are most seriously affected.
Widely spaced trees are more subject to attack than closely spaced trees.

This characteristic has made the ash borer more important in city and town
plantings than in closely-spaced farm shelterbelts.

Appearance of Stages

The ash borer is a lepidopterous insect and passes through the usual
adult, egg, larval, and pupal stages of development. The adult stage is a
narrow-bodied, narrow-winged clearwing moth with a wing expanse of approx¬
imately one and one-quarter inches. The body is dark brown or almost black
with narrow yellowish bands around the abdominal segments. The legs are long,
and when resting the adult is wasp-like in appearance.

The eggs are ellypsoid in shape and viewed under magnification are
deeply sculptured in a reticulate pattern with the longitudinal ridges much
heavier and more continuous than the cross ridges. The ridges are grey in
colour and the areas between them black. One end of the egg is indented and
the upper surface somewhat depressed. The long axis of measured eggs varied
from .79 to .86 mm. and the short axis from ,45 to ,63 mm.

When newly hatched, the larvae or borers are extremely small and
have a reddish-brown head. The presence of three pairs of thoracic legs and
five of abdominal legs distinguish these borers from the legless beetle borers.

The ash borer pupa is dark brown and capable of considerable move¬
ment.

History and Habits

Adults of the ash borer are present during most of June and July,
Wounds on the trunk and branches, and roughened areas on the bark such as
occur around the base of the branches are favoured oviposition sites. In
consequence, bruises to lower parts of the trunk resulting during cultivation,
wounds caused by pruning, or damge from hail and snow encourage infestation.

Old burrow openings also encouiage re-infestation. The eggS are not inserted
into the bark or wood, but are attached to the surface.

The young borers are first present during July. Upon emerging from
the eggs they bore directly into the bark or wood in most instances, VvTiere
oviposition has taken place in old ash borer burrows, however, the newly-hatched
larvae often crawl along the old burrows for short distances before starting
their own burrows. Usually in the course of feeding each burrow is widened
just inside its entry to form a "feeding chamber" in the outer sapwood of the
tree. From this "feeding chamber" the burrow is extended upward into the
sapwood at an angle of approximately 45 degrees. In large trees this burrow
penetrates the sapwood only an inch or two and then turns sharply outward to
the outer sapwood, terminating just under the bark an inch or more above the
original entry and from one to two inches to right or left of it. In small
trees, or where a branch is entered, the burrow penetrates to its centre,
then may rise several inches along it before turning again to the outside to
terminate in the outer sapwood just under the bark. In small trees also,
burrows often pass through the stems so that they terminate near the bark
on the side opposite the entry, ^"/hen the outer sapwood is reached the terminal
end of the burrow is enlarged somewhat to form a second chamber within which

- 6 -

the larva overwinters. By October the larvae have completed this sta^e of
activity. The following, spring, larval development and feeding, are resumed and
before pupation occurs a hole is cut through the thin layer of sapwood and the
bark to provide an exit opening for the adult.

The pupal stage is short. Just prior to the emergence of the adult,
the pupa manoeuvers itself into the exit opening cut by the larva, in such a
way that the emerging adult escapes directly to the outside leaving the pupal
cast projecting two-thirds of its length out of the opening. Emergence of the
adults begins in early June and continues until mid-July or later,

CONTROL

Ridding infested trees of the ash borer is dificult. As far as
possible, therefore, infestation should be prevente ' , To help achieve this,
wounding, of the trees should be avoided. Whenever vrounds occur either by
accident or by pruning, the branches, the injuries should be painted over so
as to make them unattractive as egg, deposition sites.

Once infestation has occurre' , direct control measures are necessary.
Trees with many borers in them and in consequence severely damaged should be
cut out and the infested portions burned. This should be done before the
middle of May to prevent emergence of the adult moths and danger of infestation
to other trees. (Avoid cutting out and destroying trees showing only old injury
and from which infestation has been eliminated by natural means). Less severely
infested trees should be treated to destroy the borers in them. In many
instances this can be done by digging the borers out and then coating the ex¬
posed wood with a paint. Injection of carbon tetrachloride, carbon disulphide,
or cyanide paste into the open burrows during late fall and early spring, is
also effective.

For carbon tetrachloride or carbon disulphide, a machinist oil can
will serve to introduce the poison into the burrows. A spoonful of the liquid
injected into each opening should be adequate. Following the treatment the
burrow opening, should be closed with putty or wet clay to confine the gases
formed. This treatment, if undertaken in the spring is most effective if the
infested trees are revisited at intervals or two or three days during, late May
and June to treat and close all new untreated openings, (Carbon tetrachloride
and carbon disulphide should be handled with caiq. Both are poisonous to humans a
and carbon disulphide is very inf laimiiable , )

Cyanide paste, prepared by stirring, powdered calcium cj^anide into
linseed oil to form a paste, can be pressed into the burrow^ openings vm th a
putt3r knife, or injected into them with a grease gun. (Calcium cyanide is
V e ry poisonous and extreme care must be taken in preparing;, the paste and also
in applying the treatment to the trees. Avoid breathing any of the fumes
and g,etting, the material o n the hands or face. Trees visited by children

should not be treated with this m.aterial.

D.D.T, and benzene hexachloride have not been tested ag,ainst this
pest, but there is reason to believe that these materials would be effective.
If used as dusts these materials should be blown forcibly into the burrows
with a plunger-ty^e dust gun, having, a reduced nozzle which can be inserted
into the burrow openings. Sprays should be apolied similarily using a small
hand sprayer. As D, D, T, and benzene hexachloride are contact poisons, it
is important that the dusts and sprays be injected as far into the burrows
as possible,

L,0,T. Peterson, Dorn, Lnt, Lab,,
Indian Head, Saskatchewan,

\

REGINA

- 7 -

BOTAI\fY

The weekend of June 11-14 the museum went north on a photographic
trip for the Department of Natural Resources. With them went Dr, G, F, Led-
ingham, Re^^ina College Biologist and President of the Reg^ina Natural History
Society, Durin^, the trip he collected and pressed about one hundred plants.
The main stons were at Beaver Creek, about twenty miles south of Saskatoon,
and along the creek north of Shell lake, which is about forty miles west of
Prince Albert. The Department of Natural Resources and the Fish Board again
provided transportation for Dr. Leding^ham from June 25 to July 1st and 220
plants were collected. The main stops on this trip, which was mostly made by
air, were Prince Albert, Lac La Ronge, Wollaston Post, Tate Island in Reindeer
Lake and Amisk Lake (15 miles east of Flin Flon). Many interesting, plants
were seen. Outstanding amongst these were the Galla Lily, the Pale Laurel
and the Bog Rosemary. The collections have not been studied in detail as yet.
They do not include many trees or shrubs but are quite representative for
other families, especially for the Sedge Fcimily,

The aim of these collections in 1948 'was to fill out the collections
already in the museum herbarium. The first t^iven to the Museum by Vta.
Shevkenek, contains about 200 sheets. These plants were collected mostly
between Indian Head, Reg,ina and the Bi5 Muddy. The main collection of 600
plants was donated by the Swift Current Experimental Station, The Museum
hopes to obtain a complete set of Saskatchewan plants for the use of serious
minded students interested in Botany. Persons in favorable locations can
collect plants of interest to help fill out this Saskatchewan collection.

Those who know how to handle herbarium sheets may examine the collection at
any time.

TORCH RIVER C. Stuart Francis

Three years ago he dug up a pure yellow Tiger Lily and planted it
in his garden. It is a healthy pla.nt now and c.ame out into full bloom this
summer.

He is interested, also, in a white variety of Fireweed, two plants
of which were noted this summer a^ out a mile and a half apart. One patch
was in the open and the other in dense forest.

GRENFELL, Mrs. Bilsbury

The Prairie Lilies were noor this year. Whether mice damaged them
or frost I do not know. My yellow ones came up and had two blooms. Yellow
Lady’s Slippers are making a comeback and were fairly plentiful this spring.
Crowfoot violets are dying out. New plants have made their appearance too.
Goat’s beard and Bladderwort are two new comers. Another flower, a yellow
one with sticky blossoms came up in the yard. The name is unknown to me,
(Probably Gumweed — Ed.)

YORKTON

Mr, Cliff Shaw was fd>rtunate in finding a specimen of Indian Pipe
(Monotropa uniflora) just coming into bloom July 1, Dr, R. C. Russell,
University of Sask., informs us that this plant has previously only been

- 8 -

reported from Emma Lake^ Waskesiu^ and the Big River area. The plant is a
saprophyte, distinguished by its white or pink stem and pipe-like head. It
has white scales along the stem in place of leaves, The root is densely matted.

BULYEA

Calvin Abrahamson, a Grade XII student now attending Normal School
at Moose Jaw, has a clump of double crocuses growing in his garden. Some of
the interesting blossoms were exhibited on the head table at the annual
banquet of the Regina Natural History Society, It is ho'^ed that Calvin will be
able to propagate this plant successfully.

WILDLIFE

PUNNICHY, Mrs, Madeline B, Runyan

Coyotes are reported to be on the increase. Good Friday morning a
deer took refuse in the barnyard, while the coyote stood by. It was later
driven off with a .22 rifle.

Golden eagle, mature, seen September 1st: Bald Eagle, immature,
wintered within a radius of five miles.

A cairn is suggested to mark the site of the first Hudson Bay
post in the Touchwood Hills. Until a few years ago the stone chimney stood.
This spot is 5 miles from the Runyan farm.

TORCH RIVER, C, Stuart Francis

Red Squirrel — On July 10th a neighbor observed a Red -Squirrel
carrying a young robin; coming to a bare part of the snruce it dropred the
robin which fell 25 ft, to the ground. The squirrel quickly retrieved the
bitd and proceeded to eat it. It ate the flesh clear down to the breast bone^
The scolding of 10 or a dozen old robins didn’t have any effect on the
squirrel.

Catbirds — Nested in the yard for the first time, they have not
nested in the area before. We how have 5 Canada Geese we raised, 2 young
this summer.

Timber Wolves — Numerous here, they range from grey to black, 5
have been shot in the neighborhood. Here in township 54 the weather has been
very dry, crops fair, alfalfa seed crop very good, garden crop fair to good,

GRENFELL, Mrs, Bilsbury

The heavy run off filled the sloughs, resulting in a better show of
ducks and coots. Four pairs of Ruddy ducks became very tame — 5 pairs of
Eared Grebes nested in sloughs on the farm. 5 Hunj^arian partridge wintering,
2 survived, now there are 9. Several flocks prairie chicken (Sharp-tails),
About 2 females with youn^ seen, V/e came upon a female prairie chicken
sitting on her nest, and it allowed Miss Dearlove to put her hand beneath it
and count the eggs. Ruffed grouse are decreasing. V/ith more water we have

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- 9 -

an increase in song and wading birds. Swainson hawks are increasing. Gophers
are scarce, chipmunks only 2 seen. Frogs increasing, toads very scarce,
muskrats increasing,

OKLA, Ross Roach

Reports a weasel working from the barn to the wood pile carrying
feathers and nest material to establish a home in the wood pile. Now it is
quite tame and comes within 3 feet to observe me, '

WOOD RIVER

East and south of Lake Johnston, 13 painted turtles were found in a
shallow pool in the wood river on October 29th. Several were taken as ^ets
and others transferred to deeper pools in the river,

SHARP-TAILED (EiOUSE

While travelling fromi Raymore to Dafoe on July 15th Mr, Alex Gee
of Regina saw a weasel spring about 20 inches to the back of the bird already
in flight. The weasel evidently did not secure the desired hold and at
roughly 10 ft, in hei5ht the weasel fell off,

ALBINO CROW —

In July Mr, Clarence Schaefer of Kitchener, Ontario, shot an
Albino crow. The bird is being prepared by Miss E, Barker, Regina, Taxidermist,

PRAIRIE CHICKEN " DANCING GROUNDS”

We are particularly interestei in hearing of remaining, grouse dancing
grounds. These grounds are effected mainly through agricultural dem.ands.

Such sites are unusual and interesting, enough to conserve for observation and
study purposes. Information required is the land owner's nam.e, location and
dancing population,

BOOKS

"Guide to Game Birds”, illustrated by Edmund J, Sawyer, This 4” x6”
42-page pocket guide sells for- 50'/^ is distributed to Kee-Men, of Ducks
Unlimited Canada,

"Saskatchewan Digest”, 5,5" x Sp”, 40-page booklet and carries informatio
ation of occurrences in Saska^tchewan, its general development and progress.

This booklet sells for 41,00 per year and is ava.ilable from the Roll Call
Publications Limited, Dominion Bank' * Building, Regina, Sask,

SASKATCHEVv^AN HISTORIC SITES

Through the "Blue Jay” we invite correspondence from members in
every part of the province p.bout Saskqtchewan Historic Sites. Vliile not a
phase of Natural History, this mibject is of real interest to eve^one- who
loves the great outdoors. Early historic events are fading memories and

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- 10 -

unless recorded now will be lost forever » Some of you may know where a trading
post once stood_, a settlement^ or perhaps a place where an Indian tribe
established their winter camp each year* These subjects with many others
of their kind go to make up early Saskatchewan History,

We v/ould also like to hear your ideas for permanently marking
Saskatchewan Historic Sites, Some Provinces and many States in the U,S*A,
have gone a long way in erecting Cairns and Highway Markers at spots of
historic interest. Only a meagre start has been made along this line in
Saskatchewan,

It has been done in other provinces; they found to know your country
better meant to love it more* The marking of Sites which contributed to
Provincial History leads to more study and a better understanding of the events
which placed us where we are today. Such marking makes our Province more in¬
teresting to ourselves, as well as to visitors, and need not be confined to
Historic Sites alone, Pre-History might be observed, such as Indian Battles,
Gealoj^ical oddities might be miarked too, like the sinking hill south of Swift
Current or Rock formations of Roche Percee, "Blue Jay" readers are invited
to comment on the above suggestions.

An Archaeologist

SEVENTH kmm.L CliRJSTMS BIRD COUNT

\

For the seventh consecutive year, we shall again be taking our
annual Christmas Bird Count, and ho-^e that all who have taken part in the
past will asain be out in force, as well as our new members i These winter
counts have resulted in some very interesting data concerning our winter bird
life.

The count is made on any one day between December 20 and January 3^
but preferably between Christmas and New Years inclusive. Every species of
bird seen should be recorded as well as the total number of each species.

Notes should also be m.ade as to weather, wind, temperature, depth of snow,
number of miles travelled and the time the observer(s) spnnt afield. Food
conditions, such as the abundance or scarcity of hangin^^ dried fruit, maple
seeds, weed seeds, etc,, should be recorded.

The previous six counts have resulted in 5^ species (or sub-species
recognizable in the field) being recorded in Saskatchewan during the Christmas
season.

IS THE BLUE JAY TO CONTINUE? 1 1

A group of us, Uving in Regina, v;ho have missed the "Blue^Jay"
since March 19A8 feel that we would like to do something to keep this bulletin
alive. Our inquiry into the cause of its failure has led us to conclude that
the trouble is not financial for the Museum has been donating all printing
costs in an effort to encourage the "Blue Jay", Nor do we think the trouble
lies in the hard-working Yorkton executive and editor. The trouble lies in ^
ourselves. The members are directly responsible, there is nothing to publish,
When on October 31, the Yorkton Natural History Society executive sent m all
the material they had received since March, we found only half ^ a dozen letters
This means that less than 3% of the miembershir contributed during a seven
month period. During this period the "Blue Jay" hes missed two issues. We

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- 11

We must do much better if the Blue Jay is to continue.

The "Blue Jay" has not moved to ROj^inaj, but if enough people in
Saskatchewan are keenly enough interested in natural history and promise
to send in their notes then we will appoint an editor and a small executive
to publish the "Blue Jay". Send in your observations and in exchange receive
notes of your fellow-readers covering Saskatchewan, The future of the "Blue
Jay" depends on yoiir answers to the follomng questionnaire. Anyone sincerely
interested in nature may answer the same questions by letter if the question¬
naire is not available to them. How interested are YOU?

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