The Sheffield Mills Community Hall will host its annual pancake and sausage breakfast with naturalist displays\, films\, crafts\, and art show. A short drive around the area in the morning will usually offer a sight of more than 100 Bald Eagles and many hawks. Maps and directions can be obtained at the hall or any time at the information post on Middle Dyke Road. For more information\, check the website www.eaglens.ca or contact Richard Hennigar at (902) 582-3044 or hennigar@xcountry.tv.

Snow transforms the landscape into stories that unfold as we follow tracks of foxes\, mice\, and other mammals. A Snowshoe Hare hops along and is pounced on by a Great Horned Owl. Without snow to show us the tracks\, wing marks\, and perhaps a drop of blood\, we would not have known the drama took place. Soren Bondrup-Nielsen (902) 582-3971 will lead this hike on snowshoes or skis\, and we will explore the properties of snow (its insulative value\, for example). By studying the characteristic imprints made by different organisms we will interpret the various stories that have unfolded. Meet at the Wolfville waterfront at 10 a.m. for a two- or three-hour\, non-strenuous hike at a nearby location to be determined by weather and snow conditions.

The Valley Orchid Group will have its annual display of orchids in the conservatory of the K.C. Irving Environmental Science Centre at Acadia University from 10\:30 a.m. to 4\:00 p.m. There is usually a presentation in the downstairs auditorium about orchid growing and people in the lobby selling orchids along with specialized materials and instructions on how to help them grow well. This is a sure cure for the winter blahs\, with only the very best of the best orchids brought for this occasion. You will see plants that you will not believe are real – they are so beautiful\, perfect\, and complex in their structures. Photographers are welcome and encouraged.

This count is done by the \;National Audubon Society and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology\, with Canadian partner Bird Studies Canada. The 2011 count produced had 60\,00 participants turning in 11.4 million observations\, and identified 596 species. Two new species never reported to the count before included a Brown Shrike in McKinleyville\, California\, and a Common Chaffinch recorded in Placentia\, Newfoundland and Labrador—both species well out of their normal ranges. In Alaska\, a GBBC participant observed a Brambling visiting her feeder—the only one reported for all of North America. Instructions on how to participate can be found at http\://www.birdsource.org/gbbc.

Annual Show and Tell Night. \; Open to all. Come to view or bring along slides\, pictures\, specimens\, collections\, fossils\, videos\, computer stuff\, favourite books and magazines\, or anything that might be of interest to fellow naturalists. If you have digital images and would like to submit them in advance\, contact Patrick Kelly (902 472–2322\, patrick.kelly@dal.ca).

Patrick Kelly (902) 472-2322 E-mail\: patrick.kelly@dal.ca This will be a joint trip with the Nova Scotia Bird Society. Meet at 9\:00 a.m. at the Wolfville waterfront. We will be looking for raptors\, lingering winter visitors\, and rarities in and around Canning and Grand Pré. Dress warmly and bring a lunch.

The Sniffer Dog as a Research Assistant for the Field Biologist. \; by Simon Gadbois of the Department of Psychology\, Dalhousie University).

Leader\: Wayne Neily (902) 765-2455 E-mail\: neilyornis@hotmail.com. Focusing on the early spring birds of the Bay of Fundy and the ecozones from it to the Annapolis Valley\; this will be a joint trip with the Nova Scotia Bird Society\, the Blomidon Naturalists.

In past years main problems of this trip have been that it took too long\, not allowing time to check out Belleisle Marsh and not getting to the French Basin Trail until late p.m.\, or back to the carpooling point before 6\:30 or 7\, and that the long lines meant that those near the end often could not see what those at the front had. Both these trips will have places at or near the starting point where cars can be left safely for the day and we shall get back to finish the trips at those points by 4 or 4\:30\, so we hope to be more successful in reducing the long line of cars that makes safe stops along the way difficult. Both will also have rest stops near mid-day at fast-food places\, so lunches are not essential.

Focusing on the early spring birds of the Bay of Fundy and the ecozones from it to the Annapolis Valley\; this will be a joint trip with the Blomidon Naturalists Society. This day we meet at the north side of the Aylesford exit (#16) of Highway 101 at 0900. We shall begin at Aylesford and bird the hot spots from there up the North Mountain\, over to Morden\, back to Kingston (Stronach Park\, etc.). After lunch\, we shall go into Annapolis East and bird the Middleton -Spa Springs area to Margaretsville by high tide\, working back to Aylesford for those who have pooled cars there. Dress warmly with layers\, and bring a lunch. Pre-registration is preferred in order to help with planning\, but not required. No storm date for this trip. \;

Leader\: Wayne Neily (902) 765-2455 E-mail\: \;neilyornis@hotmail.com. Focusing on the early spring birds of the Bay of Fundy and the ecozones from it to the Annapolis Valley\; this will be a joint trip with the Nova Scotia Bird Society\, the Blomidon Naturalists. \;In past years main problems of this trip have been that it took too long\, not allowing time to check out Belleisle Marsh and not getting to the French Basin Trail until late p.m.\, or back to the carpooling point before 6\:30 or 7\, and that the long lines meant that those near the end often could not see what those at the front had. Both these trips will have places at or near the starting point where cars can be left safely for the day and we shall get back to finish the trips at those points by 4 or 4\:30\, so we hope to be more successful in reducing the long line of cars that makes safe stops along the way difficult. Both will also have rest stops near mid-day at fast-food places\, so lunches are not essential.

Focusing on the early spring birds of the Bay of Fundy and the ecozones from it to the Annapolis marshes\; this will be a joint trip with the Blomidon Naturalists Society. Today we meet at the Petro-Canada station (with coffee shop) at the west Middleton exit #18 (NOT 18A) of Highway 101 at 0900. Highlights will include Port George\, North Mountain\, and Annapolis Royal Marsh. Dress warmly with layers\, and bring a lunch. Pre-registration is preferred in order to help with planning\, but not required. No storm date for this trip.

The Maritimes Butterfly Atlas\: 2 Years In. \; by John Klymko. Launched in 2010\, the Maritimes Butterfly Atlas is a five year citizen-science project documenting the distribution of every Maritime butterfly species. Significant discoveries have been made during the first two years of the atlas. Highlights include the addition of a species to the provincial lists of both N.B. and N.S.\, and a dramatic increase in what is known about two Canadian endemic species. In this presentation you'll find out what has been learned from the nearly 5\,000 records that have been submitted to date.

John Klymko has been the zoologist at the Atlantic Canada Conservation Data Centre since 2009. During his tenure he has lead studies on a variety of insect groups of conservation interest\, including pollinators and dragonflies.

Patrick Kelly (472-2322\, patrick.kelly@dal.ca) will be leading this trip. The Herbert River is fairly easy with lots of water at this time of the year\, and it covers a great variety of terrain. There may be spots where it is running a bit faster\, or where there are new obstructions from the trees\, etc. that have come down over the winter\, so we may have to wade in a few places\, if necessary\, or stop to scout out a bend. The trip will be four to five hours long\, depending on our pace. Bring life jackets\, canoe or kayak\, and paddles. If you have access to a life jacket but not a canoe\, there will likely be extra room in one of the canoes. Check with the leader to be sure. Meet at the Newport rink parking lot at 9\:00 a.m. Take Exit 5 from Highway 101 and follow Highway 14 east for about 10 km to the village of Brooklyn. At the cenotaph\, keep left and follow Highway 14 north for just under 1 km. At the intersection (Petro-Canada station)\, Highway 14 turns right. Continue straight on Highway 215 (Note the YIELD sign. you do NOT have the right of way!) The rink is on the right as soon as you exit the intersection. We will be leaving some cars there as we will actually be putting into the river farther upstream. Rain Date\: Sunday\, April 22.

Richard Stern (sternrichard@gmail.com) will lead this trip. \;This will be a joint trip with the Nova Scotia Bird Society\, pond hopping for ducks and early migrants. Possibly there will be a visit to Wolfville Ridge first for Barred Owls. Meet at the town wharf off the east end of Front Street in Wolfville at 10\:00 a.m. Dress warmly and bring a lunch. No rain date.

The Friends of the Acadian Forest will be hosting a sale of native plants at the Harriet Irving Botanical Gardens at Acadia University from 9\:00 AM to 12\:00 noon. Buy native plants grown by volunteers from seed collected in the gardens and from local \;nurseries. There will be a \;variety of trees\, shrubs and\, perennials available\, as well as information tables and displays. \;Proceeds will be use by the Friends of the Acadian Forest Society to work towards forest conservation \;and education. Don´t miss this great annual event in the Walled Garden and Conservatory at the Botanical Gardens.