Bird Studies Group: Fur & Feathers Big Year

Apr2

This Wednesday, April 3, Brian Elder, Phil Cram and Mike Mulligan will talk about their experiences doing a bird and mammal Big Year in Canada in 2012. Along with Ray Woods, they were successful in finding over 500 species. You can read about their experiences on their blog, Fur & Feathers 500. Better yet, come out to the Bird Studies Group meeting and hear all about it.

The meeting will take place in room 211 of the Biological Sciences Building at the U of C. Doors open at 7 pm, and the meeting begins at 7:30.

Here is more information and a map to the location.

See you there!

Furry Friday: Porcupine

Mar8

This North American Porcupine was spotted feeding on a Water Birch on the Inglewood Golf Course during the Calgary Christmas Bird Count on December 16, 2012.

Photo by Troy Bourque

Photo by Ian Neilson

Photo by Troy Bourque

Furry Friday: Mink

Feb15

Rob English photographed this American Mink in April 2012 along the Bow River in Fish Creek Park, between the boat ramp and the highway 22X bridge.

Furry Friday: Weasel & Pika

Jan25

Rob English took these photos in mid-June 2012 near the Highwood Pass. He was looking for American Pikas, but so was this Long-tailed Weasel.

Fur & Feathers Wrap-Up

Jan15

I’m sure many of you have followed the Fur & Feathers 500 blog. Four Calgary bird watchers (and mammal watchers) did a bird and mammal Big Year in 2012, trying to see as many species as they could within Canada. They were successful in reaching their goals of seeing 500 combined species as a team, and of visiting each Territory and Province in Canada.

Brian Elder has summarized their efforts in two excellent posts, which highlight some of the most interesting species they saw, and which feature their great photographs too.

A Look Back at the Birds of our Big Year

A Look Back at the Mammals of our Big Year

Now that the Big Year is over, Brian has launched a new blog to document his efforts to reach a life list of 5000 bird and mammal species worldwide. Follow him at:

Fur and Feathers 5000

At Birds Calgary we will be following this with great interest, and we wish him luck!

Furry Friday: American Pika

Dec14

Bob Lefebvre photographed these Pikas at Rock Glacier Trail in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park in September 2012. You can see why one of their common names is ‘rock rabbit.’