Nature Views - a forum for environmental discussion - published by Nature Saskatchewan

Issue 176 Winter 2013

Table of Contents Neudorf Group Promoting Wildlife, Nature

2 From Your President Reprinted with Permission from Melville Advance, September 18, 2013, Page A6 “Crowdsourcing Bird Science” A Neudorf group has been working for three 3 From Your Editors years to create an oasis of bird, animal Letter to the Editors and plant life it hopes will bring people closer Birds and Windows Project to the natural world. New Members On Sunday, those efforts were recognized 4 New OBO Coordinator vis a vie a ribbon cutting that officially New RPR Coordinator opened the Bird Information Centre, a Ellen Bouvier Returns project of Neudorf Nature Trails and Wild Volunteers Bird Sanctuary Society. 2013 Nature Sask Award Recipients Ten-year-old Gage Bell Devine, a North 5 Nature Sask Director Receives a Valley Elementary student, cut the ribbon. Conservation Award Past president of Nature Saskatchewan Saskatchewan Birds Calendar board of directors Donna Bruce of LMBO Saskatoon and Society President Keith Gerstner of Neudorf also participated. 6 2013 Christmas Bird and Mammal Counts Gerstner says the nature trails-bird Gage Bell Devine, a student from North Valley Elementary Fall Meet sanctuary includes about 15 kilometres of School, assisted by Donna Bruce, Past President of the walking trails and is an outdoor jewel that’ll Nature Saskatchewan board of directors, and Keith Gerstner, 7 IBA increase the appreciation of young and old, President of Neudorf Trails and Wild Bird Sanctuary Society PlantWatch local people and those from beyond, for the opens the Bird Information Centre. Photo courtesy of Melville outdoors. Advance. 8 OBO Update Bird Mortality “lt’ll be a park for all the school children and other SFS children (and adults) where they can go and enjoy MyAvibase and read about the birds and grass and animals of the area,” Gerstner told The Advance. 9 RPR New Stewards of Sask Banner Program “The project was to educate the children in the area (and beyond), a place where they could be 10 Turtle Lake Nature Sanctuary one with nature.” Project FeederWatch Meadow Lake Junior Forest Wardens The actual Bird Information Centre sees 24 Camp plaques — mounted on pedestals arranged in a Songbirds Killed at Gas Plant semi-circle beside the picnic area — bearing pictures of various birds found in the area. The 11 Madge Lake Loon Count Survey plaque also provides information on the birds’ Monarchs in Saskatchewan Neudorf Trails and Wild Bird Sanctuary entrance signs. characteristics, physical appearances and so on. Eskimo Curlew Photo courtesy of Melville Advance. The Society was granted permission by a 12 Jame L. Baillie Memorial Fund Grants publishing company from the United Kingdom, Quatro Publishing, to use the pictures from its Garden Bird Domesticated Bees Facts books as face plates on the plaques.

13 Volunteering with NCC The project had its origins in July 2010 when the Society was established, and to create interest, organizers Ten Ways to Help Migrating Birds held a ‘Name the Trails’ contest during which the trails were named with the winning entries announced in 2011. 14 Redberry Lake Biosphere Two Species of Crossbills Since then, Gerstner says, a large sign announcing “Neudorf Nature Trails and Wild Bird Sanctuary” has been built and erected, and over the winter the 24 plaques were built and then installed this season. Funding 15 Co-existing with Burrowing Owls for the material for the plaques was provided by Nature Saskatchewan and Neudorf Parks and Recreation. Donors Volunteer labor took care of the rest, Gerstner says. Yellow Rail Research Canadian Lakes Loon Survey Gerstner believes the trail sanctuary information has the potential to put Neudorf on the map to the point that it could become a major attraction in this part of the province for nature enthusiasts. 16 Upcoming Events Winter Birding Contest The area and parkland region is blessed with a large variety of birds and wildlife and as people become more Manitoba Atlas interested in nature and the environment as a whole, Neudorf’s project could turn into a signicant tourist draw, he suggests, “...this will be a legacy that we will pass on to our children and future generations. As this project develops, Neudorf will be recognized as a world class bird sanctuary,” according to Gerstner.

Nature Saskatchewan Publication Mail Agreement # 40063014 Room 206 Postage Paid in Regina 1860 Lorne Street Return Undeliverable Canadian Addresses To: Regina, SK S4P 2L7 Administration Centre Printing Services 111-2001 Cornwall St Regina, SK S4P 3X9 [email protected]

Humanity in Harmony with Nature Page 2 Winter 2013 Nature Views

From Your President NATURE VIEWS

(Note: For this issue’s column, Karen McIver has invited the membership committee Nature Views provides a forum for discussion, a means for the dissemination of to highlight some of the initiatives they’re pursuing.) information about environmental issues to the people of Saskatchewan and promotes the aims and objectives of Nature Saskatchewan. Nature Saskatchewan is also known as the Saskatchewan Natural History Society. For some time now Nature Saskatchewan (NS) has been grappling with the question of how to diversify and grow our membership base. Changing Nature Views is published four times a year by Nature Saskatchewan. Receiving the demographics, a more urban society and an aging membership all present newsletter is a benefit from membership in Nature Saskatchewan. Views expressed in challenges. As well, the technology of how we communicate with one another Nature Views are not necessarily those of Nature Saskatchewan. continues to change at a breath-taking pace. In an attempt to address some of Submissions and comments are invited. Send materials to this Nature Views these challenges, the membership committee has been working on the following editor: Rob Warnock, 3603 White Bay. Regina, Saskatchewan S4S 7C9. Phone: (306) priorities: 586-2492. Materials can be sent by email to: [email protected]

Layout: Angela Dohms We want to do more to communicate our mandate to the public. People need to Proof reading: Angela Dohms and Rob Warnock know what we do and why we do it. We believe that it is our mandate and the Final proof approval: Rob Warnock effectiveness of our programs that will attract new members. Through a new part- time staff position dedicated to communications, we will be strengthening our Submission deadlines: Spring issue: January 15 Summer issue: April 1 online presence and developing a new brochure that can be used by staff, Board Fall issue: July 15 Winter issue: October 15 members and volunteers who represent NS at community events. We’re also hoping to setup an email exchange for locals, include links to local newsletters Advertising Rates: and post local events on our website. Full page (14.5" X 10") ...... $400.00 1/2 p. (7" X 10") ...... $200.00 1/4 p. (7" X 5") ...... $115.00 We’re strengthening our relationship with local societies and affiliates. Our 1/8 p. (3.5 X 5") ...... $ 65.00 executive director, Jordan Ignatiuk, recently attended meetings of the Moose Jaw 1/16 p. (3.5" X 2.25") ...... $ 40.00 local society and the Southwest Naturalists local society. Past President Donna Classified ads ...... 50 cents/word Non-governmental organizations will receive a 10 percent discount on their ads in Bruce attended the opening of the information center at the Neudorf Bird Sanctuary, Nature Views. These rates DO NOT include GST or PST. run by our new local society, the Neudorf Nature Trails and Wild Bird Sanctuary Society. The NS office also arranged to have Dr. Geoff Holroyd share his excellent The editors reserve the right to edit articles for clarity and space limitations. presentation on Burrowing Owls with several local societies in the fall. Materials preferably submitted in RTF format or as a text file with images submitted separately in .jpg or .tif format. More detailed submission guidelines are available on the Nature Saskatchewan website (www.naturesask.ca). All material printed in Nature We were excited to host a meeting of local society representatives at last year’s Views may only be reprinted with permission from the author. spring meet, and we plan to make that kind of meeting an annual event. We partner with local societies to offer province-wide natural history events at the This issue of Nature Views has been printed by the Weyburn Review, Weyburn. Circulation: 2200 ISSN: 1207-5450 spring and fall meets. This year’s fall meet illustrates the synergy that happens when we work together. The Meadow Lake Woodlanders, a Junior Forest Warden OFFICE AND PROGRAM CONTACTS group affiliated with NS, worked with NS Board member Vinessa Currie-Foster, Executive Director Jordan Ignatiuk NS staff and forestry managers from Mistik Management to provide a weekend Species at Risk Manager Melissa Ranalli Conservation & Education Manager Lacey Weekes full of fun and informative activities. We salute Meadow Lake for their efforts and Communications Manager Ellen Bouvier are impressed by how they provided opportunities for youth to lead activities at Office Coordinator Jen Gibson the meet (see the Fall Meet article in this issue). Habitat Stewardship Coordinator (Rare Plant Rescue) Kristen Martin Habitat Stewardship Coordinator (Oper. Burrowing Owl) Kaytlyn Burrows Habitat Stewardship Coordinator (Shrubs for Shrikes) Rebecca Magnus We’re looking to foster existing partnerships and to form new partnerships to Habitat Stewardship Coordinator (Plovers on Shore) Rebecca Magnus assist us with our mandate. NS is partnering with the Yellowhead Flyway Birding Saskatchewan PlantWatch Coordinator Lacey Weekes Trail Association, the Madge Lake Cottage Owners’ Association and Duck Mountain NatureQuest Coordinator John Murray Provincial Park to monitor, record and report on the nesting activities of Common Inner Nature Jeanne Corrigal Last Mountain Bird Observatory Alan Smith Loons at Madge Lake. We recently formed a partnership with the Yorkton Film Turkey Vulture Tracking/Birds of Saskatchewan Book C. Stuart Houston Festival, which has offered to provide their nature documentaries to local societies wishing to show them to their membership. Societies can contact the NS office BOARD OF DIRECTORS for details. NS was also a partner in the very successful NatureCity event in Honourary President J. Frank Roy Past President Donna Bruce Saskatoon last spring. OFFICERS President Karen McIver Vice-president Tara Sample Perhaps our greatest challenge is how to bring a wider demographic and more Treasurer Bill Mackenzie Recording Secretary Christie Thomson diversity to our membership. We’re exploring ways to reach new audiences. In DIRECTORS the spring of 2013 NS and the Yorkton Film Festival co-sponsored the film “Invitation Vinessa Currie-Foster Joan Feather Branimir Gjetvag to Nature,” which examines ways to assist new Canadians to become involved Suzanne Henry Arlene Karpan Lorne Scott with nature. We also recognize that if NS is to continue into the future, we must Lorelei Wilson Rob Wilson engage families and youth. Most hands-on activities for youth will likely continue EDITORS to happen at the local level, but we’re exploring how NS could play a supportive Nature Views Rob Warnock and Angela Dohms role, such as facilitating communication among key groups offering nature Blue Jay Kerry Hecker and Lowell Strauss programming for youth across the province. Based on the Meadow Lake Special Publications Anna Leighton experience, we’ll also be looking for ways to partner with local groups to include LOCAL SOCIETIES AND AFFILIATES PRESIDENTS a youth component at future NS meets. Chaplin Tourism Committee Clem Millar Fort Qu’Appelle Natural History Society Keith Stephens These are all challenging objectives, but we hope that at least some will bear fruit Indian Head Natural History Society Irv Escott over time and result in a renewed, diversified and growing membership. Nature Kelsey Ecological Society Michael Pitt Meadow Lake Woodlanders (Junior Forest Wardens) Neil Marsh Saskatchewan strives to be “the voice of nature” in the province. Please share Nature Moose Jaw Russ McKnight your thoughts with us if you have suggestions as to how we can serve you and Nature Prince Albert Carman Dodge nature more effectively. Nature Regina Dale Hjertaas Neudorf Nature Trails & Wild Bird Sanctuary Keith Gerstner Saskatoon Nature Society Inc. Joan Feather Southwest Naturalists Irene Stinson Weyburn Nature Society Val Thomas (Secretary) Yellowhead Flyway Birding Trail Association Lauretta Ritchie McInnes “Crowdsourcing Bird Science” Yorkton Natural History Society Geoff Rushowick For more information, please contact Nature Saskatchewan Reprinted from Bird Studies Canada October 4, 2013 E-newsletter MAILING ADDRESS A special online feature article for the October 2013 issue of Canadian Geographic Room 206 1860 Lorne Street (http://www.canadiangeographic.ca/magazine/oct13/citizen_scientist_ Regina, SK birder.asp?s=homepage) highlights several Bird Studies Canada staff members S4P 2L7 and programs. In “Crowdsourcing Bird Science,” Nick Walker provides an excellent overview of some of the valuable ways our Citizen Scientists are contributing to PHONE: 306-780-9273 OR 1-800-667-4668 (in SK only) bird research and conservation, through programs such as Project FeederWatch, FAX: 306-780-9263 the Christmas Bird Count, the Great Backyard Bird Count, eBird, and breeding E-MAIL: [email protected] bird atlases. Teamwork and collaboration are crucial to our methods and our success. Kudos to our volunteers, supporters, partners, and staff across the WEBSITE: www.naturesask.ca country – what an amazing team!

Conservation Now...For The Future Page 3 Winter 2013 Nature Views

From Your Editors Letter to the Editors We hope everyone had a great summer and start to fall.

This issue is jam packed with Nature Saskatchewan news including reports To Bee or Not to Bee; Neonicotinoids and Biodiversity on the Fall Meet in Meadow Lake, fall banding results at Last Mountain Bird Observatory, the Stewards of Saskatchewan programs, PlantWatch, Turtle Discussions/concerns about neonicotinoid insecticides should be about far more Lake Nature Sanctuary, Important Bird Areas, Saskatchewan Birding Trails than honey bees and pollinators, these compounds are toxic to ALL insects be and a good number of other environmental news items including causes and they pest or beneficial, abundant, rare or endangered. They are also highly toxic estimates of bird mortality in Canada. Glen Fox raises a number of important to birds. Neonicotinoids are water soluble and are readily absorbed by plants via points about the negative impacts of pesticides on birds and bees and their roots or leaves and are transported to all tissues and in all fluids of the encourages everyone to submit comments to the Pest Management Regulatory plant, rendering them toxic to any insect that consumes them! These insecticides Agency by early December in his Letter to the Editors. From our President are currently applied as seed dressings, in irrigation water, soil drenches, as report discusses planned strategies and actions to improve communications foliar sprays, as baits, and as granules. They are injected into trees and applied and increase membership in Nature Saskatchewan. topically to pets. They are licensed in more than 120 countries and have a global market value approaching $3 billion. Neonicotinoids have overtaken all other We congratulate Guy Wapple for receiving the 2013 Volunteer Recognition classes of insecticides world-wide, both in volume applied and variety of uses. Award for his many years compiling and submitting Christmas Bird and Mammal Counts. We also congratulate the group Wild About Saskatoon on receiving The ecological costs of the prophylactic use of neonicotinoids are widespread the 2013 Conservation Award for organizing a week-long Nature City Festival soils, surface waters, and plant tissues (including leaves, stems and roots, sap, at the end of May 2013 that brought together more than 70 community nectar and pollen) which are either acutely or chronically toxic to a wide range of organizations and businesses who worked enthusiastically to celebrate the non-target insects and vertebrates that consume them. At most risk are soil- importance of wonder and nature in everyday urban lives. It is well deserved. dwelling insects, aquatic insects and life-stages, pollinators, nectar-feeding and Congratulations to Alan Dodd for receiving the 2013 Cliff Shaw Award for his herbivorous insects, amphibians, insect- and seed-eating birds, insectivorous well-written and informative article “First recorded occurrence of Creeping bats, and small herbivorous mammals. This is a huge slice of the local biodiversity Mahonia (Berberis repens Lindley) in Saskatchewan” in the September 2012 of any region. Because of their widespread use, it means that migratory birds, issue of Blue Jay. bats and butterflies are exposed throughout their migrations. Large decreases in insect biomass mean large decreases in available protein and lipids essential Another Nature Saskatchewan member was also recognized with prestigious for the growth of young birds, and less food for their parents. awards recently. Nature Saskatchewan Director Branimir Gjetvaj recently received “Michelle’s Prize” – an award presented by the Canadian Environmental While there is abundant evidence that neonicotinoids provide effective control for Law Association (CELA) for his MSc research titled “Environmental and Socio- a broad range of insect pests, there is little evidence to suggest that they have Economic Implications of Growing Bioenergy Productions Crops on Marginal contributed to increased yields, or that they are more cost-effective than traditional Land in Saskatchewan.” Congratulations Branimir! Integrated Pest Management systems and the targeted use of synthetic pyrethroid sprays when and where necessary. Clearly their appeal is one of convenience! We congratulate the Neudorf Nature Trails and Wild Bird Sanctuary Society for its successful September launch of its Bird Information Centre and its 15 By foregoing this convenience and ceasing to use neonicotinoids as seed kilometres of nature trails. If you are in the Neudorf –Melville area, please dressings and for other prophylactic uses, we could eliminate their contribution check it out! to honey bee mortalities, and to declining populations of insectivorous and seed- eating birds, insectivorous bats and Monarch butterflies. That would be the Welcome to all new Nature Saskatchewan members and we thank all generous ecologically sound, sustainable, and just thing to do my friends. It would Nature Saskatchewan donors and volunteers in 2013. be a win-win for the birds and the bees. Please consider participating in citizen science projects such as the Winter Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency recently announced that it “has Birding Contest, Birds and Windows Project, FeederWatch, Christmas Bird determined that current agricultural practices related to the use of neonicotinoid- and Mammal Counts and Nocturnal Owl Surveys. We encourage all eligible treated corn and soybean seed are affecting the environment due to impacts on graduate students to apply for the $2,000 Margaret Skeel Graduate Scholarship bees and other pollinators” (based on findings in Ontario and Quebec). They are (deadline June 1, 2014). Also consider gift memberships in Nature applied as seed dressings on wheat and canola on the prairies. PMRA is providing Saskatchewan for family and friends for Christmas or birthdays. an opportunity for public comment. Urge PMRA to conduct a serious, more comprehensive review of the environmental impact of neonicotinoids in Canada We hope you have been enjoying recent issues of Nature Views and we and take the following actions: welcome your feedback (bouquets or bricks), as it is your publication. Have a safe and wonderful autumn, Christmas and Happy New Year and don’t forget 1. Ban the use of neonicotinoids as seed treatments. to enjoy nature with family and friends! 2. Expand its review of neonicotinoids beyond bees and pollinators to include birds, aquatic invertebrates, and other wildlife. Rob Warnock and Angela Dohms 3. To reconsider the ecological soundness and sustainability of prophylactic use of systemic insecticides.

Address to which you need to submit comments: Birds and Windows Project The e-mail link for the Pest Management Regulatory Agency is The University of Alberta has developed the Birds and Windows Project to study [email protected]. You must provide your name (and bird window collisions at your home. We encourage you to take a look at our organization), phone number, and mailing or e-mail address along with your website and participate in the study. comments. Comments must be submitted by 12 December 2013 if they are to be considered. What is the issue? It has been estimated up to 1 billion birds are killed in North America each year Glen A. Fox, M.Sc as a result of bird window collisions! This is one of the largest threats facing Retired Wildlife Toxicologist urban bird populations. Residential homes are estimated to represent 90% of building-related mortality, directly related to their large number compared to other building classes. However, more work is needed; only four studies in the A segment of Nature Views is designated for Letters to the Editors. Feel free to past have focused on bird window collision mortality at houses. voice your opinion and inform members and the Nature Saskatchewan directors about issues relevant to our Society. Letters to the Editors provides valuable Get involved! comments about Nature Views’ articles, programs and ensures we keep on To better understand what can be done to reduce bird window collisions, the track! Letters may be edited for clarity and length. University of Alberta has developed this project to actively involve YOU in data collection. We are asking you to think about bird window collisions you have observed in the past and would like you to regularly search around your residence for evidence of bird window collisions in the future. By collecting this data we Nature Saskatchewan Welcomes These New hope to identify the factors that make some windows more risky for birds than Members others. Corrinne Arnold Heather Meszaros As a citizen scientist you can help! Bryce Bessant John Morris Brian Fowler Victoria Stinson Visit the website for more information: http://birdswindows.biology.ualberta.ca/. Linda Gallagher Chester Thorson Thank you for helping us make our homes a healthy habitat for us and all our Dr. Elaine Golds Alexandria Tiffinger neighbours! Please pass along the above website to anyone else you think Lyle McLellan Karen Weingeist would be interested.

The Voice of Nature for Saskatchewan Page 4 Winter 2013 Nature Views

New Operation Burrowing Owl Coordinator 2013 Nature Saskatchewan Award Recipients

Hello fellow nature enthusiasts! My name is Kaytlyn Volunteer Recognition Award: Guy Wapple Burrows (weird coincidence, I know!), and I am the For the past 40 years, Guy has been participating, new Operation Burrowing Owl (OBO) Coordinator. I compiling and submitting Christmas Bird Count started as a student with Nature Saskatchewan in Data from a large number of counts. In fact, he the summer of 2012, and I have been fortunate has been involved in 253 of them! In a number of enough to stay on full-time since then, first as Office cases, Guy has been paying the required fees to Coordinator and now as OBO Coordinator. I started Bird Studies Canada out of his own pocket. He as OBO Coordinator in July, and I could not be more has been instrumental in ensuring that valuable data thrilled! I have followed Nature Saskatchewan’s work is not lost, and assumes the administrative “burden” for several years, and I am so happy to be a part of that might discourage a number of groups of the great things that are being done here. I look volunteers from continuing to be involved. That forward to the coming months, and I am excited to activity continues to involve a significant number of learn and grow in my new position here at Nature people and gathers important data that contributes Saskatchewan. If you have any questions or to achieving our objectives. This is the kind of quiet comments regarding Operation Burrowing Owl, and continued commitment that is worthy of Kaytlyn Burrows. Photo Guy Wapple. Photo please do not hesitate to contact me at (306) 780- recognition. courtesy of Guy Wapple. 9833, toll free (Saskatchewan and Alberta only) at by Alana Block. 1-800-667-4668, or by email at [email protected]. Conservation Award: Wild About Saskatoon (citizen group) Wild About Saskatoon is a collective of nature-minded individuals working to connect culture and nature in the city of Saskatoon. The group was established Kristen Martin, Rare Plant Rescue Coordinator in 2012 with a goal to impassion Saskatoon residents with the nature that surrounds them. Wild About Saskatoon organized a week-long Nature City Hello Nature Saskatchewan Members! Festival at the end of May 2013 that brought together more than 70 community organizations and businesses who worked enthusiastically to celebrate the I was born and raised in Regina, importance of wonder and nature in everyday urban lives. The festival attracted Saskatchewan. Growing up in the city, my more than 1,200 Saskatoon residents and visitors in a remarkable program of experiences with nature were somewhat events and nature activities. limited, although some of my fondest childhood memories are of spending time Cliff Shaw Award: Alan Dodd for First recorded occurrence of Creeping outdoors. When I started classes at the Mahonia (Berberis repens Lindley) in Saskatchewan in September 2012 University of Regina after graduating from issue of Blue Jay high school, I still did not know what I The reason the Blue Jay editors chose this article: it was documentation of a wanted to be when I ‘grew up’. I decided to new plant occurrence in the province, the story was complete and full of interesting enroll in biology, since that was my favorite details, and the author put it in good context with background ecology of the subject in high school. After my second Cypress Hills, previous surveys, and other possible sources of the population year of university, I worked for the summer (introduction as an ornamental, recent invasion). The article was accompanied as a field technician on a Piping Plover by good photos, and the author did some significant revisions after constructive research project. This job opened my eyes comments from a reviewer. All in all, a very good story, useful to and readable by to the beauty, wonder, and uniqueness of both professionals and nature enthusiasts. the prairies, and I realized that my true Kristen Martin. Photo by Derek calling was a career in research and Furutani. conservation, to contribute to understanding and protecting species and their Saskatchewan to get tough on illegal drainage habitats. After graduating from the University of Regina with a Bachelor of Science Honours Degree in Biology, I spent several years working on various research Reprinted from The Western Producer - Karen Briere May 23, 2013 via June 2013 projects, studying grassland songbirds, waterfowl, and prairie snakes. With each Prairie Conservation Action Plan E-newsletter new project, my fascination with the diversity of prairie ecosystems, plants and wildlife grew. I went on to pursue a Master’s Degree in Natural Resources The Saskatchewan government is working on legislation to crack down on illegal Management from the University of Manitoba, graduating in the fall of 2012. I now drainage. Ken Cheveldayoff, Minister responsible for the Water Security Agency, live on a farm near Edenwold, SK, where I raise goats with my husband and said consultation will take place this summer and fall, online and through meetings young twin boys. I continue to enjoy spending time outside, discovering and with associations and individuals. He said the number of complaints since the observing the fascinating plants and animals that call Saskatchewan home. Now flooding of 2010 and 2011 has put a strain on the agency and its staff. that I have children, the importance of conserving our natural areas for future generations really hits home. I am thrilled to join the Nature Saskatchewan team, There were 364 complaints in 2011 and 2012, mostly neighbours complaining and look forward to meeting many of you as Rare Plant Rescue continues to about neighbours. Of those, 331 were resolved with the WSA acting as a mediator, search for, and monitor, rare plants throughout southern Saskatchewan. although 12 could not be settled and resulted in orders for the works to be closed. Thirty-three complaints are still outstanding. If you have any questions, concerns, or rare plants to report, please feel free to contact me by phone at (306) 780-9417 or by email at [email protected]. I would To read the entire article, click here: http://issuu.com/westernproducer/docs/ love to hear from you! 20130523/5?e=3157973/2611292

Ellen Bouvier Has Returned to Nature Visit the Saskatchewan Birding Trails Saskatchewan Gabriel Foley, Nature Saskatchewan Summer Assistant After a maternity leave with daughter Wren, Ellen returned to Nature Saskatchewan on November 1. Ellen has been with NS since May 2008 as the Office Coordinator Birding in a new place is fun, but it can be difficult finding that new place to go to. but returns in a new position, Communications Manager, in a 60% time role. We Sure, you can always just go exploring, and often you stumble into some fantastic look forward to her managing our website and social media as well as updating places that way. But sometimes you just want to head somewhere and see brochures and other communication materials. Welcome back, Ellen. variety and numbers of birds. If you want to go birding somewhere that has large numbers of birders, such as Ontario or B.C., it’s not so hard. A quick Google search will turn up enough information to get you on your way, and eBird locations Nature Saskatchewan Thanks These Volunteers and statistics also prove very useful. In other less populated places though, like Saskatchewan, the data either doesn’t exist or it is too sparse to be helpful. · Amanda Foley (Last Mountain Bird Observatory, Important Bird Areas) Wouldn’t it be nice if someone just made a map of the area’s classic birding · Ioanna Salvarina (Important Bird Areas) locations and put it online? · James Stamm (Fall Meet in Meadow Lake) Nature Saskatchewan has done just that. Locations have been pinpointed on an interactive map. Accommodation details, guide and itinerary recommendations, and travel information are all provided. Contact details and links for visitor Income Tax Receipts information centers, park staff, and other useful resources are given. Tips for getting there are provided and, should you wish to check out other points of Nature Saskatchewan issues an income tax receipt for each donation. This interest, like local museums, golf courses, or even spas, we have included details helps you to have your receipt handy when you need it. Your support is on that. And of course, a list of birds that are unique, plentiful, or even just less greatly appreciated! If you have made a donation and don’t receive a tax rare at that site is provided. Currently, the focus is on the western side of the receipt make sure you contact our office. province, but eventually we hope to cover all of Saskatchewan’s birding hotspots. You can find it at http://www.naturesask.ca/useful-resources/sask-birding-trails.

Conservation Now...For The Future Page 5 Winter 2013 Nature Views

Nature Saskatchewan Director Receives a Last Mountain Bird Observatory – Fall 2013 Conservation Award Alan R. Smith, Bander-in-charge, Last Mountain Bird Observatory, E-mail: Following text is an adapted version of an article that was originally published in [email protected] AgriCulture, newsletter of the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

Dr. Branimir Gjetvaj, member of the Nature Saskatchewan Board of Directors recently won “Michelle’s Prize” – an award presented by the Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA). This scholarship award was established to mark CELA’s 40th anniversary of legal, community and social action directed toward protecting the environment. The award honours the life work of Michelle Swenarchuk, a lawyer, environmental activist and former Executive Director of CELA who passed away in 2008. Branimir won this award for his academic work at the University of Saskatchewan, his extensive participation in several key environmental organizations in Sask- atchewan and his promotion of Dr. Branimir Gjetvaj. Photo environmental protection through courtesy of Dr. Branimir Gjetvaj. photography. 2013 fall banding crew at Last Mountain Bird Observatory: Jordan Rustad, Al Smith, Ryan Dudragne and Gabriel Foley. Photo by Amanda Foley. Branimir’s interest in the environment is reflected in his current work at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, developing biofuel crops that can be grown on more saline soils. His background in genetics, obtained through a Master’s 24th consecutive fall of coverage (21st of standardized coverage). degree from Dalhousie University and a PhD from Queen’s University, complement the work he is doing on developing these crops. He is also working part-time Migration Monitoring: toward another degree: a Master of Sustainable Environmental Management through the University of Saskatchewan. His goals in completing this additional First day of coverage: 6 August. degree are to have the knowledge and credentials to speak about environmental Last day of coverage: 7 October. and social policies in the field of agriculture. Total days of coverage: 63 of a possible 66. Percent of days with adequate coverage: 95%. His latest project, Environmental and Socio-Economic Implications of Growing Bioenergy Productions Crops on Marginal Land in Saskatchewan, will examine Number of staff: 4 (Ryan Dudragne, Gabriel Foley, Jordan Rustad, Alan Smith). the potential environmental implications of growing biofuel crops on land that is Number of volunteers: 18 (Bert Dalziel, Kari Dalziel, Harold Fisher, Shelly Fisher, not well suited for conventional crop production. The premise of this research is Amanda Foley, Joyce Holland, Ron Jensen, Nicole Michel, Beatrix Prieto, Josie that tame pasture and native grasslands are agricultural land classes that are Rustad, Nick Saunders, Lori Sielski, Phil Taylor, Guy Wapple, Rob Wapple, Lacey considered “marginal” under current levels of production and could possibly be Weekes, Barb Weidl, Don Weidl,). used to grow biofuel crops. His thesis research is essentially a risk assessment Number of person-days effort: 151 including 131 staff and 20 volunteer (135 last of potential threats to grassland habitat and biodiversity – adding to the body of year). work about the impact of agriculture and land-use change on the environment. Number of visitors: 348 (record high).

In addition to being on the Board of Directors for Nature Saskatchewan, and a Observation effort: census, casual and incidental observations. past board member for the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society and Saskatoon Trapping effort: 13 12mx30mm mist nets for 3887 net hours; 1060 birds/1000 net Nature Society, Branimir is also an environmental photographer. One of his recent hours (record high; 1992-2012 average: 620). photography projects resulted in an award-winning book called “The Great Sand Hills: A Prairie Oasis”. His photos also grace the covers of several of Number of species observed: ~110. Saskatchewan’s phone books. You can learn more about Branimir and check Number of species captured: 78 (1992-2012 average: 71). out his amazing photos at www.branimirphoto.ca. New birds captured (includes birds released without banding): 4,121 (second highest ever; 1992-2012 average: 2667). Eight birds returned after banding The CELA award is the culmination of a lot of hard work. “I was thrilled to receive in previous years (one was from 2011, the rest from 2012). this award. It is always gratifying to be recognized for one’s work,” said Branimir. Species Peak: 26 August and 1 September, 28 species. “It was truly an honour to be chosen. This award has given me a great deal of Banding peak: 19 September: 377 birds (3rd highest ever). motivation to continue in this field and to keep striving for change in environmental policy.” Top 10 New Captures: Yellow-rumped Warbler 1,856 Least Flycatcher 94 Congratulations Branimir on receiving Michelle’s Prize! Yellow Warbler 586 Tennessee Warbler 91 Orange-crowned Warbler 126 Ovenbird 85 Alder Flycatcher 123 Dark-eyed Junco 84 Palm Warbler 95 Clay-coloured Sparrow 81

Saskatchewan Birds Calendar 2014 Comments: As with last year, the outstanding feature of this fall was the lateness of Yellow- Nick Saunders popular Saskatchewan Birds Calendar is once again for sale and rumped Warbler migration. Numbers peaked on 19 September, some 8 days make great Christmas presents! later than the long-term average of 11 September. Record numbers of Yellow rumps were captured; our 1,856 birds eclipsing the previous high of 1337 set in The 2014 edition measures 11x17 1994. All other species were captured in near normal numbers. Our first Sedge and is made of high quality card Wren was captured raising our all-time fall species total to 113 banded species. stock. Each image is suitable for A Broad-winged Hawk on 30 September was only our third capture. Our best framing. If you would like to see a rarity was an immature Sabine’s Gull observed on 18 September. preview of each month, this can be arranged upon request. Disclaimer: these are preliminary results and may be subject to revision.

The price is still only $20.00.

Postage within Canada is Are you Moving? Please let us Know! $3.00,and $5.00 if sending to the US. If you are planning on moving and wish to continue receiving Nature Views and Blue Jay, PLEASE notify the Nature Saskatchewan office in Regina at Local buyers are welcome to pick up calendars in person. 306-780-9273 or 1-800-667- 4668 (in SK only) during regular business hours Monday to Friday or anytime by fax at 306-780-9263 or e-mail at Please contact Nick via email [email protected] or by phone 306-934-2566 [email protected]. It is a waste of money and resources when you don’t as it costs Nature Saskatchewan for all returned mail. Thank you.

The Voice of Nature for Saskatchewan Page 6 Winter 2013 Nature Views Count Yourself In for the 2013 Christmas Bird and Mammal Counts! Great Weather Contributes to Successful Fall Meet Jordan Ignatiuk, Executive Director, Nature Saskatchewan Rob Warnock, Co-editor, Nature Views, Nature Saskatchewan

In the winter of 2012-13, over 700 observers completed 90 Christmas Bird Counts (CBCs) in Saskatchewan. During the count period, over 113,000 birds of 98 species were counted! Thank you to all participants. Christmas Bird Counts can be a great way to share time with fellow naturalists, both during and at a get-together after the count. We encourage all interested folks to participate in Christmas Bird Counts. This winter will be the 72nd annual CBC in Saskatchewan.

In Saskatchewan, an annual Christmas Mammal Count (CMC) is held alongside the CBC (since 1973) with this winter being the 41st annual CMC. In 2012, 85 CMCs were completed with 3,406 individuals of 38 mammal species recorded during the count period.

Many of the CBC counts are submitted to Bird Studies Canada (BSC) and from there go into the continental Audubon database. This database is used daily by biologists to track bird distribution and abundance, and thus CBC counts submitted to BSC are contributing to bird conservation. The database is freely available to everyone. Thank you to our CBC compilers for submitting to the Audubon database! Fall Meet participants on forestry tour lead by Al Balisky and Roger Nesdoly of Therefore, we encourage even more 2013 counts to go into the continental Mistik Management. Photo by Fraser Hunter. database because submission of counts to the continental database is now Attendance may have been only half of the spring meet but for those participating, FREE! Let’s make our volunteer hours (sometimes in frosty weather!) and the program organized and hosted by the Meadow Lake Junior Forest Wardens (a citizen science count for more by submitting our Saskatchewan results into Nature Saskatchewan affiliate) more than made up for the lack of numbers. And the continental data pool! the incredible fall weather was an added bonus. Important and exciting news from Audubon for the Christmas Bird Count The Meadow Lake Golf Club served as the gathering point for Friday registration. program Finger food and refreshments preceded a program outlining Saturday’s tours. A photo presentation of the boreal forest by Brenda Rutz followed and the evening The CBC is now FREE! concluded with Dean Cattell, Meadow Lake Provincial Park Superintendent, describing the many kilometers of boreal trails developed in the park. After nearly two years of internal discussions, budget modeling, head-scratching, and intense decision-making by Audubon, two major changes will come to the Saturday morning, members gathered at the Woodland Inn to travel by van or Christmas Bird Count program effective with the Count in December 2012. personal vehicle to Pagan Lake. Here we were split into two groups, one being led on a forest driving tour by Mistik Management while the other split into two smaller First, the CBC is now a free program. Audubon will no longer charge the $5 fee groups to participate in Junior Forest Warden led presentations or a ‘voyageur’ for each field participant. history and canoeing experience. The forest tour, led by Al Balisky, CEO of Mistik Management, consisted of over 10 stops, portraying various forest management Second, to minimize the effects of the loss of fee income, American Birds will techniques and stages of reforestation. All agreed the presentations were excellent no longer be printed on paper and mailed to participants, and Audubon will and informative. The Junior Forest Wardens set up three stations to display activities move to an online delivery of the summary results of the CBC. they are taught as part of their outdoor education program; fire starting, tree planting and boreal plant identification and various traditional uses of these plants. Board For More Information… Member, Vinessa Currie Foster, operator of Clearwater Canoeing, an eco-tourism To learn where and when Christmas Bird Counts are held and who to contact to adventure company, gave a fact filled history of the fur-trade and the ‘voyageur’ participate in your area of interest, please contact Alan Smith, the Saskatchewan lifestyle followed by a paddle in a voyageur canoe. Vinessa also provided the group Christmas Bird and Mammal Count Coordinator at [email protected], or with a delicious ‘boreal’ lunch after which the two split groups traded activities for Dick Cannings, CBC Coordinator for Bird Studies Canada, at the afternoon. [email protected]. A return to the Meadow Lake Golf Club in the late afternoon for a short business CBC compilers, please submit your Christmas Bird Counts online, and meeting, including a resolution and members forum, preceded a banquet. Members also email or snail mail Christmas Bird and Mammal Counts to Alan were welcomed to Meadow Lake by MLA Jeremy Harrison and Mayor Gary Vidal. Smith. Nature Saskatchewan can help with online submission and any The Nature Saskatchewan Volunteer of the year Award was received by Guy Wapple participant costs for counts where this is needed. We greatly appreciate the for his many years of compiling and submitting the data from Christmas Bird Counts time, costs and effort donated by all participants! and Wild About Saskatoon received the Conservation Award for their organization of the week long Nature City Festival. The Blue Jay editors, subsequent to the Fall Christmas Bird Counts – A Long Tradition Meet, chose Alan Dodd for the Cliff Shaw Award (see article in the September 2012 From the CBC page on the BSC website: issue of Blue Jay). The evening concluded with an inspirational presentation on http://www.bsc-eoc.org/volunteer/cbc/index.jsp?lang=EN&targetpg=index the Junior Forest Warden Program by Dave Cullen, Chief Warden of Canada, and Roger Madaire, President of the Alberta JFW Association. They viewed the shared In 1900, American ornithologist Frank Chapman asked birders across North passion of the outdoors between the two organizations as an opportunity for America to head out on Christmas Day to count the birds in their hometowns collaboration to inspire new generations of naturalists and conservationists. and submit the results as the first “Christmas Bird Census.” His suggestion has evolved into one of the largest organized birding events in the world, and a holiday tradition during the Christmas season for over 50,000 birders each year. Forest Birds Improve Coffee Yields The Christmas Bird Count, as it is now called, is conducted in over 2,000 localities across Canada, the United States, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Reprinted from Bird Studies Canada September 13, 2013 E-newsletter These bird observations, collected during one-day field counts within defined circular areas, have been amassed into a huge database that reflects the A study recently published in Ecology Letters indicates that protecting forest patches distribution and numbers of winter birds over time. alongside farmlands is a “win-win” – not only for biodiversity, but also for coffee farmers. Experiments conducted in Costa Rica demonstrated that by feeding on For many years, the New York-based National Audubon Society organized the the coffee berry borer beetle (coffee’s most damaging insect pest), native forest Christmas Bird Count at the continental scale. In 2000, Audubon and Bird birds can reduce infestation by roughly 50%. Conserving farmland forest cover, and Studies Canada (BSC) finalized an agreement that would see BSC partner with associated biodiversity, provides significant pest control services and financial Audubon to coordinate counts in this country. benefits. The abstract of the article “Forest bolsters bird abundance, pest control and coffee yield” is available on the Ecology Letters website at http:// This database can be accessed through the Audubon CBC Database website onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ele.12173/abstract. at http://birds.audubon.org/christmas-bird-count. Obituaries and Tributes

Turning Leaves Readers are welcome to submit memorials for family and friends who were involved in Nature Saskatchewan or one of the Local Societies. Memorials should be brief and photos are permitted.

Conservation Now...For The Future Page 7 Winter 2013 Nature Views

Important Bird Area Summer Adventure

Gabriel Foley, Nature Saskatchewan Summer a different IBA that was a little farther north so I Assistant saw incrementally the longitudinal transition in vegetation, bird species, and, most fascinating I glanced up at a swallow fluttering above me. It of all, the changes in abundance of each bird was longer-winged and more slender than the species. Tree, Barn, and Bank Swallows I was accustomed to seeing. Through my binoculars, I also met some great people while I was on the I could see the field marks that made it a Violet- road. I was impressed with how enthusiastic green Swallow: white belly, dark back, extensive each caretaker I talked to was. Lori Wilson white cheek patch, white undertail coverts that worked an all-nighter and then toured me around extended high onto the rump. It was an exciting all day at Reed and Chaplin Lakes before we find; few had been seen here. I was a mile into had to run for cover from lightning. Karrie Derouin the East Block of Grasslands National Park, was full of historical facts about the Mantario trekking across breathtaking badlands and area, and we even found a couple of Black- looking for any birds I could find. And I was at necked Stilts. Leah Tallis showed me around work. Radisson Lake, where we found a couple of Le Conte’s Sparrows and a pair of sailboaters. John I had spent the past six weeks travelling to Kindrachuk drove me around the perimeter of twenty-six different Important Bird Areas, or IBAs, Gabriel Foley checking out some distant Prairie Falcons. Redberry Lake, Saskatchewan’s only biosphere in Saskatchewan. This had, very literally, taken Photo by Ioanna Salvarina. reserve, and together we counted a lot of ducks. me on a tour of the whole province. I had covered John Woulfe and I weren’t able to reach most of over 14,000 kilometers and spent more than 300 hours in my truck. The his IBA due to washed out roads, but John still filled me in on his many sightings northernmost border was the only border I hadn’t seen. I saw a total of 151 prior to my arrival, including Trumpeter Swans. Gordon Clark took me out on Old species in those six weeks and added four new birds to my list of birds I have Wives Lake in his kayak and we had a great time paddling and birding. seen in Saskatchewan (Pileated Woodpecker, Great Gray Owl, Great Egret, and Orchard Oriole). I had been hired by Nature Saskatchewan to count whatever I stopped and watched two young Rock Wrens hopping around on the side of the birds could be found at these IBAs, to look for any potential conservation threats, butte. The large gape on their mouth signaling their youth was still very obvious, and to meet with IBA caretakers. and their tails hadn’t quite reached adult size. They slowly hopped their way from rock to rock, working their way to a large crevice that they disappeared into. An Important Bird Area is essentially just what it sounds like: an area that is This would be my last IBA to survey. It had been a great summer, working at a important to birds. Areas become IBAs because there are endangered species job that didn’t feel a bit like work. Before too long I would be reminded what office using a site regularly (such as shoreline for Piping Plovers) or large numbers of walls were, use my car for trips to the grocery store rather than the next town on birds (like Sanderlings at Chaplin Lake). There is no protection afforded to a site the map, and be forced to watch birds through a window rather than binoculars. simply by virtue of being an IBA, but it does help begin the conservation process But for now I was still in one of the most spectacular places in the province, by identifying sites that are critical to birds. Most IBAs have a caretaker, a surrounded by birds and loving every minute of it. volunteer who goes out to an IBA two to three times annually to survey the birds and look for threats. Of the 53 Saskatchewan sites, there are still a handful If you or someone you may know can spare a day or two per year to visit without these caretakers, particularly in the north or southwest where there are an IBA, the following sites still require volunteer caretakers. Please fewer residents. consider becoming an IBA Caretaker for one of them: Big Muddy Lake (& surroundings); Cabri Area; Cumberland Marshes; Grasslands National Park - At the top of the butte where the swallows were performing their aerial acrobatics, East Block; Primrose lake; and Suggi Lake. As we are uncertain about the fate I picked out four unusual lumps. Once I focused my binoculars on the lumps, of the IBA sites that are on AESB pastureland, caretakers are not being recruited the lumps transformed into falcons. Prairie Falcons. Like most raptors, falcons for these sites at this time. These IBAs include Bigstick Lake Plain, Govenlock- tend to be solitary, or in pairs during the nesting season. If four were together it Nashlyn-Battle Creek Grasslands, Kindersley-Elma, and Maple Creek meant there was a nest nearby, but that the young had joined the parents in the Grasslands. air. It wasn’t long before I located a probable nest site, a ledge on the side of the butte whitewashed with Prairie Falcon excrement. With this job, there is no *To find descriptions of all of the IBA sites, go to www.ibacanada.ca, then Explore chance of getting bored. IBAs, IBA Site Directory, and restrict search to Saskatchewan to bring up the list of all of the IBAs. One of the best things about this job is that every day is something different. One day I am camping in the boreal forest, the next I am surveying aspen parkland, Please contact Lacey Weekes for more details or information on becoming a and then I am giving a presentation at a provincial park. A summer highlight was caretaker, by e-mail at [email protected] or by phone at 306-780-9481 in when I travelled from Maple Creek to Meadow Lake over a week. Each day I did Regina or 1-800-667-4668 in SK. Thank you for your interest. A Heartfelt Thank You to Nature Saskatchewan PlantWatch Saskatchewan 2013 – A Late Cool and the Fall Meet Participants Spring Neil Marsh, Meadow Lake Junior Forest Wardens Lacey Weekes, PlantWatch Saskatchewan The Meadow Lake Junior Forest Wardens would like to extend a heartfelt “Thank- Coordinator, Nature Saskatchewan You” to everyone who attended the Fall Meet. We were delighted to meet you and we hope that you had as much fun as we did. It was a pleasure to show off our Another year of PlantWatching has passed, corner of the province and to be able to demonstrate some of the things we do in and to date 16 PlantWatchers have our youth education program. submitted over 200 bloom records from the spring and summer of 2013! It was a very We also enjoyed learning more about Nature Saskatchewan and the activities of late cool spring and a mild summer the various local societies. throughout most of Saskatchewan, but many PlantWatchers still were able to record the blooming dates of many species. This information will aid in climate We were fortunate to have our association’s President Roger Madaire and Chief change research and phenology studies (study of the seasonal timing of lifecycle Warden Dave Cullen in attendance. This was their first experience of Nature events, such as the first bloom). Saskatchewan, and they expressed their hope for many future collaborations between our two fine organizations. We have much in common, and there are The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released their report stating many opportunities for mutual support, in our efforts to develop understanding and it is extremely likely that humans are the dominant factor in global warming. The enjoyment of nature and responsible attitudes among our youth and the public. report states that the atmosphere and oceans have warmed, the amount of ice and snow has diminished, the global mean sea level has risen, and the We would like to extend special thanks to local NS members Rhys Beaulieu, concentration of greenhouse gases have increased. It’s more important than Brenda Meier Rutz and Lorraine Twidale for their assistance throughout the event, ever to collect climate change data through blooming dates. to our friends Al Balisky and Roger Nesdoly at Mistik Management for their excellent tours, and most especially to Vinessa Currie-Foster for her boundless energy, Thank-you to everyone who submitted PlantWatch observations this year! If you enthusiasm and great ideas. know of an individual, school, youth, community or nature group that would be interested in any of the PlantWatch or NatureWatch materials, please e-mail We hope you had a safe and enjoyable journey home - especially the first bit, as [email protected], or call 306-780-9481 in Regina or toll-free at 1-800- the fall colours were at their peak in the boreal forest! 667-4668. Best wishes to all, and we hope to see you again soon.

The Voice of Nature for Saskatchewan Page 8 Winter 2013 Nature Views

Operation Burrowing Owl Update TEN Years of Prairie Loggerhead Shrike Habitat Conservation Kaytlyn Burrows, Habitat Stewardship Coordinator, Nature Saskatchewan Rebecca Magnus, Habitat Stewardship Coordinator, Nature Saskatchewan, The leaves are falling and the chill of a colder The Shrubs for Shrikes (SFS) habitat stewardship program is celebrating ten years season is upon us. It of shrike conservation in Saskatchewan! The SFS program was initiated in 2003 in makes us all want to stay response to a sharp decline in the Prairie Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus home, stay warm and excubitorides) population. The prairie population had declined by more than 80% in hibernate! Even with the less than 30 years. change of seasons, Operation Burrowing Owl With Operation Burrowing Owl serving as a model, the SFS program was created to (OBO) is as busy as ever. raise awareness amongst landowners, and to work towards habitat conservation for OBO had a challenging Loggerhead Shrikes. Today, including the 12 new participants that joined SFS this but productive field summer, there are 130 participants conserving nearly 8,000 ha (19,768 acres) of season this year. Loggerhead Shrike habitat. Because of funding Burrowing Owl. Photo by Scott Goodwill. uncertainty, the OBO The tenth field season Coordinator position was not filled until mid-July, after Lacey Weekes took on was met with the the role of Education and Conservation Manager. Not only did we have a challenge of reduced challenging summer, but so too did the Burrowing Owls. The long winter and summer staffing, but it wet spring may have been a contributing factor to gopher and badger numbers still proved to be being down, and therefore, to the low number of Burrowing Owls being reported successful. Fewer by our participants and the public. The 2013 census follow-up is ongoing and landowner visits were the data is still being compiled, however, so far we can report that our participants conducted (only 12 sit have sighted 21 pairs on 18 different sites for the 2013 season. This is a 40 down visits); however, percent drop from last year’s 35 reported pairs. The conservation of these rare an eight-day grid road and critical grassland sites is so very important, and OBO thanks its dedicated search was still participants for their continued support and for helping OBO to gather all of this conducted. During the valuable data. search between Val Marie, Govenlock, and We are visiting some of our OBO participants a little later than usual this year, Eastend, staff observed and so far it has been a success! The visits are ongoing, but so far we have 35 pairs and 15 young. visited a total of 38 current OBO participants, five potential OBO participants, The annual SFS Wiggens family proudly puts up their Shrubs for Shrikes signed three new participants, and we are working hard on signing up a couple participant census also gate sign. Photo by Irene Wiggens. more. Burrowing Owl sighting calls to the HOOT line were also fewer this resulted in 22 pairs and year, so it has been a challenge to find new participants. In addition to landowner 8 young reported. Two news releases also went out this summer, and three visits, we hosted a Conservation Awareness Day in Wood Mountain, and had presentations were given. One conservation awareness supper was held in Wood a great time chatting with our participants over a delicious meal. We are Mountain Regional Park, attracting 23 participants and locals for a delicious meal planning on hosting one more Conservation Awareness Day in November, and and lively presentations. attending a number of other events in the coming months, like the Kids Gone Wild for Wildlife event in Saskatoon. Ten years of habitat conservation for Loggerhead Shrikes is just the beginning. We have reached out to, and had sit down visits with, over 600 landowners and land From all of us at Nature Saskatchewan, I would also like to thank Lacey managers, and reached out to thousands more through our presentations, publications Weekes for her many contributions to OBO during her years as the coordinator, and news releases. However, we still have a lot of work to do! There are many and we wish her the best of luck in her new position as the Education and shelterbelts and abandoned farmsteads being taken down each year, and many Conservation Manager. She will be missed among the SOS staff but we know more that are at risk of being lost in the future. Pesticide use on crops is not likely she is not far…just down the hall! to stop, so it is up to us to work with landowners and raise awareness about responsible use of these chemicals. We understand the need to put food on the As always, if you have any questions or comments about Operation Burrowing table, but also understand there has to be a balance if we are to maintain our Owl, please do not hesitate to give me a call at (306) 780-9833, toll free biodiversity. (Saskatchewan and Alberta only) at 1-800-667-4668, or email me at [email protected]. I would love to hear from you! I extend my heartfelt thank you to all those conserving habitat for Loggerhead Shrikes and all species. We must continue to support wildlife habitat conservation and Canadian Scientists Publish Human-Related Bird threat mitigation, hopefully resulting in the Loggerhead Shrike being downlisted from Mortality Estimates threatened, and its recovery to a healthy population for future generations to experience and enjoy. Reprinted from Bird Studies Canada October 4, 2013 E-newsletter If you have any questions concerns, or would like to share a story, please feel free to Over the last four years, 20 Environment contact Rebecca at 306-780-9832, toll free at 1-800-667-4668, or Canada scientists conducted extensive [email protected]. analyses to produce the first-ever estimates of annual direct bird mortality from human-related sources. Their MyAvibase Launched findings were published this week in Avian Conservation and Ecology, the Reprinted from Bird Studies Canada August 30, 2013, E- electronic scientific journal of Bird newsletter Studies Canada and the Society of Canadian Ornithologists. The results You may already be familiar with Avibase, (http:// indicate that human-related activities Yellow Warbler. Photo by Ron avibase.birdscanada.org/avibase.jsp) a website hosted by destroy roughly 269 million birds and 2 Rideout. Bird Studies Canada and managed by our senior scientist million bird nests in Canada each year. Dr. Denis Lepage. A new tool for birdwatchers and eBird users, MyAvibase, has just been launched. MyAvibase Most human-related bird deaths (about 99%) are caused by impacts of feral (http://avibase.birdscanada.org/myavibase.jsp) allows and pet cats, and collisions with transmission lines, buildings, and vehicles. birdwatchers to maintain their lifelists and generate Cats appear to kill as many birds as all other sources combined – more than additional reports. For example, using maps and graphs, 100 million birds annually in Canada. Species that nest or feed on or near the users can quickly see how many species can be found in ground are especially vulnerable to cat predation. Collisions with electricity a given region and at various times of year. eBird users can transmission and distribution lines have been identified as the second-largest easily import their lifelists into Avibase, then view how many human-caused source of bird mortality in Canada, causing between 10-41 new species they could potentially add on a trip (aiding million bird deaths per year. Collisions with residential and commercial buildings birding trip planning), and generate custom printable are the third-highest of the human-related sectors, killing an estimated 16-42 checklists highlighting target species. million birds each year – mostly at houses. MyAvibase offers many additional features. Best of all, like To learn more, read our post on the BirdLife Community at http://www.birdlife.org/ Avibase, MyAvibase is available for free! Learn more and community/2013/10/canadian-scientists-publish-human-related-bird-mortality- explore sample reports on the eBird Canada website at estimates, or explore the special issue of Avian Conservation and Ecology at http://ebird.org/content/canada/news/240/). http://www.ace-eco.org/issues/view.php?sf=4. Conservation Now...For The Future Page 9 Winter 2013 Nature Views

Rare Plant Rescue: Notes from the Field

Kristen Martin, Habitat Stewardship Coordinator, Nature Saskatchewan species is greatly increased when flowers Cooler temperatures are present, the crew are once again upon concentrated their us, signalling the surveys from sunrise impending arrival of until noon. While this another winter on the made for very early prairies. With that, mornings, there is I would like to take nothing better than this opportunity to fill watching a beautiful you in on Rare Plant sunrise over the vast, Rescue’s (RPR) open prairie! While 2013 field season. 2013 may not have been a good year for Although I only Slender Mouse-ear- stepped into the role cress, it was certainly Western Spiderwort (Tradescantia occidentalis). of RPR coordinator better for Smooth Photo by Sarah Vinge-Mazer. at the end of August, Goosefoot, as the crew Stewards of Saskatchewan summer students Steve when both Sarah found seven new occurrences of this species! While we only found a single new Abbott and Kayla Hatzel setting up a Slender Mouse- Vinge-Mazer and occurrence of Western Spiderwort, we also encountered seven new occurrences ear-cress search transect near Burstall, SK. Photo by Laurie Johnson, who of Beaked Annual Skeletonweed, a provincially-rare plant in Saskatchewan. Laurie Johnson. was filling in while Sarah was on maternity leave, left to pursue other employment opportunities, Next, we monitored several known occurrences of Hairy Prairie-clover. In total, Laurie filled me in on all of the RPR summer crew’s activities. Due to the uncertainty 313 plants were counted, all appearing to be in good condition despite the on- of some funding for 2013-2014, Nature Saskatchewan only hired two summer going threat of Leafy Spurge invasion. We ended the field season with several students between all of the Stewards of Saskatchewan programs; compared to searches for Tiny Cryptanthe. This species is notoriously hard to find, as plants the seven summer staff we have had in previous years. As with any non-profit can be very tiny (hence the name!) and there are many look-alike species. organization, the amount of on-the-ground work and outreach activities we are Unfortunately, we did not find any new Tiny Cryptanthe occurrences in 2013, able to accomplish is always dependent on available funding, and we do our best although we did find plants at two of the three known locations that we revisited. to stretch every dollar. Despite these challenges, our dedicated and hard-working summer crew was still able to conduct searches for rare plants on 20 new quarter One thing we look forward to every year is visiting our stewards. This summer, we sections, and monitored 15 rare plant occurrences that had been found in previous visited seven current participants and 12 potential stewards. We were very pleased years. to welcome three new members to the RPR community, bringing the total number of RPR participants to 74. Together, these stewards are now conserving over After a few weeks of training at the beginning of May, the RPR crew headed out to 80,000 acres of native prairie habitat! We would like to extend a big thank-you to search for Slender Mouse-ear-cress near Burstall, Saskatchewan. Unfortunately, all of our participating landowners and land managers for their dedication to the crew was not successful in locating any new occurrences of this species, conservation in Saskatchewan. and visits to sites where plants were found in previous years also turned up empty. However, searches did result in new occurrences of Small Lupine and Special thanks need to be given to our RPR search crew members, Steve Abbott Prickly Milk-vetch, two provincially-rare plant species. Additional searches for and Kayla Hatzel. We appreciated all of their hard work in the field this summer! Slender Mouse-ear-cress near Bethune, Saskatchewan, were also unsuccessful We wish them the best of luck with their fall school and work endeavours. I would in locating this species. However, as with all rare plants, even absence data is also like to thank Rebecca Magnus, Lacey Weekes and Melissa Ranalli for their valuable as we continue to learn more about the ecological requirements of this assistance with RPR, and Laurie Johnson for all of her hard work as RPR species, which is listed as Threatened under the federal Species at Risk Act. coordinator over the past year, and for helping me make a smooth transition into Further, Slender Mouse-ear-cress seeds may remain viable in the soil for several the role of RPR Coordinator! Finally, from all of us at Nature Saskatchewan, we years, so there is still hope that we will see this rare plant again in future years as would like to thank Sarah Vinge-Mazer for her many contributions to RPR during we continue our searching and monitoring efforts. her years as the coordinator, and we wish her the best of luck in her new position at the Saskatchewan Conservation Data Centre. In July, the crew shifted its focus to searching for Smooth Goosefoot and Western Spiderwort near Douglas Provincial Park, Saskatchewan. These species typically As always, if you have any questions about RPR or rare plants in general, please occur in similar habitats, usually along sandy slopes and in partially stabilized feel free to contact me at (306) 780-9417 or [email protected]. I would love to blowouts and dunes. Often only one Western Spiderwort flower opens per day, hear from you! typically opening in the morning and closing by noon. As the ability to detect this

New Stewards of Saskatchewan Banner Program for All Species at Risk

Rebecca Magnus and Kayla Hatzel, Stewards of Those with SAR on their land (other than our ambassador Saskatchewan staff, Nature Saskatchewan. species) are invited to participate in this new blanket program. Benefits of becoming a participating habitat steward will be Stewards of Saskatchewan (SOS) staff are happy to share gaining recognition through a gate sign, receiving an the launch of the new SOS banner gate sign! Our SOS informational conservation toolbox, the annual SOS newsletter conservation programs have primarily focused on protecting and species at risk calendar, graduated rewards for continued habitat for target ambassador species, such as the Burrowing participation, inclusion in a like-minded group of landowners Owl and Loggerhead Shrike. The SOS banner program, with and land managers, an invitation to our Conservation six participants, is unique in that it recognizes the land Awareness Day events, accessing funding opportunities to stewardship of landowners and managers with any species enhance species at risk habitat, and much more. The new at risk (SAR) on their land, and not only our target species. SOS gate, artwork by Paule Hjertaas, boasts a Northern Leopard Frog, Monarch Butterfly, Ferruginous Hawk, Nature Saskatchewan’s recognition of habitat stewardship Sprague’s Pipit, and Long-Billed Curlew in a natural rural for species at risk was initiated through Operation Burrowing landscape. Owl (OBO) in 1987. Since then, the SOS suite has evolved to include Shrubs for Shrikes (SFS), Rare Plant Rescue For a complete list of SAR in Saskatchewan or to discuss (RPR), and Plovers on Shore (POS). With the addition of the program further, please call our toll-free number at 1-800- three new OBO, twelve new SFS, six new POS, and four 667-4668, or email [email protected] to have a list new RPR participants in 2013, these programs have engaged emailed to you. By reporting a SAR sighting, you are helping a total of 649 participants who are conserving nearly 100,000 to monitor SAR, and providing information important to the ha (247,100 acres) of prairie, and 100 km of shoreline habitat New Stewards of Saskatchewan conservation of these species. Information reported is not for species at risk. The SOS banner program will focus on banner gate sign designed by Paule shared without permission. all of the other SAR that may be present on private or crown Hjertaas. Photo courtesy of Nature land. Saskatchewan.

The Voice of Nature for Saskatchewan Page 10 Winter 2013 Nature Views

Notes from Turtle Lake Nature Sanctuary Share your expertise! Consider being a guest instructor at the 2014 Darlene Roth, Steward, Turtle Lake Nature Sanctuary Junior Forest Wardens National Camp!

Piles of fall leaves mean different On July 13, 2014, more than 600 people of all ages will gather in the Meadow things to different people. If you’re a Lake Provincial Park for a week of learning and fun in the outdoors. JFW clubs kid, leaf piles are for jumping in, hiding from across Alberta, British Columbia and Newfoundland will join the Meadow in and throwing in the air. To many Lake Woodlanders for this unique event, this time in Saskatchewan for the first adults, autumn leaves mean work. time ever! But if you’re a nature lover, a pile of dead leaves is moving with life! For The days are filled with a dazzling variety of educational sessions. To name a many creatures, leaf piles are places few that have been featured at past National Camps: to hibernate, hide, hunt and survive. Woodcarving, soapstone carving, bark carving, carving wooden flutes, Now that our birds have had the calling making rawhide, making rawhide drums, blacksmithing, medicinal plants, to migrate there are different things edible plants, mushrooms, cordage, bush skills, survival skills, kayaking to search for in our sanctuary. Take a & canoeing, photography, painting, music, crafts, wildlife knowledge, nice tranquil walk and enjoy the astronomy, weather, hunting skills, day trips, wilderness first aid, camp peacefulness that fall brings. You cooking, endangered species, habitat restoration, nest box building…… may be surprised at how many birds The list is incredibly long, and up to 80 sessions per day are offered to campers! Mother Nature leaves us to enjoy over the winter months. In the evenings there are various performances that the whole camp, including instructors, can enjoy. We were happy to have visitors from the Nature Saskatchewan Fall Meet How you can help that was held in Meadow Lake. The The tree trail in Turtle Lake Nature We want to have as much Saskatchewan knowledge and talent as possible at trails were groomed for the last time Sanctuary is just one of many that wind this camp. If you, or anyone you know, has knowledge or skills to share, we this year for these fall travellers. I you through Mother Nature’s work of art want to hear from you! Come and instruct for a half day, a full day or all week. would like to thank my helpers breathtaking autumn colours. Photo by Sessions can be short or long, and can be offered once or multiple times throughout Georgie and Glen Taylor for taking the Darlene Roth. the week, and can be aimed at any age group. Compensation is in the form of lawn mowers for a walk throughout meals, material costs, and an opportunity to join in an amazing event and a the trails this summer. It was greatly appreciated. A guest book will be at the front vibrant group of outdoor enthusiasts. gate, please take time to drop a note of your experience through our Sanctuary. I know we have missed some great visitors to our trail and points of interest. Please send all inquiries and questions regarding National Camp (or anything else related to JFW) to: As a cabin owner at Turtle Lake, I have started to make time with my guests to Meadow Lake Junior Forest Wardens explore and enjoy all that Turtle Lake Nature Sanctuary has to offer. Just this 513 - 2nd Ave West summer, my guests from Alberta were raving about their experience with their trail Meadow Lake, SK S9X 1B2 walk I took them on. I listened intently and now I have added this sanctuary walk E-mail: [email protected] a must do, for my guests, things to do on their growing bucket list. But while my time is somewhat limited, the time of vacationers is endless and I thought I’d Thank you! share this as something you would be as surprised to do with your own summer guests. They will love it!

New points of interest will be added to the trails next year. Pick up a check list Thousands of Songbirds Killed at Gas Plant sheet at the gate and see if you have seen and noted them all. Test your navigating skills. What a challenge. Come for a nature walk. Explore the openness of the Reprinted from Nature Canada September 26, 2013 E-newsletter strawberry meadow sparkling with wildflowers. The trails are laid with the towers of old-growth trees while new vegetation growth pokes its head above the grasses. Last week thousands of birds were killed after flying into a gas flare at a natural The landscape is ever changing. gas plant operated by Canaport LNG in Saint John’s, New Brunswick. It appears that the birds – most of them songbirds – were confused by the bright light We hope to have some cross country trails made through the sanctuary this emitted by the flare and were drawn to it like moths. winter. The forest never sleeps. Try your hand at animal track identification throughout our snow covered trails. It’s estimated that 7,500 songbirds died at the plant, cutting short their yearly migration to wintering grounds in Mexico, Central and South America. Among Thanks Muriel Carlson for all your help this year. We have a great year next year the birds identified at the site were Red-eyed Vireos, Black and White Warblers, to look forward to. Magnolia Warblers, American Redstarts, and a few thrushes and Red-breasted Grosbeaks. Join Project FeederWatch Don McAlpine, the head of zoology at the New Brunswick Museum, was quoted Reprinted from Bird Studies Canada October 4, 2013 E-newsletter in a CBC News story as saying, “A crude estimate at this stage suggests about 7,500 birds died. There’s certainly more than 5,000 and probably less than The 27th season of Project FeederWatch begins on November 9! Please join our 10,000 birds affected.” team of thousands of volunteers across North America, and turn your bird feeding hobby into research for bird conservation. Your counts will help scientists monitor In the same story, McAlpine raised the possibility that endangered species like changes in winter feeder-bird populations. You choose how much time you want the Olive-sided Flycatcher and Canada Warbler, could be among the birds killed to spend. New participants receive a kit with a handbook, a bird-identification by the flare. poster, a calendar, and an instruction booklet. Results are published in Bird Watch Canada and Winter Bird Highlights – the FeederWatch magazine. You This is very troubling news considering aerial insectivores like the olive-sided can also explore maps and charts online at http://watch.birds.cornell.edu/PFW/ flycatcher are in steep decline in southern Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes. ExploreData to see what others are reporting during the count. In State of Canada’s Birds, a recent report co-authored by Nature Canada, researchers in the field determined that aerial insectivores as a group have declined Anyone with an interest in birds and nature is invited to join Project FeederWatch by almost 70% in the past forty years. Contributing factors to the decline include and become a Citizen Scientist. To learn more or to sign up, visit our website at loss of habitat, pesticide use and pollution. http://www.birdscanada.org/pfw.html or call 1-888-448-2473. There is a $35 fee to defray the cost of the materials and data analysis (free for members of Bird Sadly, the number of birds killed every year in the United States number in the Studies Canada). Project FeederWatch is a joint program of Bird Studies Canada billions. The tragedy in Saint John’s is an example of birds dying as a result of and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. human activity on a much smaller scale than what is playing out across the continent every year. Leading causes of bird deaths are predation by feral and domestic cats and collisions with tall buildings.

If you’re a cat owner one way you can help reduce the number of birds killed every year is to keep your pet indoors, especially during dusk and dawn and during the fall and spring migratory seasons. Migrating birds and young birds just out of the nest are particularly vulnerable.

For more tips on how you can help birds during their fall migration, see Page 13.

Conservation Now...For The Future Page 11 Winter 2013 Nature Views

2013 Madge Lake Loon Count Survey Monarchs in Saskatchewan – Why So Few This Year? Doug Welykholowa, Yellowhead Flyway Birding Trail Association, E-mail: [email protected] Anna Leighton

There has been concern expressed lately about the scarcity of Monarchs in the province this year. Low numbers are the norm in Saskatchewan; large influxes are unusual and occur at about 10 year intervals. 1997 had such an influx as described in a Blue Jay article (March 1998). Large numbers enter the province when there is build up of Monarchs in areas where the migrants originate, and along the migration route (Texas and north throughout the Great Plains).

Do we need to provide food for Monarchs? The adults feed on the nectar of many kinds of plants (lilacs are a favourite) but the caterpillars feed primarily on milkweed. Five different kinds of wild milkweed grow throughout the province (these described in Blue Jay, March 1998). Milkweed is also planted in gardens. Depending on the timing of the influx, there is usually plenty of milkweed to feed the caterpillars.

However, in 2012, adults started arriving early. The first individuals were seen in Saskatoon in late May, before many milkweed plants were fully leafed out and the caterpillars ate themselves out of house and home before reaching their final Common Adult Loon with 2 Juveniles. Photo by Doug Welykholowa. instars. In this case, more milkweed might have been helpful, but perhaps not the complete solution; when there are massive numbers of caterpillars around, other A very late spring, coupled with an unusually heavy snow pack, followed by a forces often come into play to reduce numbers. In 2007, the timing was different long period of cold, wet weather, conspired to affect the nesting of all bird species and not only did the first batch of caterpillars in Saskatoon do very well, but they within the park. The weather and other factors in the park also prevented us from became butterflies and produced a second batch of caterpillars and adults. getting docks out and boats launched until late June. Monarchs were still emerging as late as October that year and several of these were wing-tagged before they left on their migratory flight to Mexico. All counts noted here were primarily done from a pontoon boat, which proved to be a very stable platform for both visual and binocular observation, and photography. When Monarchs leave here, they fly directly to wintering areas in Mexico. How Each count took approximately 3.5 hours, and allowed us to reach every point on many of them make it? It seems likely that adults that emerge when there is still the shoreline. These counts were supplemented by reports from other cottage an ample supply of nectar-bearing flowers along their route might make it. Those owners. They were very useful in confirming our own sightings. that emerge late in the season or in an exceptionally dry year, might not.

The first proper loon counts were not carried out until 5 July. On that day, 55 Monarch adults and caterpillars are relatively easy to identify, and we can learn adults were present, but only 3 chicks. These chicks were very small and appeared more about local numbers if people report sightings, especially the first and last to be only days old, indicating that the nesting was at least one month late. sightings of adults, and locations where caterpillars are feeding and on what species of plant. Planting milkweed in your garden will facilitate keeping track of numbers On 12 July, approximately 49 adults and 7 chicks were counted, including since Monarchs will find the plants whether they are in the city or elsewhere. The confirmation of the 3 chicks counted previously. Later, on 26 July, 50 adults and milkweed species recommended for gardens by Craig Salisbury is Swamp 14 chicks were present, but we noted the loss of two previously counted chicks. Milkweed, (Asclepias incarnata) because it is less invasive than other species, The difference in size of the 9 new chicks sited strongly indicated a late hatching. which are likely to take over your garden. this third count also confirmed the main nesting pairs and territories on the lake, together with two main groups of 4-5 younger, non-nesting adults. Because wild milkweed grows in a variety of habitats in south and central Saskatchewan, plants provided in gardens are unlikely to become the lifeline for On 22 August, we counted 41 adults and 14 Juveniles, all in previously noted Monarchs in the province. Members of the Saskatoon Nature Society monitor a nesting sites, which correlated very well with our previous data. The reduction in breeding population on the native Dwarf Milkweed in Nisbet Forest during the adult numbers was likely mainly due to one of a nesting-pair having flown to international butterfly count conducted there annually. In general, when there smaller lakes surrounding Madge Lake to feed. were large numbers in Saskatoon, there were also large numbers there. This suggests that cities like Saskatoon are among many provincial destinations for The final count of the year was on17 September. A total of 14 adults and 21 Monarchs, but ones that do give city dwellers an idea of what is going on in the Juveniles were present. Six single adults were still accompanying and feeding 7 rest of the province. smaller juveniles, while the other juveniles were on their own. All adults present were showing signs of their winter plumage, particularly beaks, throats and backs, If you would like to report Saskatchewan sightings, you can contact me at 306- but were very distinct from the grey and white juveniles. It should also be noted 665-6074 or [email protected]. Donald Davis monitors Monarchs nationwide that all of the loons present appeared to have abandoned the original nesting and he would also like to hear from you at [email protected]. sites. The larger number of juveniles (21) exceeds the earlier chick count (14). This is likely due to in-flying juveniles from surrounding bodies of water. This, in turn, suggests that in 2014, the juvenile count should be undertaken closer to the Eskimo Curlew: Symbol of Failure, Hope? first week in September (before juveniles are able to fly). Reprinted from August 16, 2013 Bird Studies Canada Newsletter Thank you to the individuals who accompanied me on the pontoon boat throughout the summer. This included Nancy Welykholowa, Barry Gallop, Louise Gurry, On September 4, we will reach Bob Stone, Rene Polischuk, Bernie Barabash, Rob and Joan Wilson and Lana a sad milestone: the 50th and Burke Sebastian. Also, a big thanks to cottage owners, Bob and Margaret anniversary of the last confirmed Graham, Patti Hack, Donna Bowes, Deb and Scott Sears, Tom Tomochko, Barb live sighting of an Eskimo and Doug Elsasser and any park residents who I may have forgotten, as well as Curlew. The last Eskimo Curlew other park visitors for passing on their sighting information to the committee. on record was shot in Barbados on September 4, 1963. (The Thank you to Park Superintendent Erin Saunders for renewing Duck Mountain most recent Canadian sighting Park’s membership in the Loon Initiatives Committee (Other partners: Nature of this legendary shorebird Saskatchewan; Duck Mountain Cabin Owners’ Association; and Yellowhead occurred even longer ago, in Artwork by John James Audubon. Flyway Birding Trail Association). Thank you to acting Park Superintendent 1932, in Labrador.) Once Greg Podovinnikoff and Cabin Owners Association President Les Schmidt for widespread, and observed in nearly every Canadian province and territory, the their interest and continuing support of the loon surveys. species declined precipitously in the early 1900s with overhunting, and drastic changes to habitats and food supply. It seems increasingly likely that the Eskimo We encourage any interested park residents and visitors to participate in future Curlew will be the next bird species – and the first since the demise of the counts by reporting any sightings to Doug Welykholowa (306-542-3808) and/or Passenger Pigeon in 1914 – to be formally declared extinct in Canada. Rob Wilson (306-744-8140). If you want to participate in future counts, and have your own boat, we can provide the map sheets used to record the data, and we A national Postmedia News article by Randy Boswell published on August 2, can discuss where and what you should be observing, and actions to avoid “From Endangered to Extinct: The Tragic Flight of the Eskimo Curlew,” (http:// stressing the loons while you observe them. Additional information on Madge o.canada.com/2013/08/02/from-endangered-to-extinct-the-tragic-flight-of-the- Lakes Common Loons can be found at http://www.yfbta.com. eskimo-curlew/) provides an excellent in-depth consideration of the curlew’s disappearance, and its significance. Watch for informative and thought-provoking insights throughout the piece from Bird Studies Canada’s Director of National Programs Jon McCracken, who is also co-chair of the birds subcommittee for the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada.

The Voice of Nature for Saskatchewan Page 12 Winter 2013 Nature Views 2013 James L. Baillie Memorial Fund Grants Domesticated Bees Do Not Replace Declining Wild Available Insects as Agricultural Pollinators

About James Baillie This article was written by Lacey Avery and published by Mongabay.com and For nearly 50 years Jim Baillie worked as Assistant Curator in the Ornithology reprinted from Focusing On Wildlife website: http://focusingonwildlife.com/news/ Department of the Royal Ontario Museum. Although not formally educated in domesticated-bees-do-not-replace-declining-wild-insects-as-agricultural- ornithology, his knowledge of birds was unsurpassed. Jim Baillie had the ability pollinators/ to share his knowledge with thousands of people, amateurs and professionals alike, through newspaper columns, scientific publications and informal Sprinkled with pollen, buzzing bees fly from one blossom to another, collecting conversations with countless visitors to his museum office. sweet nectar from brilliantly colored flowers. Bees tend to symbolize the pollination process, but there are many wild insects that carry out the same function. Baillie’s enthusiasm and knowledge have inspired hundreds of naturalists to pursue Unfortunately, wild insect populations are in decline, and, according to a recent bird study and conservation. Both the James L. Baillie Memorial Fund and the study, adding more honey bees may not be a viable solution. Baillie Birdathon have been named to honour this great Canadian naturalist, conservationist and educator. “All around the world people are looking for ways to make agricultural production more efficient,” said co-author Saul Cunningham, a researcher with the About the Baillie Memorial Fund Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization in Australia. The James L. Baillie Memorial Fund for Bird Research and Preservation was Cunningham was one of fifty researchers from across the globe that contributed established by Bird Studies Canada in 1976. It is funded by the annual Baillie to the study published recently in Science. Birdathon and by private donations. “At the same time there is global concern that biodiversity loss is continuing at a Originally, the focus of the Baillie Fund was on amateur ornithological research dangerous rate,” Cunningham continued. “Forests and grasslands once neighbored within Ontario. In 1983, the scope of the granting program was expanded to agricultural landscapes, providing habitats for wild insect pollinators. The insects include projects by individuals and organizations that increase understanding, would visit nearby crop fields, enhancing the pollination process. Nature manages appreciation and conservation of Canadian birds in their natural environment. the pollination process at no cost to humans, branding wild insect pollination as an “ecosystem service.” Additional information on the program goals and objectives is available in the Baillie Fund Application Guidelines available at:. But as the number of adjacent habitats has declined, so has the abundance and http://www.bsc-eoc.org/about/jlbmf/index.jsp?lang=EN&targetpg=appguide. diversity of the wild insects that once lived there, resulting in fewer crop visits. According to the study, the pollination of crop flowers by wild insects is a vulnerable The Baillie Fund is directed by a group of independent Trustees comprised of service. professional and amateur ornithologists from across Canada. The Trustees come from all walks of life, but share an enthusiasm for increasing the knowledge of Honey bees have long been viewed as a substitute for vanishing wild pollinators. Canada’s birds as well as addressing concerns for their well being. Some crops like almond, blueberry or watermelon are routinely stocked with a high number of bees to promote and improve pollination, a tradition that crosses 30 Plus Years of Baillie Fund Grants continental boundaries. However, the idea of honey bees replacing abundant and Since 1978, the Baillie Fund has awarded over $618,000 to 539 bird research and diverse wild insects is not well understood. conservation projects across Canada. In 2009, the Fund awarded almost $21,000 in grants, ranging from $250 to $5000 each, to 15 projects across Canada. “Our study challenges the widespread assumption that crop pollination services provided by wild insects can be replaced by a single domesticated species, the Baillie Fund Grant Programs honey bee, without a loss in crop production,” said Rachael Winfree with Rutgers University in New Jersey, a contributing scientist to the study. The Baillie Fund currently has three granting programs: · Regular Grants Program; The researchers analyzed data from 600 fields, hitting every continent on which · Small Grants Program; and food is grown. The group observed 41 crop systems, ranging from annual and · Baillie Student Award for Field Research. perennial fruits, seeds and nuts to stimulant crops like coffee. Some fields contained an assortment of crops while others were monocultures with only one Applications for the Regular Grants and Small Grants Programs are reviewed by crop. the Baillie Fund Trustees. Applications for the Baillie Student Research Award are reviewed by the Student Awards Committee of the Society of Canadian The insect species and abundance were also diverse. Several crops were stocked Ornithologists (SCO). with a high number of honey bees; others had a variety of wild insects. The researchers measured flower visitation for each species of insect and calculated The eligibility requirements, grant size, application deadline, application form, pollen deposition. and review process is different for each grant program. Prospective applicants should read the Baillie Fund Application Guidelines to decide which grant program “The results were impressive,” said Lucas Garibaldi with the Universidad Nacional fits with your project. Key differences are summarized in the following table. de Río Negro in Argentina, lead researcher of the study. “We found that wild insects consistently enhanced the number of flowers setting fruits or seeds for a Regular Grants Small Grants Student broad range of crops and agricultural practices on all continents with farmland.” Research Based on the study’s findings, wild insects pollinated crops more effectively due Award to more visitations. In fields with a low number of wild insects the fruit set was also much lower. Eligibility Non-profit Individuals or Graduate Organizations organizations students Managed honey bees supplemented the pollination process, but did not take the place of the wild insects. In fact, relying on a single pollinator like the honey bee Size of Grants $1000 to $5000 $250 to $1000 $1000 could be detrimental to the crops if pathogens, predators or pesticides ravage the insect population, which has been observed during the Colony Collapse Disorder Number of of honey bees in the U.S. and Europe. Grants Up to 8 Up to 10 1 If wild insect pollinators continue to decline in agricultural landscapes, crop Total Amount harvests may be negatively affected. The study suggests that farmers move to Available Minimum of $15,000 Up to $5000 $1000 more sustainable management practices that include both honey bees and diverse Annually wild insects, such as the conservation or restoration of neighboring natural habitats to promote natural pollinators. Matching Funds At least 1:1 None Required None This research shows maintaining biodiversity in agricultural landscapes supports Required match Required agricultural production, Cunningham said. “More generally it highlights that understanding how biodiversity underpins ecosystem services to agriculture is Application vital to our future.” Deadline 15 December 15 January 15 February CITATION: Garibaldi et al. (2013) Wild pollinators enhance fruit set of crops Grants regardless of honey bee abundance. Science: March 2013, Vol. 339, No. 6127, Announced April April April pp. 1608-1611.

For more information contact the Baillie Fund Secretary by e-mail [email protected] or phone 1-866-518-0212.

Conservation Now...For The Future Page 13 Winter 2013 Nature Views Volunteering with NCC Saskatchewan has never looked so good… Recapping this summer’s Conservation Volunteer events.

Conservation volunteering is becoming a trend as On August 17th, almost 30 volunteers and staff the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC), reconstructed a ferruginous hawk structure, Saskatchewan Region, declares last summer’s cleaned up the yard site, observed and recorded Conservation Volunteer events a success. And various wildlife species and counted NCC’s without volunteers, NCC would not be able to clean genetically-pure bison herd at Old Man on His up, learn more about the species that rely on Back Prairie and Heritage Conservation these areas, and steward its properties as Area (OMB). New wildlife species were sited effectively as it does. NCC Saskatchewan that day, meaning there are now over 250 things recognizes and celebrates its volunteers! to see at OMB. Among these are the American Bittern, Wilson’s Snipe, Eastern Kingbird, NCC’s Conservation Volunteer Program in Loggerhead Shrike and the Painted Lady Saskatchewan engages volunteers of all ages in Butterfly. Species common to the area include the conservation of Saskatchewan’s species and the Sharp-tailed Grouse and Yellow-headed natural habitats. Events are planned across the Blackbird. province where NCC Saskatchewan staff would benefit from volunteers pitching in and caring for Volunteers also placed caps on vertical steel During a recent Conservation Volunteer event at Maymont, a protected property. fence posts to prevent young Horned Larks from volunteer participants identified two butterfly, six dragonfly, falling inside the hollow fence posts. A recent three damselfly, nine bird, four mammal and 75 plant Well over 100 NCC conservation volunteers and grassland bird survey conducted at OMB by the species, then hiked the forest fringe adjacent to the North staff visited six locations in southern and central Wildlife Conservation Society helped NCC Saskatchewan River. Photo by Mike Dembeck. Saskatchewan this summer. This summer’s Saskatchewan identify this challenge. These Program began June 1 with a visit to Buffalo Valley in the Missouri Coteau area volunteers also learned that rose bushes may of southwestern Saskatchewan. Plant and animal species at NCC’s largest and have a new enemy in the rose stemmed girdler, a beetle that bores or girdles newest property were recorded. Species at Risk found here include the Northern round the stem of rose bushes and eventually kills the plant. This is a significant Leopard Frog, Sprague’s Pipit, the Loggerhead Shrike and the Ferruginous Hawk. finding as rose bushes are ideal habitat and protection for songbirds and rabbits. Volunteers camped through the weekend, enjoying campfires and counting stars On June 14th at the Fairy Hill property just north of Regina, SaskEnergy amid the moonlit prairie. employees and NCC staff counted 206 Northern Leopard Frogs during two hours of walking around the wetland areas. They also removed Lesser Burdock, an The last Conservation Volunteer event of the year, held on August 22nd, took NCC invasive weed common to the Prairies. Northern leopard frogs are a species that staff north to the Maymont Complex, located along the North Saskatchewan indicate the health of a wetland, so 206 was an exciting find here! River, approximately 1 hour northwest of Saskatoon. Volunteers that day included a retired group of birders called the “Golden Eagles” as well as several Property On July 13th, NCC staff and many of Regina’s Open Door Society members Watch volunteers. Participants identified 2 butterfly, 6 dragonfly, 3 damselfly, 9 helped identify 122 plant species at NCC’s Edenwold properties located less bird, 4 mammal, and 75 plant species during the day, then hiked the forest ridge than one hour northeast of Regina. Volunteers and plant experts alike explored adjacent to the River. the area, identifying plants and learning from botany experts who joined in the activities. This year’s NCC volunteers come from all walks of life. From a retired entomologist (insect specialist) to biology students and an auto-parts mechanic, from On August 10th, at Reed Lake in southwestern Saskatchewan, volunteers and newcomers to Canada to long-standing naturalists, professional and novice alike, staff counted shorebirds, identified plant species, and learned about habitat volunteers are returning with gusto, often from great distances, boosting and protection and wildlife conservation. The event allowed NCC staff to find out renewing their interest in nature. NCC would like to especially thank Imperial Oil what plants and animals lived there and how to keep the Reed Lake area healthy and the Community Initiatives Fund for sponsoring the events this year. What a so it can continue to host many plants and animals. This is especially important huge success! because the Reed Lake area is part of the Chaplin Reed Lake Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network site, meaning it is a vital habitat for More information is available at: [email protected] . shorebirds on our continent. Reed Lake is also recognized as part of the Important Bird Area network.

Ten Easy Ways to Help Migrating Birds

Reprinted from Nature Canada September 26, 2013 E-newsletter Cap your chimneys and dryer vents, but only if absolutely sure that they aren’t already home to Chimney Swifts (Chimney Swifts prefer using old-style chimneys). Every fall, billions of birds are on the move, making the annual migration from Wire mesh overtop of your chimney will keep birds from roosting or roasting in Canada to warmer climates in the United States, the Caribbean, Central and your furnace or fireplace. If Chimney Swifts are nesting in your chimney, or if you South America. have an old-style (brick) chimney, make sure to use a swift friendly cap that allows swifts in and out but prevents larger birds like starlings and owls from About 40% of the world’s bird species are considered migratory. In North America, entering. about 75% of bird species migrate, but in Canada alone roughly 90% of bird species take off for the winter. Provide a water source. Bird baths need only be an inch or two deep and have a shallow slope. If you have There are many things you can do to encourage birds to visit your yard during cats that prowl the neighbourhood, it’s best to mount the bath on a pedestal. Bird their migration, and to ensure that their journey is a safe one. Here are ten: baths should be cleaned once a week with a stiff brush.

Rein in your pets. Native plants. Leash dogs in natural areas, and keep beaches Fido-free in the breeding season. They provide shelter, places to raise young, and food sources. Good choices Keep cats indoors in the spring and fall and belled throughout the year. include aspen (Populus), willow (Salix), dogwoods (Cornus), Saskatoon berry (Amelanchier), sunflowers, Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia), Columbine, bee balm Throw old bread in the bin. (Monarda), Joe Pye Weed (Eupatorium), and Asters. White Cedar and White Old baked goods are prone to mould, and fill a bird’s belly without meeting its Spruce provide year-round green and good cover. No yard? Try planters. nutritional needs. Mould can kill waterfowl. Instead of feeding old bread to the birds, offer dry seed, grains or fruits instead. Don’t use herbicides on your lawn. Not only is the resulting monoculture duller than birding at high noon, these poisons Put waste in its place. get ingested into the food chain and washed into the waterways. If it says “-cide” Birds become entangled in plastic bags, fishing line and other garbage, resulting on your weed remedy, avoid it. in injury, strangulation or easy predation. Get the lead out. Break up your windows with stickers, decals or strips of colour. Unbroken Sinkers cause acute or chronic lead poisoning of thousands of birds in Canada reflections baffle birds, causing them to fly into the glass. each year. Use non-toxic alternatives.

Drive Carefully Drive carefully, especially in rural areas. Roadside birds take flight at an angle— possibly straight into your vehicle’s path—so slow down.

The Voice of Nature for Saskatchewan Page 14 Winter 2013 Nature Views

Redberry Lake Biosphere – Birds and More!

Donna Bruce, Past-President, Nature Saskatchewan

Most Saskatchewan nature-lovers have heard of Redberry Lake. Named for the abundance of Buffaloberries (Shepherdia canadensis) found in the region, it is known primarily for its pelicans. With four islands and a shoreline of slightly more than 31 kilometers, Redberry not only provides habitat for a good-sized breeding colony of the American White Pelican (1-2% of the world’s population), but also for uncommon species such as White-winged Scoters, and, some years, for nesting Piping Plovers. In all, over 180 bird species have been identified in the area.

Birds have been the major focus at Redberry Lake since it was designated a Federal Migratory Bird Sanctuary in 1915. The lake’s islands have been protected as a Provincial Wildlife Reserve since 1970 and in 1998 the whole area was designated as an Important Birding Area (IBA) - one of 53 that Nature Saskatchewan plays a role in monitoring in the province.

So it’s no surprise that in 2000, after nomination by First Nations, local conservation groups and local, provincial and federal government, UNESCO’s White Pelicans at Redberry Lake. Photo by Thomas Abe. Man and Biosphere Program designated Redberry Lake as the Redberry Lake Biosphere Reserve. It’s all about the birds, right? Well… yes and no! Redberry Lake Biosphere Reserve is also a valued “learning place” for the students The core of Redberry Lake Biosphere Reserve (RLBR) is the lake and its islands, of Hafford Central School, and for students in the School of Environment and where conservation for nesting and migrating birds is key. But the reserve extends Sustainability (SENS) at the University of Saskatchewan, who use the reserve well beyond the lake to encompass the whole watershed - some 112,200 hectares for field trips and for research. You can see the results of some of the SENS of rolling prairie, dotted with seasonal ponds and marshes, along with aspen/ student work posted on the RLBR web site (redberrylake.ca) under the “Research shrub groves. It concerns itself not only with the (increasingly) saline lake, but into Us” tab. [I hadn’t really thought about there being wolves in the reserve – also with the two creeks that flow into the lake. [None flow out, which is why who knew!] salinity has been increasing.] Those hectares of prairie also small patches of natural mixed prairie - a rarity in this highly grazed and cultivated area. Of course visitors to the area always welcome. The area offers trails to explore at any time of year, and the lake is a great place for canoes or kayaks. [Last So the biosphere reserve is not just about the birds… nor even the natural summer a private outfitter provided canoes and kayaks available for rent at the ecosystem(s). In fact, the business of a biosphere reserve also includes concern reserve’s Research and Education Centre; I’m hoping they will do it again next for the human community and the economy. The ultimate goal of a biosphere summer!] RLBR staff do some public programming for kids and families, and reserve is to achieve a sustainable way of life for all people and species within welcome visitors to the Research and Education Centre daily throughout the the biosphere reserve. summer (as resources permit). If you are interested in knowing more about program and hiking opportunities, I suggest you check out their website. I know You might be wondering what Saskatchewan’s only biosphere reserve is doing they would love to have more visitors! And if you are looking for a great place for to pursue this challenging mandate. a meeting or gathering, the Research and Education Centre at Redberry Lake could work nicely – do check it out. First, of course, they are working to ensure the conservation of the birds and all of the valuable ecological resources in the reserve. This includes partnering with All of this work (and more that I haven’t mentioned) takes resources, and on that a variety of agencies on monitoring programs such as the Prairie and Parkland score, RLBR has its challenges. A UNESCO designation is very nice but does Marsh Monitoring Program (with Bird Studies Canada), IBA monitoring and not have any funding attached to it. Neither does the Canadian government reporting (with Nature Saskatchewan) and water level data collection at provide core funding for biosphere reserves. Like all 16 of Canada’s biosphere hydrometric gauging stations on the lake (with Saskatchewan Water Security reserves, Redberry Lake has to seek funding and in-kind support where it can Agency). find it - through grants, bursaries, contribution agreements and (private) donations. If you have ideas or resources to offer, please don’t hesitate to share them! As you might expect, there is also a great deal of consultation and planning work being done with those who live and work in the reserve and area. These For more information about Redberry Lake Biosphere Reserve consult the website plans will guide future growth and development over the next 25+ years, working (redberrylake.ca), or contact Susanne at 306-549-9311 or at communications to achieve the desired sustainable way of life for all 5,000 (approximately) people @redberrylake.ca. and species in the biosphere reserve.

Two Species of Crossbills That Live With Us Year Round

John Senkiw that proves to be the case then there will be ten different species of crossbills in Reprinted from Yellowhead Flyway Birding Trail Association July 2013 Newsletter North America. On the other hand, the White-winged shows no variation in different regions and therefore will in all probability remain as one species. Here are some notes about crossbills. There are four species in Europe but Also its distribution is much more limited, being confined to Canada and Alaska only two in North America, the Red except in the winter when some migration takes place to the North Central and Crossbill and White-winged Crossbill, Eastern US. Even though the crossbills are not really migratory they are both of which occur locally. Both wanderers, constantly on the move searching for food except during nesting species are sparrow-sized reddish birds season, making their appearance in any one place highly unpredictable. Locally with black wings and unique sharply both species can only be expected during the winter or spring. pointed bills whose tips cross over each other when the bill is closed. The bills The males of both species are similar but with close examination can be easily are especially designed to pry the seeds distinguished from one another. The Red Crossbill’s body is a deep dull red with out of the cones of conifers like pine pure black wings. Some subspecies, however, do have faint white wing bars. and spruce. The Red Crossbill is The White Winged is more of a pink or rosy colour with two very pronounced slightly larger of the two with a heavier white bars on its black wings. Males and females are different. I have seen both and more powerful bill. As a result the species in our yard but the Red is the more common. Female White Winged Crossbill. Red Crossbill tends to feed on larger Photo by John Senkiw. and tougher cones such as pine while One of my earliest experiences with crossbills was in the Black Hills of South the White Winged prefers spruce but Dakota. We were at the Mt. Rushmore monument standing in the shade of neither is overly picky and any cone will do. some pine trees hiding from the midday sun when we noticed that we were being repeatedly sprinkled with scales from pine cones. We could also hear faint but The Red Crossbill is much more widespread covering all of North America, constant crackling sounds coming from the trees above. The mystery was solved including parts of Mexico. There are about nine different and distinct subspecies when we looked up and saw a small flock of Red Crossbills overhead feeding on that some taxonomists feel just might be nine different species altogether. If the seeds of pine cones.

Conservation Now...For The Future Page 15 Winter 2013 Nature Views

Co-existing with Burrowing Owls - Easier than you Nature Saskatchewan Thanks These Generous may think! Donors

Reprinted from Beef Business Magazine, May 2013 via June 2013 Prairie New Life Memberships: Nature Savings Plan (cont’d): Conservation Action Plan E-newsletter Lorne Scott Tom Lawton Robert J. Long Burrowing Owls are small birds of Nature Saskatchewan General Deena McNichol prey that look like short, plump owls Programs: Alison Philips on stilts. While many species of Andrew Belyk Julianna M. Robin owl are large, solitary birds that live Thorkell Brandson Lyle Saigeon in trees and hunt at night, the Margaret Fredeen Candace Savage Burrowing Owl is a small bird (less Vic Friesen Danna Schock than half a pound and 9 inches tall) Bill and Audrey MacKenzie Margaret Skeel that lives in open prairie grasslands, G.A. McLeod Hellen Taylor where it nests underground in Lorne Scott Hendrik Vanderpol abandoned burrows and searches Ivor and Orca Thokle Guy Wapple for prey both during the day and Pattie Wilkinson night. Nature Savings Plan: Keith Bell Margaret Skeel Graduate Student Burrowing Owls prefer to nest in Lori Caron Scholarship Fund: open grassland areas comprised of Kristin Catherwood Richard O’Neil short vegetation (grazing or mowing Joseph and Sylvia Chorney is good!) which also offer an Dr. Yvonne G. Cuttle Grasslands Trust Fund: abundance of burrows. Native Rev. Suzanne Edgar Dr. Elaine Golds vegetation is not required - rather Male Burrowing Owl. Photo by Janet Ng. Gwen Gordon Gerald Heinrichs the vegetation structure (height) and Christina Havard Christopher Reed soil type appear to be more important in the selection of habitat. Burrowing Owls Jocelyn Hextall do not dig their own burrows but inhabit abandoned badger, gopher or prairie dog Ina Hill Last Mountain Bird Observatory: burrows or the occasional fox den. Active burrows can be identified by the presence C. Stuart Houston Tim Keslering of droppings at the entrance and/or prey pellets. In addition to the nesting area in Gary Howland short vegetation, adjacent areas with taller vegetation which support a population A.R. Iverson Nature Legacy Fund: of small mammals (mice, voles, insects and other prey) are also required for Johanna and Ken Jensen Donna Bruce hunting and foraging and may include riparian areas, ungrazed areas or roadside Ron and Julie Jensen Lorne Scott ditches. Ken Kingdon

In Saskatchewan, the majority of owls nest on privately owned land. Landowner interest and cooperation are vital to Burrowing Owl research and conservation. In Yellow Rail Research in Saskatchewan addition to protecting over 61,000 hectares of grassland habitat, about 430 Operation Burrowing Owl landowners help to monitor the owl population by annually Reprinted from Bird Studies October 18, 2013 E-newsletter reporting whether or not they have nesting owls and, if so, how many pairs are present. Most importantly, landowners maintain and enhance Burrowing Owl Staff of Bird Studies Canada’s nesting habitat. Saskatoon office recently completed a very successful According to the recovery strategy document published by Environment Canada, season of Yellow Rail banding over the past three decades, the population of Burrowing Owls have declined from near Margo, Saskatchewan. over 3000 pairs to fewer than 800. Burrowing Owls are designated “at risk” in all Teams of staff and volunteers four western Canadian provinces and as such are protected under provincial wildlife searched sedge meadows by acts from capture, harassment, trade, killing, or nest disturbance. night for these cryptic nocturnal birds, and banded 18 new No single factor has been identified as the cause for this decline in population - individuals in 2013. This brings rather cumulative impacts from several factors seem to be at the root of the our three-year total to 82 birds – problem. Potential threats for Burrowing Owls include loss and fragmentation of a significant portion of all Yellow native and non-native grassland habitats, decreased prey, increased predation, Yellow Rail. Unknown photographer. Rails banded in Canada. inclement weather, vehicle mortalities, environmental contaminants, and loss of Courtesy of Saskatchewan Ministry of burrowing mammals in parts of the owls’ range. While landowners do not have Environment. The Yellow Rail is federally control over several of these factors, there are steps that can be taken to improve designated as a Species of Special Concern. Bird Studies Canada’s Yellow Rail and conserve habitat for Burrowing Owls: banding project aims to provide a means to check annual density estimates produced from point-count data from our Prairie Marsh Monitoring Program (http:/ · Maintain and conserve contiguous blocks of native grassland and pasture /www.birdscanada.org/volunteer/ppmmp/) against estimates from capture data. of at least one quarter section in size; The project also enables us to produce estimates of the intensity of Yellow Rail · Practice good grazing management to achieve a variety of vegetation calling. Estimating the intensity of the sound produced by Yellow Rails will allow heights; staff to better determine the distance from which humans and autonomous · Learn to recognize Burrowing Owl nests and avoid disturbing them with recording units are able to hear the birds, which will ultimately lead to better haying equipment or other vehicles during the nesting and rearing periods density estimates for this data-deficient species. (May through June); · Reduce livestock use at nesting areas during the nesting and rearing periods and avoid placing salt blocks or mineral in these areas to reduce the risk of trampling or accidental collapse of burrows; The 2013 Canadian Lakes Loon Survey Season is · Till fields early to remove potential nest burrows in cropland before the owls arrive to encourage them to use more suitable grassland areas; Complete · Use direct or zero-till seeding during the critical nesting period (May through June) to improve the chances of Burrowing Owl survival; Reprinted from Bird Studies Canada October 4, 2013 E-newsletter · Avoid planting trees or shrubs in areas where they normally do not occur. Trees and shrubs provide perches for predators of the Burrowing Owl and The 2013 season of the Canadian Lakes Loon Survey (http://www.birdscanada.org/ can decrease nesting success; volunteer/clls/) ended on September 15. More than 670 Citizen Scientists across · Avoid control of burrowing animals where possible - especially on native the country monitored loons and their reproductive success. Bird Studies Canada grasslands. Burrowing Owls depend on abandoned burrows for nesting gratefully acknowledges all volunteer surveyors for participating, and collecting sites; important information. We thank the participants who have already submitted · Encourage prey populations by limiting pesticide use and choosing the their observations. Volunteers who have yet to report can return their forms to us lowest toxicity products to non-target organisms especially near (within or enter data online at http://www.birdscanada.org/dataentry/cllslogin. 600m) known nesting habitat; jsp?ts=1381078210124&lang=EN . · If you observe Burrowing Owls on your land, join Operation Burrowing Owl or another prairie conservation program. Released in 2013, our 32-year report (http://www.birdscanada.org/volunteer/clls/ resources/CLLSsummary.pdf) analyzes loon survey results since 1981. For more information on Burrowing Owls or on Operation Burrowing Owl (which Production and printing was supported by TD Friends of the Environment just happens to be turning 25 this year!) in Saskatchewan, visit the Nature Foundation and the Kenneth M. Molson Foundation. Other recent publications Saskatchewan website. include an associated technical paper and an article in BirdWatch Canada.

The Voice of Nature for Saskatchewan Page 16 Winter 2013 Nature Views

Upcoming Events

Nature Regina Field Trips Saskatoon Nature Society Field Trips

Please note: Field trips could be cancelled or postponed due to bad weather; Everyone is welcome to participate in any field trip. Bring your friends. Carpooling please phone Lauren at 584-1171 for up-to-date information. We encourage for out-of-town trips is arranged at the meeting place; there is no charge other carpooling on field trips. There is no charge other than to share gasoline costs. than to share gasoline costs. Phone the trip leader if you have any questions. Estimated share of gas is assuming four people per vehicle; please confirm with Participants are free to depart early if they wish. Members with CB radios or your driver. (Note: RSM is the Royal Saskatchewan Museum at the corner of FRS radios should bring them on out of town trips. Check our website at Albert Street and College Avenue in Regina. All Nature Regina events are scent- www.saskatoonnaturesociety.sk.ca for last minute changes or cancellations. free events) Sunday, November 24: Pre-Grey Cup birding at President Murray Park Saturday, December 14: Craven Christmas Bird Count We will look for kinglets, creepers and crossbills. This Christmas Bird Count is centered on Craven, and includes Lumsden, Valeport, 2:00 PM–3:00 PM and part of the Qu’Appelle Valley. Count leader is Trevor Herriot; contact him at Meet at the corner of Wiggins and Colony. 777-2395 (office) or 585-1674 (home) for details and to be assigned to a count Leader: Jan and Stan Shadick (306-652-5975) team. Saturday, December 7: Gardiner Dam Birding Saturday, December 28: Regina Christmas Bird Count We will look for ducks, geese, gulls and eagles. Dress warmly and bring a This count is an annual census of bird life in the Regina area. It is centered on lunch. Regina, and includes areas both within and outside the city. You may participate 9:00 AM–5:00 PM for all or part of the day. Count coordinator is Brett Quiring. Call him at 545-8533 Meet at the Western Development Museum parking lot, 2610 Lorne Ave. or email “bquiring” (he’s at sasktel.net) for details and to be assigned to a count Leader: Frank Roy (306-374–8571) team. Also, if you have bird feeders that have not been surveyed by a count team, we ask that you report those numbers to Brett. Saskatoon Area Bird Checklist Updated The SNS bird checklist for the Saskatoon area is being revised and reprinted. Saturday, January 4: Balgonie Christmas Bird Count The checklist identifies all species recorded in the area, their seasonal abundance This bird count is centered on Balgonie, and includes White City, Pilot Butte, and and breeding status. It’s a good educational tool, handy when used in conjunction other areas. Count coordinator is Brett Quiring. Call him at 545-8533 or email with a good field guide and our “Nature Viewing Sites” publication. At the October “bquiring” (he’s at sasktel.net) for details and to be assigned to a count team. meeting, we distributed a copy to each member at no charge. After that, copies will be sold for $1. The checklist can also be downloaded from our website at Sunday, January 12: Sherwood Forest Feeder http://www.saskatoonnaturesociety.sk.ca/resources/checklists.html. Join us for a visit to this wooded area near Regina. Dean and Miriam Richert have been maintaining a feeder here for many years. We hope to see woodpeckers, Nature Saskatchewan is now on Facebook and nuthatches, Blue Jays, and other winter birds, as well as Snowy Owls en route. Time: 1:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Twitter! Meet at the RSM parking lot Nature Saskatchewan is now on Facebook and Twitter! To find us, search If anyone has comments or suggestions regarding field trips, please contact “Nature Saskatchewan” on Facebook, and “NatureSask” on Twitter. There Lauren at 584-1171. Please note there is a shortage of leaders for birding trips. are also links to these pages on our website. We hope you’ll follow us!” Manitoba Atlas Completes 4th Field Season

Winter Birding Contest 2013/2014 Reprinted from Bird Studies Canada August 30, 2013 E-newsletter The Manitoba Breeding Bird Atlas (http://birdatlas.mb.ca/) has just completed Get Bird Active this winter! Go for walks around your area, drive throughout its highly successful fourth season of fieldwork. Reports are continuing to stream our beautiful province, check out bird hotlines and look for the winter rarities, in. So far in 2013, atlassers have contributed 46,000 records of 273 species in or just look out your windows into your yard. Keep a Saskatchewan winter 1384 atlas squares, and have conducted more than 7600 point counts in 591 bird list of all your findings and then share your list with others. Enter your list squares. A lot of this coverage has been from remote areas, where we overcame in 25th Annual Nature Saskatchewan Winter Birding Contest. The contest huge logistical challenges to send teams of one to six people on more than 20 runs from December 1st to February 28th. Send entries to Boyd Metzler, Box expeditions, gathering data from well over 200 roadless squares. 126, Whitewood, SK. S0G 5C0 or email to [email protected] by March 15, 2014. For more information contact Boyd Metzler at 306-735-2380. This year was particularly challenging due to a large number of forest fires in northern Manitoba, but our atlassers persevered and got the job done. Once again, we documented many range extensions in central and northern Manitoba. Many thanks to our growing team of volunteers!

o Yes, I want to become a member of Nature Saskatchewan. Membership Fee $ ______I wish to make a tax-deductible donation to Nature Saskatchewan to support: o Please renew my membership o Operation Burrowing Owl $______o Grasslands Trust Fund $______o Last Mountain Bird Observatory $______Name: ______o Nature Legacy Fund $______Address: ______o Margaret Skeel Graduate Student Scholarship Fund $______City/ Town: ______o General Society Programs $ ______Province: ______Postal Code: ______TOTAL PAYMENT $______Phone: ______Email: ______Occupation/ Interests: ______I would like to pay by: o Cheque/money order o Visa o Mastercard Category One Year Three Year Five Year (Please make cheques payable to Nature Saskatchewan) Individual o $ 25 o $ 65 o $ 95 Income Tax receipts available for donations over $10.00. Family o $ 30 o $ 75 o $115 Card Number: ______Student o $ 15 Senior >64 o $ 20 o $ 50 o $ 75 Card Name: ______Foreign o $ 30 o $ 75 o $ 115 Institutional o $ 30 Signature: ______Expiry Date: ______Life o $ 600 Winter 2013 Nature Views

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