THURSDAY. MARCH 8.1979

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Floral Arranging la Garden Dept. Topic

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March has a number of important events and associations packed into its 31 odd days. It is, for instance, the month that conies in like the king of beasts and exits like immature mutton. It is the month that Julius Caesar engaged in sharp debate with a bunch of old friends, the month that sees the greatest per capita consumption of Bushmills Irish Whiskey and the month that finds a bountiful eruption of potholes both hither and yon. It is also, if the truth be known, the month that sees the first northbound exodus of migrating hawks, the vanguards of the spring migration. The spring hawk migration is a relatively unstudied phenomenon. The autumn migration has been watched and studied for decades, largely through the inspiration of Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, Pennsylvania. the worldte largest running hawk watch. But the spring migration of raptors has never receivedr the attention given its autumnal counterpart. If a studenrof raptors were to brashly ask "so how come?", he would most likely be answered by a vaguely worded reply that stressed "over winter attrition" or "broad-front migration." There is undoubtedly truth to be found in both alibis but the truth goes deeper. One of the reasons that the spring migration has suffered a studied lack of interest can be traced to the very unpredictable weather of March. There are. to be sure, a good many more pleasant places to spend a Sunday in March than some frost blasted hilltop on the Kittatinny Ridge or some barren (and barely thawed) stretch of beach. Well, contrary to the firm understanding that has its roots in "common knowledge" hawks do migrate in the spring. This assumption is based upon one of the firmest principles of avian physics: 1 What goes down, must come up!" And what’s more, there is a young fellow named Jim Dowdell who is out to prove it Jim is about 19 and about as good a field birder as you are

ever likely to meet. He has been birding a mere 3 years and by birding standards, that’s but the flash of a wing. On March 1, the Cape May Bird Observatory began operating a spring hawk watch at Sandy Hook N.J. Jim was at the helm and there he will stay, eight hours per day, seven days per week until May 15. The project was made possible through a grant from the United States Department of Fish and Wildlife. The attempt will be to determine the extent to which migrating birds of prey use the Atlantic coast during their migration. The project purports to be ongoing (i.e. every spring) and comparisons between years will hopefully disclose trends in the populat ons of the hawks themselves. If all of this sounds very much like the hawk watch conducted by the Cape May Bird Observatory during the fall at Cape May Point, your right! The Sandy Hook project is very simply, the vernal version of the fall project. Why pick Sandy Hook? Well, if you look at Sandy Hook you find that its not unlike a Cape May turned up-side-down. If Cape May funnels hawks in the fall, it would be logical to assume that Sandy Hook would collect northbound birds in the spring. I spent the first day of the hawk watch with Jim. The total at days end was eight; four Sharpshinned Hawks, three American Kestrel, and one Red-shouldered Hawk. By autumn hawk watch standards this might not sound .like a bountiful migration but it does prove a point. What goes down does indeed come up.'Vhere will be more on Jim and the spring hawk watch in the comming weeks. Wildwood Action Council Meets Tues. The Greater Wildwood Community Action Council will hold its next meeting at the Wildwood Community Service Center, 3811 New Jersey Avenue, on Tuesday, March 13at 7:30 P.M.

Mrs. Zook Wants to Know

Dear Editor:

The 1979 Borough of Avalon Budget was presented at public meeting Feb. 28th at 8 PM. "The public has the right and is encouraged to provide oral and written comments, ask questions and otherwise participate in the budget adoption process", as quoted from a copy of the budget. I asked a question. Under Capital Budget and Capital Improvement Program 1979 are two items 1. Construct Fishing Park Estimated Total $100,000.00 and 2. Construct Marine Park $100,000.00 and each item, if I understand the budget properly, has $5,000 appropriated from the 1979 budget with $10,000.00 each applied for FHA and $10,000.00 each "will be bonded in 1983." I assume,the site or sites of such Parks would be proposed if FHA Aid is applied for and Estimated Cost given. Mayor Armacost asked for questions on the Budget at the

meeting. My question was "what is the intended site or sites for the proposed Fishing and Marine Parks.” The reply was "this was a time for questions on t|^uriget I hope at the next Com-

The Garden Department of the Women’s Community Club of Cape Mav, will hold its regular meeting Tuesday, March 13,1979 at 2:00 p.m. at the Historical Community Center, Lafayette and Banks Street, Cape May. • The guest speaker will be Mrs. Florence Dick of Cape May, a

Master Judge and an expert infloral arrangements. Mrs. Dick will be giving important pointers on arranging, backgrounds, material and the use thereof in niches. The newly constructed niches in various sizes are required by this group for flower

show arrangements.

Star Of The Sea Penny Party Our Lady Star of the Sea PTA will hold a penny party at the school hall, Lafayette & Decatur Sts., Cape May, on Friday, Mar. 23, at 7 p.m. Donation includes

refreshments.

Letters To The Editor

missioners Meeting, I will be given an answer from The Commissioners. Marjorie L. Zook Wants Energy > Conserved

To the Editor:

The American people have been reading and learning much about the energy shortage and especially gasoline. How long has it been since the big oil companies have built and new refineries to make more gasoline and heating oil? At the same time, fast food chains and convenience storfes are operating twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, and holidays. Huge shopping malls and super markets are operating seven days a week Some supermarkets operate on a twenty-four hour basis. It takes energy to run fast food chains, convenience stores, supermarkets and shopping malls. Shouldn't they be required to cut down their hours also? Marjorie Galaware

Sea Isle City

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