Volume 8, 1955 - The Arctic Circle - Home

VOL. VIII NO.4 THE ARCTIC CIRCULAR 8Zspotting no fewer than six young whooping cranes, of which twopairs were iwins. The discovery of the nesting grounds is of thegreatest importance for the protection of the species, and thenumber of birds reaching Texas was most encouraging.On 4 November 1955 watchers in the Aransas NationalWildlife Refuge on the coast of Texas, counted twenty-eight whitewhooping cranes and their rusty-brown offspring. Twenty-oneadults had gone north in the spring; one had failed to return, butthe presence of eight young birds, following a year in which noyoung had survived, gave new hope for the species.The eight young birds of 1955 are the largest number ofjuveniles known to have reached the Aransas refuge since it wascreated in 1937. The prospect may be even brighter than it seems.Some reports of sightings of whooping cranes in 1955 do not agreewith the counts and movements of the known birds, and cannot beeasily explained away (as are a goodly percentage of reports eachyear) by mistaken identification of swans or pelicans. It is justpossible that a small flock of whooping cranes nests in somenorthern area still unknown and winters in an equally secludedwilderness spot in the southern states or Mexico.The Aldavik JournalThe first number of the Aklavik Journal appeared inNovember 1955. It is a mimeographed paper of 8 pages, publishedmonthly by Father Brown, O.M.I. at the R.C. Mission, Aklavik,N.W.T. Subscription rate by mail is $1.00 for six months.The Aklavik Journal provides very full coverage of eventsin Aklavik and the surrounding area and does not avoid controversialissues.Subscriptions for 1956Members are reminded that their subscriptions for 1956($Z.OO for Ottawa members, or $3.00 for combined memberehip.for husband and wife, and $1.00 for out-of-town membere, othe~than institutions), are payable to the Treasurer, Mr. H.M. Cos,Apt. 104, 196 Metcalfe Street, Ottawa.o wing to currency regulations it is not always COIW......tfor mem.bers of the Arctic Circle residing in Europe to pay 'I 1.: .