VOLUME 43 | NUMBER 4 | WINTER 2014 SUGGESTED RETAIL: $7.50 CDN Nature Alberta CELEBRATING OUR NATURAL HERITAGE

BEAVER DRAMA! SEE THE FEATURE STORY (PAGE 24). MYRNA PEARMAN

feature article On the Deep Roots of Beaver and Human Relationships in Alberta

NATURE ALBERTA A BLACK COYOTE AT ELK ISLAND. SEE THE STORY IN THE “FIRST HAND” SECTION, PAGE 34. JIM BROHMAN

HAIRY WOODPECKER; SEE “ON THE COVERS,” PG 3. JESSIE ZGURSKI DOWNY WOODPECKER; SEE “ON THE COVERS,” PG 3. JESSIE ZGURSKI Nature Alberta: WINTER 2014 1 Nature Alberta is composed of natural history clubs from across the Celebrating our natural heritage 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 and societies in Alberta; Contents (d) To promote the establishment of natural areas and nature reserves, to conserve and protect species, communities or other features of interest; NATURE ALBERTA VOLUME 43, NUMBER 4, WINTER 2014 (e) To organize, or coordinate symposia, conferences, fi eld meetings, nature camps, research and other activities whether of a similar or dissimilar nature; Editor’s Page BY DENNIS BARESCO ...... 2 (f) To provide the naturalists of Alberta with a forum in which questions Alberta Issues in Brief ...... 4 relating to the conservation of the natural environment may be discussed, so that united positions can be developed on them, and to Nature Alberta News ...... 8 provide the means of translating these positions into appropriate actions.

Nature Diary: Mule Deer and a Stray Cat BY DEBBIE AND ALAN GODKIN ...... 12 BOARD OF DIRECTORS In Memoriam: Dr. Leonard V. Hills ...... 15 PRESIDENT: Ted Hindmarch VICE PRESIDENT: Linda Howitt-Taylor Close to Home: Nature Photography in Alberta BY JOHN WARDEN ...... 16 SECRETARY: Margot Hervieux TREASURER: Christine Brown Eyes on IBAs: “ZooManiacs” at Big Lake BY ERIN CAMPBELL ...... 22 PAST PRESIDENT: Chuck Priestley APPOINTED DIRECTORS: Christine Brown, Ted Hindmarch, Joseph Hnatiuk, FEATURE ARTICLE: On the Deep Roots of Beaver and Geoff Holroyd, Chuck Priestley, Linda Howitt-Taylor Human Relationships in Alberta BY TODD KRISTENSEN AND HEINZ PYSZCZYK ...... 24 ELECTED DIRECTORS: Chrissie Smith (ANPC); Claudia Cameron, (BLN); John & Linda Stewart (CFNS); Lu Carbyn, (ENC); Martha Munz-Gue, (GN); Get Ready for Spring! Build a Bumblebee Nestbox ...... 32 Jennifer Okrainec (LLBBS); Lloyd Bennett (LNS); Margot Hervieux (PPN); Charley’s Nature Note: Xanthomendoza fallas, the Tony Blake (RDRN); Chris Olsen (VRNS); STAFF: Petra Rowell (Exec. Dir.); Vid Bijelic Hooded Sunburst Lichen BY DR. CHARLES BIRD ...... 33 First Hand: Black Coyote Enounter BY JIM BROHMAN ...... 34 CORPORATE MEMBER CLUBS Alberta Native Plant Council, Box 52099, Garneau P.O. Edmonton, AB First Hand: The Little Hawk was Back BY JEAN CONNOR ...... 35 T6G 2T5 Buffalo Lake Naturalists, Box 1802, Stettler, AB T0C 2L0 First Hand: Poor Little Black Bear! BY SARAH KLOSTER ...... 35 Nature Calgary (CFNS), Box 981, Calgary, AB T2P 2K4 First Hand: Lunch BY LEN PETTITT ...... 36 Edmonton Nature Club, Box 1111, Edmonton, AB T5J 2M1 Grasslands Naturalists, Box 2491, Medicine Hat, AB T1A 8G8 First Hand: Eurasian Collared-Dove BY DENNIS BARESCO ...... 36 Lac La Biche Birding Society, Box 1270, Lac La Biche, AB T0A 2C0 Lethbridge Naturalists Society, Box 1691, Lethbridge, AB T1J 4K4 First Hand: Time Sharing BY CAROLE AND GARY DODD ...... 37 Peace Parkland Naturalists, Box 1451, Grande Prairie, AB T8V 4Z2 Red Deer River Naturalists, Box 785, Red Deer, AB T4N 5H2 The Eleventh Report of the Alberta Bird Record Committee Vermilion River Naturalists, 5707 - 47 Avenue, Vermilion, AB T9X 1K5 BY JOCELYN HUDON, RICHARD KLAUKE, RICHARD KNAPTON, M. ROSS LEIN, JOHN RIDDELL, BRIAN RITCHIE AND RAY WERSHLER ...... 38 AFFILIATES: Alberta Lake Management Society Friends of Little Beaver Lake Society Up Close Naturally: Snow: What is it Good For? BY MARGOT HERVIEUX ...... 42 Alberta Lepidopterists’ Guild Grant MacEwan Mountain Club Alberta Mycological Society Heritage Tree Foundation of Canada Wildlife! Starring…The Dipper: Aquatic Songbird of the Rockies Beaverhill Bird Observatory J.J. Collett Natural Area Foundation BY JESSIE ZGURSKI ...... 43 Beaver River Naturalist Club Lee Nature Sanctuary Society Big Lake Environmental Support Society Lesser Slave Lake Bird Observatory Celestial Happenings BY JOHN MCFAUL ...... 45 BowKan Birders Little Creeks and Rough Fescue Calgary Bird Banding Society Appreciation Society Clubs Page ...... 47 Cochrane Environmental Action Purple Martin Conservancy Committee Riverlot 56 Natural Area Society Crooked Creek Conservancy Society Stewards of Alberta’s Protected Areas PUBLISHED QUARTERLY BY NATURE ALBERTA, Crowsnest Conservation Society Association 11759 GROAT ROAD, EDMONTON, AB T5M 3K6 Edmonton Naturalization Group The Wagner Natural Area Society Ellis Bird Farm Weaselhead/Glenmore Park PHONE.780.427.8124 FAX.780.422.2663 Fort Saskatchewan Naturalist Society Preservation Society [email protected] Friends of Blackfoot Society Wizard Lake Watershed and Lake Friends of Jasper National Park Stewardship Assoc. EDITOR.DENNIS BARESCO [email protected] CIRCULATION.TED HINDMARCH LAYOUT.BROKEN ARROW SOLUTIONS INC. CELEBRATE NATURE ALBERTA THANKS TO THE PROOFREADERS WHO ASSISTED IN PRODUCING THIS ISSUE: SERVING NATURE FOR OVER 43 YEARS!!! SANDRA FOSS, ELAINE GERMYN, SUZANNE LORINCZI, VAL SCHOLEFIELD, JUNE VERMEULEN. 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 28 Naturalists. The editor reserves the right to edit, reject or withdraw GUIDELINES ARE AVAILABLE ON SUMMER ISSUE.MAY 31 articles submitted. While due care will be taken of all manuscripts, photos THE NATURE ALBERTA WEBSITE: FALL ISSUE.AUGUST 31 or artwork submitted, FAN cannot be held responsible for any loss or WWW.NATUREALBERTA.CA WINTER ISSUE.NOVEMBER 30 damage to such articles. 2 NatureAlberta Editor’s Page BY DENNIS BARESCO

ARE YOU TIRED YET? face if too much of the public is his statements is fair game; mocking the Are you tired yet? There are too informed, too concerned with man and his music tells you more about so many environmental and the environment or society, to the the scruples of the attackers than it does ecological issues at the forefront point where more and more folks about Neil Young! “Hollywood-types” these days that it makes you want start to see activism as a necessity – as they are derogatorily referred to to throw up your hands, drop and far better than apathy. By – consistently get personally attacked out and live solely for today. the way, “activism” is a positive for using their celebrity to bring about There are also many politicians, word and exercise, despite the fact positive changes to which they are bureaucrats, spin doctors, wealthy that it is often used in a negative committed. connotation, at least when referring corporate executives, and media And then there’s the use of words to environmental or social activism. outlets who are dedicated to designed to stir up emotions. You’d making the general populace do The exploiters (and their expert be hard pressed to beat these blog precisely that. If you tune out… consultants) have developed a comments regarding Monsanto’s well then, the world is their apple! number of ways to overcome the ongoing battle to prevent labelling of On the very positive side, there dangers. The most obvious and fi rst products using Genetically Modifi ed are a lot of people who are line of defense is to use economic Organisms (GMOs): “…to counteract refusing to drop out – who, in fears: Jobs will be lost! Starvation the message of radical activists…the fact, are getting more involved around the globe! Limited growth mandatory GMO labeling campaign is or newly involved: members = no future! Society will collapse! not about some amorphous ‘right to of environmental and naturalist Etc., etc., ad nauseum. For the most know’ but about a larger, more sinister organizations; First Nations; part, objective analysis and facts effort to demonize Monsanto and volunteers; individual donors; are avoided. And, it works. other companies that use technology in agriculture.” Yikes! Those who want foundations and other funding Another very popular tactic is GMO labelling are not just activists. organizations; social networkers; name calling – personal attacks They’re radical activists! people in the public eye; certain to take the place of answering media outlets and journalists; and criticisms. So we get politicians Some of the things happening border that part of the general populace calling Canadians (who disagree on the inane. For example, leaked who have had enough but realize with them) traitors, treasonous documents obtained by the New York that dropping out is not a very or anti-Canadian. We get smear Times revealed that Canada has been proud or viable option. campaigns, as the Pembina Institute pressuring the US to not include a ban This ever-increasing public has recently experienced. Read on the harvesting of sharks’ fi ns and to activism has become irritating the excellent editorial response in abandon logging regulations and other for those who are – for want of the Dec 12, 2013 Calgary Herald, environmental provisions included in a better word – pro-exploitation. “Smearing environmental groups a draft version of the trade agreement, No, they don’t expect open revolt. won’t help oilsands,” by Ed the Trans Pacifi c Partnership, between And yes, they quite literally have Whittingham. It’s also on www. Pacifi c Rim nations. We must rely on unlimited fi nancial resources pembina.org under “Media Room – leaked documents for this agreement to combat social progress and Op-Eds”. (from a major U.S. paper, ironically) because negotiations between member maintain their power, wealth and Neil Young gets personally states have been carried out in almost control. Still, they understand ridiculed and attacked. Critiquing the possible dangers they might WINTER 2014 3

EDITOR’S PAGE cont’d… On the Covers: total secrecy, and public FRONT COVER information about the agreement There are a few sounds in nature that, even when you know they’re coming, is extremely limited. can still startle you. One is when a Ring-necked Pheasant explodes into the air at your feet, even though you’re looking right at it. Another is the slap of I could go on and on and on, a Beaver’s tail on the water, a loud crack which surely warns everything in but you get the point. I fi nd earshot – both above and below the surface! – of danger. Myrna Pearman’s it disappointing, though not photo caught the tail slap at just the right moment! You’ll discover why surprising, that so many people beavers are such a fascinating animal for so many reasons when you read the fall for all of this – or at least Feature Story, starting on page 24. pretend they fall for it because it falls in line with or justifi es INSIDE FRONT COVER their pre-determined opinions. Black Coyotes are extremely rare, writes Jim There’s a splendid word for it: Brohman. He just happened to be lucky enough on an early morning trip to Elk Island to get up close Truthiness, defi ned by Wikipedia to several Coyotes, including this handsome black as “a quality characterizing a model. See the story in the “First Hand” section, ‘truth’ that a person making an page 34. argument or assertion claims Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers are very similar in appearance; the best to know intuitively ‘from the identifying points are the larger body size and the longer, heavier beak of gut’ or because it ‘feels right’ the Hairy Woodpecker. Jessie Zgurski got a photo of each species in the without regard to evidence, Waterton townsite on the last day of 2012. Jessie also got some photos of logic, intellectual examination, American Dipper; her story is the “Wildlife Starring” feature, page 43. or facts.” The word was coined by famous satirist and comedian Stephen Colbert to point out the INSIDE BACK COVER “misuse of appeal to emotion What’s a bumblebee doing in the winter edition of and ‘gut feeling’ as a rhetorical Nature Alberta?! Besides being an amazing photo device in contemporaneous of a bumblebee in fl ight, by Brook D. Skagen, it’s socio-political discourse” also here to introduce you to Nature Alberta’s (Wikipedia). “Photo of the Month” contest. Brook’s photo was chosen as the August “Photo of the Month.” If you Anyway, I hope more and more want to know more and/or enter one of your Alberta nature photos, check people get involved now and out page 9. in the future and press for what American Bitterns are both secretive and camoufl aged. Deb Tymchuk they believe in, regardless of watched this one for three and a half weeks. She got lots of photos – but the frustration and forces lined this was the only one of it in fl ight and, taken on Sept 22, 2013, it was the up against public activism. It last time she saw it. Since most American Bitterns have migrated by early will pay off in the long run. September, Deb was lucky to have hers stay as long as it did. As Margaret Mead said, in her BACK COVER well-known quote: “Never doubt Once again, John Warden thrills us with his wonderful photography that a small group of thoughtful, and engrossing stories in his “Nature Photography in Alberta” series committed citizens can change (see John’s article, page 16). “Through the Eyes of Others” gives us an the world; indeed, it’s the only adventure in history and nature. This photo is of the Roche Miette, near the thing that ever has.” old Jasper House. “Roche” is French for rock; “Miette” likely comes from the Cree word, “Myatuck,” which means bighorn sheep.

Want to Switch your subscription from hard copy to the full Phone today: (780) 427.8124; or Switch? COLOUR e-version and get even GREATER enjoyment Email us: [email protected] or of Nature Alberta while REDUCING paper use. [email protected] 4 NatureAlberta

ALBERTA ISSUES IN BRIEF

Sage-grouse Update: New Captive Breeding Program Alberta Environment and sure there are enough of them For a long time now, Alberta Wilderness Sustainable Resource to thrive. That’s where captive Association has also been doing Development (AESRD) have breeding comes in.” The Calgary excellent work through a “Sage-grouse announced a new captive Zoo will lead the program at its partnership” with ranchers and industry breeding and rearing program off-site wildlife conservation ranch regarding habitat preservation initiatives. for the critically-endangered south of Calgary. As AWA’s Cliff Wallis stated, in a January Greater Sage-grouse. AESRD has 23rd Calgary Herald article: “We’ve got Obviously, captive breeding committed $2.1 million over the to convert some land back into sage and reintroduction, while next ten years, which has been brush habitat. Birds are sensitive to praiseworthy, is meaningless matched by Environment Canada. human activities on the landscape; they without habitat preservation and It is hoped that individuals and evolved with this low shrub grassland reclamation. To that end, AESRD organizations will donate a further — not fences and power lines and states: “We’ll be working with $1 million or more. pumpjacks.” leaseholders, experts, and industry With less than 150 Greater Sage- during the reclamation grouse left in Canada, AESRD process to ensure that stated in a memo that: “While this work continues – restoration of sage-grouse habitat and that the result is is critical to help the species secure habitat for this recover, we also need to make species.” City of Medicine Hat Fighting Sage-grouse Protection The City of Medicine Hat, along (there is a drilling plan with LGX Oil and Gas, have to boost oil production applied to the Courts to overturn from about 280 wells). the December 2013 federal order Some of the City’s enacted to protect Greater Sage- and LGX’s application grouse in the Manyberries area of THINKSTOCK.COM complaints are shared southeastern Alberta. by ranchers, industry and Sage-grouse numbers have declined The order, which takes effect environmental groups, though 70%-90% in the U.S. and are on the February 18th, was only enacted there seem to be better options U.S. Endangered Species Candidate after a lawsuit by several than postponing the federal order. list; the U.S. has not yet offi cially environmental groups, including On the other hand, several of the listed the species as “Endangered” AWA and Grasslands Naturalists, application complaints seem to solely because there are so many a Nature Alberta Corporate Club. indicate that they are clutching at other candidate species of greater Calling the order “capricious, straws. For example, they suggest urgency. unfair, arbitrary and unlawful,” that even if it is extirpated in the City and LGX mainly fear that Canada, the species will continue On January 16th, Environment if they are required to follow the “to exist in the wild elsewhere in Canada fi led notice that it will take order they will lose income from the world” (meaning the U.S.). part in a hearing into the complaint; potential future wells in the area Not mentioned is that Greater no court date has yet been set. WINTER 2014 5

Double The AB Wildlife Offi cers, says F & G Bees Update The Alberta Fish and Game 241 charges. Many times, As written in the Fall edition of Association says the shooting sometimes on behalf of Nature Alberta, “It’s no longer of dozens of animals by clients, I reported incidents to in doubt that bee populations suspected poachers this past fall Report a Poacher and suspect are crashing. A certain group is deplorable and points to the nothing was done; certainly of pesticides – “neonicotinoids” need for more wildlife offi cers – we never received even the (neo-nico-teen’ oids) – are at least double the number, Fish courtesy of a report.” heavily implicated. It is not just and Game suggests. bumblebees and honeybees; it This doesn’t mean that may have devastating effects on This lack of offi cers may be the Albertans should abandon all pollinators and songbirds.” main reason that, as well-known Report a Poacher; instead, outdoor writer and lawyer Bob they should support Fish and The science on the hazards of Scammell wrote recently (in the Game in its encouragement of neonicotinoids to pollinators excellent Red Deer Advocate the government to stop what has never been clearer; Health article, “Poachers get off easy”; amounts to the protection of Canada’s Pest Management January 30, 2014): “In 2009-10, poachers through severely Regulatory Agency (PMRA) came there were 7,509 poaching tips limiting the abilities of the to the same conclusion when, in Alberta, resulting in only enforcement agencies. in September 2013, PMRA stated it “has determined that current agricultural practices related to the use of neonicotinoid-treated corn Temporary Reprieve for CEMA and soybean seed are affecting the environment due to their impacts The Oil Sands Developers Group ESRD Minister Robin Campbell on bees and other pollinators.” (OSDG), made up of companies wrote: “I have support from Now, PMRA has made its decision, involved in tarsands mining, has industry that its funding for which appears to contradict been attempting to shut down the Cumulative Environmental its own fi ndings: it will allow the Cumulative Environmental Management Association will neonicotinoids usage to continue. Management Association continue for the next year at The PMRA says it will implement (CEMA) for the past two years the same level that has been several minor measures for the by eliminating funding. CEMA provided in the past year.” 2014 planting season for corn develops policies to reduce air However, this may well be and soybean production while and water pollution and protect just a temporary, one-year it studies the issue over the next wildlife, and produces technical reprieve, as the letter goes on few years – potentially devastating reports for safe storage of the to state: “The association will news for beekeepers and toxic tailing ponds. Last year, focus on completing current pollinators. ESRD Minister Diana McQueen projects in support of oil sands intervened, which resulted in environmental management funding being restored (see and sustainable resource Nature Alberta, Winter 2013, Vol management. The Cumulative 42, # 4). Environmental Management But OSDG has not given up Association should not and has tried again. This time, commence new work.” That in a January 22, 2014 letter does not bode well for CEMA’s to CEMA Executive Director future and the important work Glen Semenchuk, the present it does. 6 NatureAlberta

Destroying Books and Gutting Science The Harper Government has Another article by Nikiforuk in closed many science libraries and the Jan 24th The Tyee relates how with little warning and no real there are also indications that consultation has thrown away, the culling and library closures burned, land-fi lled and given may, in fact, be illegal under the away to anyone who wants them Library and Archives of Canada many thousands of irreplaceable Act. Federal Minister of State and historic research reports and Gary Goodyear responded that books, including vast amounts of “nothing of the sort could be any fi sheries and marine ecosystem further from the truth,” citing the intellectual resources. The stated digitization claim. Given that the reasons were: a) to save money; government has not provided any b) the information is being evidence of saving or digitization digitized; and c) the public very of “grey literature” and that the seldom uses the libraries. budget for Library and Archives Canada has been slashed 50 However: a) the money being percent, both scientists and saved is miniscule (about $430K librarians are alleging that the THINKSTOCK.COM yearly, plus it’s thought that government is not telling the truth. it will end up costing much more than it saves); b) union To date, the Harper government Ministerial Changes members working in the libraries has already shut down an haven’t seen or heard of any additional 12 library systems, Robin Campbell, who previously held mass digitization, which is very serving departments ranging the Aboriginal Relations post, has expensive and time-consuming, from Natural Resources to Parks been appointed as Minister of Alberta by the Department of Fisheries Canada. Environment and Sustainable Resource and Oceans; and c) since the Development (AESRD). Campbell, In the “gutting science” fi eld, the libraries are specifi cally designed who resides in Jasper, was fi rst elected infl uential New York Times wrote for scientifi c research, of course in 2008 and is the MLA for West a hard-hitting editorial entitled the public doesn’t use them often. Yellowhead. “Silencing Scientists” (Sept 21, As well, the government has 2013). It pulled no punches, According to his website, Mr. Campbell, been either unable or unwilling stating: “This is more than an who is 58, is an avid angler and spent to produce any reports showing attack on academic freedom. It many years as a guide in Jasper National possible cost savings or improved is an attempt to guarantee public Park. He was also President of the access to information through ignorance. It is also designed to United Mine Workers, a member of the digitization. In fact, studies suggest make sure that nothing gets in Alberta Labour Relations Board and the opposite has happened. the way of the northern resource the Environmental Protection Advisory In a recent article in the The Tyee, rush – the feverish effort to mine Committee. He spent many years award-winning Calgary journalist the earth and the ocean with lecturing at universities and conferences and author Andrew Nikiforuk says little regard for environmental across the country about labour relations the Harper government’s library consequences. The Harper policy issues. closures have been “so chaotic [of muzzling scientists] seems Former AESRD Minister Diana McQueen that irreplaceable collections designed to make sure that the takes over Energy from Ken Hughes. of intellectual capital built by tar sands project proceeds quietly, The new Minister for Tourism, Parks and Canadian taxpayers for future with no surprises, no bad news, Recreation is Dr. Richard Starke, MLA for generations has been lost forever.” no alarms from government Vermilion-Lloydminster, who is a retired scientists.” veterinarian. WINTER 2014 7

Mercury in birds Mercury levels are increasing a 57 percent decline in mercury what’s going on throughout the rest of in the eggs of water birds that levels from 2008 to 2012. the food web. The study concluded: nest downstream of Canada’s tar “it is unlikely that current mercury The petroleum industry is the sands region, according to a new levels pose a threat to the birds largest domestic source of mercury study. Eggs of Ring-billed Gulls studied here.” The concentrations emissions to Alberta’s air, according collected from northern Alberta’s found generally were below toxic to a national inventory. The Mamawi Lake in 2012 had 139 thresholds for impairing birds’ mercury in the birds might have percent more mercury than in reproductive success, although in come from global sources, such 2009. Smaller increases in mercury 2012, “levels in the majority of Caspian as coal-burning plants in Asia. were found in the eggs of three Tern eggs exceeded the lower toxicity However, since the levels increased species of gulls and terns at Egg threshold.” in two types of birds that live in Island. Both Mamawi Lake and different places in northern Alberta, INFORMATION FROM: Egg Island are located in the and since the gull eggs in southern Hebert, CE, D Campbell, R Kindopp, receiving waters of the Athabasca Alberta had decreasing mercury S MacMillan, P Martin, E Neugebauer, River, which drains the tar sands levels, the study authors reported L Patterson, J Shatford. 2013. Mercury region of Fort McMurray. Eggs of that it’s more likely to be a local trends in Colonial waterbird eggs California Gulls collected at the source. downstream of the oil sands region Langdon Reservoir, which is in of Alberta, Canada. Environmental The birds are top predators, which southern Alberta and not affected Science & Technology. DOI: 10.1021/ give researchers a good idea of by tar sands development, had es402542w. Environment Commissioner’s recommendations FROM A NATURE CANADA NEWS RELEASE, NOV 5, 2013 Environment Canada needs conservation planning and FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE signifi cant new funding in order results measurement for CONTACT: to implement the important landbirds, shorebirds and Paul Jorgenson, Senior recommendations released Nov 4, waterbirds even as many Communications Manager, 613- 2013 by the federal Environment shorebird and landbird species 562-3447 ext. 248, pjorgenson@ Commissioner, say several continue to suffer steep declines naturecanada.ca environmental conservation in population. Monica Tanaka, Communications groups. The report confi rms that “Canada spends just 25¢ per Coordinator, 613-562-3447 ext 241, “due to chronic underfunding hectare managing its National [email protected] rather than management failures Wildlife Areas, which is a small on the part of Environment fraction of the more than $10 Canada…protected areas are in a per hectare that the United poor state and in desperate need States spends managing its South Saskatchewan of serious investment,” said Ian National Wildlife Refuges” said Davidson, Executive Director of Regional Plan Davidson. Nature Canada is Nature Canada. calling on the Government of Those searching for balance in the draft The Commissioner’s audit Canada to invest $175 million South Saskatchewan Regional Plan are found that more than 70 per over fi ve years and $35 million out of luck. The plan essentially says cent of Canada’s National annually thereafter to better that there is room in southern Alberta Wildlife Areas are inadequately manage Environment Canada’s for everyone to do every activity protected. The audit makes protected areas and establish 21 anywhere and anytime, with industry clear that Environment Canada new National Wildlife Areas. and economic development having has not adequately undertaken priority over the environment. 8 NatureAlberta

Nature Alberta NEWS

INTERNS NEEDED: AGM COMING IN APRIL LAST CALL Nature Alberta’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) Nature Alberta (NA) is hiring part- will take place April 11-13, 2014 in Edmonton. time student Bird Conservation interns. If you are a continuing A workshop (tentative topic: One important administrative post-secondary student in Conservation Priority) plus the AGM event, approved at the January 18 Banquet and Awards presentations Directors Meeting, is the change Alberta, have a love of nature, will be April 12, with Board of our calendar fi scal year-end of and are looking for relevant work meetings April 11 and 13. Packages December 31, to a fi scal year of will be produced for the AGM (if April 1 to March 31. Doing this will experience, send us your resume! ready in time, they will be included help us align our expenses with with this magazine edition). our grant revenues and simplify our We are hiring multiple positions province- accounting. wide, for work in our bird conservation program. No experience necessary, but must have an interest in conservation and a willingness to work outdoors in variable New Appointed Director conditions. Most positions require some fi eld work, either within provincial parks At the Jan 18, 2014 Board meeting, was recently chosen as President or other rural sites. You must have a class Joseph Hnatiuk of Lethbridge of LNS, replacing Lloyd in that 5 driver’s licence and access to a vehicle, was approved as a Nature Alberta position. Lloyd will continue in his as these positions will require travel within Appointed Director. Joseph has role as the LNS representative on Alberta. Hours are part-time and very tremendous past experience as the Nature Alberta Board. fl exible. an advisor, analyst and consultant Nature Alberta congratulates for the environment and resource This is a fun and easy way to add Joseph on his role as the new management. Since 1996, he has important experience to your resume, LNS president and welcomes him operated his own fi rm, Hnatiuk as a full board member. This is increase your knowledge of Alberta’s National International Consulting. an interim appointment, as all wildlife, and be more competitive in the Lloyd Bennett is the Nature appointed directors will need to job market. Please email resumes to Alberta Director for the Lethbridge be re-approved at the April Board [email protected]. Naturalists (LNS). Joseph had meeting and ratifi ed at the AGM. been LNS’s Alternate Director and WINTER 2014 9

After Seven Years, it’s Time! It has been since October 2006 have to be subsidized by other the surcharge will increase from that the membership fees have revenues – including donations $10 to $15 dollars over the regular remained the same. Now, with from members – but the fee and extended membership price for everything inexorably increasing in increase will obviously help. in-Canada delivery for a total of $40 price and for the fi rst time in over dollars and $35 dollars. United States Nature Alberta membership, seven years, the Board of Directors and International hardcopy surcharge effective April 1st 2014, will go has approved a slight increase, costs will be increased to $35 and from $20 to $25 dollars (which effective April 1, 2014. $55 respectively, bringing their includes the E-Version of the hardcopy annual price to $60 and One of the reasons for the increase magazine). Extended memberships $80 respectively. is to help reduce fi nancial defi cits (i.e. for those who are members in the production of Nature of Nature Alberta member clubs) The new fees will only take effect for Alberta magazine. The key word will go from $15 to $20 dollars. To present members upon their renewal is “reduce”: the magazine will still receive the hardcopy magazine, date.

PHOTO OF THE MONTH! Are you interested in sharing your photos with Nature Alberta? Nature Alberta has a themed “Photo of the Month” contest. While photos are restricted to images of nature in Alberta, photographers can reside anywhere. The Photo of the Month will be announced online, through social media and in Nature Alberta’s bi-monthly e-News; the photographer will be informed by email. Here is how to enter your photo: Email photos to communications@ naturealberta.ca; include photographer’s name as it should appear publicly, the date and location of where the image was taken and identifi cation of subject matter when possible. Submission must be directly from the photographer. The photo must fi t the theme of the month as announced on Nature Alberta’s Blog, Facebook and Twitter accounts. SEPTEMBER’S “PHOTO For full details, go to Nature Alberta’s OF THE MONTH” CAME webpage, naturealberta.ca; on the FROM THERESA TANNER “Home” page, click “What’s New” FOR HER BEAUTIFUL and scroll down the left hand column TREE PHOTO, TAKEN to “photo of the month.” Of course, if NEAR ALIX, ALBERTA. you just want to see the photos and THERESA TANNER not enter, you can follow the same procedure. And, we thank you for supporting our non-profi t as we continue IN JULY, NATURE ALBERTA BEGAN SEEKING “PHOTOS OF THE to “celebrate nature through education MONTH.” THE FIRST TOP SUBMISSION CAME FROM BETH NANNI and appreciation!” AND FEATURED A BEAUTIFUL IMAGE OF A BULL ELK. BETH NANNI 10 NatureAlberta

Photo Donation Urban Wetlands in Plantwatch! Nature Alberta has received quite Cochrane Video Spring is coming – which means a substantial photo donation time for the citizen science program, from Debbie and Alan Godkin – All Albertans will be interested in Alberta’s Plantwatch. Plantwatching literally hundreds of photos. While the excellent video produced by is interesting, enjoyable and easy…as most are of birds (lots of warblers the Cochrane Environmental Action well as important. and woodpeckers), there are also Committee (CEAC), which is a The speed of spring plant quite a few of other wildlife and Nature Alberta Affi liate Club. This development is controlled mainly by butterfl y images. very professional video outlines CEAC’s efforts in preserving temperature. Warming winter and Debbie and Alan Godkin have and restoring urban wetlands spring temperatures mean earlier been writing an illustrated column in Cochrane. Not only is it a appearances of fl owers. This study of in Nature Alberta magazine since great video, but it is educational, biological timing is called phenology, the Summer 2009 edition, when informative and interesting. “the science of appearances”. There we were introduced to them Importantly, the video is also a is evidence that spring is arriving through the story, “Downies prime example of what a smaller earlier in many places in the west. By put on a show.” Their articles local club CAN accomplish with reporting when certain plants bloom continue in this edition, with determination and focus. and leaf out in spring, Albertans “Mule Deer and Cat” (see page contribute vital information for climate 12) – which just goes to show The video, entitled “When Two change studies. the real diversity of their nature Worlds Collide,” can be viewed How can you join this great program? experiences! on YouTube at: www.youtube. com/watch?v=kydEvck8OdE; or Easy. Nature Alberta sends a big thank just type “CEAC wetlands youtube” • Just register for the program you to Debbie and Alan for their into your browser. Nature Alberta • select one or more plants donation. It is greatly appreciated! congratulates CEAC on this • watch the plant in spring accomplishment. • and report the date when the fi rst fl ower buds open. Pigeon Lake Video Everything you need to know is Check out the fi ve minute video related challenge in Alberta. on the website: http://plantwatch. and the part Nature Alberta’s Living The PLWA is recognized as a naturealberta.ca/. There’s even some by Water program is playing in this leading organization as one of the great plant identifi cation stuff so growing success story in bringing main groups in the Pigeon Lake you can learn your plants before awareness to Pigeon Lake. Laura watershed and central Alberta spring! Program Manager for Alberta’s Edwards, Nature Alberta’s Living committed to the development Plantwatch program is Elisabeth by Water Coordinator, did a great of the Pigeon Lake Watershed Beaubien. job representing the program Management Plan. in the Pigeon Lake Watershed The clip will be used and Association’s (PLWA) video, “It’s All distributed around rural Alberta Connected” (www.youtube.com/ by the AWWOA as part of a watch?v=GsXfeAIVKuE). resource series to aid rural The PLWA was honoured to be Albertans as they undertake one of fi ve community-based addressing similar water organizations that the Alberta Water challenges. The AWWOA is an & Wastewater Operators Association Alberta resource for water and (AWWOA) chose to showcase as wastewater training, news and stepping up to address a water events. WINTER 2014 11

Bioblitz with Young Naturalists BY CANDACE FARRAR Following the May 29, 2013 Nason were ecstatic with the helicopter crash that killed community’s response to the Nature Alberta & biologist Kristina Norstrom and event. The ladies were able to pilot Bryce Colin Campbell and leave their bustling information injured biologist Simon Slater, booth for a few minutes during Alberta’s naturalist community felt the day, and especially enjoyed Cheyenne Lemery, Nature the need to honour the memory the opportunity to meet an owl, Alberta’s Communications of these friends. learn about radio tracking, and Specialist, wants you to know discuss amphibians and reptiles that Nature Alberta has its own With this in mind, the Alberta with many enthusiastic families. YouTube channel now. All kinds Chapter of the Wildlife Society, Sarah commented that the of “good stuff” is there for you to Alberta Conservation Association, free moose chili and s’mores view. Visit: Beaver Hills Initiative and Nature were very well received by Alberta partnered to present a youtube.com/naturealberta everyone involved, especially celebration of everything nature at her stomach! Nature Alberta’s the Strathcona Wilderness Centre Executive Director Petra Rowell on January 19, 2014. was also in attendance for The event featured presentations this event. Petra spent the day from all types of biologists providing information about regarding their area of expertise. Nature Alberta and enjoying the Participants from near and far fi re that was crackling near her (including our own Young (otherwise unheated) post. Naturalists Club members) took The end of the day was fi lled part in the celebration, with an with tired faces on the part of estimated 500 people on hand the participating children, a over the course of the day! Many sure sign that they had enjoyed families enjoyed the opportunity themselves. The event’s to dust off their cross-country skis organizers would like to extend and snowshoes, with some brave a huge thank you to all those participants trying those sports for who volunteered their time to the fi rst time! make the event a success, and Nature Alberta’s Young Naturalists to everyone who was able to Club Project Coordinator attend! Candace Farrar, and intern Sarah

Nature Alberta is now accepting a Full details, including limited number of advertisements rates and sizes, are available at: Advertising for future issues. Ad rates vary from online: www.naturealberta.ca in Nature Alberta $35 (business card size) to $249 email: [email protected] (full page). phone: (780) 427 – 8124 12 NatureAlberta

Nature Diary: Mule Deer and a Stray Cat BY DEBBIE AND ALAN GODKIN

We don’t often see deer here on our acreage, except in the fall, when the green apples take on a rosy-cheeked hue and start falling from the tree.

But then in July, Alan discovered to my eye, and trained the lens on side of the tree. The buck followed that there were Mule Deer living a yellow tom cat that was missing and stopped within fi ve feet of the cat, down in the old poplar stand the tip of an ear. When I lowered tossing its head up and down playfully. across the driveway from our the camera, I saw that I wasn’t Unnerved, the cat suddenly trotted off house. alone. The buck was standing by in the direction of the apple tree. One afternoon Alan took the the deck watching the cat too. The buck sprang into action, and in trail to the small clearing in the The cat turned its head and two bounding leaps it overshadowed middle of the stand to photograph looked at the buck, then shifted the cat. I thought for sure that poor cat butterfl ies and startled a fawn its focus back to the squirrel. A was going to get trampled to death, as that was nestled in the grass near half a minute passed before the they disappeared out of sight. Moments some willows at the edge of the cat decided it didn’t like the buck later, I saw a streak of yellow racing opening. It froze, not taking its breathing down its neck and down the road with the buck right on eyes off the intruder. Immediately, walked around to the opposite the tom’s tail. They jumped the ditch, Al retreated, not wanting to scare it further. On subsequent nature walks Alan saw the fawn and occasionally the doe and a young buck browsing near the opening. It was a cool mid-August day, and I was chased inside to watch for migratory birds from the window, when the Mule Deer buck came off the trail and ambled over to the apple tree. Minutes later a stray cat appeared in the yard and trotted over to the poplar tree by the deck, sat down, and stared up at the squirrel, who chatted its disapproval from the safety of a high branch. I raised the camera

A PHOTO OF STRAY CAT, WHOM I RENAMED SCRUFFY BECAUSE HIS COAT IS ALWAYS A MESS.” DEBBIE AND ALAN GODKIN WINTER 2014 13

THE YOUNG BUCK. DEBBIE AND ALAN GODKIN and disappeared down the trail. the back of the pile, out of reach or maybe all of his nine lives. Seconds later the buck emerged of the buck’s inquisitive nose, But apparently not, because the from the opening and strolled up then turned to face him. following afternoon there he was, the driveway, and back over to back in the same spot by the poplar The two engaged in a waiting the apple tree. tree, staring up at the squirrel. game to see who’d make the fi rst I didn’t expect to see the cat move. The deer tired fi rst, and A few days later, on a tranquil again, but a few minutes later he returned to the apple tree. Fifteen evening while I was lazing on the came off the trail, trotted across minutes passed before the cat deck enjoying some late-day sun, the driveway to the woodpile, and mustered up enough courage and the doe came off the trail, and abruptly stopped to smell some jumped down from the woodpile crossed the driveway onto the favourable scent on the ground. and trotted towards the back of lawn. Suddenly she spotted me and His return didn’t go unnoticed, as the house. Maybe the buck had a stopped abruptly in her tracks. I the buck blazed by in a blur of belly-ache from over-indulging on thought she was going to bolt, but bronze hair and put the brakes too many apples, because he half- then cautiously, with her nose in the on right where the cat had been heartedly trotted by the window air picking up my scent, and mule- sniffi ng the ground two seconds and around to the back of the like ears fl icking back and forth, she earlier. Safely on top of the house after the cat. I wondered came closer until she stood just ten woodpile, the tom cat moved to if the tom cat had used up one, feet from where I sat, motionless. 14 NatureAlberta

FAWNS ARE ALL EARS! DEBBIE AND ALAN GODKIN

A TASTY APPLE FOR DESSERT! DEBBIE AND ALAN GODKIN

Although I was raised on a farm in a community where hunting was the norm, looking into her beautiful brown placid eyes reaffi rmed what I’d known all my life – that I would always have to Watch for the cat to enter the their range. It was a memorable buy my meat from a grocery store. yard, get in position, and then moment to see the family of Mule The next day, while I was take a multitude of pictures as the Deer together for the fi rst time. outside, the tom cat came deer strolled over to the apple I caught sight of them several trotting boldly up the road with tree. I thought it was a good idea, more times, either eating apples the doe following some twenty but the cat foiled my plan. He or grazing on the pasture. When feet behind. The tom took up a decided to live in the yard and the apples were all gone, and the position by the poplar tree, much no persuasion from the end of a crops were harvested, they moved to the squirrel’s annoyance, while broom, or apples thrown, could a half-mile to a larger stand of the doe went straight to the apple convince him to leave! mixed spruce and poplar trees. There they had more vegetation to tree. At fi rst I thought it was just On a chilly September evening, browse on over winter. coincidence that they happened shortly after I came inside, the to cross paths on the way into doe and the buck came off the Admittedly, I’d gotten used to the yard. But when, for the fourth trail and headed for the apple having the deer around. Often time, the doe and the young buck tree. Lagging behind them was the when I went outside I found both appeared seconds after the fawn, which stopped to graze on myself watching the trail for cat, I had to reconsider. the road before ambling over to the deer, but then I’d hear Maybe the tom cat was lonely join them. The fawn still sported a demanding meow which and hanging out with the deer. faded camoufl age spots, on a reminded me that I wasn’t alone. Nevertheless they seemed to have reddish-brown coat. Its back was I still had stray cat to keep me formed an amicable relationship, scraped raw from crawling under company. one that I could capitalize on. barbed-wire fences that fractured

Like many naturalists, Debbie and Alan Godkin, from Westlock AB, have numerous stories of their experiences with nature – stories they love to share with other naturalists in this “NATURE DIARY” series! WINTER 2014 15

In Dr. Leonard Memoriam V. Hills January 3, 1933 – August 2, 2013

Dr. Leonard (Len) V. Hills was his academic achievements many with his incredible breadth born in Judah, Alberta on January were numerous. Dr. Hills was of knowledge and his true passion 3, 1933. Len was an accomplished President of the Canadian Society for teaching which was surpassed scholar, having received a B.Sc. of Petroleum Geologists in 1979, only by his love for his family. He with honours in Geology (1960) an Adjunct Research Scientist will be dearly missed by all who and a M.Sc. in Geology (1962) at at the Royal Tyrrell Museum of knew him. the University of British Columbia. Paleontology, and a Fellow of the Len is survived by his beloved He completed his Ph.D. in Arctic Institute of North America. wife of 53 years, Marian, his Geology (Palynology) from the At the time of his passing, Dr. daughter Maureen Hills-Urbat University of Alberta (1965). Hills had been preparing at (Rick) and son John (Coleen). Much of Len’s career was spent least two articles for Nature Nature Alberta sends its sincere as a Professor of Geology at Alberta, including one on Clark’s condolences to his family. the University of Calgary, and Nutcracker. In fact, Len infl uenced

Buffalo Jump Butterfl y Count 2014

Mark your calendars! The 2014 Dry Island Buffalo Jump Butterfl y Count will be held on Sunday, July 6th. Meet, as usual, at the upper Parking Lot/Viewpoint before 10 AM. Bring a butterfl y net if you have one, a viewing bottle, a camera, lunch and hiking attire. Be prepared to see lots of interesting butterfl ies, including Dod’s Old World Swallowtail, and a wonderful show of wild fl owers. The scenery is spectacular. Sunday, July 6, 2014 16 NatureAlberta

Close to Home: Nature Photography in Alberta Through the Eyes of

JOHN WARDEN Others BY JOHN WARDEN

A story out of Norway House in had many legs with ribbons tied of the most colourful descriptions of a Manitoba tells of some voyageurs to them. The swan’s body he put Hudson’s Bay man ever written. Colin from the Hudson’s Bay Company under his arm upside down, Fraser, a “six foot highlander in Scottish (HBC), standing along the shore of then he put its head in his mouth kilt and fl owing plume” was a man whose the river: and bit it. At the same time he very presence in those days generated pinched its neck with his fi ngers second looks and once you met him, you One white man was dressed like and squeezed the body under his didn’t forget him. a woman, in a skirt of funny arm until it made a terrible noise colour. He had whiskers growing Fraser began his career with the Hudson (Peterson, 2012). from his belt and fancy leggings. Bay Company as the offi cial bagpiper, to He carried a black swan which Seen through the eyes of a local Sir George Simpson, Governor of HBC in Cree, this account is perhaps one Canada, and for forty years, if you came through Fort Edmonton or travelled the Athabasca Pass, you likely would have bumped into him. While we don’t have a diary or journal of Fraser’s observations, we can get a real sense of the nature of Alberta in those days through the journals and diaries of those who knew him. Fraser’s story then comes to us as a series of individual sketches and word pictures. Just one story, one account, gives only a small part of the picture. By pulling all of the individual bits and pieces together though, we can paint an encompassing panorama of our natural history. Fraser accompanied Simpson on an 1828 canoe expedition from York Factory on Hudson’s Bay, all the way to the west

THE UPPER ATHABASCA RIVER VALLEY. JOHN WARDEN WINTER 2014 17

NATURALLY STUNTED SPRUCE TREE ALONG THE MIETTE RIVER. JOHN WARDEN coast, piping the Governor ashore left on our right about noon. At Yet we can still see much of it today; at every stop along the way. Dr. three we passed Wolf Point. Made the river and the mountains are Archibald McDonald was the portage at six at...Mountain Fall patient, waiting for us and our own offi cial scribe for the expedition (also called Grand Falls) [which] adventures. and his journal provides us with is a grand sheet of water, about After travelling cross-country with an insightful view of what those half a mile across, and perhaps Governor Simpson for two years, intrepid explorers saw as they ten or fi fteen feet high. Fraser was posted to York Factory paddled through Alberta’s Peace 20th August: Arrived at Fort and Churchill. He returned to Alberta Country. Vermilion before ten…where we in the spring of 1832 where we fi nd 17th August: We could distinctly [had] a sumptuous supper of hot him amongst the vast herds of buffalo see the Caribou Mountains at a moose steaks and potatoes. They on the prairies of southern Alberta, distance, to our right. Early to- seem to have good gardens here hunting with the Piikani [the Piikani night, the Northern Lights [were] of potatoes and barley. Nation, also known as the Peigan seen to very great advantage. Nation, is a member of the Blackfoot Don’t you just want to grab your Often a complete arch from Confederacy]. That same year, Fraser camera, jump into a canoe and east to west, of the most brilliant helped the Hudson Bay Company go? The Caribou Mountains, Wolf [colours] sprang up. build Peigan Post. The post was Point and a waterfall on the Peace built at the junction of the Bow River 18th August: Breakfasted below River: to see those places, in those and Old Fort Creek, and came to be the Caribou River, which we days, must have been amazing. 18 NatureAlberta

BISON IN THE MIST. JOHN WARDEN

known by the locals as Old Bow of this land. It has changed since Father Pierre Jean de Smet was one Fort. It is from the journal though, the days of Fraser and Palliser. of those travellers, arriving at Jasper of the Palliser Expedition, that The hand of man is evident, but House in May of 1846. He spent fi fteen we are able to see the landscape the mountains remain, sublime, days with Fraser and his family, time around the post that Colin Fraser and magnifi cent. An even better enough to get a good look around. helped build: route is Highway 1A. Stop at the His eloquent letters to his Bishop note old McDougall Church at Morley, that “moose, elk and reindeer were The scenery around is mild get out of your car and take in plentiful in the Athabasca valley, the and beautiful. Its site is at the the view. The mountains are huge reindeer feeding on a kind of white base of the Rocky Mountains and the air is clean and crisp. It’s moss”. Through de Smet, we too can which tower above it to the a place to see past the rushing see the land: height of 3,000 or 4,000 feet, the traffi c, to a time when the land was white summits of which, from The upper Athabasca is, pristine and the bison, sheep and a sprinkling of snow that had unquestionably, the most elevated goats were more numerous than recently fallen, formed a pretty part of North America. All its cars. contrast with the dense sombre mountains are prodigious, and their forests at their feet. The Bow From 1834 to 1850, Fraser was in rocky and snow-capped summits River fl ows by in all the wildness charge of the HBC post at Jasper seem to lose themselves in the clouds. of mountain character, foaming House in what is now Jasper At this season, immense masses of at intervals over ledges of rock National Park. Jasper House was snow often become loosened and in its valley and then rushing an important place in those days, roll down the mountains’ sides onwards between high banks a way station, trading post and with a terrifi c noise that resounds clad with luxuriant vegetation. supply point for anyone travelling throughout these quiet solitudes like the Athabasca or Yellowhead distant thunder — so irresistible Travellers today, heading west from Passes. is the velocity of their descent, that Calgary on Highway 1, see the lay WINTER 2014 19

they frequently carry with them paintings shows Pyramid Mountain the Indians brought them in enormous fragments of rock, and in the background and if you look every day so that we fared most force a passage through the dense closely, there are fi gures at the front sumptuously. These sheep are forests which cover the base of of Jasper House. Could that be those most commonly called the the mountain. Every day, and Colin Fraser and his family? big horn. I made a sketch of often every hour, the noise of ten a ram’s head of an enormous Later that same year, in November avalanches descending at once size; his horns were similar in of 1846, another artist, Paul Kane, breaks upon the ear; on every side shape to those of our domestic set out from Fort Edmonton. He we see them precipitated with a ram but measured forty two was travelling with Colin Fraser, frightful rapidity. inches in length. heading for Jasper House and from As Father de Smet was heading up there, over the Athabasca Pass There is a National Historic Site the Athabasca Pass that spring to and on to the west coast. About marker and plaque in Jasper cross over into what is now British 16 miles west of Edmonton, Kane National Park commemorating Columbia, he met the Hudson Bay sketched some bison and later in Jasper House. You can fi nd it at Company brigade, coming down the their trek, the Athabasca valley the roadside pull-out at Disaster other way. Two British Army spies, and Jasper House. On his return Point, just north of Rocky Henry Warre, and Mervin Vavasour, trip, back over the pass a year River. The Bighorn Sheep are had been on a covert military later, Kane stayed with Fraser at still there, though today they mission to Fort Vancouver and were Jasper House for nine days. From wander through the traffi c on accompanying the brigade. Warre’s Kane’s journal, later published as the highway. Tourists in their description of descending the Wanderings of an Artist: excitement to see the sheep, Athabasca Pass provided to us by perhaps through the eyes of Paul A great number of mountain McLaren in Culturing Wilderness is Kane, abandon their cars all over sheep had been driven down also worth noting: the road. If you too decide to into the valleys by the intensity stop, try parking out of the way, The surrounding mountains of the cold which had set in this over by the historic site marker. appear to raise nearly winter with unusual severity. I Take a moment to read about perpendicularly, on every side have counted as many as fi ve Colin Fraser and Paul Kane and of us, to an immense height, large fl ocks of these animals then look, with your own eyes, their base only, being covered in grazing in different directions out over the Athabasca valley. stunted pine trees. from the house at one time and Imagine the avalanches, the wind In addition to being a soldier spy, Warre was also an artist. On reaching Jasper House, Warre made what are believed to be the fi rst sketches of the HBC post. Today, the Yellowhead Highway takes us right by the site of the old post and we can follow in Warre’s footsteps. We can stand where he stood and with a laptop or Smartphone, pull up digital images of his paintings that show the old post in the Athabasca valley, surrounded by mountains and teepees. One of the

WINTER AND THE ROCKY RIVER NEAR ROCHE MIETTE. JOHN WARDEN 20 NatureAlberta

and the winter, and then consider After Fort Edmonton, Fraser was Through these stories, we see that the words of Father Lacombe assigned to the HBC post at Lac Colin Fraser was a man of the prairies, describing life at Jasper House for St. Anne. The year is 1862 and a the mountains and the parklands. Colin Fraser: group of prospectors known as He may not have written about our the Overlanders stop at the post natural history, but he lived it. Buffalo It is told with as much grim truth for the night. They are headed and Beaver, Wolves, Grizzly Bear, as humour, that when stationed for the goldfi elds of the Caribou Moose and Caribou were part of his at the lonely post of Jasper he Country in British Columbia. The everyday life. Perhaps even more used to take down his pipes at next morning, as the expedition signifi cant, he stayed here. The other night and dance to their wild heads west, Colin Fraser, in kilt explorers and fur traders came and skirl before his own shadow on and plume, is standing at the then left. Fraser though, lived his life the wall. edge of the village, playing his in Alberta, married and raised a family In 1850, Fraser left the Athabasca pipes as they leave. After slogging here. His descendants, and they are valley and Jasper House for a through eighteen miles of mud, many, are our neighbours. posting to Fort Edmonton. It’s at the expedition stopped for the Fraser’s adventures covered a lifetime. the fort, where we next fi nd him, in night near Lake Isle. They had He was a Hudson’s Bay man and the journal of the legendary hunter been followed by wolves most of through the eyes of others, we see and guide, Peter Erasmus. the way and as night fell: him at the very center of the stories Striding back and forth on the The wolves started up, howling that layer our perspective of natural walk that surrounded the factors at a gibbous moon, whining history. He died at Lac St. Anne in three storied building was a man and snuffl ing in the bushes, 1867. His bagpipes, though, remain. by the name of Colin Fraser, so close it seemed like a single They are displayed behind glass at the playing a set of the bagpipes. He great beast ready to devour Royal Alberta Museum in Edmonton. seemed quite indifferent to the them. When they fi nally fell They are kept safe. If you could hold weather which was at least 30 silent, other sounds from the them, though, you would feel the very degrees below zero. The deep restless forest were exaggerated fabric of our history in your hands. notes of his instrument echoed in the still night air: owls Epilogue: I fi nished the fi rst draft of back from the high hills of the hooting, and small animals this essay while at our vacation rental ice covered Saskatchewan River. stirring leaves rustling and twigs home in Sooke B.C. With a glass It was beautiful, even to my shifting. of white wine in hand I went out unfamiliar ear. onto the deck and sat by the ocean, thinking of Colin Fraser who had plied the waters of nearby Puget Sound while aboard the HBC sailing ship, the Cadboro. It was fall, and the migrating salmon were jumping, out in the basin. Then, as I sat there, in the quiet of the evening, pleased with the way this story was coming together, I heard the skirl of bagpipes drifting across the waters. It was our neighbour Paul, practicing with his own bagpipes. He couldn’t have known it, but the timing was perfect.

THE VIEW FROM OLD MCDOUGALL CHURCH. JOHN WARDEN CURIOUS BIGHORN NEAR ROCHE MIETTE. JOHN WARDEN WINTER 2014 21

BIGHORN RAM WITH FULL CURL. JOHN WARDEN

References http://www.mountainmetis.com/pages/ McMicking, Thomas. 1981. Overland Chittenden, H.M., and A. T. Richardson. colin_fraser.html from Canada to British Columbia. 1905. Life, letters and travels of Father http://archiver.rootsweb. Ed. Joanne Leduc. University of Pierre-Jean De Smet, S. J, 1801-1873. ancestry.com/th/read/ British Columbia Press. Francis P. Harper, New York. METISGEN/2010-03/1268447657 McLeod, Malcolm, ed. 1872. A canoe Dye, Eva Emery. 1990. McLoughlin and http://www.clanfraser.ca/simpson.htm voyage from Hudson’s Bay to Old Oregon: A Chronicle. Chicago, Hughes, Katherine. 1991. Father Pacifi c, by the late Sir George A.C. McClurg. Lacombe: The black-robe voyageur. Simpson (governor, hon. Hudson’s Bay Company) in 1828; journal Erasmus, P. 1976. Buffalo Days and Toronto: William Briggs. of the late chief factor, Archibald Nights: As Told to Henry Thompson. Kane, Paul. 1859. Wanderings of McDonald (hon. Hudson’s Bay Calgary: Fifth House Publishers. an artist among the Indians of North America from Canada to Company) who accompanied him. Gallaher, B. 2002. The Journey: The Ottawa. Overlanders’ Quest for Gold. Victoria, Vancouver’s Island and Oregon Peterson, Jan. 2012. Kilts on the Coast: B.C.: TouchWood Editions. through the Hudson’s Bay Company’s territory and back again. The Scots Who Built BC, Heritage http://www.stalbertgazette. Group Dist. com/article/20130807/ London: Longman, Brown, Green, The Journals, Detailed Reports and SAG0801/308079997/-1/sag0801/ Longmans and Roberts. Observations, Relative to the story-behind-historic-plates-the-true- Luxton, Eleanor Georgina. 2008. Banff: Exploration by Captain Palliser of gem Canada’s First National Park (2 ed.). Summerthought Publishing. that Portion of British North America http://www.ebooksread.com/authors- Between the Western Shore of Lake eng/katherine-hughes/father- Marsh, J. 2009. Culturing Wilderness in Jasper National Park: Studies in Two Superior and the Pacifi c Ocean, lacombe-the-black-robe-voyageur- 1863. hgu/page-6-father-lacombe-the-black- Centuries of Human History in the robe-voyageur-hgu.shtml Upper Athabasca River Watershed. Ed. I. S. MacLaren.

Check out John Warden’s updated website: www.jwardenphotography.com, with a new look and many photographs. Plus, also on the site are his past Nature Alberta articles. www.jwardenphotography.com 22 NatureAlberta

Eyes on IBAs Tenth in a Series “ZooManiacs” at Big Lake BY ERIN CAMPBELL

Multitasking may not have been a skill Candace Farrar thought she would hone while in University, but she’s had TUNDRA SWANS. CHUCK PRIESTLEY to develop an art for it.

An undergraduate in the will inspire students, both Seeing the excitement on the honours Animal Science in their careers as biologists faces of people, some of whom program at the University of and in their lives as grew up in the immediate area, Alberta who has plans to attend naturalists. Candace points made me realize the level of veterinary school, Candace also out the importance of the discovery that is still possible for works with Nature Alberta’s IBA network as a way of people at any age, even biology Young Naturalists Club, and developing a connection to students being immersed in is President of ZooManiacs, a our natural areas, and as a ecology and zoology courses. student club she founded in background for socializing Subsequent trips out to Big Lake 2013 with friends Sarah Nason outside of school. by ZooManiacs have continued and Sarah Pletts. to bring high numbers of I went with ZooManiacs on people, and the group hopes ZooManiacs, says Candace, their fi rst trip out to Big Lake to maintain this for the 2014 was meant to bring people last fall to talk to them about season. like herself and her friends the IBA program; the number together who share a passion of students who showed up As our only group of for zoology. Organizing a blew me away. There were caretakers comprised entirely speaker series, fi eld trips, and 15 students who took a of students, ZooManiacs’ effort themed events like Darwin Saturday just to count birds in engaging young adults Day celebrations, ZooManiacs and hear about the program. makes me wonder about other has also recently taken on the And while we didn’t see the missed opportunities among position of Important Bird Area Tundra Swans that the IBA an age group that is often (IBA) Caretaker for the Big is designated for, we were underrepresented in naturalist Lake IBA in St. Albert. As our treated to American Coots, communities. I think the success youngest group of caretakers, Canada Geese, blackbirds, of ZooManiacs’ involvement ZooManiacs Barn Swallows, and a fl ock of thus far in the IBA program hopes the Sandhill Cranes. is a great indicator that there experience are many more students who

Erin is Nature Alberta’s Bird Conservation Program Coordinator. WINTER 2014 23

AMERICAN COOT. CHUCK PRIESTLEY

are similarly interested in naturalist organizations on site at “If we don’t work to get new natural history, and that this Big Lake, so that the ZooManiacs people involved and invested in interest warrants fostering. This, students can benefi t from the our natural history, it will become according to Candace, is part of experience held by long-time lost,” she pointed out at a recent the group’s overall mission. birders and build stronger ties meeting held by BLESS (Big Lake This year, Candace is looking to the naturalist community. Environmental Support Society), forward to building mentorship In addition to professional which is a Nature Alberta Affi liate opportunities with other networking possibilities for the Club. “Protecting that knowledge students, she is essential for conservation and hopes that these the preservation of biodiversity, relationships will and ZooManiacs wants to help act as a conduit facilitate the transmission of that for preserving knowledge.” and passing down knowledge of our natural history.

THE STUDENT GROUP ZOOMANIACS VISITS THE BIG LAKE IBA. ERIN CAMPBELL 24 NatureAlberta

FEATURE ARTICLE

On the Deep Roots of Beaver and Human Relationships in Alberta BY TODD KRISTENSEN ([email protected]) AND HEINZ PYSZCZYK ([email protected])

There are few animals in the north whose history has been so intricately interwoven with people than the beaver. From the early fur trade to modern environmentalism, the beaver has chewed its way into numerous facets of life in Alberta.

Recent disaster events and The earliest beavers lumbered behaviours (such as dam building ecological research (e.g., Hood into the province long before and lodge construction). It went and Bayley 2008, Martell et al. people did. Beaver ancestors extinct around 10,000 years ago, 2006) have highlighted a broader lived in North America fi ve after which point, the modern landscape-scale impact of the million years ago (Rybczynski beaver (Castor canadensis) beaver that is torpedoing our 2007). By two million years ago, reigned supreme among the beloved aquatic rodent into hot the modern beaver was living province’s rodents. Chewed water issues regarding provincial in Alberta alongside a colossal beaver wood from 9700 years ago management of ecosystems cousin that was fi ve to six times has been found in the Grande and economics. Paleontology, larger (Figure 1). The giant beaver Prairie area (Beaudoin et al. archaeology, history, and (Castoroides ohioensis) weighed 1996) and it is likely that shortly modern politics combine to up to 160 kg and was just under after the retreat of ice age glacial tell an amazing story of a 3 m long (Harington 2007). meltwaters, the modern beaver human-animal relationship in This giant must have left aspens began quickly altering ecosystems the province that, like so many trembling but little is known of across Alberta. massive trees laid low by the its lifestyle and beaver, is deep-rooted. FIG 1. BEAVER SCALE COMPARISON [ TODD KRISTENSEN ]

Todd Kristensen is a PhD student in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Alberta where he studies the history and archaeology of northern peoples. His research explores human and animal relationships in subarctic Canada. Heinz Pyszczyk has worked as the Parkland Archaeologist for the Archaeological Survey of Alberta for nearly three decades. His research of Alberta’s fur trade has been published widely and he continues to excavate fur trade sites in Alberta’s north. WINTER 2014 25

NOTE THE SHORT FRONT LEGS, BUT WITH LARGE CLAWS. MYRNA PEARMAN

Many First Nations’ stories tell to acquire. Historic records important adaptation for aquatic of the beaver’s role in creating reveal that hunters took note thermoregulation (Figure 2). the world by molding the of beaver lodges throughout Water transmits heat away from primordial mud into an island fi t the year and returned to them the body much quicker than air; for humans. From the Dunne-Za in winter (Honigmann 1954). therefore, to stay warm while people in the north (the Beaver Beavers were captured with submerged beavers rely on thick Dene) to southern Blackfoot nets made of willow bark, fat, which accounts for roughly holders of sacred beaver bundles stone-tipped spears, and sinew 75% of the animal’s insulation (that held important spiritual snares set along beaver trails (Müller-Schwarze 2011). The power), the beaver was a and canals. signifi cant fi gure. But the early FIG 2. ANATOMICAL BEAVER TRAITS THAT MADE THEM VALUABLE TO PEOPLE. Beavers are one of importance of beavers was far [ TODD KRISTENSEN ] the few circumpolar from just symbolic: beavers mammals that can furnished important materials increase body fat for tools, clothing, and food. through winter Archaeology sites across the (Novakowski 1967) province have yielded beaver and this key trait bones where very few other greatly increased their animal remains were found. value as a food that This indicates that beavers kept First Nations were crucial to human diet, people alive through particularly during winters when cold and hard times. other resources were challenging Beaver fat itself is an 26 NatureAlberta

SHOWING ITS CLAWS WHILE EATING. MYRNA PEARMAN

remaining insulation is provided by softer dentine with a people across the north (Clark by dense beaver fur. Guard hairs resultant self-maintaining chisel- 1974). and underfur are extremely dense shaped cusp (Osborn 1969). As The importance of the beaver at 12-37,000 hairs/cm² (Fish et al. wood wears away the dentine, increased with the arrival of 2002) compared to 175-300 hairs/ it exposes new enamel chisel Europeans in western Canada. cm² in humans. In addition to edges. It is this chisel edge that Early reports of ‘beaver villages’ density, beaver hairs are barbed enables the furry carpenter and their incredible intelligence and tightly interlock to create to fell a six inch poplar in were highly exaggerated (Morgan impermeable air pockets that less than 10 minutes. Enamel 1868), but what initially made this further enhance insulation. pulp chambers at the base of rodent valuable to the newcomers beaver incisors keep these teeth Lastly, beavers secrete a type of was its unique fur and musky constantly growing so eroded oil through castor glands that castor sac secretions. The strong, edges are quickly replaced. coats their fur and provides a oily, and barbed under-hairs were water-resistant sheen to keep heat When it came time to design ideal for making superb quality in and cold out. While fat reserves wood working tools, prehistoric felt, and beaver-felt hats were all were highly sought by First people enlisted the beaver’s the rage in Europe. A variety of Nations hunters and gatherers, the dental assistance. Ancient styles and hats were popular from second thermoregulatory adaption engravers made of beaver teeth the late 1500s-1800s (Figure 4). of beavers (their slick and dense lashed on to a wooden handle fur) made this animal a prime could have been used to whittle FIG 3. PHOTOGRAPH OF A BEAVER INCISOR THAT WAS ONCE PART OF AN ENGRAVER TOOL USED BY PEOPLE OVER 1500 YEARS AGO. target for trappers during Alberta’s utilitarian wooden objects (e.g., [ COURTESY OF KEVIN BROWNLEE, THE MUSEUM OF MANITOBA ] historic fur trade. boat parts or spear shafts) or perform artistic engravings. In addition to food and furs, an Archaeological and historic important anatomical beaver trait examples of beaver tooth to early people in Alberta was engravers provide a unique their durable teeth. Any observer glimpse into the ingenuity of of beaver behaviour would notice early tool users (Figure 3). the ease with which they work Beaver tooth engravers or wood. The tip of a beaver tooth chisels were common in the has hard enamel ridges separated toolbox of Athapaskan and Cree WINTER 2014 27

Canadian voyageurs, all hot on “This is described to be a rich and the trail of the beaver. plentiful Country abounding with all kinds of animals especially Prior to the 1600s there were Beavers & Otters, which are said likely over 60 million beaver in to be so numerous that the women North America, and as many as & children kill them with sticks 10 million in Canada (Müller- and hatchets….The country Schwarze 2011). These vast around Fort George is now numbers were an economic ‘boon’ entirely ruined” (Morton 1929:77). for Europeans, but the abundance was short-lived. Beaver Fur trade competition between populations were reduced by as companies decreased in the 1820s, much as 95% in two centuries. and areas of the Canadian northwest As each new fur trade post was were managed more judiciously so established on Alberta’s lakes and that beaver populations recovered rivers, a zone of beaver depletion and future crashes were prevented. rapidly radiated outwards until Even though beaver populations local numbers dwindled and the were dwindling, the entire Canadian traders moved on. For example, Northwest (encompassing an area the returns in beaver pelts at from Hudson Bay, all of Manitoba, Fort Augustus/Edmonton I (just Saskatchewan and Alberta, and

FIG 4. BEAVER HAT FASHIONS DURING THE FUR a short distance downriver from many parts of the Territories) still TRADE. [ TERRY PAMPLIN AND TODD KRISTENSEN ] the present City of Edmonton) produced tremendous numbers of are very typical of the ‘boom pelts and profi ts for the Hudson’s and bust’ cycle of early fur trade Bay Company. For example, First Nations fi gured prominently forts (Table 1: reproduced from between 1821 and 1835 as many in the burgeoning fur trade as Johnson 1967: Appendix A). as 27,000 beaver pelts were taken trappers, processors, and traders out of this area each year (PAC, of beaver pelts. According to early In less than fi ve years, annual MG 19, A 30). Two of the most Jesuit accounts of First Nations’ trade in beaver pelts dropped productive regions in northwestern opinions on the beaver: from a high of over 10,000 pelts North America were the Athabasca to less than 2,000. The comments “The beaver does everything and Saskatchewan River drainages, of Northwest Company clerk perfectly well, it makes which often produced around Duncan M’Gillivray in 1754 are all kettles, hatchets, swords, one-half of all beaver returns for too typical of the early fur trade in knives, bread; and in short, it the Northern Department of the northern Alberta: makes everything” (Thwaites Hudson’s Bay Company (Table 2) 1899:297). (PAC, MG 19, A 30). The fur trade also ushered an TABLE 1. YEARLY TRADE IN BEAVER PELTS AT FORT EDMONTON I, WHICH DEMONSTRATES A LOCAL infl ux of French, Scottish, Irish, POPULATION CRASH. Welsh, English, and Eastern Year 1796 1797 1798 1799 1800 1801 1802 No. of beaver 8226 12512 10755 10889 4822 2087 1756

TABLE 2. BEAVER RETURNS FROM THE ATHABASCA, LESSER SLAVE LAKE, AND SASKATCHEWAN DISTRICTS, 1821-34. OUTFIT 1821 1822 1823 1824 1825 1826 1827 1828 1829 1830 1831 1832 1833 1834 Athabasca 8126 7934 7726 5479 6043 5072 5166 7090 6014 7009 6711 5679 5160 5542 Lesser Slave Lake 1929 2657 4257 2336 744 ------Saskatchewan 2924 2834 3543 3286 6453 5934 6116 9384 7447 5177 6969 4961 4309 4604 28 NatureAlberta

WATER STREAMS OFF OF A LARGE BRANCH AS A BEAVER LIFTS IT UP. MYRNA PEARMAN

But beavers were not only sought some 10 tons more over the next that beaver bones were the most after for their fur. Castoreum, a 20 years (HBCA B 39/d/17a/P23; common food remains found at the fort. highly fragrant secretion produced Newman 1985:41). Even today Scientists in the 1800s began in beaver castor sacs, was used castoreum is used as a natural exploring the ecological impact of in the manufacture of perfumes food additive in some common the fur trade through investigations of and medicines (probably foods such as vanilla extract. beavers’ unique abilities to alter their because of the high quantities of Beaver meat also continued to surroundings. In a now-famous treatise acetylsalicylic acid it contained). be highly valuable throughout on beaver behavior, L. H. Morgan During some periods of the fur the fur trade. In 1819, fur trader wrote in 1868 that the beaver holds our trade era, castoreum was almost Richardson wrote that “The fl esh of fascination and respect because: “In a as valuable as the animal’s pelt. the Beaver is much prized by the pre-eminent degree he requires artifi cial For example, in 1822, 199 pounds Indians and Canadian Voyagers, erections to promote his happiness and of castoreum were shipped out especially when it is roasted in to secure his safety…” (Morgan 1868:18). of the Athabasca District, and the skin, after the hair has been These artifi cial features include dams singed off” (Franklin 1824:328- that barricade fl owing water to create 348). Traders were suitable aquatic habitats as well as long FIG 5. ROUGHLY 200 YEAR OLD ARCHAEOLOGICAL DEPOSITS AT FORT constantly restraining channels excavated along shorelines VERMILION I, SHOWING BEAVER BONES INCLUDING THREE BEAVER SKULLS AND A LEG. hunters from enjoying to access food and building supplies. this luxury, which led to Carefully placed wooden scaffolds and the loss of considerable hundreds of kilograms of mud help quantities of beaver solidify dams that can be three meters fur. Recent excavations high with walls fi ve meters thick. Recent at Fort Vermilion I aerial photography work by researcher (c.1798-1830), a northern Jean Thie led to the discovery of the Peace River Post, have world’s largest beaver dam, which uncovered many beaver extends for over 850 m in Alberta’s bones from the domestic northern boreal forest. household refuse (Figure The historical impact of beaver 5). Archaeological earthworks is extensive. Ten thousand research demonstrated years of dam building has shaped WINTER 2014 29

READY TO SLAP! COURTESY OF ROBERT BERDAN 2013 hydrological systems in ways that University of Alberta, studying managers are increasingly appreciating biologists are only beginning to beavers east of the Edmonton area, the fact that the impact of beavers is grasp. One diffi culty that hinders was surprised to learn that the far from aesthetic: these ecosystem our appreciation of the magnitude ability of beavers to manipulate manipulators are economically of beaver habitat alteration is that their environments has a more important. modern landscapes across much profound impact on open water In the absence of beavers, complex of Alberta are now often devoid abundance than climate (Hood and wetlands and meandering rivers are of beavers. This means that we Bayley 2008). During widespread reduced to narrow, uniform creeks. occupy an ecosystem unlike that droughts, Hood and her research Spring meltwater that was once which existed for past millennia. team found that beaver-rich areas stored in series of cascading beaver While the market for beaver hats still retained open water and high ponds pours unhindered down creeks eventually tanked in the 19th water tables. to larger tributaries, which in turn century, the spread of agriculture Equally signifi cant from a biological unleashes large scale fl oods. Less in Alberta hindered the re- point of view is the heterogeneity water seeps into shallow aquifers emergence of beaver numbers in that beavers introduce to local and rapid outfl ows create drastic many areas. Many farmers drained landscapes. Hydrological systems drops in local water tables. As surface wetlands to improve productivity with beavers are more diverse and subsurface water levels drop, and viewed beavers as fi eld- due to variable water depths vegetation communities become drier fl ooding vermin. Beaver culls and complex shorelines (caused and more uniform. Dr. Hood noted were widespread as municipalities by canal excavation and pond that fi res love uniform landscapes so commissioned trappers to clear dredging), which in turn, creates the absence of beavers may in fact watersheds of the unwanted habitat for invertebrates, certain fi sh increase the susceptibility of areas to nuisance. species, amphibians, and waterfowl large-scale burns. The cumulative effect of the (Stevens et al. 2007, Wright and Other economic impacts of the beaver fur trade and early culling will Flecker 2002). Researchers across are perhaps less direct. Beavers are perhaps never be known but North America have found that an important food for wolves (Fuller recent research indicates that beaver activity can more than and Keith 1980, Latham et al. 2011) changes to Alberta’s ecosystems double the number of taxa in and in areas with less beavers, wolves due to historic trapping were wetlands (Müller-Schwarze 2011). rely more exclusively on ungulates drastic. Dr. Glynnis Hood, of the Applied ecologists and land 30 NatureAlberta

TWO BEAVER “KITS”; BOTH PARENTS CARE FOR THEM. MYRNA PEARMAN

and livestock. This decreases the chewed trees will continue In an era when climate change is game available to recreational but beavers may purify water, exaggerating the severity of droughts hunters of deer, elk, and moose, reduce large-scale fl oods, and fl oods, the beavers’ industrious while cutting into the productivity reduce the intensity of fi res, ability to build earthworks may be of ranchers. Beavers can also and decrease atmospheric an important tool to mitigate climatic increase local water productivity carbon to the benefi t of all oscillations. those in the immediate area which increases lake fi sheries and Beaver teeth, winter fat, and dense and downstream. waterfowl abundance that are fur represent biological adaptations important to anglers and duck Dr. Hood’s current research that early Albertans exploited to suit hunters (Collen and Gibson 2000). is exploring the management their needs; perhaps dam building But the economic bite of beavers potential of beaver behaviour, will be the latest ecological trait is far from cut and dry. Beaver- namely the importance of that Albertans utilize in their ever induced fl ooding continues understanding how beaver evolving relationship with beavers. to generate fi nancial losses to ecology can inform land agricultural and recreational lands management decisions. She ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS (such as golf courses). Roads hopes we can learn how to Thank you to Kevin Brownlee, Terry and other infrastructure are also utilize knowledge of beavers Pamplin, and Robert Berdan for threatened by beaver-related to cope and thrive with these illustrative materials. Special thanks fl ooding. Furthermore, beavers aquatic engineers. As the to Darryl Bereziuk for project support may reduce trout habitat and can label ‘engineers’ implies, our and to Dr. Glynnis Hood for sharing damage trees used for windrows, fascination with the beaver her research. Thanks also to Kent erosion control, and urban may ultimately stem from the Kristensen and John Kristensen for aesthetics. Additional complicating human-like qualities we see in comments on the paper. variables are the potential for them. Indeed it is the esteemed Literature Cited wetlands to fi lter toxins (such human-like propensity for as pesticides and acid rain) and industrious labour that earned Beaudoin, A.B., M. Wright, and B. the beaver the honour of our Ronaghan. 1996. Late Quaternary to sequester carbon (Naiman et landscape history and archaeology al. 1994). In summary, the local national animal. in the ‘ice-free corridor’: some recent detriment of fl ooded ponds and results from Alberta. Quaternary International 32: 113-126. WINTER 2014 31 A KIT SEEMINGLY POSES FOR THE CAMERA! MYRNA PEARMAN

Clark, A.M. 1974. The Athapaskans: Strangers of the North. National Museum of Man, Ottawa. Collen, P., and R.J. Gibson. 2000. The general ecology of beavers (Castor spp.), as related to their infl uence on stream ecosystems and riparian habitats, and the subsequent effects on fi sh – a review. Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries 10(4): 439-461. Fish, F.E., J. Smelstoys, R.V. Baudinette, and P.S. Reynolds. 2002. Fur does not fl y, it fl oats: buoyancy of pelage in semi-aquatic mammals. Aquatic Mammals 28(2): 103-112. Franklin, J. 1824. Narrative of a journey to the shores of the Polar Sea, in the years 1819-20-21-22. J. Murray, London. Fuller, T.K., and L.B. Keith. 1980. Wolf population dynamics and prey relationships in northeastern Alberta. PAC. The North West Papers, MG 19 A 30, The Journal of Wildlife Management Morgan, L.H. 1868. The American Vol. 1, C. N. Bell Collection. Alexander 44(3): 583-602. beaver and his works. J.B. Lippincott Fisher to Donald Ross, dated Great Harington, C. 2007. Giant beaver, & Co., Philadelphia. Slave Lake, 21 September, 1841. Castoroides ohioensis, remains in Morton, A.S. (Ed.). 1929. The Journal Rybczynski, N. 2007. Castoroid Canada and an overlooked report of Duncan M’Gillivray of the North phylogenetics: implications for the from Ontario. The Canadian Field West Company at Fort George on the evolution of swimming and tree- Naturalist 121(3): 330-333. Saskatchewan, 1794-5. MacMillan, exploitation in beavers. Journal of HBCA (Hudson’s Bay Company Archives). Toronto. Mammalian Evolution 14: 1-35. B 39/d/17a/P23. Winnipeg, Manitoba. Müller-Schwarze, D. 2011. The beaver: Stevens, C.E., C.A. Paszkowski, and Honigmann, J.J. 1954. The Kaska Indians: its life and impact, 2nd edition. A.L. Foote. 2007. Beaver (Castor an ethnographic reconstruction. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, New canadensis) as a surrogate species Yale University Publications in York. for conserving anuran amphibians on Anthropology, no. 51. New Haven, Naiman, R.J., G. Pinay, C.A. Johnston, boreal streams in Alberta, Canada. Connecticut. and J. Pastor. 1994. Beaver Biological Conservation 134(1): 1-13. Hood, G.A., and S.E. Bayley. 2008. Beaver infl uences on the long-term Thwaites, R.G. (Ed.). 1899. The Jesuit (Castor canadensis) mitigate the biogeochemical characteristics of Relations and Allied Documents, VI. effects of climate on the area of open boreal forest drainage networks. Burrows Bros. Co., Cleveland, Ohio. water in boreal wetlands in western Ecology 75(4): 905-921. Wright, J.P., C.G. Jones, and A.S. Flecker. Canada. Biological Conservation Newman, P.C. 1985. Company of 2002. An ecosystem engineer, the 141(2):556-567. Adventurers, Vol. 1. Penguin Books beaver, increases species richness at Johnston, A.M. (Ed.). 1967. Saskatchewan Canada Ltd., Markham, Ontario. the landscape scale. Oecologia 132: Journals and Correspondence: Novakowski, N.S. 1967. The winter 96-101. Edmonton House 1795-1800, bioenergetics of a beaver population Chesterfi eld House 1800-1802. in northern latitudes. Canadian Hudson’s Bay Record Society, London. Journal of Zoology 45: 1107-1118. Latham, A.D.M., M.C. Latham, N.A. Osborn, J.W. 1969. Dentine hardness McCutchen, and S. Boutin. 2011. and incisor wear in the beaver Invading white-tailed deer change (Castor fi ber). Acta Anatomica 72: wolf-caribou dynamics in northeastern 123-132. WATCH BEAVERS ONLINE! Alberta. The Journal of Wildlife The photos by Myrna Pearman are of Management 75(1):204-212. the Beavers that live at the Ellis Bird Martell, K.A., A.L. Foote, and S.G Farm. The Staff has got some remarkable Cumming. 2006. Ecoscience 13(2): footage of them, and folks can watch 164-171. online at: www.ellisbirdfarm.ca/timber/. 32 NatureAlberta

Get Ready for Spring! Build a Bumblebee Nestbox! Bumblebees are native social bees which at one time were very abundant.

Unlike honey bees, most effi cient pollinators than honey the information you need. It’s bumblebees die as winter bees (which are introduced), but a fantastic project for everyone, approaches, with only mated human activity has decimated including families and schools. queens surviving the winter. In native pollination to low levels. But hurry…the boxes should be in the fall, drones mate with virgin In order to raise their young, they place early in spring – if possible, queens on the wing; the newly need important bumblebee plants before the leaves are out. mated queens then disperse to like willow, dandelion, rose, fi nd a hibernation site. wild fruit, lilac, fi reweed, aster, goldenrod, Indian paintbrush, In the spring, each queen emerges columbines, clover, mustard, to build a new nest, usually sunfl ower, delphinium and mint. underground. The queen does all the foraging, construction and To help save bumblebees, people brooding until there are enough can preserve natural nesting worker bees. Nests contain only habitat, conserve and reclaim fi fty to a few hundred bees, large tracts of native fl owers and occupying very little space. construct nest boxes. The boxes are relatively simple to build; There are about thirty-fi ve species the website www.bumblebee. of bumblebees in Alberta; see the org/nestboxes will give you all Feature Story in the Summer 2012 edition of Nature Alberta (Vol 42, No. 2). Many of our bumblebees are obligate specialists – i.e.

specialized to pollinate only EXAMPLE OF A certain groups of native plant BUMBLEBEE NEST BOX species. These bees are more WINTER 2014 33 Charley’s Nature Note: Xanthomendoza fallax, the Hooded Sunburst Lichen BY DR. CHARLES BIRD

The photograph was taken of lichens on the bark of a balsam poplar tree beside Erskine Lake in south-central Alberta on March 27, 2013. The yellow one is the lichen Xanthomendoza fallax.

This lichen is very common photosynthesis and on the bark of poplar trees in the fungal hyphae southern Alberta. The color provide the substrate ranges from orange to yellow; that holds the algal however, it can be yellowish cells in place. green when wet. Many additional Lichens receive lichen species occur on tree bark. moisture through The grey ones in the photograph rain and dew, and are an example. nutrients from dust that settles out on EDITOR’S NOTE: them. if you receive the black and white Lichens can be: hard copy edition, the yellow lichen crustose as in this CHARLEY BIRD is brighter and more protruding. The case when closely “grey ones” are the greyer parts of attached to the substrate; foliose When going on your next winter the image, growing in-between the when broad and loosely attached; hike, take a close look at the bark of yellow; most of the lichens on both or fruticose, when branched and poplar trees. You may be surprised the left and right side of the image attached at one basal point. The at all the life that is there. The very are also “grey”. taxonomy of lichens has been best source of information on this and undergoing change as studies in other North American lichens is Irwin Lichens are unique in the Plant chemistry and DNA have been Brodo, Sylvia Duran Sharnoff and Kingdom as each “species” is revealing new information about Stephen Sharnoff’s 2001 book Lichens made up of a union of algal cells relationships. Along with this, the of North America. and fungal hyphae that are so genus name of this lichen has See www.sharnoffphotos.com/ symbiotically in union that the been changed from Xanthoria to lichensH/xanthomendoza_fallax.html, alga contributes food through Xanthomendoza. for additional images.

Dr. Charles “Charley” Bird is a university professor, publisher of 300+ scholarly articles, long-time advocate for Alberta conservation issues, active with Federation of Alberta Naturalists (Nature Alberta) and in particular with his local group, Buffalo Lake Naturalists Society (a Nature Alberta Corporate Club). In 1978, he received Nature Alberta’s Loran Goulden Award. Charley’s interests and expertise are broad indeed, but especially butterfl ies and moths; he was the lead author for Alberta Butterfl ies, published in 1995. 34 NatureAlberta

First Hand: Black Coyote Encounter BY JIM BROHMAN

I was recently photographing wildlife early in the morning out at Elk Island when out of the bush came a black Coyote! This beautiful, often maligned a “melanistic” Coyote. An excess critter was in the company of of melanin leads to the black fur what appeared to be its litter colour (as seen in black-coloured JIM BROHMAN mates who had typical Coyote wolves and jaguars). coat colouration (grey to yellow- Anderson (2009) reports that the It was a lucky morning! I have been out at grey with black-tipped guard genetic mutation for melanism fi rst Elk Island so many times and you never know hairs and a bushy tail). He was arose in dogs some 50,000 years when you will get lucky. Sometimes the road extremely wary compared to ago and was passed on to Coyotes through the park in the early AM is quiet, and his siblings and was constantly and Wolves through hybridization. the day I photographed the black Coyote was moving on and off the road According to Bekoff (1995), one of those days. Another young Coyote came into the bush at the sight of Coyotes of higher altitudes tend to me that same morning and to my surprise me standing on the road with to be more grey or black, and started nipping at my tripod leg! I couldn’t a camera and tripod! His head Wolves of the boreal forest are believe it! – Jim Brohman seemed disproportionately small often black. Anderson speculates compared to his elongated body, that the dark coloration may and he had long slender legs have selective value in providing and silver fur beneath the black enhanced concealment when pelage. hunting (which makes sense since According to the literature, black Coyotes are primarily nocturnal). Coyotes are extremely rare. They Hopefully there will be an either are a result of hybridization opportunity for biologists to do with dogs (known as a “coydog”) DNA analysis of hair samples from or are the result of an excess this black Coyote to defi nitively amount of the pigment melanin determine its inheritance. and are called a “melanistic” Coyote. Since “coydogs” have References: reproductive issues (males do not 1. Anderson, TM et.al: Molecular and help with the rearing of the pups Evolutionary History of Melanism which therefore are less likely in North American Gray Wolves. Science, 2009, 323 (5919), 1339- to survive in the wild) and often 1343. look like dogs (short ears or tail) 2. Bekoff, Marc: Coyotes: Victims of it seems more likely that this is Their Own Success. Canid News, vol.3, 1995, 1-6. JIM BROHMAN

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. PHOTOS BY JEAN CONNOR

WINTER 2014 35 First Hand: The Little Hawk was Back BY JEAN CONNOR

We heard a couple of Magpies could have been hiding from the making a lot of noise. Then a Magpies. Sharp-shinned Hawk landed on The many baby sparrows fl ew to our patio and stayed there for a another bush and our little wren while. We think the Magpies were went very quiet. Everything was after him. He then dove into the still except the Magpies calling to hedge and we thought he was the hawk. Guess the hawk must after all the baby sparrows. But he have been after the Magpie’s nest.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Though not necessarily. Like all the Accipiters, Sharp-shinned Hawks feed mainly on birds. Young, fl edged sparrows would be an easy meal – but made much more diffi cult while being mobbed by those darned noisy Magpies!

First Hand: Poor Little Black Bear! BY SARAH KLOSTER

I took this photo just outside Several times the Black Bear tried of Banff National Park the fi rst to come down and the Grizzly weekend in November 2013. My would rear up and growl, and boyfriend and I saw this Grizzly the poor little Black Bear would Bear chase a Black Bear up a tree go climbing back up! What an and hold it hostage for over 6 amazing sight! hours…that we knew of, anyways!

SARAH KLOSTER 36 NatureAlberta

PHOTOS BY LEN PETTITT First Hand: Lunch BY LEN PETTITT Yesterday [Nov 7, 2013] at Elk Island National Park, I caught site of more than one Coyote out hunting for lunch on a day of sunshine and in the fresh snow. This one was almost oblivious to the vehicle on the far side of the road as it listened and searched for mice or voles. First Hand: Eurasian Collared-Dove BY DENNIS BARESCO

Around May 18th, Presgrave Count (CBC) has recorded them expect numbers to increase every Winter was working in his garden for a number of years, and in year in Viking. in Viking AB when he heard the 2013 a record number of 147 were Eurasian Collared-Doves presence cooing of a dove and knew right counted – the 10th most common has been so well established away what it was after seeing it species on the CBC (previous high that the Alberta Bird Record and listening to its call on the was 112 in 2010). Feeders seem Committee has now dropped the internet. to be at least one factor. If history species from its review list (see is any guide, Pres can probably It was the fi rst Eurasian Collared- the Report, pg 38). Dove seen in Viking, and “Pres” thinks they may have had two ONE OF A PAIR OF EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES UNDER CHARLEY BIRD’S BIRD FEEDER. CHARLEY BIRD pairs in town. There were reports throughout the summer of these doves on both the East and West sides of town. Pres wondered if they would survive our harsh winter, but in late January he saw a pair of them over on the West side. “It looks like they are here to stay,” said Pres. The species is defi nitely here to stay in Medicine Hat, where they have been recorded throughout the year, including nesting. The Medicine Hat Christmas Bird EDITOR’S NOTE: (*) Nature Alberta does not condone “baiting”: the use of live mice to entice owls and raptors for photography or viewing. While baiting is not against the law, it is viewed by many to be WINTER 2014 37 highly unethical on numerous fronts, as well as potentially detrimental to the birds being enticed. First Hand: Time Sharing BY CAROLE AND GARY DODD One morning in early September, hunt and returning again early in 3-4cm long, about 1.5cm wide and 2011 my husband and I found the morning. We live near a golf were covered with gray fur. Carefully some beautiful feathers under course in Edmonton, which would dissecting one of these pellets, we found the willow tree in our backyard. be a perfect place to feed at night. long bones, short bones, a skull and Fearing the worst, we wondered More feathers appeared on the whole mandibles containing the molars if a cat had caught a bird in our ground over her next few visits. and long, sharp incisors of her favourite yard. But, looking up, there were Because she was moulting, we meal (Photo 3). two big round yellow eyes staring believe she was an adult. down at us. A slim, variegated- One Monday evening, a group feathered owl was sitting on a of birders came to our house branch about three metres above in hopes of banding her. A live us. mouse was thrown on to the ground and let run around the yard (*). However, “Willow” was not enticed. After about half an After a couple of weeks, new hour and with dusk approaching, ear feathers appeared (Photo 4) we all decided to pack it in. The confi rming her identity. She let us mouse ran out to the extreme work in our corner of the yard. Silently and yard doing our swiftly, Willow swept out of the fall cleanup, but tree, picked up the mouse and always followed fl ew off. A free and easy supper! us with those She didn’t come back the next big bright eyes. day, and we thought she had Every morning, it left us. But, after four more became a ritual days away, she returned to her for us to check favourite branch. Over the next to see if Willow two months, she would come had returned. back for a day or two, disappear Eventually the for several days and then return leaves of the again. willow tree turned As you can see in Photo 1, no yellow and blew ears seemed to be visible, so She regurgitated pellets (Photo 2) off with the initially we thought “she” was a every day she was in our tree, and autumn winds. Her Short-eared Owl. (We don’t know we collected these for our local last day of sharing if the owl was male or female, “owl-man”. These pellets averaged our yard was but it was about 35-40 cm long.) October 27. What Looking closer at her shape and a wonderful visitor who graciously let colouring, we decided that she us take lots of pictures and allowed was a Long-eared Owl (Asio us to enjoy her company! The photos otus). Initially she stayed with us were taken with a Pentax K200, 70 – for four days – leaving at dusk to 200mm lens.

PHOTOS BY CAROLE DODD 38 NatureAlberta Eleventh Report of the Alberta Bird Record Committee BY JOCELYN HUDON, RICHARD KLAUKE, RICHARD KNAPTON, M. ROSS LEIN, JOHN RIDDELL, BRIAN RITCHIE AND RAY WERSHLER

Since publication of its Tenth Report suggesting the existence of a 1931 will no longer be adjudicated by the (Hudon et al. 2011), the Alberta letter from J. Fannin to Maj. Allan Committee. Bird Record Committee (hereafter Brooks in which he admitted to Finally, the provincial list is amended the Committee) considered 61 being mistaken about the 1896 to bring it in line with the 53rd and records of species of great rarity for sightings (Fannin 1897), because 54th supplements to the American the province. With this adjudication, at that time he did not realize that Ornithologists’ Union’s (AOU) “Check- the provincial list grows by six immature Golden Eagles had white list of North American Birds” (Chesser et species: Rock Ptarmigan, Black underwing patches (Brooks 1931, al. 2012 and 2013) which have appeared Vulture, Black-headed Gull, Purple Sanford Wilbur, pers. comm.). since publication of the Tenth Report of Sandpiper, White-eyed Vireo California Condor was listed as the ABRC. Recent implemented changes and Prothonotary Warbler. This hypothetical by Salt and Salt (1976), include generic reassignments of continues the trend of adding but the basis of this assessment was Calliope Hummingbird to Selasphorus, about two species per year, a rate unknown to the Committee until Flammulated Owl to Psiloscops, and that the Committee judged to be contacted by Wilbur. three genera of sandpipers (Aphriza, unsustainable a few years ago The Committee now drops several Tryngites and Philomachus) to Calidris. (Hudon et al. 2008). species from its review list (www. Falconiformes is moved to a position While it would be easy to royalalbertamuseum.ca/_include/ immediately before the Passeriformes. attribute this trend partly to document/research/lifeSciences/ Finally, the linear sequence of families in changes in bird distributions and ornithology/ABRCreviewlist. Charadriiformes, genera and species in movements as a result of global pdf). These are primarily species Trochilidae, Troglodytidae and Mimidae, environmental changes, we note a known to have bred, even if only and species in Calidris and Haemorhous vast improvement in the quality of sporadically, in the province: are modifi ed. photographic evidence that is being Red-throated Loon, Mountain provided by observers compared to Plover, Arctic Tern, even ten years ago. The Offi cial List Eurasian Collared-Dove, PURPLE SANDPIPER: ONE OF SIX NEW SPECIES TO THE PROVINCIAL LIST. of the Birds of Alberta now stands Common Poorwill, EDUARDO MATUOD at 421 species. Documentation of Eastern Bluebird, Sage an incontrovertible record of Vaux’s Thrasher and Indigo Swift is still eluding the Committee. Bunting. Lesser Black- backed Gull is also The Committee also considered removed from the evidence for occurrence of review list because California Condor (Gymnogyps of its almost annual californianus) in Alberta, occurrence along the demanded by a recent publication Bow River in Calgary. (Sharp 2012), as well as an older The ABRC archives publication (Schaeffer 1951), will continue to accept presupposing such occurrence. documentation on these The Committee took into species, but the records consideration correspondence

The authors are members of the Alberta Bird Record Committee, chaired by Jocelyn Hudon, Curator of Ornithology at The Royal Alberta Museum. WINTER 2014 39

RECORDS ACCEPTED

Black Scoter (Melanitta americana): 6 Purple Sandpiper (Calidris maritima): Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus): females/immatures on Glenmore Reservoir, Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, Calgary; 9–10 “Gull pond” along 170 Street, Edmonton; Calgary; 23 October 2012; written report May 2013; written report and images posted 7–18 November 2008; written report (Ray Wershler). CODE 3 RECORD. Female or in Eduardo folder on Yahoo! Albertabird (Gerald Romanchuk); several images (Gerald immature on Glenmore Reservoir, Calgary; website, also at www.fl ickr.com/photos/ Romanchuk [2 provided; 3 more on PBase], 5 November 2012; written report (Ray mama_lumen/8725118374/in/photostream Brian Elder [1]). CODE 1 RECORD. Cold Lake; Wershler). CODE 3 RECORD. (Eduardo Matuod), images posted at http:// 14 January 2012; brief report and 4 images (Richard Klauke). CODE 1 RECORD. Rock Ptarmigan (Lagopus muta): 15 km W calgarybirder.blogspot.ca/2013/05/mega-rarity- of Garden River, just outside Wood Buffalo purple-sandpiper-at.html (David Pugh) and 1 Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea): Cattleland, N of National Park; 18 December 2011; written submitted (Brian Elder) CODE 1 RECORD. First Strathmore; 27 May 2011; written report with documented occurrence in the province. report (Kevin Kuipers) and 2 images (Peter 2 images (Yousif Attia). CODE 1 RECORD. Storer); also publication: K. Kuipers, N. Red Phalarope (Phalaropus fulicarius): 3 Band-tailed Pigeon (Patagioenas fasciata): Kuipers and P. Storer. 2012. Rock Ptarmigan (perhaps 4) juveniles at Brant Slough (5 km S of feeder in Dorothy, near Brooks; had been there – a new bird for Alberta. Blue Jay 70(1): Hwy 804 from hamlet of Brant, 1 km W on 658 for about a week on 13 June 2011, not seen 56-57. CODE 1 RECORD. First documented Ave. E); 4 August 2012; written report (Howard after 15 June 2011; 3 images (Carrie Mashon). occurrence in the province. Heffl er, Tony Timmons and Al Borgardt). CODE CODE 1 RECORD. Red-throated Loon (Gavia stellata): 3 RECORD. Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus Glenmore Reservoir, Calgary; 16 October Long-tailed Jaeger (Stercorarius longicaudus): erythropthalmus): Claresholm; 7–8 October 2011; 1 image (Brian Elder). CODE 1 along Twp Rd 300 south of Hanna, several km 2011; written report (Jason Attwell) with 1 RECORD. Glenmore Reservoir, Calgary; east of Hwy 9; 4 June 2011; brief description image (Hanna Tweedy). CODE 1 RECORD. 19 October 2012; written report (Ray (Dan Sawatzky). CODE 3 RECORD. Cooking Lake, Wershler). CODE 3 RECORD. Glenmore E of Edmonton; 3 September 2012; 2 images Barn Owl (Tyto alba): farm SE of Breton; may Reservoir, Calgary; 28 October to 5 (Gerald Romanchuk). CODE 1 RECORD. have been at location from summer, but fi rst November 2012; written report (Ray confi rmed on 26 November 2011; last seen 26 Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus Wershler). CODE 3 RECORD. Slough at December 2011; 2 images (Sue and Brad Stout ridibundus): along Hwy 885 where it crosses intersection of Hwys 2A and 22X; 1 [1], Myrna Pearman [1]). CODE 1 RECORD. November 2012; brief description (Terry NW arm of Pakowki Lake; 20–31 July 2012; Common Poorwill (Phalaenoptilus nuttallii): Korolyk). CODE 3 RECORD. 2 images (Jukka Jantunen), 1 on Albertabird Yahoo! website. CODE 1 RECORD. First Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park; 2 July 2011; Yellow-billed Loon (Gavia adamsii): documented occurrence in the province. 1 image on PBase (Gerald Romanchuk), 1 on Horseshoe Bay, Cold Lake; 24 May 2012; Nikonians (Steve Knight). CODE 1 RECORD. Larus fuscus written report (Ted Hindmarch). CODE 3 Lesser Black-backed Gull ( ): Anna’s Hummingbird (Calypte anna): feeder RECORD. Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, Calgary; 10–11 October 2011; written report with 2 images in Bowness, Calgary; from about June to mid- Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis): along Hwy (Ilya Povalyaev); 5 images posted on Albertabird October 2012; several photos taken, 2 made 4, 3.4 km S of junction with SR 845, S of Yahoo! website (Ilya Povalyaev). CODE 1 available (Joe Zarowski). CODE 1 RECORD. Lethbridge; 27 June 2011; 8 images (Ken RECORD. Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, Calgary; Feeder in SW Calgary; from about 22 October Orich). CODE 1 RECORD. 23 March–6 April 2012; written report with to at least 6 November 2012; written report (Ray Wershler), several images (Dan Arndt Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus): Raymond, 3 images (Ilya Povalyaev); images posted on [15] at www.fl ickr.com/photos/ubermoogle/ SE of Lethbridge; 22–23 September 2011; Albertabird Yahoo! website (Ilya Povalyaev sets/72157631948425330/with/8162595319/, written report (Lori, Noel, Tane, Peter, Nyree [1]; Daniel Arndt [1]); 1 image posted on blog Lloyd and Barbara Trevors [1], Ray Wershler and Kingi Smith), several [10] images (Nyree at http://victoriabirder.blogspot.ca/2012/03/ [1]). CODE 1 RECORD. Feeder in NW Calgary; 25 and Lori Smith), also 3 rough sketches eastward-bound.html (Jeremy Kimm). CODE 1 RECORD. Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, Calgary; September 2013; written report, 5 images and (Peter Smith). CODE 1 RECORD. First 2 videos (Sydney Mohr). CODE 1 RECORD. documented occurrence in the province. 11–30 April 2012; written report with 3 images (Ilya Povalyaev), 2 images posted on Albertabird Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes Common Crane (Grus grus): Deadhorse Yahoo! website (Ilya Povalyaev); also detailed erythrocephalus): Elkwater; 28 May 2012; Lake, near Hussar; 6 October 2012; brief description (Philip Taylor, Margot Taylor, Ken written report (Leena Tirrul). CODE 3 RECORD. description (Sheila Clark) and 4 images Hryciw) with 6 images (Philip Taylor). CODE 1 Just S of Medicine Hat; 28 May 2012; written (Bruce Anderson [3], Sheila Clark [1]). CODE RECORD. Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, Calgary; 5 report (Mackenzie Fai); 1 image posted on 1 RECORD. May 2012; written report with 3 images (Ilya Albertabird Yahoo! website (Mackenzie Fai). Povalyaev); 2 images posted on Albertabird Pacifi c Golden-Plover (Pluvialis fulva): CODE 1 RECORD. Vermilion; 1 June to at least Yahoo! website (Ilya Povalyaev). CODE 1 Alberta Beach (E shore of Lac Ste. Anne); 8 4 June 2012; written report and 3 images RECORD. Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, Calgary; 25 October 2011; several images on Nikonians (Charlotte Wasylik); additional images and October 2012; written report (Ray Wershler). (Steve Knight [8]) and PBase (Gerald information on blog at http://prairiebirder. CODE 3 RECORD. Romanchuk [4]). CODE 1 RECORD. wordpress.com/2012/06/01/red-headed- woodpecker/. CODE 1 RECORD. 40 NatureAlberta

RECORDS ACCEPTED…continued

Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana): carolinus): High River. First seen in October pair 6 km SW of Turner Valley; 26 May 2011, seen until at least 18 March 2012; to at least 30 May 2012; pair seen several images: Kirk Davis [1], Mike Sturk carrying food to nest box and removing [2], David Pugh [3 images on blog at http:// fecal sacs; written report (Linda Bailey calgarybirder.blogspot.com/], also on and Colin Young), 2 distant images Albertabird Yahoo! website (Bev Maksymiw (Colin Young). CODE 1 RECORD. Along [1], Ken Havard [2], Ron Kube [1]; Daniel Twp Rd 101, about 2 km outside of Maycroft, in Crowsnest Pass; 26 March Arndt [1]). CODE 1 RECORD. Feeder in Etzikom; A WHITE-EYED VIREO, ANOTHER FIRST FOR spent the winter there and was seen until 2013; written report (Duane Starr and at least 28 March 2013; written report with Dave Breckon) and several [6] images ALBERTA. NICK BARTOK 2 images (Milt Spitzer, Phil Cram and Mike at www.duanestarrphotography.com/ Mulligan). CODE 1 RECORD. photos/swfpopup.mg?AlbumID=286 Northern Parula (Setophaga americana): 22504&AlbumKey=p4VHn9 (Duane feeder about 7 km E of Writing-on-Stone White-eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus): Wyndham- Starr). CODE 1 RECORD. Provincial Park; 29 May 2011; written Carseland Provincial Park; 21 May 2012; report (Arthur and Donna Wieckowski, Bob 2 images posted on Albertabird Yahoo! Sage Thrasher (Oreoscoptes Parsons, Lois Gilchrist), 3 images (Arthur website (Nick Bartok). CODE 1 RECORD. First montanus): E of Milo, near Taber; 13 Wieckowski). CODE 1 RECORD. documented occurrence in the province. May 2011; written report and 2 images (Ilya Povalyaev). CODE 1 RECORD. W of Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla): juvenile at Chestnut-backed Chickadee (Poecile Redcliff; 7 April 2013; written report migration monitoring station in Elkwater, rufescens): feeder in Hinton; December 2012 and 3 images (Colton Prins), also Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park; 30 to at least 3 January 2013; written report posted on Albertabird Yahoo! website. August 2012; 3 images (Leena Tirrul). and 2 images (Natalie and Don Groat). CODE CODE 1 RECORD. CODE 1 RECORD. 1 RECORD. Feeder in Waterton, Waterton Lakes National Park; from 31 December Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra): 2012 to at least 14 March 2013; written citrea): along Dogpound Creek just W Elkwater, Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park; report with several (4) images (Malcolm and of Horse Creek Rd, NW of Cochrane, 25 May 2011; written report (Jeremiah Joan McDonald). CODE 1 RECORD. Feeder on S of Water Valley; 31 October and 1 Kennedy and Callum Duncan); several acreage about 10 km W of hamlet of Priddis; November 2011; written description [8] images at www.fl ickr.com/photos/ 1 April 2013; written report and 1 image (Pat with 1 image (Keith and Sandy Logan). redcappedmyna/ (Jeremiah Kennedy). CODE Diehl). CODE 1 RECORD. CODE 1 RECORD. First documented 1 RECORD. Adult male, Windy Point along occurrence in the province. Sheep River, W of Turner Valley; 13–14 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea): June 2011; written reports (Colin Young Elkwater, Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park; Lucy’s Warbler (Oreothlypis luciae): and Linda Bailey; Ray Wershler). CODE 2 from 9 August to at least 14 September Confederation Park, Calgary; 22–23 RECORD. 2011; written report with 4 images (Jeremiah August 2012; 2 written reports (Colin Kennedy, Yousif Attia). CODE 1 RECORD. Young and Linda Bailey; and Ray Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea): Wershler). CODE 2 RECORD. Mosquito Creek Campground, Banff Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis): pair in National Park; 8 July 2011; fi eld notes Ajax Coulee, Medicine Hat; 1 to at least 4 and journal entries (Neil Scott) and 1 December 2012; possibly overwintered there; image (Fred and Eleanor Esslinger). CODE written report (Milt Spitzer) and images (Milt 1 RECORD. Spitzer [1] and Barry Anderson [2]). CODE 1 RECORD.

IDENTIFICATION NOT ESTABLISHED

California Condor (Gymnogyps Long-tailed Jaeger (Stercorarius Gray Flycatcher (Empidonax wrightii): californianus): species is mentioned in longicaudus): Frank Lake; 22 April 2012; near Jasper National Park E gate; 14 May several papers (Fannin 1897, Schaeffer written report (Daryl and Linda Light). 2011; 1 image (Gary Gulash) and brief 1951, Sharp 2012). However, by Fannin’s accounts of the encounter (Rick Bonar, Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus): own admission, the birds may have been Jason Rogers). Glenmore Reservoir, Calgary; 26 September misidentifi ed (Brooks 1931, fi de Sanford 2011; brief description (Gus Yaki). Dickcissel (Spiza americana) W of Cold Lake “Sandy” Wilbur, author of “California Provincial Park; 4 June 2012; written report Condors: Past, Present, Future”, also (Yousif Attia and Stuart Mackenzie). see www.condortales.com/Resources/ northwestcondors6%201.html). WINTER 2014 41

ERROR IN IDENTIFICATION

Least Tern (Sternula antillarum): Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, Calgary; 16 June 2012; 4 images (Joerg Gueldenpfennig). Images submitted clearly rule out Least Tern; likely Forster’s Tern. ADDITIONAL TAXA

Bewick’s Swan (Cygnus columbianus bewickii): SE of Lethbridge; 29 October 2011; 2 images (Ken Orich). CODE 1 RECORD. A BLACK VULTURE IN RAYMOND AB, THE PROVINCE’S FIRST DOCUMENTED RECORD. LORI SMITH

Acknowledgements Sue and Brad Stout, Mike Sturk, Philip and Hudon, J., R. Klauke, R. Knapton, M. R. Lein, The ABRC would not exist without the Margot Taylor, Tony Timmons, Leena Tirrul, J. Riddell, B. Ritchie and R. Wershler. 2008. cooperation of birders and ornithologists Lloyd and Barbara Trevors, Hanna Tweedy, Eighth Report of the Alberta Bird Record throughout Alberta. We especially want to thank Charlotte Wasylik, Ray Wershler, Arthur and Committee. Nature Alberta 38 (2):28-31. the following individuals for contributing Donna Wieckowski, Gus Yaki, Colin Young and Hudon, J., R. Klauke, R. Knapton, M. R. Lein, leads or observations for records included in Joe Zarowski. J. Riddell, B. Ritchie and R. Wershler. 2011. this report: Barry Anderson, Bruce Anderson, Tenth Report of the Alberta Bird Record Daniel Arndt, Yousif Attia, Jason Attwell, Linda Literature Cited Committee. Nature Alberta 41 (2&3):37-40. Bailey, Nick Bartok, Rick Bonar, Al Borgardt, Brooks, A. 1931. Letter from Alan Brooks to Salt, W. R. and J. R. Salt. 1976. The Birds of Dave Breckon, Dick Cannings, Russell Alberta. Hurtig Publishers, Edmonton, Alberta. Cannings, Sheila Clark, Phil Cram, Kirk W. L. Chambers 6 March 1931. Chambers collection, Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, Schaeffer, C.E. 1951. Was the California Condor Davis, Pat Diehl, Theresa and Doug Dolman, known to the Blackfoot Indians? Journal of the Callum Duncan, Brian Elder, Fred and Eleanor Berkeley, CA. Chesser, R. T., R. C. Banks, F. K. Barker, C. Washington Academy of Sciences 41:181-191. Esslinger, Mackenzie Fai, Lois Gilchrist, Joerg Sharp, B. E. 2012. The California Condor in Gueldenpfennig, Gary Gulash, Natalie and Cicero, J. L. Dunn, A. W. Kratter, I. J. Lovette, P. C. Rasmussen, J. V. Remsen, Jr., J. D. northwestern North America. Western Birds Don Groat, Ken Havard, Howard Heffl er, Ted 43:54-88. Hindmarch, Ken Hryciw, Jukka Jantunen, Rising, D. F. Stotz and K. Winker. 2012. Jeremiah Kennedy, Jeremy Kimm, Steve Knight, Fifty-third supplement to the American Terry Korolyk, Ron Kube, Kevin and Natalie Ornithologists’ Union Check-list of North ALBERTA’S FIRST RECORDED BLACK-HEADED Kuipers, Daryl and Linda Light, Keith and American Birds. Auk 129:573-588. GULL, AT PAKOWKI LAKE. JUKKA JANTUNEN Sandy Logan, Stuart Mackenzie, Bev and Peter Chesser, R. T., R. C. Banks, F. K. Barker, C. Maksymiw, Carrie Mashon, Eddy (Eduardo) Cicero, J. L. Dunn, A. W. Kratter, I. J. Lovette, Matuod, Joan and Malcolm McDonald, Sydney P. C. Rasmussen, J. V. Remsen, Jr., J. D. Mohr, Mike Mulligan, Ken Orich, Bob Parsons, Rising, D. F. Stotz and K. Winker. 2013. Myrna Pearman, Philip Penner, Ilya Povalyaev, Fifty-fourth supplement to the American Colton Prins, David Pugh, Jason Rogers, Gerald Ornithologists’ Union Check-list of North Romanchuk, Dan Sawatzky, Neil Scott, Lori, American Birds. Auk 130:558-571. Noel, Tane, Peter, Nyree and Kingi Smith, Penny Fannin, J. 1897. The California Condor in Smith, Milt Spitzer, Duane Starr, Peter Storer, Alberta. Auk 14:89.

THE CODE DEFINITIONS REPORTED ARE:

ACCEPTED, CODE 1. Records supported by material leaves no doubt as to species identity, and which receive support conclusively the identifi cation of the species evidence, i.e. specimens, identifi able body parts, fi ve favourable votes and no dissenting vote. A Code 3 as presented. Placement in this category should in identifi able photographs or sound recordings, whose is the minimum for inclusion in the offi cial provincial list. no way be interpreted as a refl ection on the veracity origin from within the borders of Alberta is in no ACCEPTED, CODE 4. Sight records by single observers that of the observation, but should be looked upon as an doubt, that are accompanied by written reports of the receive four favourable votes and no more than one encouragement to substantiate occurrence of the circumstances of the observation. dissenting vote. For record adjudication purposes, such species in the province more fully. ACCEPTED, CODE 2. Sight records (without supporting a record is acceptable, but does not pass the more ERROR IN IDENTIFICATION. Records where the material evidence) by multiple observers that are stringent requirements for inclusion on the offi cial documentation available to the committee runs supported by independent written descriptions that provincial list. A list of species that have no higher than counter to the stated identifi cation, whether it leave no doubt as to the species identity. A Code 1 or 2 a Code 4 record may be published as an appendix to identifi es another species or not. sighting must receive four favourable votes and no more the offi cial list. QUESTIONABLE ORIGIN. Records that concern species than one dissenting vote to be accepted. IDENTIFICATION NOT ESTABLISHED. Records supported by that are of questionable origin, possibly escapees, ACCEPTED, CODE 3. Sight records by one or more observers material evidence or written descriptions that are not and whose wild status cannot be determined that are supported by a single written description that detailed enough to eliminate all other possibilities, or to accurately. RUFFED GROUSE, WEST OF WATER VALLEY. 42 NatureAlberta CANADAFURANDFEATHERS.BLOGSPOT.COM

Up Close Naturally: Snow: What is it Good For?! BY MARGOT HERVIEUX For most people, snow is an irritant. It clogs our roads and sidewalks and makes travel diffi cult. For creatures that live in snowy environments, however, the white stuff can be used to advantage.

We all know that moving through Mammals aren’t the only creatures basis. Ruffed Grouse will dive snow can be a challenge but with with snowshoes. Ruffed Grouse into a snow bank on cold winter the right feet it’s easy. If an animal grow scales on the sides of their nights and Red Squirrels store spreads it weight over a larger toes to increase the size of their food beneath the snow. People surface area – in other words, if it feet while Ptarmigan feet are cut blocks of snow for igloos or has big feet – it can walk on top thickly feathered. built temporary snow shelters, of the snow instead of plowing called quinzhees, by digging out People have always learned from through it. the centre of a mound of snow. watching animals, and many The most well-known creature with different native peoples developed No matter where they live, its own built-in snowshoes is the snowshoes to suit their local snow animals are able to use their Snowshoe Hare. These common conditions. Short round bear’s surroundings to their advantage. hares have the largest hind feet paw or oval otter snowshoes are By fi nding ways to travel over the for their body size of any northern best suited to thick woods. The snow or live under it, northern creature and the hind feet are more beavertail is similar but has a short creatures make the most of what than twice the size of the front feet. tail for improved maneuverability winter throws at them. in deep snow. People living in Snowshoe Hares use their big open country use long, narrow feet to escape from predators. snowshoes with an upturned That doesn’t slow down the Lynx, SNOWSHOE HARE. toe and longer tail for speed. however, which also has broad, D. GORDON E. ROBERTSON/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS heavily furred feet and specializes Perhaps surprisingly, snow can in following hare trails. also be used for insulation. Under a snow pack of at least Our northern forests are also home 15 cm, the temperature at the to Woodland Caribou, which also ground stays at or just below have big feet for their size. Despite freezing. Mice, voles, shrews being only slightly and some insects and spiders larger than a big spend their winter under this Mule Deer, caribou snowy blanket. hooves are wider across than those Other animals seek protection of a Moose. from snow on a more casual

Margot also writes a column for the Peace Country Sun, archived copies of which are available at www.peacecountrysun.com. WINTER 2014 43 Wildlife! Starring… The Dipper: Aquatic Songbird of the Rockies BY JESSIE ZGURSKI

He is the mountain streams’ own darling, the humming-bird of blooming waters, loving rocky ripple-slopes and sheets of foam as a bee loves fl owers, as a lark loves sunshine and meadows. Among all the mountain birds, none has cheered me so much in my lonely wanderings – none so unfailingly. – John Muir, naturalist and JESSIE ZGURSKI conservationist, 1838-1914.

Waterton Lakes National Park is one what puzzled people is that these ability to walk and swim in streams of my favourite places in Alberta to weren’t the typical sorts of birds that look like they could knock go hiking and birding, so I jumped that are usually seen by water. They over a person. However, despite at the chance to work there as an weren’t ducks, gulls, or herons, being aquatic birds, dippers do not interpreter last summer. My duties and they actually looked more like have webbed feet and instead have included leading hikes in the park songbirds. typical songbird feet, which have and giving presentations on alpine three toes pointing forward and one They were, of course, dippers! wildlife to guests. I also set up (the “hallux”) pointing backward. More precisely, American Dippers information displays about the The term for that confi guration is (Cinclus mexicanus). The noisy park’s wildlife at busy locations. “anisodactyl.” ones were the recently-fl edged I often set up my displays in front young of a pair that nested right Despite the lack of webbed feet, of Cameron Falls, which is a very next to the waterfall. Dippers dippers do have several adaptations popular spot for people to gather are in the order that contains the that make them well suited for and take photographs. People songbirds (Passeriformes) but their aquatic lifestyles. Their preen usually asked me questions about unlike all other songbirds they are glands (“uropygial glands”), which the park’s wildlife, especially the largely aquatic and inhabit fast- are situated above their tails, are large, charismatic carnivores, such moving streams. Worldwide, there extremely large. In fact, they are as bears, wolves, and Mountain are fi ve species of dipper, but only about ten times as large as the Lions. However, at one point in one is found in North America. glands seen in other similar-sized the summer, people often inquired The rest occur in South America, songbirds. Preen glands secrete about two small, grey, noisy birds Europe, Asia, and the Atlas an oily substance that contains a that would stand on the rocks by Mountains of Morocco. In Europe, complex mixture of waxes and other the falls, bopping up and down and they are called “Water Ouzels.” fats. When a dipper preens, it will chirping. Another grey bird would rub its beak on its preen gland and Dippers feed primarily on aquatic eventually arrive and feed them. will proceed to rub the oil on its invertebrates and small fi sh so they feathers. The oil helps waterproof These birds were hard not to notice spend a lot of time in the water. and strengthen the feathers. When a due to their vocalizations, and They are quite amazing in their 44 NatureAlberta

JESSIE ZGURSKI

dipper emerges from a dive, water feathers and ultra-thick coats of tail feathers and become incapable of will simply roll right off its back down contribute to their ability to fl ying until their fl ight feathers grow as though it were wearing a little tolerate some very harsh conditions. back. They can fl y during the rest of the wetsuit. No fl owing stream is ever too cold year, although I rarely see them fl ying for a dipper. far from streams. Their wings are quite Dippers also have fl aps in their short and stubby, but do function well nostrils that prevent water from Dippers need to be able to go long as fl ippers. entering their noses while they periods of time without breathing dive. While foraging, dippers often while they forage underwater. So, if you’re ever hiking by a mountain repeatedly dip their heads into They can indeed go longer without stream in the Rockies, keep your eyes streams, presumably to search for oxygen (30 seconds) than other open for a small, steel-grey bird diving food. This bobbing or dipping song bird species can. Thirty and walking through the water. You motion gives them their name. They seconds doesn’t sound like long but may get to see one of Alberta’s toughest will also bob up and down while it is for such a small bird. Dippers little songbirds! As the naturalist John they stand. do have higher concentrations of Muir wrote about his favourite bird: hemoglobin in their blood than Perhaps the most interesting facet “No cañon is too cold for this little do other songbirds. Hemoglobin of dipper biology is their ability bird, none too lonely, provided it be is the pigment in red blood cells to tolerate very low temperatures. rich in falling water. Find a fall, or that carries oxygen and delivers it Dippers often stay by mountain cascade, or rushing rapid, anywhere to tissues. Since dippers can carry streams in Alberta all year, even in upon a clear stream, and there you a great deal of oxygen in their areas where winter temperatures will surely fi nd its complementary blood, they can spend a lot of time drop well below zero. I’ve seen Ouzel, fl itting about in the spray, underwater. dippers out foraging in -20˚C diving in foaming eddies, whirling weather. All they need is open Like other birds, dippers do like a leaf among beaten foam-bells; water, and mountain streams in have to molt and replace their ever vigorous and enthusiastic, yet Canada may contain unfrozen feathers periodically. Many self-contained, and neither seeking parts in winter if they fl ow fast aquatic birds (such as ducks and nor shunning your company.” enough. Many dippers overwinter in geese) go through a molt at the References northwest Canada and even Alaska, end of summer that leaves them Knight, T. 2001. “Dippers.” In: The Sibley although they will move if their temporarily fl ightless. This is Guide to Bird Life and Behavior. Elphick streams freeze over. because they replace their fl ight C., Dunning, J. B., and Sibley, D. A., eds. feathers all at once. Although Dippers often show up on Alfred A. Knopf, New York. dippers are only very distantly Muir, J. 1894. The Mountains of California. Christmas Bird Counts done in the related to the Anseridae (the family Available online: www.yosemite.ca.us/ mountains of Alberta, and they are that contains ducks and geese) they john_muir_writings/the_mountains_of_ occasionally seen in the foothills california/chapter_13.html do this as well. In late summer, and even Calgary. Their waterproof Tyler, S. and Ormerod, S. 1994. The Dippers. T dippers molt out their fl ight and & AD Poyser Ltd. London, UK. WINTER 2014 45

CELESTIAL HAPPENINGS Starry Nights Spring (March to May) BY JOHN MCFAUL

FEATURED CONSTELLATIONS: MONOCEROS, ANTLIA, SEXTANS

By March the glittering French astronomer Abbé Nicolas angle between stars and the constellations of the winter Louis de Lacaille and represents horizon. Sextans is noteworthy as sky begin to take their leave the air pump. the site of the COSMOS project of the western celestial stage. which is an effort to study the Sextans was created by the Polish Their departure signals the structure of the universe and dark astronomer Johannes Hevelius in return of spring to the northern matter as well as the evolution of 1687 as a tribute to the sextant hemisphere. One of the last to galaxies. that he used to determine the leave is the mystical constellation Monoceros – The Unicorn. Monoceros is to be envisioned by looking a little to the east of CELESTIAL HAPPENINGS brilliant Orion. It lies between Sun: Rise – March 1 (7:21 MST), April 1 (7:07 MDT), May 1 (5:59 MDT) his hunting dogs, Canis Minor Set – March 1 (18:12 MST), April 1 (20:10 MDT), May 1 (21:04 MDT) and Major. It takes a great deal Note: Day Light Savings Time will start on March 9th. of imagination to discern the Spring Equinox is on Thursday, March 20, 2014 at 10:57 AM. form of this magical horse from the faint stars that make up Moon: Full – March 16, April 15, May 14 New – March 1 & 30, April 29, May 28 this constellation. Perhaps even Note: In the very early hours of April 15th there will be a total lunar eclipse. Partial Orion is not aware of his ghostly eclipse begins just before midnight and the total eclipse phase begins at 1:06 AM companion. and ends at 2:24 AM. Monoceros was fi rst described Planets: Mercury will be very low in the SE morning sky just before sunrise during the fi rst by the Dutch cartographer Petrus week of March. In the third week of May it will hover above the WNW horizon Plancius (1552–1622), who just after sunset. placed it on a celestial globe Venus is visible very low in the SE in the morning sky from March through to the in 1612. The unicorn was a end of May. The waning crescent moon will be near on March 27th, April 25th mythical beast whose horn was and may 25th. thought to have great powers of Mars rises just before midnight in March. By mid-April it will rise by 8:30 PM. In healing and warding off evil. May it will be high in the south after sunset. Jupiter can be seen high in the southern sky after sunset from March through Trailing behind Monoceros early April. It moves into the western sky as the months progress. By the end of are the constellations Antlia May it will be low in the western sky after sunset. and Sextans located below Saturn rises above the eastern horizon in the very early hours of the mornings in and above the giant water March. The time of rising is 2 hours earlier in April and a further 2 hours earlier in snake Hydra. Like Monoceros May. It is well placed in the south after sunset in May. It is very close to the moon these constellations are on April 17th. newer inventions. Antlia was Meteor Shower: Lyrids (April 21, 15/hour in a dark sky), Eta Aquirids (May 4th, 20/hour) established in 1756 by the The rate of meteors observed is for dark skies well away from city lights and with no Moon. GORDON COURT 46 NatureAlberta

Nature’s Way

BY JIM BROHMAN

The wind was blowing all around Floating down to the ground Fledglings readying for the ultimate test Into the abyss from the edge of the nest Beautiful Peregrines-“One,” “Two,” and “Three” Exhausted parents now must let them be!

If we had no winter, Spring would not be so pleasant. ANNE BRADSTREET WINTER 2014 47

CLUBS PAGE

Edmonton Naturalization Group

The Edmonton Naturalization Group (ENG) is an informal group of people in the Edmonton area who like to grow native plants and promote their use in gardening and landscaping to a wider public.

We take part in a number of in the area. Together, the two several areas in Mill Creek Ravine, projects, in cooperation with the friends chose several areas in the removing noxious weeds and appropriate municipal authorities, ravine where the native fl owers replanting the area with the native which aim to enrich the natural outnumbered the non-natives wildfl owers that used to grow fl ora of various parks and natural and started weeding. there. areas. Thus, the Thistle Patrol was born The destruction of a small natural ENG members raise native plants and it quickly became part of the area in Edmonton, Little Mountain, at the City of Edmonton’s Oldman City of Edmonton’s Partners in was the event that brought us Creek Nursery and maintain Parks program. With the addition all together. It was clear that a demonstration native bed at of several new volunteers, the we had to fi nd some way to the John Janzen Nature Centre. Thistle Patrol is now caring for preserve our local native species, Volunteers also care for certain parts of City of Edmonton parks as Partners in Parks. It all started in 1997, when one of our members obtained a pesticide-free designation for a neighbourhood park connected to Mill Creek Ravine. She started pulling out the abundant Canada Thistles that grew along the park border. In 1998, another member saw a pesticide truck spraying thistles in a different area of Mill Creek Ravine. She made a commitment to pull out the Canada Thistles to protect the native Flodman’s Thistle (Cirsium fl odmanii) that was growing

FLOWERS ARE FUN! 48 NatureAlberta

as their remaining habitat was our capacity. So we applied for the City of Edmonton and labour disappearing so quickly. Our grants for a new project involving was provided by our dedicated fi rst step was to ask The City of a demonstration bed featuring volunteers. Edmonton for space on city land Edmonton prairie wildfl owers and Some of our activities include so we would have a place to grasses. Completed in 2003, it can collecting and growing local keep rescued plants and to grow be viewed at The John Janzen native seeds to start a seed bank plants from seed. ENG uses these Nature Centre. to preserve the genetic diversity plants for naturalization projects In 2004, ENG published Go Wild! of our local native plants, helping and as a seed source. – a gardening book that provides school groups and people with As ENG and its members became information on how to grow naturalization projects, and to known, we were asked for native species, where to see them identify and dig native plants plants and advice on school in the wild and where to buy local from threatened areas before naturalizations, and also help native plants and seeds. construction begins. ENG has with plant identifi cation. In a number of books, magazines Funding for these two projects 2002 we adopted an area at and other publications on native came from EcoTrust, The Alberta Fulton marsh. We tried to keep plants and related subjects that are Native Plant Council, The it weeded, but the area was too available for borrowing. Edmonton Natural History Club large to take care of properly so and the Shell Environmental Fund. we gave up our stewardship. On Flower bed preparation was by a positive note, we did gain a lot of restoration experience from this project. The Edmonton Naturalization Group is a Nature Alberta Affi liate Club. For further information: In August of 2002, we realized http://edmontonnaturalizationgroup.org. that our ambitions had outgrown

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 NA website at www.naturealberta.ca. Join Today!

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AN AMERICAN BITTERN TAKES FLIGHT; SEE “ON THE COVERS,” PG 3. DEB TYMCHUK VOLUME 43 | NUMBER 4 | WINTER 2014 Naturegallery

ROCHE MIETTE NEAR THE OLD JASPER HOUSE. “ROCHE” IS FRENCH FOR “ROCK.” IT IS LIKELY THAT “MIETTE” COMES FROM THE CREE, “MYATUCK,” WHICH MEANS “BIGHORN SHEEP,” THOUGH SOME SAY IT’S NAMED FOR BONHOMME MIETTE, A FRENCH-CANADIAN VOYAGEUR IN FOLKLORE. SEE THE STORY, PG 16. JOHN WARDEN

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