Archives

Shaganappi Point and Edworthy Park – A New History

Jan31

Posted by Bob Lefebvre

Many Calgary birders are familiar with the book Treasures Of The Trail, a beautifully illustrated nature guide to Edworthy Park, Lawry Gardens, and the Douglas Fir Trail. It was published in 2002 by the Edworthy Park Heritage Society. Now the society is planning to publish a new history of the area with much previously unpublished information. You can pre-order a copy, and once enough people have ordered it, publication will go ahead and you will then be contacted for payment. It is $30 for the new book and a copy of Treasures Of The Trail will be also be included! A great value, especially for those of you who do not have a copy of the older book.

Here is the information about this from the society:

Shaganappi Point and Edworthy Park: A New History by the Edworthy Park Heritage Society.

Edworthy Park
C.P.R. Quarry  outcrops along the Douglas Fir Trail. Photo courtesy of Anna Sanders © Anna Sanders, Edworthy Park Heritage Society

The Society has written an extensive history of the park area with much previously unpublished information gathered from historic newspapers, diaries, and archives across Canada.

Part I discusses Indigenous and Métis culture and history of the area, including the three Blackfoot names for this ancient territory, plus whether there was a Métis settlement at Shaganappi. Was there an indigenous trail in the area? And much more…

Part II discusses settlement, colonization history including unpublished information about the Government of Canada quarries at Shaganappi Point (Quarry Road Trail), and the C.P.R. quarries (next to the Douglas Fir Trail), the Thomas Edworthy quarries and the four brick plants of the park, the struggle between William Pearce vs. John Lawrey, the “old lime kiln”. It has many fine black and white photos and  a few hand-tinted vintage postcard photos.

Very few copies of the book will be published and we expect to almost sell out through pre-orders. In order to raise the money to print it, we are taking pre-orders.  The book is only available in a package with the Society’s nature guide, Treasures of the Trail,  included as a bonus, free of charge. It is $30 per copy plus postage where applicable. To pre-order, please send us an email at: eparkhs[at]gmail.com We will acknowledge your pre-order. If we have enough funds to print it, we will then contact you for payment. (P.S. The book will not be put on the internet).  Please support the Society and its new book!

Treasures Of The Trail
Treasures Of The Trail

Online Film – Avian Summer

Jul19

Posted by Bob Lefebvre

Photographer and filmmaker Rick Andrews has produced a wonderful wildlife documentary about some of our local birds. Avian Summer has fantastic high-resolution video of birds that migrate into Southern Alberta each spring, where they come to find a mate and raise the next generation, before migrating south again in the fall. Watch the trailer below.

Avian Summer by Rick Andrews – trailer.

The full film is available to rent or purchase on the Vimeo platform. The cost is $8 for a three-day rental, and $25 to buy. You can watch it on your phone, tablet, or computer. (I played it on my phone and streamed it to our TV, and it looked fantastic.) Proceeds from Avian Summer will benefit the Growing the Grassroots Endowment Fund in support of nature-based interpretive programming at the Helen Schuler Nature Centre in Lethbridge.

I really enjoyed this thirty-seven minute film. It focuses mostly on waterfowl, raptors, herons, and cranes, and a few songbirds. There are a lot of great sequences of birds raising their young.

Rick Andrews is a conservation wildlife photographer and filmmaker from Southern Alberta. He has many other excellent films available for free on Vimeo, so be sure to check them out. (It is free to sign up on Vimeo.) Rick’s collection of films showcases resident wildlife in Southern Alberta, including the full-length documentary Wildlife of the Oldman River Valley (2018), as well as several documentary shorts including Great Horned Owls (2020), Country Club Marmots (2019), and Lethbridge Wild Turkeys (2018).

Here is the poster from the film’s online premier, which was on June 25. The question & answer session with Rick is available to view on the Helen Schuler Nature Center Facebook page here.

Check out these excellent productions, and help support conservation in southern Alberta.

You can follow Rick Andrews on Facebook here.

Friends of the Helen Schuler Nature Centre Society.

The Road to 300: June

Aug5

Posted by Bob Lefebvre

I was away quite a bit in July so there’s lots to catch up on here. First of all, here is an update on fifteen-year-old Gavin McKinnon’s effort to find 300 species of birds in Alberta in 2019.

Gavin had 216 species at the end of May, and as I mentioned last time, you need to get to at least 240 by the end of June to have a good shot at 300. Gavin had a great month in June, and finished the first six months of the year with 278 species. Here are photos of some of the new species he added in June, along with his descriptions of where he saw them and some of the other notable species. Gavin did quite a bit of travelling with his dad looking for rarities, which sometimes necessitated camping in the back of their car.

Great Gray Owl
Great Gray Owl

“On the first of June we were out at Winchell lake and Horse Creek Road marshes where I got half a dozen new songbirds plus Great Gray Owl. The following day We went to Dinosaur Provincial Park where we heard Yellow-breasted Chat. I also added Rock Wren and Lark Sparrow there. The following weekend we went up to Cold lake where I got 35 year birds, the highlights being Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Black-throated Green Warbler, lots of Connecticut Warblers and a Great Crested Flycatcher. The next day I was able to see a flock of five White-rumped Sandpipers along the rocky shore of Lower Kananaskis Lake as well as a singing male Townsend’s Warbler. A few days later I got the chance to see a Black-chinned Hummingbird that was visiting Pat Lucas’ feeders near Hillcrest Mines.

Black-chinned Hummingbird
Black-chinned Hummingbird

“Between then and Cypress Hills I got to see Clark’s Grebe and Great Egret. On our way to Cypress we made two stops, one for McCown’s Longspur and another for Burrowing Owl.

Burrowing Owl
Burrowing Owl

“I got three year birds within my first hour at Cypress Hills: White-winged Scoter, Dusky Flycatcher, and a pair of Eastern Bluebirds that have been nesting along the southern border of the park.

Eastern Bluebird
Eastern Bluebird

“In the afternoon I was able to see a pair of Bullock’s Orioles and after about an hour of checking the Bullock’s Oriole tree I found a nest with two chicks.

Bullock's Oriole
Bullock’s Oriole at nest

“There were also three Common Nighthawks roosting nearby. On our way back to Cypress we found three Greater Sage Grouse.

Greater Sage Grouse
Greater Sage Grouse

“At night we were driving around the Graburn Road area and we were able to detect two Common Poorwills, one heard only, but the second one swooped in front of our headlights.”

Below is a photo of the car where they camped on some of these trips.

Camping in the car for birding.
The camping setup in the car.

Here are more photos of some species Gavin added to his list in June.

Calliope Hummingbird
Calliope Hummingbird
Chestnut-collared Longspur
Chestnut-collared Longspur
Tennessee Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
Cassin's Finch
Cassin’s Finch
Cassin's Vireo
Cassin’s Vireo

I will do another update when Gavin Gets to 300 species. Not to keep you in suspense, at the end of July he had 291 species. Of course, as the year goes on it becomes harder and harder to add new birds to the list, but Gavin hopes to reach 295 by the end of August.

You can also follow his progress on eBird by viewing the list of top 100 eBirders in Alberta on the “Explore” tab. Here is a link to that page. You can also check out the top 100 in Canada, where Gavin is at an amazing 362 species, the second-highest total in the country!

You can see previous posts with photos and updates of Gavin’s Big Year here:

January and February

March and April

May

Tom Hince Seminar at the Wild Bird Store

May24

This weekend the renowned birder Tom Hince will be giving seminars at the Wild Bird Store in Calgary on the subject of the world-famous birding hotspot, Point Pelee, Ontario. This is a place that many local birders have visited for its amazing variety of migrating birds, and that the rest of us would love to visit some day.

Tom Hince

The Friday seminar is now full but you can still get tickets for Saturday by phoning the number above or dropping in to the store.

Here are the FAQ’s about this presentation:

What Will I Learn From This Seminar?

For avid birders, a trip to Point Pelee should be a must do on your list! In “The Park That Birds and Birders Built” seminar, Tom will discuss Point Pelee Park, its importance and why you should visit the park. He will also let the audience know how to prepare and plan for a visit to the park.

Besides Point Pelee, What Else Will I Learn From This Seminar?

Besides Point Pelee, Tom will talk about his birding experiences around the world including birding in the Cold Lake area. As Tom has spent a lot of time in this area, he will discuss his Cold Lake birding experiences. This will also include a discussion on finding warblers and other eastern songbirds in the area.

Will There Be Time To Ask Questions?

Yes, of course! During and at the end of the seminar Tom will take audience questions. Tom Hince is an ornithologist and professional birding guide. He has traveled various areas of the world looking for and studying a great number of birds. If you have a birding question that’s been bugging you, make sure you ask it at the seminar!

Will Refreshments and Snacks be Served at the Seminar?

Yes both refreshments and snacks will be served at the seminar! In addition, The Wild Bird Store has secured some great door prizes for both seminar days. We will have ballots and a draw box set up before you enter the seminar room so make sure you enter!

I Understand Tom Hince Has A Book. Will There Be Copies Available for Tom to Sign?

Yes. We will have a limited number of Tom Hince’s “A Birder’s Guide To Point Pelee” available for sale at the seminar. He will sign books after the seminar.

Call now to book your spot at this event!

Birds & Beers, May 2, 2019: The Raptor Allure of Windy Point

Apr21

The next Birds & Beers event in Calgary is on Thursday May 2, at the Horton Road Legion, from 6 to 9 pm. We will be in the big auditorium this month, and will have a special presentation: “The Raptor Allure of Windy Point” by Peter Roxborough.

Bald Eagle
Bald Eagle. Photo by Daniel Arndt.

Local birders are aware of the Golden Eagle migration monitoring that has been conducted for many years at Mount Lorette in Kananaskis country, but few are aware that Windy Point, in the Sheep River Valley west of Turner Valley, also offers fantastic raptor watching on migration. Peter Roxborough will do a presentation on this amazing birding spot.

The Legion is located at 9202 Horton Road SW. Everyone is welcome to attend Birds & Beers. As is usual when we have presentations, these begin after 7 pm. So come at 6 pm (or earlier since the kitchen will be busy), order a meal and have a drink, visit with your fellow birders, and then stay for the presentation. If you can’t make it early drop in later for the show.

Upcoming Birds & Beers events are scheduled for Thursday May 30 and Thursday June 27, at the same time and place. There will be presentations at both of these events too.

Shorebirds at Frank Lake

Sep10

Game bird hunting season has begun in most areas around Calgary, so fewer birders will be heading to Frank Lake. Tony LePrieur made a final trip there on September 2 and took these amazing water-level photos.

Semipalmated Plover

Semipalmated Plover, Frank Lake, September 2, 2018. Photo by Tony LePrieur.

Semipalmated Plover

Semipalmated Plover, Frank Lake, September 2, 2018. Photo by Tony LePrieur.

Semipalmated Sandpiper

Semipalmated Sandpiper, Frank Lake, September 2, 2018. Photo by Tony LePrieur.

Baird's Sandpiper

Baird’s Sandpiper, Frank Lake, September 2, 2018. Photo by Tony LePrieur.

You can see more of Tony LePrieur’s photos on his Flickr page at this link.

August Birding in the Bow Valley

Sep2

Posted by Ethan Denton (BirdBoy)

While top locations like Confederation Park and Mallard Point are the go-to spots for fall warbler migration in our part of Alberta, it’s often worth checking out some less-birded hotspots for rarities passing unnoticed. The Bow Valley is a perfect example of this, as Policeman’s Creek, Vermillion Lakes and Flowing Waters Trail are more than capable of holding their own in the fall flurries. I’ve been birding these exact spots over the past month, and I would encourage all you Calgary birders to try them out during September.

Located in the heart of Canmore, Policeman’s Creek is a great spot to go for unusual birds, and has not disappointed this autumn. Around eight Blackpolls, a Magnolia, two MacGillivary’s and a Canada Warbler (only the third eBird record for the county) fill the warbler quota, while Warbling and Red-eyed Vireos, Say’s Pheobe and Eastern Kingbird join in. Merlin, Peregrine and Prairie Falcons all made appearances.


Yellow Warbler, Policeman’s Creek


Canada Warbler, Policeman’s Creek


Say’s Pheobe, Policeman’s Creek


Magnolia Warbler, Policeman’s Creek

Bow Valley Provincial Park’s Flowing Waters Trail is a short walk around some of the best habitat in the area, and supports dozens of fall migrants. Cassin’s and Blue-headed Vireo, American Redstarts and Nashville Warbler have all been seen there recently, and it’s one of the best spots to find Western Tanager, Eastern Kingbird and Warbling Vireo in the valley.


Warbling Vireo, Flowing Waters


Eastern Kingbird, Flowing Waters


Warbling Vireo, Flowing Waters

Vermillion Lakes will only now be starting its high point for the fall, but this 220+ species location boasts an impressive track record of Black-bellied and Golden Plovers, Baird’s and Pectoral Sandpipers, and ducks such as Eurasian Wigeon and Red-breasted Merganser. This fall, I’ve already seen two Stilt Sandpipers, a Pectoral, and both species of Yellowlegs. For those who rarely visit the mountains, Clark’s Nutcrackers and Mountain Chickadees are common. MacGillivary’s and Magnolia Warblers have turned up here this fall, and more may be coming.


Pectoral Sandpipers, Vermillion Lakes – 2017


Ring-billed Gull, Vermillion Lakes


Common Raven, Vermillion Lakes

Anyone interested in consistent reports of what’s in the valley should check out the Bow Valley Birding Facebook page, and for more photos my personal blog, www.birdboy.ca

Thanks for reading, and I hope you take some time to bird the Bow Valley soon!

Priddis Valley Road Wetland

Jun24

Tony LePrieur photographed these birds at the wetland just south of Priddis, on Priddis Valley Road, on May 26, 2018. The entire Priddis area is very birdy, and there are lots of wetlands to explore.

Wilson's Snipe

Wilson’s Snipe.

Wilson's Phalarope

Wilson’s Phalarope.

Black Tern

Black Tern.

Northern Shoveler

Northern Shoveler, male.

Baltimore Oriole

Baltimore Oriole.

See more of Tony’s photos here.

 

Evenings at Frank Lake

Jun16

Tony LePrieur has spent a few evenings at Frank Lake recently and he took these wonderful photos.

White-faced Ibis

White-faced Ibis.

American Avocet

American Avocet.

Wilson's Phalarope

Wilson’s Phalaropes.

Willet

Marbled Godwit.

Willet

Willet.

Wilson's Phalarope

Wilson’s Phalarope.

Killdeer

Killdeer.

California Gull

California Gull with egg.

Black-bellied Plover

American Golden-Plover. (Originally identified as a Black-bellied Plover. Misidentifications are the fault of the poster, in this case Bob Lefebvre, not the photographer.)

Wilson's Phalarope

Wilson’s Phalarope.

Willet

Willet.

Willet

Willet.

 

Black-bellied Plover

Tony in action, with Wilson’s Phalaropes. Frank Lake, May 27, 2018.

You can see more of Tony’s photos on his Flickr page at this link.

Courting Mountain Bluebirds

May31

Vincent Tolley photographed this Mountain Bluebird pair just after the male had brought a meal to the female.

Mountain Bluebird

Mountain Bluebirds near Madden, north of Calgary, May 25, 2018. Photo by Vincent Tolley.

You can find Mountain Bluebirds at their nestboxes along rural roads all over the Calgary region this month. The best areas are NW, West and SW of town. Many of the boxes host Tree Swallows but if you are persistent you can find bluebirds.

On Thursday June 28 you can join Nature Calgary as Don Stiles leads a trip along his Bluebird Nestbox trail. See baby Mountain Bluebirds and Tree Swallows and learn about the nestbox program. For more information see this page.

You can see more of Vincent Tolley’s photos on his Flickr page.