Posted by Bob Lefebvre

The Friends of Fish Creek Provincial Park Society (FFCPPS) birding course began about twelve years ago. At that time there was a single weekly outing with about ten participants led by Gus Yaki. As more people became interested in learning about birds on weekly field trips, more outings were added, and more field trip leaders were recruited. The spring session this year had 316 people registered and 36 field trip leaders. There are several groups going out every day except Friday to learn about birds in Calgary parks.

Gus Yaki leading a field trip in winter.

This incredible growth shows just how many people are interested in becoming birders. Many of the participants who had never birded before have gone on to be active members of the Calgary birding community, taking part in the Christmas Bird Count and the May Species Count, doing Breeding Bird Survey counts, and leading field trips for Nature Calgary.

If you are a new birder and are interested in this course, the FFCPPS are now taking registrations for the autumn season. You can get more information and sign up here.

Max Ortiz Aguilar has been participating in the Spring session of the course, and here are some of his photos from the past couple of months. All photos below by Max Ortiz Aguilar.

Gray Catbird, Bowmont Park, May 20, 2018.

Osprey, Bowmont Park, May 20, 2018.

Lincoln’s Sparrow, Bowmont Park, May 20, 2018.

Song Sparrow, Bowmont Park, May 20, 2018.

Yellow Warbler, Bowmont Park, May 20, 2018.

Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle subspecies), Bowmont Park, May 20, 2018.

Northern Rough-winged Swallow (left) and Tree Swallow (right), Bowmont Park, May 20, 2018.

Gray Catbird, Votier’s Flats, May 27, 2018.

Least Flycatcher, Votier’s Flats, May 20, 2018.

Song Sparrow, Votier’s Flats, May 20, 2018.

Calliope Hummingbird, Weaselhead, June 3, 2018.

Cedar Waxwing, Weaselhead, June 3, 2018.

American Goldfinch, Weaselhead, June 3, 2018.

Eastern Phoebe, Weaselhead, June 3, 2018.

You can see more of Max’s work here.