Meeting discusses horses

Nature P.E.I. will hold its annual general meeting Jan. 9 at Beaconsfield’s Carriage House in Charlottetown.

The topic of the meeting is “Exploring the horses and nature of Sable Island” with naturalists Diane Griffin, Kathy Martin and Jackie Waddell. The evening gets underway at 7:30 p.m. and all are welcome.

When many folks think of the Island, the presence of the horses is the first thing that comes to mind, said Griffin.

But there is much more to discover there, and the trio will talk about the birds, seals and plants that call Sable Island home.

Beyond its fascinating natural history, this unique island has an interesting human history that will be touched upon in the presentation.

“Because of all the shipwrecks prior to modern navigation, Sable Island was called the Graveyard of the Atlantic,” says Griffin, who adds that the current protection of the Island as a National Park Reserve will also be discussed.

Griffin is an Island senator and has previously held positions as P.E.I. deputy minister of environment and executive director of The Island Nature Trust. Martin is a professor in the faculty of forestry at the University of British Columbia and a senior scientist with Environment Canada, specializing in ornithology. Waddell, a former executive director of the Island Nature Trust, is also a horse owner who enjoys bird watching.