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Birds & Beers, Thursday November 12th, 2026.

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Karen Keller will present Part 2 of her Antarctic adventure: Deep Into the Weddell Sea.

We meet again at the Royal Canadian Legion at 9202 Horton Road SW on Thursday November 12th. Doors open at 5 pm. At 7 pm Karen Keller will present another Antarctic adventure. Everyone is welcome to attend!

Antarctica

Karen’s summary:

The cruise was called Deep into the Weddell Sea. 28 days. Our objective was to go as far south as possible in the Weddell Sea, to find some Emperor Penguins and to take helicopter flights to land on the continent.

We started in Ushuaia, Argentina and straight to South Georgia, hoping to visit 5 penguin colonies and Shackleton’s resting place at Grytviken.

Leaving South Georgia, we then sailed to the remote South Sandwich Islands on our way to the Antarctica. We soon crossed the Antarctic circle, approaching the endless days. Sailing several days south, we arrived at Vahsel Bay, breaking a record for the farthest south in the Weddell Sea by a non ice breaker vessel. 

This was to be the  starting point for Shackleton’s Transcontinental crossing. At one position, we were only 14 km from where the Endurance was tragically trapped in the ice.

We then sailed back up and west to Elephant Island, hoping for a landing at this difficult entry. Success! On to the beautiful islands and bays surrounding the Antarctic peninsula.

A rough first day in the Drake passage, but a beautifully calm 2nd day, as we sailed back to Ushuaia.

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A reminder that we do have to pay a small fee for the room, so we ask attendees to voluntarily give a donation of a Toonie if they are able. Any cash above the fee amount is donated to the Legion.

Birds & Beers takes a summer break in December, and resumes again in January.

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Birds & Beers, April 9, 2026

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With a presentation on Antarctica by Karen Keller

On Thursday April 9th we will meet again at the Legion at 9202 Horton Rd SW in Calgary for our monthly Birds & Beers social get-together. These informal meetings are open to everyone, and provide a venue to meet with your fellow birders and enjoy food, drink, and an interesting presentation about birds. The doors open at 5 pm, and the presentation begins at 7 pm.

This month features a talk that is not only about birds, but is also a fascinating travel adventure and a look at some amazing history as well. Karen Keller will present A Journey Into the Antarctica, November 2023.

Macaroni Penguin
Macaroni Penguins. Photo by Karen Keller.

Karen writes:

We will be sailing from Ushuaia, the bottom of the world, Argentina, to the Falkland
Islands. We will then sail to South Georgia Island, the Serengeti of the Antarctica, visiting sites
with abundant wildlife and birds, including Penguins. We will follow Shackleton and stop at the almost-never-visited sites that Ernest Shackleton landed on, on South Georgia Island. Ernest Shackleton’s amazing journey of survival and loyalty to his men, is one of the most exciting and inspiring stories that you will ever hear.

About Karen Keller:

Karen Keller
Karen Keller.

Karen grew up in Winnipeg and was always out with her Dad at the local marshes and
countryside, to see the birds and wildlife. Her interest with photography started in 1960, using the little Brownie camera. In 1977, Karen acquired the Canon AE-1 and took photography courses. The two hobbies would become her passion throughout her life.

Karen’s obsession with birds made her want to fly like a bird. In 1978, she took hang gliding lessons, and flew for 25 years, becoming an instructor as she slowed down. The reason, we moved to Calgary, near the mountains, in 1979.

Karen’s love for nature and photography keeps her passionate, happy, and excited.

Everyone is welcome to join us at Birds & Beers, including children if accompanied by an adult. There is a small fee to pay for the room, so we ask for an optional donation of $1 per person. Any extra money beyond the room cost is donated to the Legion. See you there!

Birds & Beers meetings are held monthly at the same time and location, on the second Thursday of each month, except July, August, and December. Upcoming on Thursday May 14 – John & Maria Kimber, The Galapagos Islands. And don’t forget about a special event on Saturday May 16 – The Book Launch of A Field Guide to the Birds of Alberta by Gavin McKinnon and David Scott.

[Subscribers who recieve these posts by email can click on the post title at the top, or here, to go the Birds Calgary website for more content.]