VOLUME 39 | NUMBER 1 | SPRING 2009 SUGGESTED RETAIL: $6.50 CDN Nature A L B E R T A ’ S N A T U R A L H I S T O R Y R E V I E W

BATS IN FLIGHT USING ECHOLOCATION, CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP LEFT: MALE SILVER-HAIRED BAT; SILVER-HAIRED BAT; FEMALE HOARY BAT; WESTERN SMALL-FOOTED BAT DRINKING © MERLIN D. TUTTLE, BAT CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL. WWW.BATCON.ORG

feature article Behold Alberta’s Bats

FEDERATION OF ALBERTA NATURALISTS COMMON DANDELION, THE MOST COMMONLY RE- PORTED EXOTIC SPECIES ON THE MAY 2008 SPRING FLOWER COUNT (SEE PG 19) SUZANNE VISSER

PRAIRIE CROCUS (ANEMONE PATENS) AT VERMILION. BONNIE MULLIN

PRAIRIE CROCUS (ANEMONE PATENS) IN THE SOUTHEAST. HANS MUELLER Nature Alberta: SPRING 2009 1

The Federation of Alberta Naturalists is composed of natural history clubs Celebrating our natural heritage from across the province. The aims of the Federation are: (a) To encourage among all Albertans, by all means possible, an increase in their knowledge of natural history and understanding of ecological processes; (b) To promote an increase in the exchange of information and views among natural history clubs and societies in Alberta; (c) To foster and assist in the formation of additional natural history clubs Contents and societies in Alberta; NATURE ALBERTA VOLUME 39, NUMBER 1, SPRING 2009 (d) To promote the establishment of natural areas and nature reserves, to conserve and protect species, communities or other features of interest; Editor’s Page BY DENNIS BARESCO ...... 2 (e) To organize, or coordinate symposia, conferences, fi eld meetings, nature camps, research and other activities whether of a similar or Letters to the Editor ...... 4 dissimilar nature; Alberta Issues in Brief ...... 5 (f) To provide the naturalists of Alberta with a forum in which questions relating to the conservation of the natural environment may be Watch For – Wing-tagged Turkey Vultures in Alberta BY WAYNE NELSON ...... 7 discussed, so that united positions can be developed on them, and to provide the means of translating these positions into appropriate actions. Book Review: Birdwatcher: The Life of Roger Tory Peterson ...... 9 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Close to Home: Nature Photography in Alberta BY JOHN WARDEN ...... 10 PRESIDENT: Dennis Baresco VICE PRESIDENT: Scott Jubinville Book Review: Geology Road Tours: SECRETARY: Don Stiles The complete roadside guide ...... 12 TREASURER: Don Gordon PAST PRESIDENT: Sandra Foss In Memoriam ...... 13 APPOINTED DIRECTORS: Dennis Baresco, Dawn Dickinson, Sandra Foss, Jim Gendron, Branimir Gjetvaj, Don Gordon, Ted Hindmarch, Don Stiles Focus on the Foothills BY CHUCK PRIESTLEY ...... 14 ELECTED DIRECTORS: Mary Ann Johnson (ANPC); Claudia Cameron, (BLN); Wildlife! Starring…“The American Dipper” BY SANDRA C. HAWKINS ...... 16 Scott Jubinville (CFNS); Lu Carbyn, (ENC); Grant Henry (FMFNS); Marty Drut, (GN); Ted Johnson (LLBBS); Lloyd Bennett (LNS); Margot Hervieux Wings of Spring: the Spring Bird Count 2008 Summary BY JUDY BOYD .....18 (PPN); Tony Blake (RDRN); Iris Davies (VRNS); STAFF: Philip Penner (Exec. Dir.); Christine Brown; Vid Bijelic; Kim Dacyk Blooms of Spring: the May “Plants in Flower” Species Count 2008 Summary BY SUZANNE VISSER ...... 19 CORPORATE MEMBER CLUBS Alberta Native Plant Council, Box 52099, Garneau P.O. , AB Behold Alberta’s Bats BY CHUCK PRIESTLEY, MARGO PYBUS AND DAVE HOBSON ...... 22 T6G 2T5 Buffalo Naturalists, Box 1802, Stettler, AB T0C 2L0 First Hand: A Special Bird Feeder Visitor! ...... 31 Nature , Box 981, Calgary, AB T2P 2K4 Edmonton Nature Club, Box 1111, Edmonton, AB T5J 2M1 Mini-Book Review: Tar Sands: Fort McMurray Field Naturalists Society, 152 Cote Bay, Fort McMurray, AB Dirty Oil and the Future of a Continent ...... 31 T9H 4R9 Grasslands Naturalists, Box 2491, , AB T1A 8G8 Up Close Naturally: Aerial Plankton BY MARGOT HERVIEUX...... 32 Birding Society, Box 1270, Lac La Biche, AB T0A 2C0 Extreme Fighting Arrives in Alberta: The Spring 2008 Naturalists Society, Box 1691, Lethbridge, AB T1J 4K4 Peace Parkland Naturalists, Box 1451, , AB T8V 4Z2 Peregrine Falcon Migration! BY GEOFF HOLROYD AND HELEN TREFRY ...... 33 Red River Naturalists, Box 785, Red Deer, AB T4N 5H2 Waterton National Park: Where the Mountains Vermilion River Naturalists, 5707 - 47 Avenue, Vermilion, AB T9X 1K5 Meet the Prairie BY SANDRA HAWKINS ...... 38 ASSOCIATE MEMBERS: Alberta Lake Management Society Friends of Celestial Happenings BY JOHN MCFAUL ...... 41 Alberta Lepidopterists’ Guild Grant MacEwan Mountain Club Alberta Naturalization Network Society Heritage Tree Foundation of It’s Spring! BY DENNIS BARESCO ...... 42 Alberta Stewardship Network J.J. Collett Natural Area Foundation Beaverhill Bird Observatory Lee Nature Sanctuary Society FAN Club Page ...... 43 Naturalist Club Bird Observatory Big Lake Environmental Support Society Purple Martin Conservancy PUBLISHED QUARTERLY BY THE FEDERATION OF ALBERTA NATURALISTS, BowKan Birders Riverlot 56 Naturalists Area Society Calgary Bird Banding Society Stewards of Alberta’s Protected Areas 11759 GROAT ROAD, EDMONTON, AB T5M 3K6 Cochrane Environmental Action Association PHONE.780.427.8124 FAX.780.422.2663 Committee Sturgeon River Watershed Initiative [email protected] Crooked Creek Conservancy Society Society Crowsnest Conservation Society The Wagner Natural Area Society SUBSCRIPTION $30.00 PER YEAR; $55 FOR TWO YEARS Edmonton Naturalization Group Weaselhead/Glenmore Park Preservation Society EDITOR.DENNIS BARESCO Foothills Land Trust Wizard Lake Watershed and Lake Naturalists Society Stewardship Assoc. [email protected] Friends of Blackfoot Society Wood Buffalo Bird Club CIRCULATION.TED HINDMARCH LAYOUT.BROKEN ARROW SOLUTIONS INC. We acknowledge the fi nancial support of the Government of PRINTING.PERCY PAGE CENTRE.ISSN 0318-5440 Canada through the Publication Assistance Program.

THANKS TO ALL WHO ASSISTED IN PRODUCING THIS ISSUE: ELAINE CATHCART, SANDRA FOSS, MARILYN ROSS, VAL SCHOLEFIELD, CANADA POST AGREEMENT NO. 40015475 JUNE VERMEULEN. PUBLICATION MAIL REGISTRATION NO. 09839 MANY THANKS TO THIS ISSUE’S CONTRIBUTORS EDITORIAL DISCLAIMER WANT TO SUBMIT ARTICLES NATURE ALBERTA DEADLINES ARE: The opinions expressed by the authors in this publication do not necessarily refl ect those of the editor and the Federation of Alberta OR PHOTOS? SPRING ISSUE.FEBRUARY 14 Naturalists. The editor reserves the right to edit, reject or withdraw GUIDELINES ARE AVAILABLE SUMMER ISSUE.MAY 15 articles submitted. While due care will be taken of all manuscripts, photos ON THE FAN WEBSITE: FALL ISSUE.AUGUST 15 or artwork submitted, FAN cannot be held responsible for any loss or WWW.FANWEB.CA WINTER ISSUE.NOVEMBER 15 damage to such articles. 2 NatureAlberta

Editor’s Page BY DENNIS BARESCO

INSIDE NATURE ALBERTA “Alberta’s spectacular natural HARD TIMES When it comes to wildlife features, and best kept secrets”: Naturalists can be forgiven if they watching, awareness, Kakwa Falls (pg 14). Sandra get a tad discouraged when reading, information and appreciation, Hawkins takes us to one of watching or listening to the news. Hard bats tend to be ignored. The her favourite places: Waterton times for nature abound. It doesn’t Spring Feature Story, “Behold National Park (pg 38) and also help that the federal government is Alberta’s Bats” (starting pg 22), gives us a detailed look at one unscrupulously and unconscionably may not move you to love of the park’s avian residents, the using the economic situation as a these amazing mammals, but American Dipper (pg 16). false cover to gut environmental it will certainly inform you – Those are but a few of the many assessment, eliminate research and and maybe motivate some bat and varied articles and features throw up roadblocks to public input, watching. Bats defi nitely need in this issue. I hope you are as not surprisingly in ways that mirror the and – given their huge benefi ts delighted in reading it as I was tactics and motives of George Bush’s to mankind – overwhelmingly in preparing it. Plus, you can government. Small wonder Canada deserve our support. win a book (see page 3). has become, in effect, the developed world’s most anti-environmental nation. Geoff Holroyd and Helen Trefry As Gerald Butts, president and CEO of update us on the Peregrine SPRING World Wildlife Fund Canada, said in Falcon migration, this time Spring means it’s almost time for the Toronto Star (Feb 27, 2009): “From the Spring 2008 fl ight (pg 33). fresh – really fresh! – vegetables hewers of wood and drawers of water These reports, tracking the from gardens and Farmers’ to makers of moonscapes and creators journey from South America to Markets. It’s also a good time to of toxic tailing ponds: What a face for Edmonton, are a reminder of just think “local food,” the 100 mile Canada to show the world.” He was how important radio tracking is, diet and how eco-friendly your speaking of the tar sands, but his words not only to researchers, but also grocery list is. Of course, it’s also to curious naturalists. When you the time that house cats are out read the story, you’ll discover killing tens of millions of birds JOE MABEL why it was named “Extreme and butterfl ies and bunnies Fighting”! and anything else they can Planning summer vacation? Two dig their claws into: a serious, stories give you some excellent nation-wide problem with insight into superb destinations. easy solutions, though just not Chuck Priestley, in “Focus on easily solved. the Foothills,” describes one of SPRING 2009 3

On the Covers:

EDITOR’S PAGE FRONT COVER Few creatures are more diffi cult than fl ying bats to photograph (at least in the wild), but the results can often be dramatic. Nature Alberta thanks Bat are applicable to a vast array of Conservation International and the for supplying the photos for this issue’s exploitative activities. Feature Story, starting on page 22. My point, though, is that we should NOT get discouraged. We INSIDE FRONT COVER should get mad. We should stand Perhaps the quintessential spring up and be determined. We should fl ower is the Prairie Crocus. Even refuse to be treated like worthless though the fl ower often shows off pawns by the governments and, its gentle colours amidst patches increasingly, the industries we of snow, its blooms tell you that fund and subsidize. There are spring is here. many people, in groups like FAN Another early signs-of-spring bloomer is the Common and its member clubs, who are Dandelion, which is of much greater value to wildlife not willing to sit back and watch than most introduced “weeds”. Besides being an and who are determined to do important source of early spring nectar for bees, the what they can to make the future plant is eaten by many animals, including Sharp-tailed livable and enjoyable for all. We Grouse, ungulates, rodents and bears. The Spring can all, relatively easily and in Flower Count story is on page 19. numerous ways, be part of that honourable group of Canadians INSIDE BACK COVER – and our actions do make a Photographer David Lilly: “The two Red Foxes were difference. photographed just north of Highway 567 north of Edmund Burke said: Calgary. The two are part of a family of 5 young foxes at a den I have been observing for the past couple “Nobody made a greater of weeks. The den is under a grain silo and about 25 mistake than he who did meters from the highway. I usually see them when the sun is shining. They are very playful and energetic. For the above photograph I sat nothing because he could within a safe distance and behind a small shed for about 5 hours.” only do a little.” American Dippers – with their somewhat unusual, Remember the famous line by for a songbird, habit of “water walking” – make for interesting bird watching and great photography. Howard Beale (Peter Finch) in Sandra Hawkins’ story on this lovely-coloured bird “Network”? Perhaps that should be begins on page 16. every Canadian’s guiding rally cry for 2009-10.

Want to win a FAN-published BACK COVER book of your choice? Send your name and the exact famous line Great Horned Owls are a blessing to photographers; they seem to love to pose and have their picture by Howard Beale (Peter Finch) by taken! Perhaps they realize that their fi erce demeanor May 15 to [email protected] and and classic owl good looks inevitably impress mere a draw will be made to pick the humans. Myrna Pearman’s collage of Great Horned winner from those who entered. Owls is impressive indeed! Myrna is Director of the Ellis Bird Farm at Lacombe AB. 4 NatureAlberta

Your letters commenting on any aspect of Nature Alberta or its articles are welcome! Email them to [email protected] mail/fax to addresses on pg 1, under “Contents”.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

How big is a “pond”? It is highly unlikely that the ever increasing problem as well as the likely irreversible contamination of posed by the toxic waters in the “tailing ponds” will groundwater. How can a problem be solved unless be promptly and satisfactorily resolved until Albertans it is recognized that there is a serious problem which realize the size of these toxic water bodies. According can no longer be marginalized or denied? Also, the to the Pembina Institute they presently occupy 130 sq. amount of surface reclamation is a sick joke. To date km. This is hardly a “pond” which is more comparable the government has apparently only certifi ed 0.2 % to a puddle than a lake. Perhaps the size of these toxic of the open pit mining of the tar sands. According to lakes can be better grasped if they are compared with the Pembina Institute, “the cumulative disturbance the surface areas of some of Alberta’s better known for oil sands mine development was 47,832 hectares lakes (source of surface areas of the lakes: Atlas of of forested land.” It appears to be doubtful that Alberta Lakes). wetlands can ever be reclaimed. Tar Sands Lakes: 130km2 The recent issue of “National Geographic” has Beaver Lake 33.1km2 Moose Lake 40.8 km2 exposed to the world the woefully inadequate Pinehurst Lake 40.7 km2 96.7 km2 selective and incomplete information provided by Wabamum Lake 81.8 km2 42.8 km2 the Stelmach Government and the oil industry’s hype. This prestigious U.S. publication has already Lac Ste. Anne 54.5 km2 Baptiste Lake 09.8 km2 made Albertans and their fellow Canadians more 2 2 Lake Newell 66.4 km 02.7 km informed about the tar sands than any government Furthermore, the toxic lakes have a greater depth than publication. any of the above-mentioned lakes. It is high time that the Stelmach Government comes The Provincial Government must also come clean on clean! Transparency and accountability indeed. the full extent and amount of leakage from the toxic TOM MACCAGNO lakes which is seeping into the nearby , LAC LA BICHE, AB

Advertising in Nature Alberta

Nature Alberta is now accepting a limited number of Full details, including rates and sizes, are available at: advertisements for future issues. Ad rates vary from online: www.fanweb.ca $35 (business card size) to $249 (full page), X2 for email: [email protected] colour. phone: (780) 427 – 8124 SPRING 2009 5

ALBERTA ISSUES IN BRIEF

PAUL HORSLEY deaths ‘unsustainable’ Alberta’s Proposed Local conservationists are It is believed there are Wetland Policy calling on the provincial fewer than 500 grizzlies left The Alberta government is reviewing government to label the Grizzly in Alberta; thus, the high a series of recommendations put Bear as threatened and step mortality rate is unsustainable forth by the Alberta Water Council to up its efforts to prevent bear- and cause for concern. The human encounters. According province’s Endangered Species implement a province-wide wetlands to government statistics, at Conservation Committee – of policy in the near future. The plans least 19 grizzlies in Alberta which FAN is a voting member are supported by conservation were reported killed directly – recommended the grizzly organizations, government and or indirectly in 2008 (6 in be labelled as threatened in industry – with the exception of alleged self-defence; 6 deemed 2002. Sustainable Resource the tar sands sector. Thousands “problem bears”; 4 “accidental” Development Minister Ted of hectares of wetlands in Alberta deaths on rails or roads; 2 by Morton still has not made have been lost and your support is aboriginal hunters; and one the designation, claiming needed to ensure that a policy to illegally) – more deaths than that the government does protect these precious wetlands is in the previous two years. not have enough information adopted. Wetlands cover over 18% Sierra Club Canada’s Grizzly to designate the species as (114,400 sq. km.) of Alberta’s land Bear campaign suggests that, threatened. base. counting unreported deaths, The government needs to the number may be between The tar sands sector, based on what give serious commitment to 28 and 34 bears killed. it views as limited opportunities Grizzly Bear recovery. The for compensation plus increased fi rst objective of the proposed cost, wants a policy that is weaker grizzly recovery plan is to than that recommended by the regulate human activity — Water Council. Over 50,000 ACTION GRIZZLY BEAR LAUNCHED specifi cally roads — in bear hectares of wetlands are at stake, habitat to reduce human-caused and supporters of real protection In November, a new campaign, “Action Grizzly mortality. But the government hope Albertans will contact the Bear,” was launched in Alberta which will is not really taking the advice government to express their desire focus on achieving Alberta and Canadian that the Grizzly Bear recovery to see this critical natural habitat government action on grizzly bear recovery. The team gave. Despite the bleak maintained. Government contact campaign will provide a vehicle by which people mortality and population can have their voices heard on behalf of the numbers, but with the right information is on the internet. Go to ever-dwindling number of Grizzly Bears in the political will, conservationists http://www.awchome.ca for more province. Go to www.actiongrizzlybear.ca. say recovery is still possible. information on Water Council’s recommendations. 6 NatureAlberta

ALBERTA ISSUES IN BRIEF

Panel says no to immediate Suffi eld drilling After a month of public express their opinions to approval of EnCana’s expansion hearings and three months of Defense Minister Peter MacKay in the CFB Suffi eld NWA deliberation, a joint federal and and Environment Minister and protect the future of this provincial review panel released Jim Prentice to exercise their unique area that belongs to all a report on January 27 that precautionary duty to deny Canadians. denied EnCana permits for three gas wells in the Suffi eld National Wildlife Area (NWA) and set Province Lays Environmental Charges Against stringent requirements that must Syncrude be met and the area protected before any other drilling begins. The Alberta government has laid water birds travel through the Fort Requirements set by the charges against Syncrude Canada McMurray tar sands areas). Ltd. for failing to have appropriate panel are the need to fi nalize The maximum penalty for a violation deterrents in place at a tailings identifi cation of key habitat for under this section is only $500,000, lake at its Aurora North Site mine fi ve species listed as “at risk” which for operations the size of facility last spring. The charges by the federal government, Syncrude is no deterrent; it’s like the result from an incident on April and ensure that no project average Albertan rooting through 28, 2008 where at least 1,600 activities take place within this their sofa cushions for loose change. waterfowl died after landing on critical habitat unless otherwise Without stronger prosecution and Syncrude’s toxic tailings lakes permitted under the Species penalties, environmentalists fear which cover more than 50 square at Risk Act. EnCana’s facilities more plant, animal, and human kilometres north of Fort McMurray. must then be developed outside life will be threatened by these of these areas. However, the Syncrude could also be charged toxic tailings lakes. As well, these panel didn’t rule that there under the Federal Migratory Birds prosecutions need to be processed should be no further oil and gas Convention Act, which prohibits in a timely manner to protect development in the NWA. the deposit of a harmful substance wildlife and humans from prohibited The fi nal decision still lies with in an area frequented by migratory activities. the federal cabinet. Whether birds (hundreds of thousands of cabinet approves or denies the project, there likely won’t be any drilling in the NWA for a while yet; it will likely take years for GOES habitat studies to be fi nalized for the species at risk. RONA, the building supply store, has decided to give preference to the FSC certifi cation wood. RONA has developed a Wood Products Procurement Policy which commits them The Suffi eld Coalition is now to doing business with suppliers who share its vision in terms of sustainability and have asking Canadian citizens to adopted responsible forest management practices. RONA developed this new policy in order to help conserve Canada’s Boreal Forest. SPRING 2009 7

KNOWN-AGE 58 DAY OLD NESTLING, WITH TAG, NEAR PRIMULA, 7 AUGUST 2008. Watch For – Wing-tagged Turkey Vultures in Alberta BY R. WAYNE NELSON

Over the coming years, Alberta naturalists may have opportunities to see Turkey Vultures bearing patagial wing-tags of at least four color combinations. Please report all sightings of wing-tagged Turkey Vultures.

Include the date, location, color abandoned farm buildings, in of these were reported fl ying near of the tag and its code (letters, a large block east of Edmonton their homes, one died as a result of numbers), the wing (right or left) to the Alberta-Saskatchewan a vehicle strike in its fi rst month of to which the tag is attached, and border. This vulture study was fl ying, and two vultures with yellow the circumstances of the sighting begun in 2003 to investigate the wing-tags were seen together in (bird was alone, in a fl ock, fl ying productivity and distribution of northern Venezuela in mid-January or perched, feeding or roosting, these birds, by Wayne Nelson, 2009(!), but their individual ID’s etc.). Floyd Kunnas, and Dave Moore could not be determined. of the Alberta Fish and Wildlife EAST-CENTRAL ALBERTA – Division (AFWD). Nelson, now SASKATCHEWAN – GREEN YELLOW TAG WITH BLACK retired from AFWD, and Rick TAG WITH WHITE LETTER AND LETTERS Morse, a Master Banding Permit NUMBERS CONTACT: Rick Morse, 8 Gaylord holder from St. Albert, received CONTACT: C. Stuart Houston, 863 Place, St. Albert, AB T8N 0S8 training in Saskatchewan in early University Drive, Saskatoon, SK S7N 0J8 [email protected] August 2008; then, in Alberta, [email protected] 1-(780)-405-7389. 1-(306)-244-0742 before 9 p.m. CST. they began a long-term wing- Beginning in 2008, vultures tagging project by tagging 20 From 2003 to the present, over 300 were tagged at their nests in nestlings at 11 nests. Several vultures in central and southern 8 NatureAlberta

RICK, WITH WING-TAGGED TUVU AAM, EST. 71 DAYS OLD, NEAR FERN CHAPEL, 16 AUGUST 2008

Watch for Wing-tagged Turkey Vultures in Alberta…continued

Saskatchewan at nests in VENEZUELA ‘WINTERING’ To try to look at the migration abandoned farm buildings have NORTH AMERICAN of North American vultures from received green wing-tags, in a VULTURES – RED TAG WITH the southern end, in our winters WHITE NUMBERS, ALSO long-term project conducted by PALE BLUE TAG WITH BLACK of 2006-07 and 2008-09, over Stuart Houston and his team NUMBERS. 300 vultures were tagged in NW of Brent Terry, Marten Stoffel, CONTACT: Keith Bildstein, Hawk Venezuela, with red tags at the and Michael Blom. Their wing- Mountain Sanctuary Acopian Center Maracaibo zoo, and with pale tagged vultures have been seen for Conservation Learning, 410 blue tags at Barquisemeto, in in Venezuela, back home in Summer Valley Road, Orwigsburg, PA a cooperative project between Saskatchewan and at places 17961 Venezuela researchers and Hawk in-between, found as a road-kill [email protected] Mountain Sanctuary researchers. and recorded on a hunter’s trail 1-(570)-943-3411 ext. 108. These birds might be seen cam in central Alberta. Soon anywhere E of the Rockies in the some of these birds will become U.S.A. and southern Canada. breeders and will contribute to the study’s other exciting goals. (Some red-green color-blind people may see these tags as a “It’s much more important to change your leaders dark blue, but defi nitely not a than your light bulbs.” light blue.) -- THOMAS FRIEDMAN IN HOT, FLAT AND CROWDED (2008) SPRING 2009 9

BOOK REVIEW Birdwatcher The Life of Roger Tory Peterson

REVIEWED BY: PHIL HORCH Armed with advanced colourful fi eld guides, expensive binoculars, spotting scopes, GPS’ and the latest information off the internet, birding has become a popular (often high-tech) past-time for millions of people. And yet it was not always so. The exclusion of everything else…at once man who created the movement that a gift and a curse! brought birding into the modern day Peterson’s fame spread worldwide; the world for untold millions was Roger list of awards and honorary doctorates Tory Peterson and his revolutionary Author Elizabeth Rosenthal are too numerous to mention and fi eld guides. all done without a university degree! the art world looked at him as a talented Thanks to a new biography by author Rosenthal’s biography is written in illustrator and didn’t give him credit as an Elizabeth Rosenthal, we now have a a highly readable journalistic style artist in the broader sense. Late in life he unique and unvarnished look at the with extensive interviews of friends, was still determined to prove them wrong, man often referred to as the guru of colleagues and family members. but time fi nally ran out. birding. This highly researched look Peterson had an incredible network at the entire life of Peterson compiles of friends and acquaintances that Peterson was a man who generously gave an impressive picture of his stellar spanned the globe, including the of himself to the broader world in order accomplishments while also examining who’s who of today’s birding to advance the cause of conservation and the hopes, fears and aspirations of the world. While he birded with such natural history. His schedule and globe- inner man. luminaries as Prince Philip, Sir Peter trotting ability was legendary as was his Scott and our own Robert Bateman, birding ability. The advances he made in While Peterson’s accomplishments are he was equally at home leading a conservation causes are incredible: such stupendous (the man was a genius!) fi eld trip for a local naturalists club. as launching the World Wildlife Fund, the theme of the book might almost He was interested in anybody who leading the National Audubon Society and be described as the travails of a man shared his love of the natural world. preserving great tracts of precious natural living with the burden of iconic status. Unfortunately one of his sons did not. areas throughout the world. If Peterson Because of his prodigious painting, attached his name to a cause, it almost writing, lecturing, and birding skills Rosenthal describes the driven and guaranteed success. he was in demand and looked up to competitive side of Peterson who wherever he appeared. The attention was very concerned about the Whether or not the reader is interested and excitement he generated wherever arrival of newer fi eld guides which in birding or natural history, this book by he went meant he had to constantly began to over-shadow his own. Elizabeth Rosenthal is worth the read. It live up to other people’s expectations. This competition would drive him is, fi rst and foremost, the portrait of a man Though he wore his mantle of fame to continually update his own fi eld who made a huge difference in the world. with a certain humility, it was also guides and launch him into new and It examines his character, personal life something that he enjoyed and sought, time-consuming projects fi lled with and world-wide accomplishments. We live often at the expense of his personal deadlines that he found diffi cult to through his frustrations, fears, pride and and family life. Rosenthal’s book keep. compulsion to excel as we turn each page. exposes the cost of being an icon… It is a story that will hold the reader’s Right to the end, in his 80’s, Peterson three marriages, estranged sons, and attention from beginning to end. was completely immersed in future inability to manage the practical side projects. He was always frustrated that of daily life. Peterson had an uncanny ability to focus on one thing to the For more on the book, go to www.petersonbird.com. 10 NatureAlberta

Close to Home: Nature Photography in Alberta BY JOHN WARDEN

Would you throw snowballs at a Grizzly Bear? I was so close that I could see it breathing, its stomach expanding and contracting. Too close!

JOHN WARDEN As I tried to back away quietly, Actually, I like Porcupines close encounter with a critter that carries I could see it was a big one, (Erethizon dorsatum) and as many as 30,000 quills, I got out of the probably the largest I’d ever seen. wherever you go in Alberta, they way and left him to his foraging. And then I realized that it was can be found waddling across Porcupines are active during the winter asleep. Lying there in the warmth highways or high in the branches and recently I noticed one crossing of the spring sun on the trunk of of willow trees, stripping and the parkway in Elk Island National a fallen spruce tree, it was sound eating the bark. Park. An oncoming car stopped and asleep. Backing away to leave it One year, three days in a row, I the occupants, two very large women, sleeping peacefully, I must have saw a young Porcupine in exactly clambered out with their cameras. made a noise. The Porcupine woke the same place along the side of The Porcupine, another little guy, had up and looked at me. the parkway in Elk Island National trundled off the road and down into the While pursuing nature Park. It was like a message from ditch. The women, in their city shoes, photography, I try to live up to nature that this little guy wanted couldn’t follow him due to the deep the environmental slogan of “take his picture taken, so I obliged. snow along the side of the road. But only photographs, leave only I tried a few shots, into the sun they wanted a picture. So they started footprints”. In this case though, I highlighting his back full of quills throwing snowballs at the Porcupine hadn’t even been aware that an and then changed my position to in order to get him to move to a better animal was nearby and ended up shoot with the light. Lying down position. disturbing a very large Porcupine. in the grass, far enough away not The things you see! One has to wonder, Fortunately, the Porcupine didn’t to bother him, I got some face- would the two women have thrown seem to feel threatened by my on, nose level portrait shots. But snowballs at a Grizzly Bear? There are presence as it took the time for a then it got interesting. The little myths about Porcupines being able to big stretch, just like a cat, before guy must have become curious as shoot their quills at their attackers. It is calmly ambling away into the he began waddling over directly just a myth though. Porcupines cannot spruce and tamarack. towards me. Not wanting to have a shoot their quills. It’s an uncharitable JOHN WARDEN SPRING 2009 11

Close to Home: Nature Photography in Alberta … continued comment on my part, but in this instance, wouldn’t it have been something if they could? I admit that, caught up in my passion for nature photography, I’ve ended up too close to wild animals. Maybe nature was providing me with a little lesson through the mini drama with the Porcupine. Wild animals are exciting and beautiful and also the stewards of nature. It slogan needs to be expanded. through photography we can is our responsibility to nurture “Take only photographs, leave share that beauty with others. and protect, not to hassle only footprints…and don’t throw But more importantly, we are and harass. Perhaps the old snowballs at Porcupines.” FAN HYPO-1/2-MARA NewsFAN WELCOMES NEW EXECUTIVE the Bird Atlas project from 2001-2007. He has On March 1 2009, FAN DIRECTOR! represented FAN on numerous committees and sponsored the Hypothermic Half FAN would like at conferences, workshops and public events. Marathon in Edmonton, with over to announce Perhaps of equal importance to his Executive 400 runners taking part. Many the hiring of Director skills, Mr. Penner is an enthusiastic, FAN volunteers assisted in the run Philip Penner dedicated and active naturalist. He and Robin – eg, by keeping runners on track as its new have two young children. – and from all reports, they had Executive The Executive, Board of Directors, staff and all A LOT OF FUN! It turned out to Director, Member Clubs of FAN sincerely welcome Mr. be a great way to inform a whole effective Penner to his new position and look forward to new crowd – the running crowd March 1 2009. Mr. Penner has been a long and successful relationship. – about FAN. The wee Boreal an important part of FAN for the Owl that Lisa and Chuck Priestly past nine years. He has a wealth of Retiring Executive Director Glen Semenchuk brought added to everyone’s experience in a variety of fi elds, including has been associated with FAN for over twenty enjoyment! Many thanks to communications, management, research, years and will be sorely missed. He has Chuck and all those who helped team-building, conservation and promised, however, to continue to be part of organize and participated in the administration. FAN as a volunteer on several committees. Half-Marathon. FAN hopes to An offi cial event recognizing him for his long Most recently, Mr. Penner was FAN make this an annual event. and exceptional service was held during the Conservation Director. He was the FAN Annual General Meeting and Awards Coordinator of and contributing author to Ceremony in Edmonton on April 4, 2009. 12 NatureAlberta

BOOK REVIEW Canadian Rockies Geology Road Tours The complete roadside guide

REVIEW BY: ROBERT MUTCH Often I have driven in the Rockies and always I returned with questions about the geology of the mountains that were the foundation of the wonderful scenery that drew me there.

But I seldom made the effort to from a particular starting point on Ben Gadd 2008. Corax Press. 576 pgs. research the scientifi c literature for a highway}, Latitude/ Longitude answers. Now I have the answers and GPS waypoint. , BC. Some might argue that at my fi ngertips. Ben does an excellent job of this material distracts the reader from Canadian Rockies Geology Road making the complex geology the main subject but I enjoyed fi nding Tours by Ben Gadd is a guidebook comprehensible. He does this by, these tidbits among the mountains of that is both useful and enjoyable. It as he puts it, “speaking geologese geological information. is well written, well organized and minimally” and by providing There is no glossary in this book. has many appropriate photographs numerous good quality annotated Instead Ben has chosen to explain and diagrams. It is crammed with photographs, complemented a technical term in the text when information enlivened by Ben’s by diagrams that help explain it is fi rst used; then, when the term unique writing style and humour. the processes that formed the is subsequently used, the reader is structures seen. Also he caters to Before the “Road Tours” section of referred back to that explanation. the readers wishing to extend their the book, Ben provides a primer However, in a few cases where a knowledge by providing a detailed on basic geology and overviews of technical term is used, there is no list of geological maps of the the physiography and geological page reference to the explanation. Yes, region and a further-reading list. history of the Rocky Mountains. there are some errors in this book, but These help give the reader a better Although this is a book about in no way do they detract from the understanding of what is seen at Geology, Ben cannot resist overall value of the book. the various sites. inserting facts about other Corax Press is correct to stress that subjects. He conveniently When on a “Road Tour”, it is at $28.50 for 576 pages, Canadian provides highlighted data on extremely unlikely that a user of Rockies Geology Road Tours is a all the major rivers draining the this guide will not be able to fi nd bargain! This wonderful guidebook is Rockies. He inserts information on a particular location. Ben clearly in my car ready for my next trip to the subjects as diverse as copepods provides three different ways to Rockies. in lakes, burned trees in Banff do so: Odometer reading {distance National Park and a Titan truck at Dr Robert “Bob” Mutch is the former Dean of Science (ret’d) at the Medicine Hat College. He is also a geologist, ecologist, wit, raconteur and Scotch afi cionado who has spent a considerable amount of time and skiing the Rockies, though he is adamant that nothing compares to hiking in his beloved Scotland [DB]. SPRING 2009 13 In Barbara Memoriam Sherrington Barbara Sherrington spent 36 years in the Calgary region, most of them in the Cochrane area, with husband Peter where they raised sons Mark and Ian. Her special currents of warmth, to the fore in her career as an incorporated into her teaching empathy and creativity educator, “in her music, poetry, the same principles she had illuminated the lives of hundreds painting and cooking, in her passed on to her sons: the joys of young people during a more environmental, social and peace of accepting our environmental than 20-year, early childhood activism.” and social responsibilities. Her teaching career. simple but profound lesson Barbara was active with Calgary endures; says Peter: “This is it. Barbara, according to her Field Naturalists’ Society and Live life as well as you can. Do obituary, had an “infectious love a life-long member of the no harm.” for life and the earth: its people Alberta Wilderness Association. and its animals, trees, rocks and “Barbara loved and celebrated SUMMARIZED FROM AN ARTICLE BY sunsets.” These attributes came the countryside,” says Peter. She ANDY MARSHALL Daphne Stiles Carol Porter Many FAN Directors, staff and naturalists Grasslands Naturalists members are saddened will remember Daphne Stiles, who often by the passing of their long time member Carol accompanied her husband, Don, the Porter on March 5, 2009, at the age of 69.

long-time FAN Director, to FAN events. Carol was a cheerful, enthusiastic and very active member, helping out with Easter programs at Police Born and raised in England, the well-educated Point Park, taking part in fi eld trips, doing bird counts, Daphne was interested in working in publishing sitting on the Executive, working on various committees and eventually moved to Toronto to work for and other club activities. Better Homes and Gardens Magazine. She settled in Calgary after meeting and marrying Don in For many years, Carol was the effi cient coordinator ’63-’64. of the tremendously successful Eagle Butte Mountain Bluebird Trail in the Cypress Hills area. Many awards Although she suffered from illness for many and accolades came her way, including a Medicine Hat years, she “lived a full life, fi nishing all the work Civic Environmental Award, a Nature Canada “Volunteer God gave her to do,” stated her obituary. “She of the Year” Award in 2003, her second “Blue Feather persevered through years of arthritis and other Award” in 2008, and honours from the North American ailments with courage and grace.” Bluebird Society. Daphne passed to her next life on Dec 22 2008. Condolences go to her husband Reg and son Mark. We FAN sends its sincere condolences to Don and will all miss her warmth, thoughtfulness, intelligence and their three sons, Andrew, Philip and Geoffrey. fellowship. 14 NatureAlberta

Must-See Foothills Destinations – Chuck Priestley’s “Focus on the Foothills” will Kakwa Falls be a regular column BY CHUCK PRIESTLEY, BRYN SPENCE, MARGO PYBUS AND DAVE HOBSON in Nature Alberta. It has been developed to DESTINATION KAKWA FALLS: of this destination is the remote provide profi le to one of SPECTACULAR setting and that few other people are Alberta’s least noticed One of Alberta’s spectacular natural encountered during visits there. Natural Regions – the features, and best kept secrets, is Kakwa The falls are located in the northwest Foothills. This Region has Falls. It truly is an impressive sight to corner of the 650 km2 Kakwa various important and see the water as it rushes down Kakwa Wildland Provincial Park – part of an unique characteristics, Falls’ 30 vertical meters. After thousands interprovincial network of protected and throughout the of years of erosion, a cave has been areas. British Columbia’s Kakwa Region there are formed in the rock wall behind the Provincial Park is located to the west many natural hidden falling water. The result is an imposing and Alberta’s treasures that are waterfall that appears to stand alone as is located to the south. waiting to be discovered. the water falls unobstructed by rocky The two main goals outcrops or ledges. of this column are: DESTINATION KAKWA FALLS: Kakwa Falls is located along the WHAT TO EXPECT. 1) to showcase the boundary between the Rocky Mountain During the journey, keep your eyes features that defi ne and Foothills Natural Regions. Despite and ears open for a variety of wildlife the Foothills; and 2) to their beauty, the falls are rarely visited. including Woodland Caribou, Elk, bring attention to some The reason for this is likely their remote , Moose, Grizzly Bear, of the pressures that are location 160 km southwest of Grande Wolf, , Lynx, Boreal Owl, currently infl uencing Prairie. However, visitors often say Yellow-rumped Warbler, White- this Region. that one of the most appealing aspects crowned Sparrow, Gray-crowned

• Kakwa comes from the Cree word for porcupine. • As defi ned by Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation, Wildland Provincial Parks are meant to “preserve and protect natural heritage and provide Did you know?? opportunities for backcountry recreation”. These places are “large, undeveloped landscapes that retain their primeval character.” The goals for these areas are to “minimize visitor impacts on natural heritage values” and “provide signifi cant opportunities for eco-tourism and adventure activities such as backpacking, backcountry , wildlife viewing, mountain climbing and trail riding.” KAKWA FALLS IN LATE AUTUMN. CHUCK PRIESTLEY SPRING 2009 15

Focus on the Foothills…continued

Rosy-fi nch and Western (Boreal) Toad. Lodgepole Pine is the most common tree at lower elevations and Subalpine Fir is common at higher elevations. Picnic tables, fi re pits, fi rewood and outhouses are available near Kakwa day use area. Camping is not permitted within 1 kilometre of the Kakwa day use area; however, with the other exception of within 1 kilometre of Deadhorse Meadows, random camping is permitted throughout the rest of the Park. Motorized vehicles are only permitted along the road to Kakwa Falls and not within 1.2 kilometres of the falls viewpoint.

DESTINATION KAKWA FALLS - GETTING THERE From Grande Prairie, go south on highway 40 then west on highway 666. The road is paved for the fi rst 27 km and is gravelled for the remaining 141 km. The fi nal 19 km of road is only accessible using a 4-wheel drive vehicle or by non-motorized means. Kakwa Falls is a remote location surrounded by wilderness and rugged landscapes. If you are looking for a quiet place “off the beaten track,” this is a destination for you. Going there is well worth the B

e trip and I hope that you Riar ver have the opportunity to ver Redwillow Ri do so.

So much to fi nd in ver Wapiti Ri

nto Creek the Foothills! The next Pi Narraway R 40 edition of ‘Focus on the

i v Foothills’ will showcase er Nose C another spectacular, and r eek Metr opo lit an A re a er rarely visited, Foothills kRiv ban Cut destination. The next Red r ock

r Cr issue of Nature Alberta ive ee k

ns R

e comes out in the summer r or T KakwaRiver – a time of year when er Riv ComptonCreek Prairie Creek Alberta’s biodiversity Smoky peaks and it is great to be kakwa Muskeg wildland p Creek Shee er outside enjoying the long, R iv iver tte R one im warm days. willmore S 01020305 kilometres SANDRA HAWKINS 16 NatureAlberta

Wildlife! Starring… “The American Dipper” BY SANDRA C. HAWKINS

Few birds are as well suited to their niche in the natural world as the American Dipper, or Water Ouzel (Cinclus mexicanus).

They are solitary, locally common their name from the habit of into Mexico. FAN’s Atlas of Breeding Birds at times, year round denizens in bobbing their entire body up of Alberta (p.218) indicates the foothills the narrow canyons of cordilleran and down while clinging with and Rocky Mountain regions in the mountain streams throughout their strong toes to rocks in the southwestern part of the province provide western North America, and may stream. Larger oil glands, and the best habitat. be observed with little diffi culty scales that seal their nostrils by a willing and patient observer. when they are submerged, With a minimum of effort, Dippers may With winter’s freeze, some are equip Dippers with added be observed along Blakiston (Pass) known to form loose aggregations tools to survive their largely Creek and at Cameron Falls (especially and descend to lower elevations aquatic existence. Their wren- in autumn) in Waterton Lakes National with slower moving water sources. like musical song rings clearly Park. In Banff, two excellent locations throughout mountain canyons are Sundance and Johnston’s Canyons. In Jasper, the area adjacent to the DESCRIPTION and is easily heard above the rushing of fast-fl owing water. bridge where the Maligne River fl ows Dippers are stubby, medium- out of Maligne Lake is a good bet. sized (14-20cm, weighing 45-60g) Their call is a sharp, metallic dzeet. Any backcountry hike along a suitable slate gray birds with short tails, mountain stream should also yield short necks and long pale legs. promising Dipper sighting opportunities. Their prominent white eyelids DISTRIBUTION (protective nictitating membranes) Dippers are found along clear, Their need for clean water makes them are most visible when they blink. cold, swift moving mountain susceptible to the perils of pollution and Although the sexes appear similar, streams throughout the Rocky their presence in an area is often a good the male is larger. They likely get Mountains chain from Alaska indicator of the quality of the water.

DIET Its powerful toes fi nd purchase on submerged rocks and allow the Dipper to walk under water in search of prey. Sometimes, only its head is submerged, while at other times the bird will dive and appear to “fl y” beneath the surface where it probes under stones for aquatic insects

FEEDING BEHAVIOUR OF AMERICAN DIPPER. SANDRA HAWKINS NEST ON BRIDGE I-BEAM, ALBERTA FORESTRY TRUNK ROAD 940. SANDRA HAWKINS SPRING 2009 17

Wildlife! Starring…“The American Dipper”…continued and their larvae (e.g. mosquitoes, constructing it amongst ferns and Kaufman, Kenn. Lives of North caddisfl ies, mayfl ies), snails, mosses, a Dipper’s nest can be a American Birds, 1996, Houghton- worms and, sometimes small challenge to fi nd. Miffl in, New York, N. Y. Semenchuk, G. P. Atlas of Breeding (5-8 cm) fi sh. Opportunistically, 4-5 (sometimes 3-6) white eggs Birds of Alberta, 1992, Federation Dippers will sometimes capture are laid. Incubation lasting 13-17 of Alberta Naturalists. Edmonton fl oating insects as well as any that days is by the female alone. The AB. may be found amidst rocks along young leave the nest after 18-25 Sibley, David Allen. The Sibley Guide the stream’s banks. to Birds, 2001, Alfred A. Knopf, days and, almost immediately, New York, N. Y. like little feathered corks, they " The Sibley Field Guide to Birds COURTSHIP AND NESTING are able to dive and swim in the of Western North America, 2003, In part, their bobbing action may cold rushing water. Feeding is Alfred A. Knopf, New York, N. Y. be used to signal a mate. Once done by both parents, but it is Tavener, P. A. Birds of Western they obtain the attention desired, believed the female does more Canada, 1974 (Coles Facsimile the birds enter a courtship phase than the male. When a food- Edition of originally published 1926 version), Toronto where they have been observed laden parent approaches the nest to point their bills skyward, droop or a fl edged youngster (perched URL References their wings and strut in front of on a rock in mid stream), Canadian Wildlife Service. http:// each other. riotous singing breaks out by wildspace.ec.gc.ca/life. Nest building is most likely all involved. Two broods per cfm?ID=AMDI&Page=More&Lang=e shared by both sexes. The male annum are the norm. The same Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/American_Dipper Dipper is polygamous at times nest is used repeatedly and it is not uncommon to observe the Bird Life International. http://www. and may keep particularly busy birdlife.org/datazone/species/ during breeding season when this female cleaning and readying the index.html?action=SpcHTMDetails. is the case. When sharing a male, nest for a second brood while asp&sid=6275&m=0 polygynous females often exhibit still tending to fl edglings. aggression toward one another. References Although nests are most Ehrlich, Paul R., David S. Dobkin, commonly constructed on a and Darryl Wheye. The Birder’s canyon wall only a short distance Handbook: A Field Guide to the above stream level, they may also Natural History of North American be located behind a waterfall, Birds, 1988, Simon and Schuster, among roots in the stream‘s bank New York, N. Y. or under pedestrian or highway Godfrey, W. Earl. The Birds of Canada, 1974, Information bridges. Bulky, domed, football- Canada, Ottawa. sized/shaped and built of moss Harrison, Colin. A Field Guide to the (lined or unlined), the size of the Nests, Eggs, and Nestlings of North nest seems to be grossly out of American Birds, 1978, Collins, proportion to the size of the bird. Glasgow. With its mossy colouration, and Hawkins, Sandra C. Personal Field the added camoufl age offered by Observations

DORSAL VIEW. SANDRA HAWKINS 18 NatureAlberta

BOREAL CHICKADEE. DAVID LILLY Note: Full count-by-count results are available on the FAN website: www.fanweb.ca. Wings of Spring: the Spring Bird Count 2008 Summary BY JUDY BOYD

The number of species was down this year: from 276 to 271 (the same as ’06); the number of individual birds also went down: from 220,685 to 211,229.

In 2007, the most numerous Sabine’s Gull, Gyrfalcon and at Lethbridge and Taber-Vauxhall; number of individual birds for Bohemian Waxwing at Bow Gray-cheeked Thrush at Calgary and a species was the Franklin’s Valley; White-rumped Sandpiper Brooks; Northern Mockingbird at Gull at 31,286. The second most and American Pipit at Calgary; Medicine Hat and Taber-Vauxhall; numerous was the Black-bellied Sage Thrasher at Milk River; Nelson’s Sharp-tailed Sparrow at Plover at 15,473 and the third Sedge Wren and Virginia Rail Medicine Hat and Fort McMurray; most numerous was the Canada at (although a Count and Bullock’s Oriole at Claresholm Goose at 11,262. In 2008, the most Week rail was seen at Calgary); and Waterton. numerous species was the Tree Yellow-bellied Flycatcher at In 2007 we had ten species seen in Swallow with 13,085. Second was Fort McMurray (a Count Week all areas but this year only seven: the Red-Winged Blackbird with fl ycatcher was seen at Medicine Canada Goose, Blue-winged Teal, 12,625. Third was the Franklin’s Hat); Long-eared Owl at American Robin, Yellow Warbler, Gull with 11,740. Lethbridge (a Count Week owl Chipping Sparrow, Red-winged was seen at Central Alberta); and Last year 26 species were found in Blackbird and Brown-headed Harlequin Duck at Waterton. only one location and 14 species Cowbird. Last year three species were found in two locations. This Of the double sightings: Eurasian were found in all but one area year 18 species were seen in only Wigeon seen at Cold Lake and and fi ve species were observed in one location and 12 species were Taber-Vauxhall; Spruce Grouse all count areas except two. This found in only two locations. Of the seen at Waterton and Bow year four species, Mallard, Least single sightings: Indigo Bunting Valley; Barred Owl at Central Flycatcher, Black-billed Magpie, and seen at Claresholm; American Alberta and ; Short- Clay-coloured Sparrow, were found Golden Plover, Burrowing Owl eared Owl at Cardston and in all areas except one and eleven and McCown’s Longspur at Claresholm; Northern Saw-whet species, Lesser Scaup, Buffl ehead, Brooks; Great Crested Flycatcher, Owl at Lac La Biche and Sir Sora, Killdeer, Northern Flicker, Chestnut-sided Warbler and Winston Churchill; Northern American Crow, Common Raven, Connecticut Warbler at Lac La Shrike at Brooks and Medicine Ruby-Crowned Kinglet, Yellow- Biche (the latter seen during Count Hat; Steller’s Jay at Waterton rumped Warbler and Song Sparrow, Week at Sir Winston Churchill); and ; Rock Wren were found in all areas except two. SPRING COUNTS Interested in Birds or Flowers? You can join in the 2009 Spring Bird and Flower Counts which are held around the end of May (the Flower FUN! Count week is May 25-31, with May 30-31 Count weekend, the latest SPRING 2009 19

Note: Full count-by-count results are available on the FAN website: www.fanweb.ca. Blooms of Spring: the May “Plants in Flower” Species Count 2008 Summary BY SUZANNE VISSER

The 2008 Spring Flower Count was held across the province from May 24 to May 30. Compared with previous years, spring ‘08 was late due to cool, wet conditions across much of the Province during April and May.

Over 50% of the compilers who double the normal of 15.4 cm, submitted results commented while rainfall in May exceeded on the late, cool spring and the normal by almost 42 mm. the delay in fl owering of many Mean temperatures in March species (see Count Location and May were slightly above details at www.fanweb.ca). normal; however, in April the temperature (1.5°C) was less Environment Canada reported than half of the 30-year normal. that temperatures in northeastern Alberta were at least 1°C below In the Edmonton area, too, normal, while southern Alberta total precipitation in March was received 40% more precipitation below normal, but well above than normal. When monthly normal in April (52.8 mm vs the data for March, April and May, normal of 26.3 mm) with most were compared to the Canadian of the precipitation falling as Climate Normals (1971-2000), snow (33.6 cm). Precipitation it was observed that, in the in Edmonton in May was near Calgary area, total precipitation normal. Temperatures were in March was approximately slightly below or near normal 50% lower than normal, while in March and May, but, as in precipitation in April and May Calgary, well below normal SASKATOON, THE MOST COMMONLY REPORTED was well above normal. Total in April. Environment Canada NATIVE SPECIES ON THE MAY 2008 COUNT FOR snowfall in April was more than weather statistics show that April PLANTS IN FLOWER. ROBIN HITCHON it can be). Besides being fun, it is a great way to learn to identify the different species. All levels – from beginners to pros – are very welcome and encouraged to sign up. Check with your local naturalist club or nature centre. 20 NatureAlberta

KEN KILCULLEN

Blooms of Spring…continued

in much of Alberta was very cool once. Indeed, over 80% of the Reported also were nine rare plant and snowy. species were observed in fi ve species, ranked as either S1 or S2 or fewer locations, while only by the Alberta Heritage Information The cool, wet spring weather 2% were reported from 15 or Centre (2006). These included: extended into the Count weekend more locations. Those species Back’s Sedge (Carex backii) from (May 24/25), which, in southern having a widespread distribution Edmonton and Ft. McMurray; Early Alberta was so rainy that some of across the Province included Buttercup (Ranunculus glaberrimus) the Counts had to be postponed Field Mouse-eared Chickweed from Waterton and Yamnuska; Leafy until later in Count week. (Cerastium arvense) (15 areas), Braya (Braya humilis) from Jasper Nevertheless, over 100 participants Northern Gooseberry (Ribes and Calgary; Small-fl owered Rockstar contributed to May Counts oxyacanthoides) (15 areas), (Lithophragma parvifl orum) from conducted in 20 areas across the Star-fl owered Solomon’s Seal Wateron; Fringed Milkwort (Polygala province. Of a total of 830 species (Smilacina stellata) (16 areas), paucifolia) from Ft. McMurray; reported on previous May Counts, Wild Strawberry (Fragaria Crowfoot Violet (Viola pedatifi da) 355 species or 43% were observed virginiana) (16 areas), and from the Red Deer area; Hooker’s in bloom in 2008. Fifty-three Early Blue Violet (Viola adunca) Cinquefoil (Potentilla hookeriana) of the 355 species (15%) were (16 areas). Only one species, from Jasper; Large-fl owered exotic (introduced) species. Exotic Saskatoon (Amelanchier Lungwort (Mertensia longifl ora) from species can pose a potential threat alnifolia), was observed Waterton; and Tufted Hymenopappus to the sustainability of native plant fl owering in all count areas. The (Hymenopappus fi lifolius) from Dry communities; thus, reporting their most frequently observed exotic Island Buffalo Jump. occurrence on May Counts is species was Common Dandelion encouraged. The area with the highest number of (Taraxacum offi cinale), participants, Calgary, also reported the The majority of species reported occurring in 19 of the 20 count highest number of species in bloom in fl ower (45%) occurred only areas. (147). Other areas with high counts SPRING 2009 21

Blooms of Spring…continued Volunteer with Adopt-a-Plant Alberta!

Are you interested in the conservation were: Waterton (139 species), Taber (97 species), Edmonton (87 of rare plants in Alberta? species), and Banff and Jasper, each with 66 species. The Adopt-a-Plant Alberta program is looking for volunteers across the province to help locate and record observations of That spring was late was evident rare plants, mosses, and lichens in 2009. Membership in Adopt-a-Plant from some early spring-fl owering Alberta is free and no specialized skills are required. The program species that were still blooming at the end of May. For example, provides training to its participants at workshops hosted in two different in Calgary, Crocus (Anemone locations in Alberta. patens), Moss Phlox (Phlox 2009 training workshops: hoodii) and Canada Buffaloberry Edmonton, April 26th, Devonian Botanic Garden (Shepherdia canadensis) were Medicine Hat, May 16th, Police Point Park Nature Centre still blooming in over 50% of the locations surveyed. In a warm, All data collected by volunteers is housed in the conservation database early spring these species have of the Alberta Natural Heritage Information Centre, where it will be often fi nished fl owering. In used to help resource managers undertake formal conservation status Waterton and Jasper, Aspen Poplar assessments of the species, and to help land managers and industry in (Populus tremuloides) was still in planning developments and ‘fl agging’ locations of rare plants in order to bloom – another indication that mitigate potential effects of developments. spring was late. To join Adopt-a-Plant Alberta, learn more about the program, or to be In summary, spring in Alberta in put on a mailing list for the program, contact Nora Manners, Program 2008 was cool, snowy and wet, Coordinator, at [email protected] or at 403-627-1473. Also visit the and this undoubtedly resulted program website at http://www.ab.adoptaplant.ca. in lower numbers of species in bloom in many of the count Hope to see you in 2009! areas than in previous years. In addition, the cool weather potentially delayed and/or extended fl owering of some early spring-fl owering species such as Aspen Poplar, Canadian Buffaloberry, Crocus and Moss Phlox, and possibly of some late spring-fl owering species as well. Finally, this Count would not have been possible without the input from many participants across the Province. Your contributions are very much appreciated. CALYPSO ORCHID NEAR BRAGG CREEK, KANANASKIS. BONNIE MULLEN 22 NatureAlberta

FEATURE ARTICLE Behold Alberta’s Bats BY CHUCK PRIESTLEY, MARGO PYBUS AND DAVE HOBSON

A BAT’S WORLD Bats are a pre-eminently diverse group of mammals; over 1,100 species – nearly one- fourth of all mammal species – inhabit our world.

Some bat species differ from gigantea or Cereus giganteus) Hog-nosed Bat (Craseonycteris the norm in that they are active would disappear from the thonglongyai), also called the mainly during the day, some are deserts of North America! Bats’ Bumblebee Bat, is the world’s frugivores (fruit-eating) and a few tremendous importance to the smallest mammal by length, are carnivores. Contrary to myth, natural environment and to ranging from 29 - 33mm and only three species limit their human needs and economics is weighing about 2g. The Giant nourishment to blood; only one a simple fact. Fortunately, the Golden-crowned Flying Fox of those feeds off mammals; birds widespread and almost always (Acerodon jubatus), the largest are the host of the other two. unfounded negative opinion bat in the world, has a 1.5m of bats is changing through wingspan and weighs 1.2kg. Throughout most of the world dedicated education, research and (with the exception of the The most numerous bats are conservation initiatives. polar regions) bats play critical nocturnal aerial insectivores roles in ecosystems. They Bats are divided into two that locate and hunt prey help regulate abundance of suborders, Megachiroptera using echolocation. Most avian invertebrate populations, pollinate (megabats) and Microchiroptera insectivores, such as swallows, fl owers, disperse seeds, and (microbats). Megabats tend to be hunt mainly during the day. For redistribute essential elements larger, do not echolocate, and this reason, the nocturnal habits such as nitrogen, to sustain a are frugivores. Microbats tend and specialized adaptations wide range of other plants and to be smaller, do echolocate, of bats allow them to access animals. In tropical regions, and mostly are insectivores food resources without a lot of forest succession, distribution, or carnivores (a few are competition with other species. and community composition nectivorous). All nine bat Even though bats have good are strongly infl uenced by bats. species that occur in Alberta vision, the ability of most bat Without bats, the characteristic are insectivorous microbats. species to echolocate increases Giant Saguaro Cacti (Carnegiea The world’s smallest bat, Kitti’s their success. Dolphins, SPRING 2009 23

HOARY BAT. COURTESY OF THE ROYAL ALBERTA MUSEUM, EDMONTON AB

whales, shrews, tenrecs fl ight. The adaptation is ancient layers of tough but fl exible skin (a shrew-like animal from and apparently very successful: that stretches between the fi ngers, Madagascar), and some cave- the earliest bat fossils, from the between the fi ngers, arms, body, dwelling bird species also have Eocene, show little difference and hind legs, and between the the ability to echolocate. from present day forms. tail and hind legs (see Fig. 1). Thus Chiroptera, the taxonomic Order they have an extensive collapsible The unique and unifying to which bats belong, originates elastic membrane to gather and adaptation of bats is that their from Greek words that mean use air for lift, drag, and amazing forelimbs have developed “hand” and “wing”. The wing manoeuvrability. Other mammals structures needed to sustain membrane is composed of two such as fl ying squirrels have expanded their body skin to facilitate extended aerial movements; however, Figure 1 they can only glide downward with gravity whereas bats are able to sustain fl ight and achieve lift.

J A KARNE 24 NatureAlberta BAT CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL (BCI) “Bat Conservation International is dedicated to conserving the world’s bats and their ecosystems, through conservation, education and research, in order to ensure a healthy planet” (BCI Mission Statement). The highly respected BCI is probably the world leader when it comes to bats and bat issues. BCI also has an excellent website and quarterly magazine, BATS. Along with the Royal Alberta Museum, BCI allowed Nature Alberta to use photos from their archives at no charge. To Behold Alberta’s learn more about BCI or subscribe to BATS, go to www.batcon.org. Bats…continued ALBERTA’S BATS Little Brown Regions and one is in Wood Bats roost in Buffalo National Park. It is attics and tree likely that many more caves cavities during and crevices are used by Little the summer. Brown Bats in the province. Roosting Given that rousing hibernating can occur bats can be energetically costly individually or to them, perhaps it is good that in small to large most of their hibernacula remain colonies. These unknown, because it means that bats are unable many bats are able to winter to remain active in locations where they are not A LITTLE BROWN BAT PERCHES ON A CAVE WALL. ©MERLIN D. in Alberta disturbed by people. In Alberta it TUTTLE, BAT CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL WWW.BATCON.ORG throughout is illegal to disturb bat (or snake) the winter hibernacula between September LITTLE BROWN BAT (Myotis lucifugus) so they migrate to caves and 1 and April 30. abandoned mines where they Alberta’s most common bat, the hibernate. Temperature (2 – 3 Little Brown Bat is found across BIG BROWN BAT degrees Celsius) and humidity (Eptesicus fuscus) the province where there are an (~100%) have to remain fairly The Big Brown Bat is found estimated 1 million to 1.5 million constant at sites that are used across Alberta but mainly in the individuals. As you might guess for hibernation. Some Little southern part of the province from their name, they are a Brown Bats in Alberta are short where they are believed to be small bat that is entirely brown, distance migrants that remain in the most common bat. Despite with a wingspan of only 22 – the province year-round while their presence in the northern 27cm. Because many bats have others migrate greater distances part of Alberta, there are only a similar brown appearance, it to the northern United States patchy reports from that part of is diffi cult, if not impossible, to and perhaps southern British their range. Aptly named, the Big differentiate many of Alberta’s Columbia (although migration bats in the fi eld. To overcome across the continental divide this obstacle, biologists use has not been documented). devices (bat detectors) that The proportion of Little Brown can detect and decode the Bats that remain in the province high-pitched sounds that bats versus those that leave is make. Characteristics of the unknown. To-date only four echolocation sounds can be hibernacula have been found used to identify different species. in Alberta. Three are along the More refi ned techniques can also boundary between the Rocky differentiate individual bats in a Mountain and Foothills Natural A GROUP OF BIG BROWN BATS ROOSTING UNDER A BRIDGE. feeding area. ©MERLIN D. TUTTLE, BAT CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL WWW.BATCON.ORG SPRING 2009 25

Behold Alberta’s Bats…continued

Brown Bat is Alberta’s largest HOARY BAT brown bat. The Hoary Bat is (Lasiurus cinereus) actually larger in size but has Alberta’s largest bat, the very different coloured fur. The Hoary Bat can be found Big Brown Bat is 9 – 14cm in across the treed regions length, with a wingspan of about of the province during 30cm, and weighs between 12 the summer. Unlike most and 28g. bats in Alberta that tend to be dark brown, this PORTRAIT OF A HOARY BAT. ©MERLIN D. TUTTLE, BAT During the day, Big Brown Bats CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL WWW.BATCON.ORG bat has a more varied roost in colonies that consist of pelage. Around the face 10 to 80 individuals. Roosting SILVER-HAIRED BAT and muzzle the Hoary Bat occurs in a natural setting such (Lasionycteris noctivagans) has light orange-brown fur as hollow trees, under loose Similar to the Hoary Bat, the Silver- and the hair on the body tree bark, and in rock crevices. haired Bat’s body is covered with dark is dark with white frosted- However, people normally hair that has white frosted-looking looking tips. In fl ight the encounter these bats roosting tips. However, the rest of this bat’s large size of this bat – with in human-made structures such fur is dark brown and it lacks the a 40cm wingspan – is often as building attics, abandoned light orange-brown fur characteristic enough to determine its buildings, and under structures of the Hoary Bat. The Silver-haired species. Hoary bats also have such as window shutters as well Bat is much smaller than the Hoary distinctive echolocations that as pine shakes and shingles. with a body length of 9 – 11cm are easy to identify with bat Bats tend to be creatures of compared with Hoary’s 11 – 15cm and detectors. habit and the Big Brown Bat a wingspan of 30cm compared with the is no exception. They tend to Hoary Bats tend to be solitary Hoary’s 40cm. This bat is found across use the same roost sites year animals. During the day they Alberta except the far north. after year and hunt in the same mainly roost singly in trees Silver-haired Bats are forest-dwellers. area night after night. During (they tend to prefer to roost During the day they roost singly or winter they hibernate in caves in conifers) among the leaves and abandoned mines. The or needles, or on the trunk; Big Brown Bat is the only bat infrequently, they roost in that is known to occasionally caves or crevices. This bat’s hibernate in buildings in Alberta frosted appearance is an but this happens only where effective camoufl age because temperature and humidity are it resembles lichens or dry within the narrow limitations leaves when it is roosting. that big browns can survive. A Hoary Bats do not hibernate few warehouse buildings kept at in Alberta. To survive winter temperatures that avoid freezing they migrate to Mexico and water pipes are the most likely the southern United States. buildings for Big Brown Bats to use during the winter. PORTRAIT OF A SILVER-HAIRED BAT. ©MERLIN D. TUTTLE, BAT CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL WWW.BATCON.ORG 26 NatureAlberta

Behold Alberta’s Bats…continued

in small groups among leaves, referred to as the Northern under tree bark, or in tree Long-eared Bat) is a small, cavities. Like the Hoary Bat, entirely brown bat. The Northern the frosted-tips of the Silver- Bat’s wingspan is 23 – 25cm haired Bat’s body hair likely compared with the 22 – 27cm helps conceal the bat during the wingspan of the Little Brown PORTRAIT OF A LONG-LEGGED BAT. ©MERLIN D. TUTTLE, BAT day. Roosting Silver-haired Bats Bat. However, one characteristic CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL WWW.BATCON.ORG resemble lichens or clumps of that distinguishes it from the dried leaves. They are often the Little Brown is the length of bats in Alberta. However, in the fi eld fi rst seen in the evening because its ears. This difference would the longer legs are not noticeable and compared to other bats they tend not be observed in fl ight but do not help with the identifi cation to rouse earlier. Initially they could help differentiate roosting of this species. Its wingspan of 25 – fl y low over water to drink and individuals. This bat occurs 28cm is similar to that of other Alberta later in the evening they tend across the northern part of the bats; therefore identifi cation of this to hunt close to canopy height province except the Canadian bat in the fi eld is diffi cult without the for fl ying insects. They do not Shield Natural Region in the far use of a bat detector that detects their spend the winter in Alberta. northeast. high frequency sounds. During the autumn they migrate The Northern Bat is associated to the southwestern United The Long-legged Bat tends to be with forested areas. During the States where they hibernate in found in coniferous forests near summer this bat roosts in small rock crevices, under bark, or in water. In summer it roosts in rock groups or individually. Roosting buildings. crevices along rivers, trees, buildings, occurs in a variety of places or under bridges depending on what including trees or buildings. is available. At night the Long-legged NORTHERN BAT Mature trees are preferred for (Myotis septentrionalis) Bat hunts for insects just above the roosting and they often use nest surface of lakes or streams. Insects Similar to the Little Brown Bat, cavities that were initially created are either caught out of the air or are the Northern Bat (sometimes by birds or cracks between pulled from the surface of the water. bark and tree trunks. At During winter they hibernate in caves dusk they wake to feed on or old mine shafts; however, the fl ying insects such as moths, locations of their hibernacula remain beetles, and fl ies. In autumn unknown. Northern Bats migrate short distances to caves where LONG-EARED BAT they hibernate. (Myotis evotis) Like many of Alberta’s bats, the LONG-LEGGED BAT Long-eared Bat is a small bat that is (Myotis volans) entirely brown. However, as its name As the name suggests, the suggests one of the features that can Long-legged Bat has longer distinguish this bat from others is the legs than other small brown length of its ears. Even though the PORTRAIT OF A NORTHERN BAT. ©MERLIN D. TUTTLE, BAT CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL WWW.BATCON.ORG SPRING 2009 27

Behold Alberta’s Bats…continued

Northern Bat also has long ears of their hibernacula are not the range of the Northern Bat known. and the Long-eared Bat do not overlap a great deal. Long-eared WESTERN SMALL-FOOTED Bats occur in the southern part BAT of the province whereas the (Myotis ciliolabrum) Northern Bat is mainly found In Alberta Western Small- PORTRAIT OF A WESTERN SMALL-FOOTED BAT. ©MERLIN D. TUTTLE, BAT CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL further north. Caution is advised footed Bats are restricted to WWW.BATCON.ORG in the Rocky Mountains because the southeast. Throughout its both Northern and Long-eared range this bat is associated Bats occur there. with dry habitats. For example, bat has a light orange pelage above in Alberta one of the best places and off-white undersides. This bat to see this bat is the badlands spills into Alberta in the eastern at dusk. Unlike most bats in part of the province, likely spilling Alberta, Western Small-footed over from Saskatchewan. Despite its Bats do not have dark brown rarity in Alberta, it is common across fur. Instead their pelage is light most of the United States (except yellow-brown above and its the states in the Northern Rocky undersides are off-white in Mountains) and South America. In colour. Alberta, the Eastern Red Bat was considered a vagrant species, but Western Small-footed Bats roost recent northern records as far north SMALL COLONY OF LONG-EARED BATS ROOSTING IN AN ATTIC. in rocky crevices, clay river as Fort McMurray, Cold Lake and ©MERLIN D. TUTTLE, BAT CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL WWW. banks, or under bark of trees BATCON.ORG Christina Lake and western records along rivers. Roosting occurs such as the Castle River indicate it Long-eared Bats tend to be in small and large groups. This is more widespread than previously found in forested areas especially bat hibernates in Alberta in documented. where rocky ledges and cliffs are caves and narrow rock crevices, present. They tend to be found particularly along the Red Deer at higher elevations than other and South Saskatchewan bats; therefore a good place to rivers. Compared with other fi nd them is high in the Rocky bat species, this bat hibernates Mountains. Long-eared Bats tend later in the autumn and to be solitary throughout most arouses earlier in the spring. of the year. During summer they roost singly or in small groups in EASTERN RED BAT tree cavities, under bark, in old (Lasiurus borealis) buildings, under bridges, or in Alberta’s rarest bat, the Eastern caves or mines. In the autumn Red Bat is one of the most they migrate to caves or mines colourful. Unlike most of our to hibernate but the locations bats that are all brown, this PORTRAIT OF AN EASTERN RED BAT. ©MERLIN D. TUTTLE, BAT CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL WWW.BATCON.ORG 28 NatureAlberta BAT WATCHING: THE BOOK Bat Conservation International has published a book, The Vacationer’s Guide to Bat Watching (1998) which shows more than 70 sites in the U.S. and Canada to view both captive and wild bats.

Behold Alberta’s Bats…continued

BAT THIS ‘N THAT

Only three of the nine bat To address bat-related issues and industrial wind energy projects, and species that occur in Alberta are concerns, a working group, the increased public and industry education considered Secure. The Western Alberta Bat Action Team (ABAT), so that the need for bat conservation and Small-footed Bat is considered was established in the early effective management receive enough Sensitive because little is known 1990s. The group is comprised attention. about its population and its of individual members that Recently two new potential threats to distribution tends to be clumped represent government, bat populations, White-nose Syndrome in prairie ravine habitats. The universities, industry, consulting (Blehert et al. 2008) and barotrauma Northern Bat and Long-eared Bat companies, and the public. The (physical damage to lung tissues due have been designated May Be team provides recommendations to changes in air pressure around wind at Risk because their population about bat conservation and turbines) (Baerwald et al. 2008) are sizes are unknown and their management priorities as well cause for concern. For further details and preference for roosting in mature as recommendations for bat an Alberta perspective on these concerns trees. The Silver-haired Bat, inventory and monitoring see Priestley et al. (2009). Hoary Bat, and Eastern Red techniques. ABAT has assembled Bat are considered Sensitive a list of high, medium and If you really like bats and want to gain because of mortality risk from low priority needs to address the benefi t of having them ‘hanging wind turbines at industrial wind future bat management in around’ your yard or in a conservation facilities (or “wind farms”) Alberta. Actions considered high area, consider putting up a bat house. during migration and a lack of priorities include investigations Bats are excellent fl yers and it can information on their population of migratory behaviour, be a lot of fun to watch their aerial abundances. mitigation of bat mortality at acrobatics as they hunt for fl ying insects in the evening. In addition, having bats nearby can help control undesirable insects such as mosquitoes, black fl ies, bugs, and moths. The Fish and Wildlife Division hosts the home pages for ABAT (www.srd.gov.ab.ca/fi shwildlife/ wildlifeinalberta/batsalberta/) and the associated web pages have lots of good information about the bats of Alberta, bat-friendly methods of removing bats from occupied buildings, as well as plans and guidelines for building and putting up bat houses. Nature stores, like “The Wild Bird Store” in Edmonton (see

PORTRAIT OF A LONG-EARED BAT. ©MERLIN D. TUTTLE, BAT CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL WWW.BATCON.ORG SPRING 2009 29

WESTERN SMALL-FOOTED BAT. COURTESY OF THE ROYAL ALBERTA MUSEUM, EDMONTON AB

ad, pg 30) carry a variety of bat of bat fatalities at wind turbines. 30 October 2008; 10.1123/ houses. A link to a bat house Current Biology 18(16):695-696. science.1163874. design also is posted on the FAN Blehert, D.S., A.C. Hicks, M. Behr, Priestley, C., B. Spence, M. Pybus C.U. Meteyer, B.M. Berlowski-Zier, and D. Hobson. Bats in Alberta, website at www.fanweb.ca. E.L. Buckles, J.T.H. Coleman, S.R. Conservation Challenges and Darling, A. Gargas, R. Niver, J.C. Monitoring Efforts. Nature Alberta Literature Cited Okoniewski, R.J. Rudd and W.B. 38(4):14-17. Baerwald, E.F., G.H D’Amours, B.J. Stone. Bat white-nose syndrome: Klug and R.M.R. Barclay. 2008. an emerging fungal pathogen? Barotrauma is a signifi cant cause Sciencexpress. Published online

• Bats carefully groom themselves and are among the cleanest of animals! They very rarely transmit disease, including rabies, to humans or other animals. • Bats – even sick ones - are usually non-aggressive; like any animal though, they will bite in self- defense when handled roughly. Did you know?? • The 20 million bats in San Antonio Texas’ Bracken Bat Cave eat over 180 tonnes (200 tons) of insects every single summer night! The bats’ nightly fl ight from the cave and back is now San Antonio’s major tourist attraction. • A single colony of 150 Big Brown Bats can protect farmers from 33 million rootworms each summer. The almost 100 million Mexican Free-tailed Bats in Central Texas devour roughly 900 tonnes (1,000 tons) of insects every night! • The Little Brown Bat can live to be more than 34 years old – making it the world’s longest-lived mammal for its size! • African Heart-nosed Bats can hear the footsteps of a beetle from more than 6 feet away! The echolocation of fi shing bats is so sophisticated that they can detect a minnow’s fi n as fi ne as a human hair that is protruding only 2 mm above a pond’s surface! 30 NatureAlberta

Behold Alberta’s Bats…continued

WHY DO MANY PEOPLE DISLIKE BATS? BY DENNIS BARESCO “The world is a dangerous place. Not Many things have instilled needless because of the people who are evil, but fears and paranoia in people about bats. because of the people who don’t do anything about it.” Generally, bats aren’t cute and cuddly. -- ALBERT EINSTEIN Hollywood and horror-stories writers have been less than kind. Misinformation and silly myths are widespread. Misguided (and occasionally unethical) health offi cials have often generated panic. Thankfully, many people around the world are joining the bat conservation movement and spreading the truth about these truly amazing creatures. Everyone can help simply by sharing understanding and knowledge about bats at every opportunity, supporting bat projects and initiatives (including the many studies by U of C graduate students under Robert Barclay), setting up bat boxes, watching for colonies and threats to those colonies, and any other action that might result in the conservation and protection of this vitally important – and extraordinarily interesting – mammal.

LITTLE BROWN BAT. COURTESY OF THE ROYAL ALBERTA MUSEUM, EDMONTON AB RICK PRICE SPRING 2009 31 First Hand: A Special Bird Feeder Visitor! BY PHIL HORCH Annalora and I have been operating six feeders in our Medicine Hat (Ross Glen area) backyard all winter and enjoying fl ocks of House Finch, House Sparrow, Common Redpoll, Black-capped Chickadee, Pine Siskin and the occasional nuthatch, Blue Jay and woodpecker.

But all that changed on February winged morsel. It would kill a numbers diminished at the feeder 14 with the arrival of a male Sharp- sparrow or fi nch and then eat a partly because many had been shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus). leisurely meal starting with the eaten and partly because the others eyes and head. It would take had been scared off. At times, the The Sharp-shinned Hawk, whose about a half hour to consume chickadees would show up near diet consists mainly of other birds, virtually the entire bird and the perched hawk and hop around mostly songbirds, is the smallest of then preen itself until it was it in an animated fashion. Annalora Alberta’s three species of Accipiter; comfortably clean afterwards. and I never noticed that any of the Cooper’s Hawk and Goshawk Usually nothing but feathers were chickadees were killed, though lots round out the Genus. left behind. of sparrows, redpolls and fi nches Our Sharp-shinned Hawk would were. Since February 26 the hawk From February 14th through the patiently perch motionless in our has not been seen again and the 26th, the predator would kill two lilac bush and wait for just the smaller birds are slowly starting to birds each day, arriving at different right moment to dive at a lovely return. times of the day. Soon bird If you have a fi rst-hand experience with nature, send it in and share it with other naturalists. After all – there are 8 million stories in the Nature City. Yours…could be one of them.

MINI BOOK REVIEW TAR Sands:Dirty Oil and the Future of a Continent REVIEWED BY: DENNIS BARESCO Andrew Nikiforuk’s new book puts everything you did even some black humour: why calling the and did not want to know about the tar sands in an tar sands “oil sands” is like calling a tomato easily readable 185 pgs, plus an excellent reference “ketchup” – as in, I think I’ll grow some section. Yes, there’s doom and revulsion, but there’s also ketchup in my backyard. And there are some Andrew Nikiforuk enlightenment and education. He devotes the fi nal chapter chapters that should make every Albertan to “Energy Sanity.” Tar Sands provides real insight into “the mad: eg., “The Fiction of Reclamation”; and “Money”. As David authoritarian character of the Alberta government.” There’s Schindler said: “This book is a must-read.” COMMON NIGHTHAWK. 32 NatureAlberta GERALD ROMANCHUK

Up Close Naturally: Aerial Plankton BY MARGOT HERVIEUX

If you look into the sky under the right light conditions, you might notice that there are all sorts of bits and pieces fl oating in the air.

In addition to the more obvious invaded parts of Alberta a couple be found feeding so high that only their strands of spider silk, tufts of plant of summers ago caught the jet sounds give them away. fl uff, and fl ying insects, the breeze stream out of British Columbia. Recently biologists have noticed signifi cant is providing transportation for a Spiders are active air travelers, declines in the numbers of birds that feed wide variety of tiny organisms. and they help the process by on fl ying insects. Across Canada and the If you are small, riding the wind is creating their own balloons. US, populations of swallows, nighthawks a great way to fi nd new places to When a spider wants to relocate, and fl ycatchers have decreased by 50 to 70 feed and grow. it simply climbs to the top of percent in the past two decades. a nearby plant and releases a Everything from bacteria, viruses, It isn’t completely clear why we are seeing strand of silk. The silk catches and moss and fungus spores to such drops in the numbers of insect-eating the wind and the spider is pollen, plants seeds, small insects birds. Habitat loss has certainly played a carried off. Ballooning spiders and spiders have been found role but there are also other factors at play. have been found on mountain sailing on high. Insect numbers may be declining due to tops and on islands or boats over habitat changes, pesticides and even all our Once a plant or animal is 100 kilometres off shore. airborne, different currents and lights at night. With warmer temperatures, layers of moving air can carry All those wind-surfi ng insects insect hatches may also be happening at their tiny passengers amazing and spiders are great food for different times and that could affect nesting distances. Aphids have been birds like swallows and night success for the birds. hawks. These birds feed on found thousands of feet up in the It is easy to forget when we gaze at a the wing, opening their wide sky and many organisms have summer sky that the air is full of life. We mouths to snatch food as they been known to may not be able to see all of the creatures fl y. They have hair-like feathers, travel hundreds that spend time there, but hopefully we called rictal bristles, around of kilometres. The can help ensure that they always have clear their mouths that help widen pine beetles that sailing. the “net”. Often the birds can

Margot’s column fi rst appeared in the Peace Country Sun. Archived copies of past columns are available at www.peacecountrysun.com. SPRING 2009 33

Extreme Fighting Arrives in Alberta: The Spring 2008 Peregrine Falcon Migration! BY GEOFF HOLROYD AND HELEN TREFRY

The Alberta Peregrines continue to amaze us! The satellite transmitters on Alberta Peregrine Falcons have taught us a great deal about the falcons’ migration and seasonal movements (Fuller et al. 1998, Holroyd and Duxbury 1999, Holroyd et al. 2007, Holroyd and Trefry 2008).

The spring of 2008 was no Two falcons carried transmitters: by night fall, a total fl ight of 710 exception. In this article we “Homeless”, the female that km – a rapid return rate. On describe the spring migration nested at the University of April 10 she fl ew slightly inland of two Peregrines, and what Alberta (U of A) in 2006 but was near Monterrey Mexico, past happened when they arrived at displaced in 2007; and a male Del Rio Texas, and north near their previous nest sites. that nested at an industrial site in Lubbock and Amarillo Texas Fort Saskatchewan (Holroyd and into the north-east corner of The 30 gm, solar-powered Trefry 2008). Colorado by April 15, tracking satellite transmitters were almost 300 km per day. In attached as backpacks “Homeless” wintered in Colorado she encountered strong to Peregrine Falcons in Colombia where she spent winds and snow which caused the summer of 2006. The the previous winter. She left her to backtrack southwest 100 transmitters provided hourly her winter home April 4, 2008 km and then further west to near data on their location at about 7 am local time and Denver by the night of April (accurate to 18m), speed, traveled 400 km on the fi rst day, 17. Her migration was back on height and direction of travel crossing most of Panama. The track on the night of April 20 for 17 hours per day during following day she crossed much as she neared Billings . migration and the summer. of Costa Rica, about 325 km. She was almost 900 km away This level of precision provides On the 5th she fl ew 450 km to from Edmonton on the 20th, but unprecedented opportunities central Nicaragua, then the next another spring snowstorm along to learn many details about day 480 km to the Honduras- the international border caused the falcons’ movements. Guatemala border, then 480 km her to spend several days near Thanks to the telemetry and into southern Mexico along the Great Falls. terrifi c ‘ground’ observers in main mountain chain. In the Edmonton, the falcons’ 2008 next two days she reached the Waiting for her in Edmonton was stories were spectacular. Gulf coast south of Veracruz and the female who won the April followed the coast to Tampico 2007 fi ght for the nest box at the 34 NatureAlberta

Extreme Fighting Arrives in Alberta: The Spring 2008 Peregrine Falcon Migration!… continued

the two falcons were off camera and she did not know the outcome. Alastair Franke went to the roof top to look for any bodies. He initially saw the male eating a Franklin’s Gull; then the 2007 female joined the male. She fed and in short order they copulated. Later in the day, he located our ‘homeless’ female on the signs on the Weber Centre on Gateway Boulevard. The satellite tells us that she fi rst perched on the provincial agricultural buildings a kilometer south of the nest site until at least 11am. Her face was bloodied but she was preening and defi nitely ALIVE! The female that replaced her last year,

COPULATION OCCURS BETWEEN THE “WINNERS”. WAYNE NELSON and won the fi ght on the 26th, was in poor shape after the fi ght. Biologists U of A [see Nature Alberta, Vol web-cam observer, Bev, emailed Wayne Nelson and Alastair Franke 38, # 1, Spring 2008] together me that the female falcons had noted that she seemed slumped in with the 2006 male. This pair fought at about 07:45am. Bev the nest box after the fi ght. Indeed was following all the rituals of could see the transmitter on “Homeless” looked rather hunched up Peregrine courtship including the female on top of the other on the Weber signs. Luckily on Tuesday food transfers and copulation. through the U of A’s Falcon Web morning Wayne was watching the web We wondered whether she Cam. But when Bev looked back cam and saw a third female falcon would return to this nest site after being displaced last year.

Maybe she would return to the THE WINNER IS ON TOP, THE TRANSMITTER FEMALE (“HOMELESS”) ON THE BOTTOM. THERE south Edmonton offi ce building IS A CONVEX MIRROR ON THE CEILING OF THE BOX, FOR CHECKING FOR NEST CONTENTS where she spent part of last FROM A DISTANCE. WAYNE NELSON summer or go elsewhere. “Homeless” started north again on 24 April crossing the border at between 4 and 5 pm, failing to check with Customs at the Del Bonita customs station. She spent the evening of Friday the 25th just north of Red Deer. The next morning she was near Leduc by 7am. Shortly afterwards a keen SPRING 2009 35

Extreme Fighting Arrives in Alberta: The Spring 2008 Peregrine Falcon Migration!…continued arrive. After standing on top of the box, casing out the second female, she jumped into the box and a fi ght ensued. The fi ght did not last long on camera, THE 2007 WINNER, THE BIRD WHO HAD BEEN AT THE U OF A, WELL RESTED AND FIT, FOR and soon the third female was ABOUT 3 WEEKS BEFORE “HOMELESS”, THE TRANSMITTER FEMALE, ARRIVED BACK THAT in possession of the nest box, YEAR. MOST OR ALL OF THE BLOOD ON THIS BIRD WAS FROM “HOMELESS”. WAYNE NELSON courting the male and accepting food from him! She appears to have taken advantage of the night on one of the University The story was not as happy poor condition of the second buildings near her old nest site. for “Homeless2” who won the female after the fi rst fi ght, and On the morning of May 11 the fi ght on April 29, but was then now has possession of the nest hourly records show that she kicked out two days later. She box! was fl ying over the river and was picked up on 22 May near The second female falcon could the University. At about 2 pm the university presumably after be dubbed “Homeless2”. The she was found exhausted and another fi ght and subsequently Peregrine soap opera continues! covered in mud on the banks of died at a vet clinic. the . The Edmonton area Peregrine The Fort Saskatchewan male left An alert family recognized that story was not yet over, but his winter quarters on the Pacifi c she was a Peregrine and told appeared to have stabilized. coast of Mexico near the border Valley Zoo staff who picked her After spending a few days in between the states of Chiapas up. A vet check indicated no south Edmonton, “Homeless” and Oaxaca on the morning of broken bones so she was kept traveled south to near Red Deer 10 April and by nightfall he had at the Wildlife Rehabilitation for the night of May 2-3, then crossed Mexico and tracked 500 Society of Edmonton for 11 days continued to downtown Calgary km northwest. By the 11th he on a diet of quail and antibiotics. where she spent the night. On was west of Tampico at the edge Gord Court picked her up from the 4th she fl ew back to Red of the Sierra Madre Mountain there and we released her Deer for the night, spent the day Range. He then tracked up the in south Edmonton with the there, then on to Edmonton on 100th Meridian, spending his support of MP Rahim Jaffer and the 6th! Then back to Calgary on nights just south of Monterrey CBC’s Lyle Cott on May 23. She the 9th. She is clearly unsettled Mexico, then near the Rio climbed into the blue sky and and presumably looking for a Grande upstream of the Falcon was soon gaining altitude and mate and nest site. Dam near San Angelo Texas, soaring to the south west over then on the Colorado-Kansas Since the fi ght, she had not the river valley. She spent most border by April 17. He was ventured north to the University. of the rest of the summer on the moving about 300 km per day. On May 10 she returned to Weber Centre building. Edmonton and spent the 36 NatureAlberta

Extreme Fighting Arrives in Alberta: The Spring 2008 Peregrine Falcon Migration!… continued

By April 20 he was near Sheridan and appeared to have taken time return to the nest site, but may in northern Wyoming, 1150 km to feed since he did not leave his have scouted out an old territory from Fort Saskatchewan. At 300 overnight location until between which used to be occupied km per day he should be ‘home’ 9 and 10 am. He blew past the according to provincial biologist on April 24, but with a spring east side of Calgary between 2 Gordon Court. Gord went to blizzard across much of Alberta, and 3 pm. He followed highway check on him and found a nest he could be delayed. 2 then highway 2A, then stopped site with two females and one migrating north at 8 pm near male, but no sign of ‘homeless So after our unsuccessful watch Hobbema. The next morning male’ during his visit! Those at the University and with the he fl ew east and spent at least 4 falcons have some work to do to news that “Homeless” was still hours in the valley, sort themselves out. in Montana, we turned our presumably hunting. It was attention to the arrival of the Subsequently, Gord found the not until 1 pm that he resumed Fort Saskatchewan male. On ‘homeless male’ in possession of his trek north! Meanwhile we Wednesday, April 23 he passed this nest with a female and eggs. were enjoying the warming sun, by Lethbridge between 3:30 and He successfully raised young at squinting through our telescopes 4:30 pm. So Thursday evening this site. We do not know what at the distant pair and nest box. seemed like a likely arrival happened to the other males estimate. We set up watch and He arrived at the nest on April who were there before him, nor waited. By 9:30 pm, no luck 25 at 5:15 pm. The fi rst time who fathered the eggs! but we were able to determine we saw him he was already in These two satellite transmitters that a new male had taken up the nest box in a fi ght with the in combination with ground residence. We located the typical new male. After 10 minutes the observers have given us new perch points of the resident two males tumbled out of the insights into the competition pair, last year’s female and a box and out of sight behind for nest sites that would not new male. We also checked some buildings. Our ground have been obvious otherwise. the nest site; no eggs but the search turned up nothing! You Typically Peregrine nests are female obliged us by landing on may remember that last year checked for occupancy and the nest box so we could read he arrived back to a new male the adult bands checked once her band and confi rm she was which he killed. This year the in a season. In such situations indeed last year’s female. On tables were turned and he lost the mate replacements that we Friday we set up watch again, the duel. Later in the evening he presented above would not have but north winds blew smoke that was 14 km northeast of the nest been detected. Consequently the blocked our view of the box and on the north bank of the North frequency of mate replacements we had to set up our telescopes Saskatchewan River. So we now would be under-estimated. about a kilometer away, not have ‘homeless male’. At only three nests we have ideal viewing. We now know He remained on the North evidence of at least 6 fi ghts for from the satellite telemetry that Saskatchewan River downstream occupancy. These stories suggest he spent the night of the 23rd on of Fort Saskatchewan. According that we should try to identify the banks of the near to the telemetry he did not Peregrines early in the season Nanton. He was not in a rush SPRING 2009 37

THE WINNER IS ON THE LEFT; “HOMELESS”, ON THE RIGHT, LOST IN THE 2007 FIGHT, RETURNED AND LOST TO THE SAME FEMALE AGAIN IN THE FIRST 2008 FIGHT; IN BOTH SUMMERS, SHE WAS “HOMELESS”. WAYNE NELSON

and more than once to detect Literature Cited Colombia to Alberta. Nature such mate replacements. Fuller, M. R., W. S. Seegar, and L. Alberta 38(1):32-36. S. Schueck. 1998. Routes and Holroyd, G.L., H.E. Trefry and G. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: The travel rates of migrating Peregrine Court. 2007 The migration of spring observations of the Falcons Falco peregrinus and four Alberta Peregrine Falcons falcons in Edmonton and Swainson’s Hawks Buteo swainsoni in autumn 2006. Nature Alberta Fort Saskatchewan were by in the Western Hemisphere. 37(2):14-17 Wayne Nelson, Alastair Franke, Journal of Avian Biology 29:433– Holroyd, G.L. and J. Duxbury. 1999. 440. Travels of Peregrine Falcons #5735. Helen Trefry, Gord Court and Holroyd, G.L., and H.E. Trefry. Blue Jay 57(3):146-149. Bev. Thanks to all of them 2008. The race! The spring 2007 for contributing to this story. peregrine falcon race north from Thanks to the Environmental Coordination Offi ce of Students at the U of A for maintaining their falcon web site and Want a Kangaroo Rat webcam. Thanks to the Wildlife Rehabilitation Society to call your own? of Edmonton < http://www. wildlife-edm.ca/> who cared This cuddly, fuzzy, irresistible 95 for the homeless and many $15. other wildlife in the Edmonton Kangaroo Rat can be yours! region. If you wish to donate Only $15.95 ea funds to help with Peregrine conservation, they deserve a (+ .80 GST + $4.50 S&H = TOTAL $21.25) special helping hand for taking To order your 12” Kangaroo Rat: care of these falcons. Thanks Go to the FAN Store at also to the Edmonton Zoo staff www.fanweb.ca (secure on-line ordering);ng); and the family who found and OR send cheque to FAN, picked up “Homeless” after 11759 Groat Road one of her fi ghts. Edmonton AB T5M3K6 (Make cheque payable to Federation of Alberta Naturalists)alists)) 38 NatureAlberta

Waterton Lakes National Park Where the Mountains Meet the Prairie BY SANDRA HAWKINS

A visit to Waterton Lakes National Park makes one realize that the best things in life really do come in small packages.

Located in the southwest corner fl ora and fauna. The area is truly lichen species. Such variety in vegetation of the province, Waterton Lakes unique, for it lacks a transitional provides food and shelter for 60 species of is the smallest of Alberta’s phalanx of foothills. Instead, the mammals, 250 species of birds, 24 species mountain parks with an area of mountains rise spectacularly and of fi sh and 10 species of reptiles and only 505 square kilometres (195 abruptly from the surrounding amphibians. square miles). In 1895, Canada’s prairie. This magnifi cent duality The Waterton Wildfl ower Festival is held fourth national park was set is the reason Waterton is my annually in June. At this time, the park aside to protect the beautiful emotional home base and one of draws visitors from every corner of the chain of lakes now known my favourite places on earth. as the Waterton Lakes. Upper world to view and photograph its multi- Waterton is a meeting place Waterton Lake is the deepest coloured profusion of prairie and mountain for several different ecological lake in the Canadian Rockies. wildfl owers. The higher elevations in regions that converge and In 1932, Waterton and Glacier the park are blessed with Bear Grass intersperse a variety of plants National Park in neighbouring (Xerophyllum tenax), a relatively rare from the prairies, the mountains Montana became the world’s fi rst sub-alpine beauty that is a popular subject and the Pacifi c Northwest. As International Peace Park. Today, for photographers. Although grass-like in home to 45 different habitat both parks cooperate with one appearance, it is a member of the lily family types, the area is a botanist’s another for the protection of and grows to a height of approximately 1.5 paradise with 970 vascular plant their shared ecosystems. metres. It produces creamy white fl owers species, 182 bryophytes and 218 in a fi ve to seven year cycle. “Forests” of On December 6, 1995, the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in recognition of its singular beauty and its varied and abundant

VIMY RIDGE FROM THE BISON PADDOCK, WATERTON LAKES NATIONAL PARK. © SANDRA C. HAWKINS 2008 SPRING 2009 39

Waterton Lakes National Park: Where the Mountains Meet the Prairie…continued

bear grass line the verges of the trek to Linnet Lake. Prior to this in the washrooms. Tenting sites here beautiful Akamina Parkway that construction, local naturalists are amidst a pine forest located at leads from Waterton’s town site spent much of the month of the bottom of a glorious mountain to high alpine Cameron Lake. April toting the salamanders to valley. Nearby, lively little Pass safety across the busy entrance Creek provides a riparian habitat road. Bison, elk, badgers, that is home to many of the park’s , foxes, black and grizzly denizens—mammals, birds, butterfl ies bear all call Waterton home, and and the like. These creatures mingle the small size of the park makes freely throughout the campsites and viewing them relatively easy for provide a more intimate and leisurely those who are patient. view of nature. Waterton offers a wide variety Pass Creek offers prime habitat for of accommodation for the many of the 250 species of birds that visitor, both within the tiny are found in the park, but two of my town site and outside the park’s favourites are Red-naped Sapsucker boundaries. For campers, the (Sphyrapicus nuchalis) and American park offers only two choices. Dipper (Cinclus mexicanus). [See The in-town site has electrical “Wildlife! Starring …” pg 16 for an BEAR GRASS (XEROPHYLLUM TENAX) IN hookups, hot showers and article on the Dipper.] BLOOM. © SANDRA C. HAWKINS 2008 other such amenities. We prefer The Dippers’ football-shaped nests to travel into the hinterland to of moss miraculously adhere to In addition to the natural highs Crandell campground where precipitous canyon walls. During a visit to Waterton brings, the the only “luxuries” are running nesting season their melodic songs park is unique because it lacks water (cold) with fl ush toilets much of the crass commercialism echo above the thunderous roar of and overcrowding of Jasper rushing water. When the young are and Banff. There are still no big enough to “hang out” over the GRIZZLY BEAR (URSUS ARCTOS edge of the nest, they greet their traffi c lights or parking meters. HORRIBILIS). © SANDRA C. HAWKINS 2008 ewes (Ovis food-laden parents by singing canadensis) with their lambs, for their supper. It is such a and does (both White-tailed delightful and unforgettable Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) little operetta. Dippers are year and Mule Deer (Odocoileus round residents in Waterton, and, hemionus) with fawns still if you are fortunate enough to wander freely in town and be there in October when the stop to rest at will. Specially- mountain aspens turn golden, constructed safe pathways you may see several birds at have recently been installed to one time. They often like to protect Long-toed Salamanders rendezvous near Cameron Falls, (Ambystoma macrodactylm) conveniently adjacent to the in- that previously experienced town campground. diffi culty navigating traffi c Red-naped Sapsuckers are most curbs on their annual mating commonly found in streamside RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER (SPHYRAPICUS NUCHALIS). 40 NatureAlberta © SANDRA C. HAWKINS 2008

Waterton Lakes National Park: Where the Mountains Meet the Prairie…continued

forests that are composed is home to Sandhill Crane, Blue mainly of aspen, willow and Heron, many varieties of ducks, cottonwood. Although they White-tailed Deer, , Red sometimes nest in dead conifers, Fox, Osprey, and numerous species their preferred address is in of perching birds. The Waterton a live aspen. Over several Lakes, Waterton River and a myriad IF YOU GO: seasons, they often excavate of mountain streams may provide The URLs listed below will provide more multiple nests in the same tree, birders with views of Bald Eagle, information for those who may wish to learn and it is not uncommon to see Harlequin Duck, and Clark’s Grebe. more about this jewel in the Canadian Rockies. fi ve or more holes vertically A hike along one of the many trails aligned and appearing like some into the high country rewards the http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/ab/waterton/index_e. high rise condo development. more adventuresome with glimpses asp (Parks Canada-Waterton Lakes NP) One brood of 5 or 6 young is of Varied Thrush (their loud, long http://www.watertoninfo.com/gallery.html (Map, the norm. The nestlings are and lonely-sounding whistles photo gallery, accommodations) noisy and demanding and create reverberate on the crisp air), http://www.watertonwildfl owers.com/ quite a frenzied show when Townsend’s Solitaire, Golden Eagle, (Wildfl ower Festival/photos) either parent returns to the Calliope and Rufous Hummingbirds, nest with food. The aspens that Common and Barrow’s Goldeneyes, http://www.watertoninfo.ab.ca/r/salamand.html border Pass Creek are riddled and Clark’s Nutcracker. The dark, (Long-toed Salamander Project) with neatly drilled holes that dense, evergreen forests of the high http://www.natureconservancy.ca/site/ act as sap wells to trap insects. country are also home to some of PageServer?pagename=ab_ncc_work_projects_ When the young have fl edged the few beautiful Steller’s Jays found waterton1 (Nature Conservancy of Canada’s and migration is near, the birds east of the continental divide. Front Project) are commonly seen resting Waterton Lakes National Park itself http://www.wnha.ca/contacts.html (Waterton on branches adjacent to their may not possess a large footprint, Natural History Association) larders. They are quite tame, but with the help of the Nature and a patient observer is often Conservancy of Canada, and with rewarded with a marvelous the concern and generosity of local close encounter. ranchers who do not want their The span of everything land subdivided for hobby ranches, Waterton has to offer is diffi cult large tracts of the “front country” to encapsulate. The park’s have already been placed under Bison Paddock is clothed in stewardship. This magnifi cent part wildfl owers and dotted with of Canada never disappoints those prairie potholes that provide who love the beauty of nature. rest and food for a variety of It is a magical place. And yes, a shorebirds, ducks, badgers, visit there does prove that the best Columbian Ground Squirrels, things in life really do come in small several families of Mountain packages! Bluebirds, and often, a family of Northern Harriers. Maskinonge Lake, with its marshes and STELLER’S JAY (CYANOCITTA STELLERI). surrounding aspen copses, © SANDRA C. HAWKINS 2008 SPRING 2009 41

CELESTIAL HAPPENINGS Starry Nights Spring/Summer (May to July) BY JOHN MCFAUL

FEATURED CONSTELLATION – HERCULES Hercules was perhaps the greatest told Deianeira to put some of his Arcturus and Vega. The famous of all heroes of ancient Greek blood on a robe that she could globular star cluster M13 resides mythology. As such, he was give to Hercules, if she suspected in Hercules. Using binoculars, it featured on much of the coinage that Hercules was unfaithful. appears as a moderately bright of the time – for example, the The robe was to cure him of his fuzzy star. It is a compact cluster silver didrachm of Selinus in Sicily wandering eye. When she did of up to a million stars located (460BC) and even the shekel of this the poisoned robe caused about 21,000 light years from Tyre (126BC). The latter silver coin Hercules great agony. Zeus saved Earth. A number of years ago a may have been the coin referred him from his torment and placed radio message was beamed to to as the “Thirty Pieces of Silver” him in the heavens. M13 in the hope of contacting in the New Testament. extraterrestrial life. It will take only The constellation Hercules about 42,000 years to get a reply. Hercules was the product of a tryst appears as a faint upside down between Zeus and Alcmene. As fi gure between the bright stars such he was despised by Hera, the wife of Zeus. One time she placed Hercules under a spell which CELESTIAL HAPPENINGS made him commit various crimes. To make up for these misdeeds he Sun: Rise - May 1 (05:58 MDT), June 1 (05:11 MDT), July 1 (05:09 MDT) was ordered by King Eurystheus Set - May 1 (21:05 MDT), June 1 (21:53 MDT), July 1 (22:06 MDT) to carry out twelve labours. Times are for Edmonton. These labours may have some Moon: Full - May 9, June 7, July 7 connection to the 12 signs of the zodiac, such as the killing of the New - May 24, June 22, July 22 Nemean Lion as his fi rst labour, Planets: Mercury will rise shortly before the Sun and thus will be hard to see due which may be Leo the Lion of the to the bright morning sky. zodiac. Venus and Mars will be close together low in the ESE in the early morning hours. On May 21st and June 19th the waning crescent Moon will After the completion of the be near this planetary grouping. labours, Hercules went on a journey with his beautiful wife Jupiter will be visible in the early morning hours in May low in the Deianeira. Upon reaching a river southern sky. By late July it will set in the west a little before Sunrise. On th they asked the local centaur to July 10 it will be near the waning gibbous Moon. ferry them across. The centaur Saturn will start off high in the southwest in the evening sky of May. attempted to have his way with Toward the end of July it will set soon after the Sun. Deianeira. For this transgression Meteor Shower: Eta Aquirids, May 5 (before sunrise), 20/hour he was shot with a poison arrow Delta Aquirids, July 28, 20/hour by Hercules. As he was dying he The rate of meteors observed is for dark skies well away from city lights and with no Moon. 42 NatureAlberta

First a howling blizzard woke us, Then the rain came down to soak us, And now before the eye can focus - Crocus. IIt’st’s SSpring!pring! LILIA ROGERS Spring ‘09 began with the Mar 20 Equinox, and ends with the Summer Solstice on June 20. BY DENNIS BARESCO

A little Madness in the Spring Is wholesome even for the King. EMILY DICKINSON

Your Editor regales you with a Spring tale of “Man vs Nature”! Read it on-line at www.fanweb.ca.

Science has never drummed up quite as effective a tranquilizing RICK PRICE

IN APRIL, ONE NEVER KNOWS WHETHER THE GROUND WILL BE agent as a sunny spring day. BLOOMING, SNOW-COVERED, WET OR DRY. PHOTOGRAPHERS DON’T W. EARL HALL CARE; THEY ARE “OUT THERE” LOOKING FOR ACTION!

ONCE OUT THERE, GREAT PHOTOGRAPHY HAPPENS WHEN YOU ARE IN THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME, HAVE KEEN VISION, AND WATCH FOR THE UNUSUAL. PHOTOGRAPHER RICK PRICE IS EXCEPTIONAL AT ALL THREE. SAYS RICK OF HIS PHOTO: “THIS ONE IS OF A LONG- BILLED CURLEW AND A WHITE-TAILED JACKRABBIT; THE CURLEW WAS LOOKING FOR A MEAL WHERE THE WIND HAD BLOWN THE SNOW AWAY. THE JACKRABBIT WAS DOING HIS BEST TO HIDE WITH HIS BROWN SUMMER COAT ON.”

THE PHOTO WAS TAKEN APRIL 24/08, WITH A CANON 40D, CANON 100- 400/4.5-5.6 IS, AT AN EXPOSURE OF F/11, 1/1000 SEC.

In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt. MARGARET ATWOOD SPRING 2009 43

FAN CLUB PAGE

The Calgary Bird Banding Society

The Calgary Bird Banding Society (CBBS) is one of the newest members – an Associate Club – of the FAN family.

The Society was incorporated CBBS is a full member of the Birds are captured for banding as a registered charity under Canadian Migration Monitoring through the use of mist nets 12 the Societies Act of Alberta on Network, which includes meters long and 2.5 meters tall, March 22nd, 1995. Funding banding stations all across containing mesh pockets into is provided by donations, Canada. Our primary location is which fl ying birds gently fall. grants, membership fees, the the reserve area of Inglewood The birds are carefully extracted annual Baillie Birdathon and Bird Sanctuary along the Bow from the net and taken in cloth periodic provincial casinos. River in Calgary, but we also bags to the banding station We have about 55 members in operate a site in the foothills where species, age, and sex are our society, including several west of Calgary and have determined. They are banded banders-in-charge, who possess operated a site on the Osa and measured before being federal banding permits, and Peninsula in Costa Rica. released. many other volunteers who assist in monitoring the mist nets and recording data. The mission of CBBS is: to quantify long term population trends of migratory birds, using constant effort mist-netting; to promote involvement and expertise in bird banding; and to promote conservation of migratory birds by fostering public awareness and understanding of migratory birds.

GREEN HERON BANDED AT INGLEWOOD BIRD SANCTUARY. RAINER EBEL 44 NatureAlberta

FAN CLUB PAGE

Our Costa Rica project targeted both migrant and resident species, with a particular interest in Swainson’s Thrush (Catharus ustulatus), of which we have banded over 1000 individuals during the project. We have published two research articles in scientifi c journals based on those results and are considering preparing others related to the endemic species. Our project west of Calgary,

which is operated in the fall, A MANGROVE WARBLER IN NET, OSA PENINSULA IN COSTA RICA. RAINER EBEL focuses on Northern Saw-whet Owls (Aegolius acadicus) and complements similar projects nets, safe handling of birds, activities conform to strict CBBS across North America that recording of data, and use of protocols designed to ensure the monitor the populations of this equipment. Members work safety of the birds and the accuracy tiny predator. six-hour shifts and all banding of the data collected. Prior to participating in any projects, members must undergo For more information about CBBS, visit our website: training in the operation of mist www.calgarybirdbandingsociety.org

Nature Alberta Celebrating our natural heritage!

Nature Alberta welcomes submissions of articles, photos, humour and other suitable material on Alberta’s natural history. Submission guidelines for articles and photos are available on the FAN website at www.fanweb.ca.

Subscribe Today! MAIL TO: REGULAR » $30 per year Your support means a Federation of Alberta Naturalists Attn: Membership 2-YEAR » $55 great deal to FAN and its conservation objectives. 11759 Groat Road SUPPORTING: SUBSCRIPTION RATE Edmonton, AB PLUS DONATION (tax receipts issued upon T5M 3K6 request) » $40 or more per year AMERICAN DIPPER AT BLAKISTON (PASS) CREEK, WATERTON LAKES NATIONAL PARK. SANDRA HAWKINS

RED FOX KITS AT PLAY. DAVID LILLY VOLUME 39 | NUMBER 1 | SPRING 2009 Naturegallery

A PAIR OF GREAT HORNED OWLS NESTED AT ELLIS BIRD FARM IN THE SPRING & SUMMER OF 2008. THE NEST WAS IN PLAIN VIEW OF VISITORS, AND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ENJOYED WATCHING THEM HANG AROUND THE SITE, SOMETIMES CATCHING RICHARDSON’S GROUND SQUIRRELS. MYRNA PEARMAN

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