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VOLUME 37 | NUMBER 3 | FALL 2007 Nature A L B E R T A ’ S N A T U R A L H I S T O R Y R E V I E W

BADLANDS ALONG THE SOUTH RIVER SEAN AND DON GORDON

feature article South Trip 2007! PART 1

FEDERATION OF ALBERTA NATURALISTS BIGHORN SHEEP RAMS JOHN WARDEN

WOLF FEEDING ON ELK, MALIGNE RIVER, RICK PRICE Nature Alberta: FALL 2007 1

Celebrating our natural heritage The Federation of Alberta Naturalists is composed of natural history clubs from across the province. The aims of the Federation are: (a) To encourage among all Albertans, by all means possible, an increase in their knowledge of natural history and understanding of ecological processes; (b) To promote an increase in the exchange of information and views among natural history clubs and societies in Alberta; Contents (c) To foster and assist in the formation of additional natural history clubs NATURE ALBERTA VOLUME 37, NUMBER 3, FALL 2007 and societies in Alberta; (d) To promote the establishment of natural areas and nature reserves, to President’s Page BY SANDRA FOSS ...... 2 conserve and protect species, communities or other features of interest; (e) To organize, or coordinate symposia, conferences, fi eld meetings, Editor’s Page BY DENNIS BARESCO ...... 4 nature camps, research and other activities whether of a similar or Letters to the Editor ...... 5 dissimilar nature; (f) To provide the naturalists of Alberta with a forum in which questions Alberta Issues in Brief ...... 7 relating to the conservation of the natural environment may be discussed, so that united positions can be developed on them, and to Book Review: NEW – The Atlas of Breeding Birds of Alberta: provide the means of translating these positions into appropriate actions. A Second Look ...... 9 BOARD OF DIRECTORS ’s Helen Schuler Coulee Centre Celebrates PRESIDENT: Sandra Foss, Box 1109, Cochrane, AB T4C 1B2 VICE PRESIDENT: Ted Johnson, PO Box 1881, AB T0A 2C0 its 25th Anniversary BY BILL BROWN AND TERESA DOLMAN ...... 10 SECRETARY: Judy Boyd, 33 Cunningham Crescent, Red Deer, AB T4P 2S2 TREASURER: Don Gordon, 15216 - 74 Street, , AB T5C 0Y7 Book Review: Ladybugs of Alberta: PAST PRESIDENT: Dennis Baresco, Box 2513, , AB T1A 8G8 Finding the Spots and Connecting the Dots ...... 14 APPOINTED DIRECTORS: Dennis Baresco, Dawn Dickinson, Sandra Foss, Don Gordon, Don Stiles, Ruth Kleinbub In Memoriam: Colleen McCrory & Peter Butala ...... 15 ELECTED DIRECTORS: Elaine Gordon (ANPC); Wayne Kinsella, (BLN); Scott Jubinville (CFNS); Jim Lange, (ENC); Grant Henry (FMFNS); Marty Drut, Wildlife! Starring…Tiger Salamander BY DENNIS BARESCO ...... 16 (GN); Ted Johnson (LLBBS); Lloyd Bennett (LNS); Margot Hervieux (PPN); Trip 2007 - Part 1 Judy Boyd (RDRN); Iris Davies (VRNS); STAFF: Glen Semenchuk, Executive Director (FAN), Karen Rimney, Offi ce BY SEAN GORDON AND DON GORDON ...... 18 Manager (FAN).

Close to Home: Nature Photography in Alberta BY JOHN WARDEN ...... 23 CORPORATE MEMBER CLUBS Alberta Native Plant Council, Box 52099, Garneau P.O. Edmonton, AB First Hand: Alert! Animals at Play BY DENNIS BARESCO ...... 25 T6G 2T5 Nuggets BY DENNIS BARESCO ...... 27 Buffalo Lake Naturalists, Box 1802, Stettler, AB T0C 2L0 Field Naturalists, Box 981, Calgary, AB T2P 2K4 It’s Autumn! BY DENNIS BARESCO ...... 28 Edmonton Nature Club, Box 1111, Edmonton, AB T5J 2M1 Fort McMurray Field Naturalists Society, 152 Cote Bay, Fort McMurray, AB Celestial Happenings BY JOHN MCFAUL ...... 29 T9H 4R9 Naturalists, Box 2491, Medicine Hat, AB T1A 8G8 Newton’s Occasionally Cryptic Crossword! #3 BY GARRY NEWTON ...... 30 Lac La Biche Birding Society, Box 1270, Lac La Biche, AB T0A 2C0 Photo Experiences BY RICK PRICE ...... 31 Lethbridge Naturalists Society, Box 1691, Lethbridge, AB T1J 4K4 Peace Parkland Naturalists, Box 1451, , AB T8V 4Z2 Book Review: Reptiles and Amphibians of ...... 32 Naturalists, Box 785, Red Deer, AB T4N 5H2 Vermilion River Naturalists, 6510 - 53 Avenue, Vermilion, AB T9X 1X7 What’s the Plone? BY VID BIJELIC ...... 33 ASSOCIATE MEMBERS: FAN Club Page ...... 35 Alberta Lake Management Society Friends of Jasper National Park Alberta Naturalization Network Society Heritage Tree Foundation of Canada Alberta Stewardship Network J.J. Collett Natural Area Foundation PUBLISHED QUARTERLY BY THE FEDERATION OF ALBERTA NATURALISTS, Beaverhill Bird Observatory Bird Observatory 11759 GROAT ROAD, EDMONTON, AB T5M 3K6 Naturalist Club Purple Martin Conservancy Big Lake Environmental Support Society Riverlot 56 Naturalists Area Society PHONE.780.427.8124 FAX.780.422.2663 BowKan Birders Stewards of Alberta’s Protected Areas [email protected] Crooked Creek Conservancy Society Association of Alberta The Wagner Natural Area Society SUBSCRIPTION $30.00 PER YEAR Crowsnest Conservation Society Wilmore Wilderness Preservation & Edmonton Naturalization Group Historical Foundation EDITOR.DENNIS BARESCO Wizard Lake Watershed and Lake [email protected] Foothills Land Trust Stewardship Assoc. Naturalists Society Wood Buffalo Bird Club CIRCULATION.DICK CLAYTON Friends of Blackfoot Society LAYOUT.BROKEN ARROW SOLUTIONS INC. We acknowledge the fi nancial support of the Government of PRINTING.PERCY PAGE CENTRE.ISSN 0318-5440 Canada through the Publication Assistance Program. THANKS TO ALL WHO ASSISTED IN PRODUCING THIS ISSUE: ELAINE CATHCART, KAREN RIMNEY, MARILYN ROSS, VAL SCHOLEFIELD, CANADA POST AGREEMENT NO. 40015475 GLEN SEMENCHUK, JUNE VERMEULEN. PUBLICATION MAIL REGISTRATION NO. 09839 MANY THANKS TO THIS ISSUE’S CONTRIBUTORS EDITORIAL DISCLAIMER WANT TO SUBMIT ARTICLES NATURE ALBERTA DEADLINES ARE: The opinions expressed by the authors in this publication do not OR PHOTOS? SPRING ISSUE.FEBRUARY 14 necessarily refl ect those of the editor and the Federation of Alberta Naturalists. The editor reserves the right to edit, reject or withdraw GUIDELINES ARE AVAILABLE ISSUE.MAY 15 articles submitted. While due care will be taken of all manuscripts, photos ON THE FAN WEBSITE: FALL ISSUE.AUGUST 15 or artwork submitted, FAN cannot be held responsible for any loss or WWW.FANWEB.CA ISSUE.NOVEMBER 15 damage to such articles. 2 NatureAlberta

PRESIDENT’S PAGE Education & More BY SANDRA FOSS

I had an interesting experience when I went to Golden (BC) to look after my grandchildren for a week. I ended up going birding with 2 school classes.

The “guide” was a member of volunteer leads many school Naturalists and the Grasslands Wildsight, the East Kootenay class trips each spring. They also Naturalists that operate (in) a Environmental Society (the local have a “contest” for the school Nature Centre that do programs. natural history group). She leads children, and my grandson was Do any other Federation of many school fi eld trips, and the delighted to show me the bird Alberta Naturalists (FAN) clubs Society provides bird books as book he had received, because go into schools? well as high quality binoculars of the number of birds he had Take a child with you on your for each child and parent seen, and written up on his list. next walk or fi eld trip, and show volunteer. Wildsight has spent (Looking them up in the bird them something that they haven’t a couple of thousand dollars book, and writing out the names seen before - a bird or plant on equipment, and one keen was challenging for a nine year or frog or insect, or a track in old boy!) the . This year, the spiders We had gone in the seem to be around the exceptionally large!! Or count the neighbourhood spots on a ladybug! and out into Questions that I am often asked the Columbia are: “What is FAN?” and “What wetlands, but in does FAN do?” The main Golden, there objective of FAN is to encourage are many birds Albertans to increase their to be seen and knowledge of the natural history heard locally. I of the province. Local clubs wonder whether came together in 1970 to form any of our local a provincial organization that Alberta groups would provide a unifi ed voice do this with for naturalists on conservation local schools? I issues. Over time this has know we have evolved into a major role in clubs like the working with governments at all Red Deer River levels to ensure that legislation,

CHILDREN LEARNING ABOUT NATURE IS NATURE’S FUTURE; PHOTO FROM BIG LAKE ENVIRONMENT SUPPORT SOCIETY. DAVE BURKHART FALL 2007 3

regulation and policy refl ect the value of Alberta’s natural history. FAN’s educational mandate is accomplished in many ways. FAN publishes a variety of natural history books. Our educational projects include Living by Water (rural and urban programs), Citizen Science projects, bird and plant counts (coordination, data collection and data storage), maintaining and supporting various databases, and providing support and encouragement to natural history and other environmental groups. Mapping and various computer based projects support this goal too. GRIZZLY PHOTOS.COM FAN is in the process of establishing the Nature Alberta Foundation, to provide a more secure source of others. FAN also occasionally I cannot be re-elected. If you funding than we currently enjoy raises certain issues directly with are interested in helping FAN by (applying for various grants, on policy makers. FAN is highly volunteering for any of our jobs, a project by project basis). A regarded by industry with whom check out the recently revamped Young Naturalists program has we work in partnership on website (www.fanweb.ca) and been started in Red Deer and conservation projects and policy give the offi ce a call, or send an possibly soon will be offered review committees. email. (I think Dennis may have a note about this somewhere across the province. This magazine, Nature Alberta, is too!!) Our infl uence on policy is the voice of FAN, and we would accomplished by sitting on many like to hear more from you, from I hope you all had a wonderful government committees, like our member groups and anyone summer, and didn’t melt. It was the Species at Risk Conservation with interesting stories to tell, or too hot for me to hike until mid Committee, various Recovery pictures to share. August when the snow appeared up high, and temperatures teams ( Caribou, The FAN Board is recruiting, moderated somewhat. Grizzly Bear, Trumpeter Swan as well. We currently have no etc), and groups like the Prairie Vice President; my (3rd) term as Conservation Forum, the Alberta President is fi nished in April, and Conservation Association, and 4 NatureAlberta

EDITOR’S PAGE Grand Ol’ Nature BY DENNIS BARESCO

Nature is truly grand. There are dozens of other words that one could use to try to defi ne that which naturalists feel represents the natural world – words that can conjure up images, thoughts, feelings, emotions and memories.

That’s part of Nature Alberta’s instill hope and passion – hope Take a few minutes on the internet: vision: “celebrating our natural that all this natural grandness type in “What a Wonderful World” and heritage,” providing you - the will remain for generations go to YouTube to watch and listen reader - with a glimpse into the and a passionate urge to to Louis (the seriusandco segment is heart and soul of natural Alberta. assist in ensuring that hope is good) – it’s so very much better than fulfi lled. Because, though there the provincial government theme song Nature Alberta also gives you – are problems and issues and and video, “It’s an Exploitable World.” the naturalist – an opportunity damage, the solutions to share your nature experiences are not all that diffi cult. or to become immersed in the experiences of other naturalists. Nature needn’t be Last issue, Theodore Manno the whipping boy at shared his knowledge about the hands of greed, Columbian Ground Squirrels. corruption, lust, brutality and the vacuous In this issue’s feature story, the plodding so prevalent in nature tour includes a canoe politicians, bureaucrats, trip, with Don and Sean Gordon, industrialists and down the South Saskatchewan businessmen. All nature River (pg 18). Photographers needs is a determined John Warden and Rick Price let hope and passion – from you look through their viewfi nder naturalists. The result? (pg 25 and pg 31). John McFaul To quote Sam Cooke: again takes you to the heavens “ What a wonderful (pg 29). Bill Brown and Teresa world this would be ” Dolman walk you through Lethbridge’s Helen Schuler Coulee Then again, perhaps Centre (pg 10). As usual, your you would prefer Louis Editor guides you along a couple Armstrong’s more of nature’s paths (pgs 16 and 25). applicable “ What a Wonderful World ” The idea is to entertain, inform and/or stir naturalists’ memories. Perhaps a subtler message is to KEN & KATH KILCULLEN FALL 2007 5 Your letters commenting on any aspect of Nature Alberta or its articles are welcome! Email them to [email protected] mail/fax to addresses on pg 1, under “Contents”.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Visit to Enthusiastic I would like to say how glory. My continuing jaunt Backcountry absolutely thrilled I was to through Alberta was in Just wanted to let you know stumble across this rare beauty, university; I took as many how much I enjoy Nature Nature Alberta. I quite literally courses related to the Alberta – lots of interesting info stumbled across it. Earlier this geography of Alberta that I and great photos. year I was browsing through could. the Internet, querying about My husband and I just returned With all those memories stored nature, for the environmental from a little tour of the I had so wanted to capture school programs that I do Prairie Creek – Ram River Alberta, somehow. After with the Multicultural Heritage area. The last day we spent in exploring the site, I researched Centre in Stony . I was the Hummingbird Creek area, Nature Alberta magazine and I specifi cally looking for content and I must say I am somewhat subscribed to the magazine. I on Alberta and its geography. concerned about the heavy use then received your back issues of that area: random camping, My love of Alberta fi rst began and read them cover-to-cover; horses, quads, horses tied to in grade four, where I had and my wish to have Alberta trees despite signs requesting to write a letter to Alberta captured, somehow was not to. I realize people like Tourism. We had to ask for fulfi lled. That it’s a magazine to get out and enjoy the back specifi c information on the means I have new information country, but when I observed parks in Alberta. In the mail, almost every month. I am a young fellow hopping on his addressed just to me, was grateful that we have people quad to ride to the outhouse – I information on Head-Smashed- producing a magazine and wonder what he really thinks In Buffalo Jump and Writing- contributors writing, recording about the NATURE aspect. on-Stone; those pamphlets I and preserving its history. I I only hope all the horses treasured for many years and look forward to every issue. and quads we saw are using if I dig through my archives I just wish they were every designated trails!! It’s beautiful I probably would fi nd them. month. country – I enjoyed the unique My other enjoyment of Alberta SHARON C. MCGONIGAL (ALBERTA plants and birds in the area. I was our summer camping ENTHUSIAST!), STONY PLAIN AB just hope it doesn’t get spoiled trips revolving around “Stamp by over-use. Around Alberta”. My mom’s idea was to explore Alberta Keep up your good work! and get to know its wonders. LORNA E MCDONELL, SHERWOOD That year we took the Forestry PARK AB Trunk Trail in all its graveled 6 NatureAlberta

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Congrats Good Issue! Congratulations on Nature WOW...... New magazine is you could use more Letters Alberta, which fi nally arrived wonderful....fabulous covers...... to Editor space .... unless you today [July 17/07]. It’s interesting articles...haven’t had don’t get ‘more’....paper quality interesting, attractive and you’re time to read them all but will is wonderful.....your pronghorn already getting bouquets! be taking the issue to the lake stories interesting.....good issue! DAWN DICKINSON, MEDICINE HAT AB for sure ...... hope it is received JEAN VANWERT, MEDICINE HAT AB well in all quarters...... think Pronghorn and Coyotes I read with interest “Winter with them were the predators, the It continues to do so but the big Pronghorn on their Northernmost great elephant-eating bears, the predator now is man who has used Range“ by Bob Gainer, dire-wolves, the American lions dogs, poison, traps and gunfi re in Gainer, Rhonda Munns and Franc and cheetahs and earlier the great an effort to wipe it out. The wise Mes [Vol 34, # 4, Winter 2005], sabre-toothed cats. coyote was recognized by the American Indians of the southwest not only to be informed about The cause of the great extinction who referred to it, the little brother the diffi culties of the pronghorn is not clear but the pronghorn of the wolf, as “the trickster”. in the Hanna area but because of and coyote survived. They the history of the two principal survived presumably because they It is ironic that these two mammals species discussed. The pronghorn were adaptable and smart. The having survived so much are now and the coyote are two of the pronghorn is incredibly hardy. It is in confl ict in the Hanna area. The few signifi cant-sized mammals to also fast, far faster than it needs to pronghorn suffers from a serious have come through to us from the be to outrun anything current but reduction in available habitat. The great extinction that occurred at it had to outrun the cheetahs and coyote too is making its way in the end of the last ice age. Some it had to know when to run. It the modern world within a rapidly 10,000 years ago and earlier an was also adept at hiding its young changing environment. It is hoped impressive megafauna was present from the eagles that were possibly that we can accommodate them in . Great herds of their greatest predator. The coyote both in the years ahead. I tip my hat elephants, giant bison, camels, too lived in a very dangerous to them whenever our paths cross. I horses and an array of smaller environment having to eke out a know what they have been through. ungulates including the pronghorn living amongst the big predators. roamed the western . Along IAN HALLADAY, CALGARY AB

EDITOR’S NOTE: Just in case you think that Ian Halladay is VERY far behind in his reading, I have to tell you that this “Letter to the Editor” somehow got lost for two-plus years, but the topic is timeless, thus my decision to print it at this late date. Note that contact numbers for all MLAs, MPs and political parties FALL 2007 7 are easily available on their websites, should you wish to send a message. In Alberta: www.gov.ab.ca. For information on Oil sands: consultations: www.alberta.ca//acn/200707/ 21552.html#backgrounder

ALBERTA ISSUES IN BRIEF

Issues, Nature Alberta, and the New Fan Website “Nature Alberta: celebrating to properly discuss in a space informed about issues in which FAN is our natural heritage” is this as limited as “Alberta Issues in involved. It will also be a place where magazine’s vision. Part of that – Brief.” To the rescue comes you can discuss issues and be part of and certainly an important part www.fanweb.ca! the solution. The Issues section is of FAN’s mandate - is letting one of the many changes to the “new” The “Issues” section of www. naturalists know about issues www.fanweb.ca (see pg 33: “What’s fanweb.ca is growing and will be that impact nature. However, the Plone?”) Watch for it – check it an excellent resource for anyone many of those issues are diffi cult out! wishing to become better HOPE: One step More on CFB Suffi eld: closer! Just three years after Canada lightweight; little of substance is established a National Wildlife discussed or considered. A “no start” On June 20, the Government Area (NWA) at CFB Suffi eld, energy option for the project is summarily of Canada extended interim giant EnCana Corp’s proposal to dismissed, and only the vertical drill protection for a vast area of drill up to 1,275 shallow gas wells option is presented. boreal wilderness called Edéhzhíe and construct 220 km of new (the Horn Plateau), in Canada’s Nature Canada feels the EIS is pipeline threatens one of the last . seriously inadequate in all policy and remaining large intact pieces of legislation areas, such as the Migratory Edéhzhíe is rich in wildlife, mixed prairie in Canada. Bird Convention, Species at Risk including boreal songbirds, EnCana’s 2,000 page Environmental Act, and Wildlife Area regulations. migratory birds, Woodland Impact Statement (EIS) is very Grasslands Naturalists (GN) is of the Caribou and Moose. It is also an important source of water, and an area of great cultural importance to local First Nations people. Temporary protection has been extended to October 31, 2008, allowing more time to complete the studies needed to establish a National Wildlife Area to protect the site. Nature Canada’s goal is to secure permanent protection of the Edéhzhíe.

ACTIVE DUNES ARE JUST ONE OF THE DRAMATIC FEATURES OF THE NATIONAL WILDLIFE AREA. 8 NatureAlberta On the Covers:

FRONT COVER By Sean Gordon. The South Saskatchewan River is a ALBERTA ISSUES IN BRIEF wonderful mix of hoodoos, badlands, fl oodplains, and high cliffs, view that information that is must provide any additional with a plethora of grand vistas for artists, provided does not meet the information before it schedules photographers and adventurers. Sean and requirements of the Guidelines, public hearings. Don Gordon (son and father) recount the in terms of not providing story of their canoe trip in this issue’s Feature To read the questions and supporting information and/or Article (see pg 18). comments submitted, check substantiating conclusions. These the Canadian Environmental defi ciencies are so prevalent that Assessment (CEAR) website. INSIDE FRONT GN only points out the obvious Project #05-07-15620. If you are COVER ones. concerned about this project, By Rick Price. A The Alberta Wilderness and are a shareholder of EnCana, radio-collared Association, federal and please make them aware of your white Wolf, provincial governments, local concerns: EnCana Corporation, feeding on an Elk ranchers and the Siksika Nation 421-7th Ave SW , PO Box 2850 kill in the Maligne have submitted long lists of Calgary, Alberta, T2P 2S5 River, resulted in a picture-perfect setup for questions that the document Rick and Lucy Price. Jasper National Park is You could also express your does not address - like, why use where the Prices have taken a number of concerns to local and federal Wolf pictures. See pg 31 for more photos by non-native Crested Wheatgrass politicians and leaders. Check Rick. for reclamation? out the wonderful pictures and By John Warden. Little consideration is given descriptions of the area: “This photo was to the water issues that this http://www.army.gc.ca/Suffi eld/ taken in Jasper project will cause. EnCana English/backgrounder_dnd.asp National Park says all wetland buffers will be Department of National Defence on the 03 Jan respected - unless it impedes - National Wildlife Area CFB 2006, again with resource extraction. Later they a Canon 20D … Suffi eld tell us that up to 100 wetland I think [it was a] areas may be drilled or impinged www.ceaa-acee.gc.ca/ 17 - 85 mm. These two young rams had on in some manner. Canadian Environmental been butting heads playfully, then stopped Assessment Registry to nuzzle each other.” Turn to pg 23 to read FAN is continuing to work with John’s photo essay on Mountain Goats Nature Canada, Grasslands www.pnr-rpn.ec.gc.ca/nature/ Naturalists, whp/nwa/suffi eld/dd02s00. BACK COVER Group for the Environment, en.html By John Warden. Alberta Wilderness Association, Environment Canada - Canadian While Mountain and World Wildlife Fund Canada Forces Base Suffi eld National Goats are not on this issue. After reviewing Wildlife Area all that diffi cult to fi nd, getting the comments received and FAN’s website, www.fanweb. EnCana’s response, the Panel excellent pictures ca, will update the latest press is another thing. John took this shot will determine whether the EIS releases and news on the topic. is suffi cient or if the proponent along the Icefi eld Parkway. Check out his Mountain Goat story, and more photos, on page 23. FALL 2007 9

BOOK REVIEW

New book from FAN! The Atlas of Breeding Birds new of Alberta: A Second Look The Federation of Alberta Naturalists (FAN) published the original version (also referred to as Atlas 1) of The Altas of Breeding Birds of Alberta in 1992. The new 2007 update, The Altas of Breeding Birds of Available from FAN Books: Alberta, A Second Look (Atlas 2), is now available – $64.95. online (www.fanweb.ca) or traditional methods. and it’s a superb volume!

The data collected for both were newly confi rmed as breeders Long-tailed Jaeger, Barn Owl, Eurasian Atlases cover fi ve-year periods. in Alberta. Over 80,000 bird Collared-Dove, Wood Thrush, Hooded Information in Atlas 2 includes: observations were collected during Warbler, and Siberian Accentor. general distribution map, Bird Atlas which amounts to The Atlas of Breeding Birds of Alberta: A distribution change, habitat 470,000+ bird records. Second Look is fi lled with fascinating data preference charts, relative A number of rare bird species on provincial avian populations. It would occurrence and population were seen during the Atlas project. be safe to say that the book is a must for changes from Atlas 1 and 2, and Among those documented were those calling themselves birders or for provincial status. Some species Little Blue Heron, Common Eider, those with an interest in birds.

Where is the square Where is the square What species breeds trivia with highest number with the highest in the most number

of breeding species? number of species? of squares?

(Square VR37) - 135 - VR37) (Square 254 - QG05) 922 -

ANSWER: Lac La Biche Biche La Lac ANSWER: (Square Calgary ANSWER: Robin American ANSWER: 10 NatureAlberta

Lethbridge’s Helen Schuler Coulee Centre BY BILL BROWN AND TERESA DOLMAN Celebrates its 25th Anniversary

From June 6th to 9th, 2007, the Helen Schuler Coulee Centre, located in the 196-acre Lethbridge Nature Reserve, was the location of a celebration to mark twenty-fi ve years of operation.

Offi cially opened on June 6, 1982, some gravel work had created initiated a major facilities plan which the Centre was the result of years a somewhat uneven fl oodplain considered, amongst other things, a of work by a group of dedicated and the whole area was nature centre. citizens of Lethbridge and area dominated visually by the 100 In spring 1977, a committee was determined to have a focal meter (300 foot) high railway established to assist the City’s point from which to run nature bridge. Community Services Department in interpretive programs. The river was the site of developing proposals for the nature This citizen group had worked the original European settlement centre. The committee was composed since the late seventies to get in the late 19th century (at that of representatives from the Lethbridge a nature reserve in place and time the community was known Naturalists Society, Lethbridge volunteers were already taking as Coalbanks). The majority Community College, University of people on nature interpretive of homes were on the east Lethbridge, School District No. 51, walks along river valley trails. bank of the valley, but some School District No. 9 and a resource The area they used was part of were down in the valley itself. person from the Community Services the fl ood plain and However, several large fl ood Department. This committee grappled adjacent coulee lands bordered events between 1902 and 1953 with such issues as the purpose of the by the river, the CPR persuaded the citizens to remove centre, initial staffi ng requirements, Bridge and the old Highway 3 all the homes from the fl ood possible locations and cost estimates western access to the city. Along plain. A subsequent decision for construction and operation. The with native plants, animals and to extend the city to the west fi rm of Richard White Architects was land forms, this area had evidence across the river brought forth the given the job of designing the building of human activity and settlement. urgent question of what to do but, while designs were ready in a In one corner was the site of with the river and coulee area - short time, getting funding proved the fi rst Galt Coal Mine with its develop or preserve? After some diffi cult. In the end it was decided associated tailings pile and it was study City Council asked the to fund the building through various apparent that miners’ homes were Provincial Government in 1976 grants and provincial monies made once located there as well. The to declare the area a Restricted available to the City and the two shifting course of the river and Development Area. The City also School Boards, and all three allocated FALL 2007 11

HELEN SHULER COULEE CENTRE IN LETHBRIDGE AB. DOUGLAS DOLMAN

funds to the project, which was was used to purchase furnishings Interpretation Coordinator of the fi nally completed in 1981 and and reference books, assemble Centre, shared highlights and formally opened in June, 1982. It program materials, construct self- achievements from the last 25 years. is located on the old mine tailing guided nature trails and hire a Martin Howg, an elementary school pile partly to keep it above the naturalist for one year to get the teacher, discussed how the Centre’s 100-year fl ood level. (The site, by Centre up and running. On top hands-on, interpretive approach the way, was not high enough to of this were countless hours of supports and motivates outdoor prevent it from being inundated volunteer time that LNS members learning in his students. Bill Brown by the great 1995 fl ood.) gave to serving on committees gave a history of how the LNS and advising on programs. The helped get the Centre established. The Lethbridge Naturalists Society also suggested that the Society (LNS) maintained an Thursday evening recognized the Centre be named for one of their active interest in the Centre lasting contributions of Helen founding members, the late Helen throughout its development stage. Schuler - wife, mother, nurse, Schuler, an active naturalist and In 1976, the LNS was urging its educator and environmentalist. It conservationist who had been a members to write to City Council brought members of her family back prime mover in getting the Centre to preserve the river valley so to meet old friends and talk about project under way and inspired that “everyone can have a space those earlier times and living with others to get involved. to walk and breathe and enjoy Helen. The audience included older a natural prairie area” (LNS The Anniversary Celebration folk who had known the Schuler newsletter, September, 1976), and got underway the evening of family 25 years ago, as well as in 1977 it set up a River Valley Wednesday, June 6th, with guest younger people who learned about Committee to promote the cause. speakers. Sheila Buelow, Leisure the woman who did so much to get When it became clear that a Services Coordinator for the City the idea of a nature centre building nature centre was to be built, the of Lethbridge, detailed the City’s accepted and who was instrumental LNS raised close to $50,000 by role in working with community in founding the Lethbridge means of grants and donations members to develop the long Naturalists Society. (primarily from the Province term planning framework and Helen Schuler’s legacy lives on in of Alberta, from the Federation vision that would allow this the many volunteers and staff who of Alberta Naturalists and from Nature Centre to stand the test continue her work at the Centre. private donations). The money of time. Coreen Putman, Nature Friday evening was dedicated to 12 NatureAlberta

Lethbridge’s Helen Schuler Coulee Centre Celebrates its 25th Anniversary…continued

have been developed by the staff and volunteers. School Programs are in place to complement the elementary science curriculum, and Badge Programs allow guides and scouts to work toward nature-related badges. There are three drop-in programs devoted to children, of various age ranges. Sunday Nature Walks welcome people of all ages throughout the year and in the summer there are special walks on various park trails in the river valley, as well as a weekly nature theatre in a downtown amphitheatre. Adults are attracted to courses such as nature photography and bird or plant identifi cation. Throughout the year there are special events such as the Family Day Track Trek, Christmas Crafts and an annual Coulee Clean- Up. The list of programs and events is limited only by the knowledge and imagination of staff members, but COREEN PUTMAN WITH CHILDREN AT 25TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION. there is a decided emphasis on youth PHOTO COURTESY HSCC programs, an emphasis Helen Schuler would surely have approved. these individuals who, over The celebration wound up on the years, have worked on Saturday afternoon, when outdoor The Helen Schuler Coulee Centre is programs, operations, the activities for the public were a the focus for nature interpretation in advisory board and committees. demonstration of the Centre’s the City of Lethbridge. It began with In the years since the Centre role in educating the community a band of nature lovers who wished opened, approximately 650 about nature. Local organizations to share their love and knowledge local residents have volunteered displayed their areas of interest of nature with others. It evolved more than 50,000 hours to and provided hands-on activities into today’s building with its many the Centre. The success of the for youngsters. The most telling programs and it will continue into the Centre may well be attributed to feature was the keen involvement future. Plans are in hand to further these people. The mutual trust of both children and adults in the develop the interpretive potential of and respect established between many special events and displays the Centre to meet the ever-evolving volunteers and the professional that afternoon. needs of today’s society, and the staff was particularly noted Lethbridge Naturalists Society remains Over the years an impressive during the ceremonies. ready to offer help and guidance. number and range of programs FALL 2007 13

Lethbridge’s Helen Schuler Coulee Centre Celebrates its 25th Anniversary…continued

HELEN SCHULER (RIGHT) LEADING A LETHBRIDGE NATURALISTS SOCIETY FIELD TRIP, SUMMER 1970. ARVID SCHULTZ

Acknowledgments: We wish to thank Coreen Putman and If you are visiting Lethbridge, make one of your stops the Helen Schuler Jessica Deacon-Rogers at the Coulee Centre. Turn west into the river valley at the intersection of Helen Schuler Coulee Centre for Scenic Drive and 3rd Avenue South. At the bottom of the hill, turn right reviewing the manuscript and and follow the road to its end. The Centre is open September to May for providing photographs of from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (closed Mondays) and June to August every the Anniversary Celebration. We day from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Walk the trails, drop into the building also thank Arvid Schultz for the to look at the many exhibits and the feature display (it changes every photograph of Helen Schuler four months), and add your name to the more than 30,000 visitors who and Douglas Dolman for the come each year. As a bonus, admission is free! You can also learn about photograph of the Coulee Centre the Centre from its website, www.lethbridge.ca/hscc/. building.

Advertising in Nature Alberta

Nature Alberta is now accepting a limited number Full details, including rates of advertisements for future issues. Only ads that are and sizes, are available at: appropriate to FAN’s mandate and objectives will online: www.fanweb.ca be selected for publication. FAN feels that, besides email: [email protected] providing some revenue for the magazine, our readers phone: (780) 427 – 8124 will be provided with a valuable service.

Ad rates vary from $35 (business card size) to $249 (full page), X2 for colour. 14 NatureAlberta

BOOK REVIEW Ladybugs of Alberta Finding the Spots and Connecting the Dots REVIEW BY: SARAH MCPIKE

Not only does John Acorn’s most recent book, Ladybugs of Alberta, showcase some of Alberta’s most charismatic beetles, but it also draws by John Acorn. University attention (and question) to some of the issues at the forefront of of Alberta Press 2007. conservation today. Whichever of these reasons makes you pick up the book, you won’t be disappointed.

The fi eld guide aspects are relatively tiny but lovely beetles. fact an “alien”—the Seven-spot! appealing. If you spend any time The photographs will show you Enemy to all native ladybugs! outside looking at insect-life, details you couldn’t imagine. Or so I thought…John explores you’ll want to have Ladybugs the idea that perhaps the Through the conversational style of Alberta. Seventy fi ve species alarmist, battle-stations approach of writing, found in this book of ladybugs are documented to introduced species is not the and his previous efforts in this with illustrations, drawn by the only choice. Encouraging people series (Tiger Beetles of Alberta, author himself. The drawings are to not immediately consider Damselfl ies of Alberta), John found in both a gallery style, for change in the ecosystem as reveals his talent for making side-by-side comparison, and on damage to the ecosystem is part learning about nature fun. the description pages for each of the argument. Anyone with Particularly enjoyable are the species. an interest in conservation will rhyming couplets that accompany appreciate John’s “trying very For many of the ladybugs, more each species: “A wee tiny ladybug hard to follow my conscience than one “form” is shown, as feeding on mould, Loves life in and remain as scientifi cally self- there can be a fair amount of Alberta no matter how cold”, he honest as I can”, as he states in variability in a species. The writes of a small mildew-feeding the preface. provided range maps should beetle, the Wee-tiny Ladybug. help eliminate some possibilities Some of the couplets even have Beautiful beetles and provocative when identifying ladybugs political commentary: “Oregon philosophy—What more could (however one error was noticed ladybugs, in the national park/ you want from a fi eld guide?! regarding the polished ladybug Protected by wardens, keeping us which is described as not found in the dark”. in the southeast of Alberta (Sarah McPike, formerly a park interpreter The aspect of Ladybugs of Alberta despite multiple records in and at Police Point Park, has a passion for that will possibly surprise readers around Medicine Hat). Also insects – including butterfl ies and is John’s addressing of the issue found throughout are amazingly ladybugs, which has led her to continue of introduced wildlife. The most close-up photographs of these her studies this fall at U of A.) commonly found ladybug is in

*Take note: Ladybugs of Alberta, along with Tiger Beetles of Alberta and Damselfl ies of Alberta, are available at the FAN book store: www.fanweb.ca. You can buy all 3 for $69.95. FALL 2007 15

In Memoriam Colleen McCrory Ms McCrory was the founder of Colleen died in New Denver BC (in the Valhalla Wilderness Society the West Kootenays), Sunday July 1, and dedicated herself totally to at age 57. For more information on environmental protection in British Colleen McCrory and the Valhalla Columbia and around the globe. Wilderness Society, go to: www.vws. org She was, without question, one of Canada’s greatest “What was it that connected the environmentalists. “She was two sides of Colleen? What but that Word of the passing of extremely courageous,” said the fi erceness of her battles had love Colleen McCrory, has her friend, Anne Sherrod. as its secret source? — love for the shocked and saddened “Colleen understood that as an undefended, for the people, animals Canada’s – and the world’s environmentalist her role was and trees trampled in the name of not to be comfortable or to be resource exploitation; and for the - environmental activist liked. Her allegiance was to the principles of service to the public community. environment and she would interest that made her a fi erce enemy defend her principles no matter of those who betrayed them?” what the cost was to herself, and Anne Sherrod, from the Valhalla Wilderness she did pay a huge cost.” Society website.

Peter Butala The result is the 5,300 hectare author Sharon Butala, began to (13,100 acres) Old Man on search out ways to keep it natural, A life-long rancher, Peter his Back Prairie and Heritage culminating – after much diffi culty - Conservation Area, which is in his 1996 deal with NCC. Butala did more than just surrounded by a huge swath of The result is a stunning example of talk about preserving native native prairie crown land (80,000 – which, since 2003, has plus hectares). ranchland; he actually did had a herd of Plains Bison once it through his ranching Mr Butala, named by Time again roaming freely. Old Man methods and by donating Magazine in 1994 as a “Canadian on his Back, in SW Saskatchewan both deed and lease land, to Hero,” had a passionate belief in near Eastend, is well worth a visit protecting grassland. Fearful of – and a tribute to a man of true the Nature Conservancy of what might happen to his ranch vision. Mr Butala passed away on Canada (NCC). after retirement, he and his wife, August 9, 2007 16 NatureAlberta

Wildlife! Starring…

TIGER SALAMANDERS APPEAR TO HAVE A Tiger Salamander PERMANENT “SMILE”! SAN FRANCISCO ZOO BY DENNIS BARESCO WWW.SFZOO.ORG

The Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum) is not particularily secretive; however, since it’s mostly nocturnal, somewhat sluggish, spends most of its time under something (logs, debris, ground) or in sloughy waters, does not vocalize, and is reasonably camoufl aged, it tends to escape notice. But, if you have ever watched or held one, the experience tends to stay with you.

One thing is certain: you will throughout the central and remain in the water, though they not confuse this amphibian with southern half of Alberta, still grow and reach maturity. any other animal. A half-moon except where the elevation This strategy may be a response head, small eyes, squat body, is above 2,800m. There’s to harsh conditions (eg., large size (between 14 and 20 also an isolated population ) on land – though how cm long, half of which is tail), near Grande Prairie. Best they know those conditions, chubby little “lizard legs”, and time to observe: early Spring considering that they’re not “out unusual blotchy striping, Tiger in ponds, marshes or lakes, there” is best left to scientifi c Salamanders are the classic “so which is when they emerge speculation or a response from a ugly, they’re cute” creatures. from their burrows to breed. reader. Tiger Salamanders can be The eggs hatch in 3-4 weeks; Tiger Salamanders are not fussy found, usually close to water, over the next 3-4 months, eaters. They will eat insects, the gilled larvae develop and then metamorphose into adult salamanders. At “It looks like a lizard and feels like a frog.” least, most of them Perhaps no other defi nition sums up a salamander do. In a process quite so well. In fact, the word salamander comes called neotony, some from a Greek word meaning lizard-like animal.” may simply stay in AB Sustainable Resource Development website the larvae stage and

SALAMANDERS SAN FRANCISCO ZOO WWW.SFZOO.ORG FALL 2007 17

Wildlife! Starring… Tiger Salamander… continued

TIGER SALAMANDER PHOTOS.COM

worms, invertebrates of any to Alberta Sustainable Resource appears that the only use kind, fi sh, small vertebrates and Development (SRD), is thought humans have for them is as live even other salamanders. to be “healthy and widespread”. bait (one of the more repulsive They are harmless, gentle habits of fi shermen!); this has led Though Tiger Salamanders creatures, which may help to salamanders being introduced are endangered in B.C. and explain why they can live to in areas where they are not extirpated from Ontario, the be over fi fteen years old. It normally found. Alberta population, according Info from: SRD website; The Amphibians and Reptiles of Alberta (Russell and Bauer, 1993)

PARKS FOR TOMORROW 2008: CALL FOR PAPERS

The Departments for Geography, History, and the Faculty of Environmental Design at the University of Calgary are pleased For details: to invite paper proposals for “Canadian Parks for Tomorrow www.parks4tomorrow.ucalgary.ca; 2008”. Submissions are strongly encouraged from interdisciplinary or email: [email protected]. backgrounds that address conservation and management issues The conference on Parks and from different angles, including -but not limited to- geography, Protected Areas will be held environmental sciences, political science, biology, sociology, history, May 8 – 13 2008 in Calgary. economics and law. Submissions are due December 17, 2007.

ANSWERS TO CROSSWORD PUZZLE #2 (IN THE SUMMER NATURE ALBERTA)

ACROSS DOWN 1. FORSTER 13. ADDERS 1. FLIER 9. BIRDBRAINS 4. MENSA 15. CRETACEOUS 2. ROCK DOVE 11. DEVONIAN 7. INCA 18. TARSIERS 3. RELICT 12. NUNATAK 8. CLASSIFY 19. KIWI 4. MASKED DUCK 14. STERNA 10. RED BIRCHES 20. KITES 5. NAIL 16. 12. NEVADA 21. ACCENTS 6. AGYNOUS 17. GRIT 18 NatureAlberta

FEATURE ARTICLE South Saskatchewan River Trip 2007 PART 1 BY SEAN GORDON AND DON GORDON

We had an early start on day 1 (June 24, 2007), having stayed in Taber the night before. That made for an easy fi rst day, as we only planned for 18 km, or to the end of Reach One.

The maps we used for planning and I would say vital if you are water, roughly following each of this trip and on the water were planning a canoe trip on it. It is the Reaches set out there. We also from a book called Prairie available through the Federation took a copy along with us, and it River, by Dawn Dickinson and of Alberta Naturalists (www. enhanced our experience greatly. Dennis Baresco (illustrated by fanweb.ca). The weather on the fi rst day was Garry Newton)1. This book We expanded the maps in perfect for river canoeing, partly is an invaluable reference for the book and laminated them overcast with a little wind. The start the South Saskatchewan River, for ease of reference on the of a river trip is always something special, and I was really happy when we got on the water. SHOWY MILKWEED (ASCLEPIAS SPECIOSA): ONE OF OUR MOST BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS. SEAN AND DON GORDON Almost immediately, we started seeing wildlife. We spotted a healthy-looking Coyote paralleling our course, running along the top of the bluffs. He went a couple hundred meters before heading up top. I can’t believe how green the hills all are. I’ve done a lot of camping in Southern Alberta and I’ve never seen it so green. Clearly, there’s been a lot of .

1 Prairie River divides stretches of the river into “Reaches”; Reach 1 starts where the South Saskatchewan River is formed (by the merging of the Bow and Oldman Rivers) at “The Grand Forks,” north of Grassy Lake., and runs for 18km to Cherry Coulee. FALL 2007 19

SEAN AND DON GORDON

I think that Dad and I both dinner and by the end of the canoe (it always packs better on the thought the same thing: this is trip, supper usually consists of second day after we have the gear going to be a good trip. a couple of handfuls of trail mix sorted out a little better). It was and a few sips of water. still partly overcast, only the wind We set up camp 1 about half a had picked up signifi cantly. kilometer upstream of the hwy Not being entirely sure of the 879 bridge. There were a couple weather, we used our standard Our fi rst break was on an island, of absolutely gigantic Plains set up: tarp pegged to the with clam shells Cottonwoods, underneath which ground on one side of the tent, scattered all around. Fresh water we set up; they had to be 200+ and fully deployed out with clams?! This is the fi rst time either years if they were a day. One in poles, giving us a substantial of us had seen them on a river particular had a trunk that was covered area to work under. canoe trip. Quite interesting2. It easily 2 m across at the base! However, we quickly discovered never fails to amaze me how Also lots of driftwood, likely that the eyelets in a $75 tarp are each river has its own quirks brought downstream during the no better than a $20 one, as we and personality. I’ve canoed the ’95 fl ood. That gave us wood to managed to punch out a couple southern reaches of the Red Deer cook up the steaks. We always over the course of the fi rst night. down to , start a trip with steak and a nice which is close to the same area as On the wildlife front, aside from bottle of wine. Not only is it the South Saskatchewan, but this is the Coyote, we saw both Mule nice to have such luxuries out still a new experience. While on and White-tailed Deer. The deer in the bush, it’s important to the island I managed to get a good population is clearly very high get some calories, as we burn shot with my Nikon looking back along the river at this time, as we so many during the day, and upstream with the canoe in the saw deer every day of the trip. our appetites always drop away foreground. to nothing over the course of On day 2, we broke camp, At km 24, we saw a White-tailed things. We start with a big steak hauled gear, and packed the Deer on an island right across from

2 There are about 43 species of Molluscs in southeastern Alberta, including 19 clams. Except for two large species, they are small, “fi ngernail” clams, 2.5 cm or smaller. The species referred to is the Fat Mucket Clam – the river’s only pearly mussel - which can grow to 15 cm, and is hugely abundant. 20 NatureAlberta

South Saskatchewan River Trip 2007…continued

a gravel operation. At km 30, just the gear and the obligatory huge storm we were half expecting, upstream of a big ranch/farm, we post-haul beer, we set up the came up, and we took refuge in the spotted our fi rst Bald Eagle (fi rst tent. By this time the wind was tent. That was easily the worst storm of many). Then, approximately really up and we had to peg the I have ever weathered while camping. a kilometre downstream of that tent prior to putting the fl y on. The winds were absolutely howling, same ranch, we spotted a Red- Once that was done, the wind easily gusting past 50 km/h, and the tailed Hawk that was being was still increasing, to the point rain lashed down like crazy. However, harassed by some psychotically that there were whitecaps on the secure in our tent under the tarp, it was aggressive Eastern Kingbirds. river. It was readily apparent that kind of cozy. Presumably the hawk was something was on the way, so we Cozy that is, until the storm abated a threatening their nests for them to brought the gear close to the tent, little, and Dad got out of the tent for be going after it with that kind of spread out the tarp, and pegged a smoke. We discovered that what zeal3. It was quite entertaining. it right to the ground, covering had been a dry streambed near our the tent as well (I called it a “tarp The nice partially cloudy weather camp, was no longer dry. The main igloo”). lasted for the day; however the fl ow of water was going away from us, wind defi nitely picked up as the After that we relaxed some more but there was a small stream that was day went on. Fortunately, it was under the cottonwoods, while diverting in our direction. Fortunately, behind us, so we made better time watching the birds. We spotted out of sheer luck, we happened to set than expected. We found another a Baltimore Oriole (camp 2, km up camp on a slight rise; however, the great campsite under some big 52) fl ying by. However, our water was coming up at an alarming cottonwoods, and after hauling reverie did not last long, as the rate, to the point where we could see it creeping closer and closer from inside the tent. We were making contingency A BONAPARTE GULL SKIMS ALONG THE SURFACE OF THE RIVER. SEAN AND DON GORDON plans in the event we were going to have to do a middle of the night take- down with water fl owing through the tent, when the storm fi nally passed. Our campsite was now a small island, surrounded by standing water, but everything stayed nice and dry. Day 3 dawned clear and sunny. I remember the smell of sage and earth on the breeze blowing off the terrace after the storm the night before. We

3 Eastern Kingbirds have earned their Latin name, Tyrannus tyrannus! Like their cousins, Western Kingbirds (whose name, Tyrannus verticalis, is even more appropriate), they seem to think that their territory extends considerable distance skyward, and will attack any raptor that even unsuspectingly wanders over. FALL 2007 21

HOODOOS STAND TALL, LIKE MAGNIFICENT STATUES. SEAN AND DON GORDON

got on the river nice and early, to out with a caterpillar. It made tail slapped and submerged when it take advantage of cooler morning for a level, and most importantly saw us. dry, campsite. After hauling temperatures. This day saw Day 4. We were planning on gear and setting up, we spotted us pass through more of those camping upstream of Medicine Hat another Baltimore Oriole. There beautiful rolling hills that I like this day, prior to meeting Dennis was a nice prairie terrace up so much in Southern Alberta. We Baresco the next morning for re- behind our campsite, so I went spotted lots of wildlife this day, supply. At km 79 we spotted a for a short hike and took some seeing a Merlin at km 62 and a burning coal seam about halfway up pictures. I spotted a White- pair of Long-billed Curlews at km the cliff face. That’s another fi rst for tailed Deer straight off, or more 69, who were clearly annoyed us. I’ve seen the rusty-red remains appropriately, we spotted each with us for being too close to of coal seam fi res on river banks other simultaneously. We both their nest. We also spotted many times, but have never seen one froze, but I managed to do a fast another Bald Eagle at km 71, near burning before4. an old farm house. lens switch on my Nikon and got a couple of nice shots with my It was another hot sunny day, and We made camp 3 at km 74 in an 300 mm lens. There were some soon became frustrating, as we area that was virtually identical to nice fl owering cacti around. Later reached the end of our planned camp 2 (complete with dry stream on that evening, I went back up mileage for the day, and couldn’t fi nd bed). However, not wanting to there and managed to get some a good campsite/take out point. One tempt fate, we made our camp shots of a Nighthawk out getting thing we noticed very quickly on the higher up, on the top of some insects. Also in camp, we saw a South Saskatchewan was the quantity gravel that someone had pushed Beaver come fl oating by, but it of silt on the banks. It made for very

4 Coal seam fi res are almost impossible to put out, and some of them have been burning for decades. 22 NatureAlberta

South Saskatchewan River Trip 2007…continued

muddy business getting in and out decision to pull double distance us. We arranged to meet at of the boat, and made it virtually and go through the city a day Strathcona Island Park. impossible to haul gear at times. early. This meant taking a bit Medicine Hat is a nice place as Therefore, we got in the habit of of a risk of not being able to far as that goes, but I have to taking out on gravel when we easily re-supply, as Dennis say that I hate canoeing through could fi nd it. It was harder on the wasn’t expecting us until the urban areas. When we did the canoe, but much easier on us. next morning. But under the last summer, circumstances, we didn’t have As the day drew on, we saw the we went 5 days without seeing much choice. I managed to Trans Canada Highway and knew another human being, and that make contact with Dennis with that we were close to Medicine suited me just fi ne. I couldn’t my cell phone and fortunately Hat, but a campsite was not wait to get out of the city. he was able to accommodate materializing, so we made the NEXT ISSUE: The Gordons head into the wildest, most dramatic parts of the South Saskatchewan River! SEAN AND DON GORDON FALL 2007 23

Close to Home: Nature Photography in Alberta BY JOHN WARDEN

John Warden has been involved in fi lm and digital photography for over 30 years. He is a resident of AB; his photographs have appeared in publications with the Alberta Heritage Tree Project, and the Big Lake Environmental Support Society. Says John: “I love the zen-like experience of using photography as a tool to become part of a moment in time and place.”

Mountain Goats of the Icefi eld Parkway Mountain Goats have the oldest trees. The highway continues eyes in nature. Their eyes are big west to Saskatchewan River and brown, like those of many Crossing and the intersection other animals, but the eyes of with the spectacular Icefi eld an adult mountain goat seem Parkway. This backbone ridge to speak of ageless experience. of road is the home of mountain It is as if from their haunts in goats, and the parkway has the craggy spires of the Rocky two reliable locations for Mountains they have seen all photographing them. things come and go, yet they Just a few minutes north of the remain, shaggy white sages. Icefi elds Centre on Highway I like to drive the loop from 93, the road climbs up to a Sherwood Park, going south to gorgeous viewpoint on Tangle Red Deer and then pick up the Ridge. Below the viewpoint is David Thompson Highway at Sunwapta Canyon, Tangle Falls Rocky Mountain House. I saw and on the day I was there, two wolves cross the highway this mountain goats. year, just west of Rocky Mountain There are opportunities for House, but they were too quick close up ‘portrait’ shots and the for photos. Along that route, spectacular scenery provides Windy Point and Whirlpool Point a contextual background for are favourite stops to photograph mountain goats in their natural and walk amongst ancient pine

JOHN WARDEN 24 NatureAlberta

Close to Home: Nature Photography in Alberta… continued

JOHN WARDEN

habitat. I spent three hours there that serene, accepting ‘connection’, as with a group of about 8 mountain they look back is a check mark on my Lessons Learned: goats including one ‘kid’. life list. The experience was a ‘zen’ thing. The photography was almost an I leave at 1:30 in the morning About 60 km further north is intrusion on the moment. from Edmonton in order to be in the second reliable location, the mountains along the David the viewpoint at the Kerkeslin There are additional opportunities Thompson Highway for dawn Goat Lick near the signpost for nature photography all along the light. I like to bring a bag lunch for Mount Kerkeslin. I found parkway, including and supper with me so I can Mountain Goats on both sides of and . There were sit on a rock somewhere and the highway leading up to the reports of Grizzly Bears along the breathe in the mountain air as I viewpoint, but the best shots I parkway this year and of course there eat. If you are traveling the David got were up from the road on are always Elk and Bighorn Sheep Thompson Highway, be sure to the ridge above the Athabasca when you leave the parkway at get gas at every opportunity as River. I spent a couple of hours Jasper. the David Thompson Resort and with a mother goat and her baby People come from all over the globe Saskatchewan River Crossing are who were resting in the shade of to drive the world-renowned Icefi eld usually closed off-season and it’s a mid-day in tree-dappled sunlight. Parkway, but for us here in Alberta, long way to Jasper. Looking into the ancient eyes of a it’s ‘close to home’. Mountain Goat and experiencing

“Politicians are like diapers: They should be changed often…and for the same reasons”. TOM DOBBS (ROBIN WILLIAMS) IN THE MOVIE “MAN OF THE YEAR” FALL 2007 25

First Hand: Alert! Animals at Play BY DENNIS BARESCO

Of the many thrilling observations in nature, watching wild animals play has to be in the top ten.

Pronghorn, of course, are well line and - Wheeeee! – do it center of the walk was a Nuttall’s known for playing with cars (see again…and again…and again. Cottontail and a Long-tailed Nature Alberta, Summer 2007, Occasionally, she’d rest for a Weasel. The highly effi cient “Pronghorn: Start your Engines”). minute or so, then – Wheeeee! predator going after fairly large Anyone who has spent any time – she would go again. We both prey? Apparently not. outdoors has probably been agreed that she gave a great big As I watched amazed, the weasel fortunate enough to behold grin with every slide. would chase the rabbit in tight animals at play. Another time, I was attracted little circles, never going off the A woman once phoned the by some odd movement on the walk. Then, the rabbit would Police Point Park Nature Centre paved trail about 100 ft (30m) chase the weasel. Then, weasel- and said she had a hummingbird from the Nature Centre. Out rabbit – then rabbit-weasel. in her back yard behaving oddly; I went to investigate. In the Back and forth they went. would I come and see it? Since naturalists are always eager FOX KITS ARE WELL KNOWN FOR THEIR PLAYFUL ANTICS! RICK PRICE to escape routine and witness what nature has to offer, I didn’t hesitate and was knocking on her door within the half-hour. At the edge of the patio was a stand of sorts with a thin plastic tube – about 2ft (60cm) long - bent on the diagonal. There it was: a Ruby-throated Hummingbird, having a whirling good time! She would land at the top of the tube, then loosen her grip slightly and – Wheeeee!- slide sideways down the tube. Just before reaching the bottom, she’d fl y back to the starting 26 NatureAlberta

First Hand: Alert! Animals at Play…continued

They did a lot of leaping and Then there was the cat and the competition! They took turns doing leap-frogging, too. Suddenly, fox. Again, my attention was this for the longest time. Eventually, a mouse ran across the walk attracted by odd movement, perhaps worn out from the fun, they right behind them, and into the though this time on a hillside sat looking at each other for a bit, thick chokecherry shrubbery! about 500ft (150m) away. The then turned and went their separate The weasel bolted after it, site was Spring Valley Guest ways: the cat walking slowly back disappearing. With the game Ranch near Ravenscrag. The toward the barn, the fox jogging interrupted, the rabbit sat waiting farm tomcat – big and mean- lightly along the hillside. in the center of the walk. Less looking – was face to face with Apparently, this was a fairly common than sixty seconds went by, then a Red Fox. Abruptly, the fox occurrence – just two friends getting out popped the weasel and on chased the cat, which twisted together for a game of…whatever went the chase. However, the and turned in an attempt to they might call it. interruption must have caused escape. But, just as abruptly, some of the excitement to go out they both stopped – and then Those are three fascinating of the game for them, because the cat chased the fox, which experiences I’ve been fortunate after only a minute or so, they twisted and turned to escape. enough to behold fi rst hand. Stay stopped and each casually went Neither touched the other – sort alert, naturalists; there are many, their respective ways. of a non-contact Formula One many more animals at play out there!

For another story of play, see “Strange and supremely fascinating”: President’s Page, Alberta Naturalist, Vol 32, #2. 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.

SPECIES WATCHDOGS: Calling all naturalists!

Implementation of the We need to make sure that the government’s recovery strategies federal Species at Risk Act include the identifi cation of each species’ critical habitat – and we cannot review them all alone! We need volunteers to become a (SARA) is reaching a critical Species Watchdog for each of the listed species for which federal moment: Over the next recovery strategies are due. You can review the list of species in need of a watchdog at: http://www.sararegistry.gc.ca/plans/timelines_e.cfm few weeks, the government will be releasing recovery Contact Nature Canada to volunteer your strategies for nearly 200 care and knowledge for monitoring legal endangered species. We need protection of a listed your help to review these species! Contact Carla Sbert or call strategies! 1-800-267-4088 ext. 222. FALL 2007 27 nuggets Send your NNuggetsuggets to [email protected].

URBAN BADGER DESPERATE SWALLOWS BY DENNIS BARESCO BY CAROL PORTER Your Editor has seen animals in “Well, we have a fi rst on our [Eagle Butte unusual places, but a Badger Mountain Bluebird] trail! The doubled in my yard – only a few blocks boxes at E6a and E6b are about 25 feet from downtown Medicine Hat apart and each box has Tree Swallows in - on August 12 was one of the it. As we drove up today, swallow heads strangest. On the small side, it peeked out of both boxes. At E6b, the was likely a female. When she female fl ew from the box and we found saw me, she crouched down, but 6 warm Tree Swallow eggs. On opening was not all that spooked. After E6a, we found a female Tree Swallow and a minute or so, she did a detour 5 good sized young. We know that there around me, left my yard, crossed have been more Tree Swallows this year DESPERATE SWALLOWS. PHOTO FROM NATURESCAPE the avenue, and headed down and they have been very aggressive. It the sidewalk. I later learned that looks like they must be desperate as well. she’d been sitting for a spell on the front step of a house down the street – watching the world YELLOW LADY’S-SLIPPER ORCHID go by. BY SHARON C. MCGONIGAL On the inside cover of the Spring BARK-LOVING SQUIRREL? 2007 issue of Nature Alberta is BY SANDRA FOSS the Yellow Lady’s-Slipper Orchid “I am watching a squirrel up a (Cypripedium parvifl orum). Even poplar tree in my neighbour’s though sixteen species of orchid yard. It seems to be peeling the are found in the Wagner Natural DAWN HALL bark off a dead branch, and Area (located west of Edmonton throwing the pieces of bark on on Highway 16), this was chosen the ground. Does anyone know as the emblem of the Natural Area, burst and scatter on the wind. anything about squirrel behaviour, because of its “beauty and relative These seeds carry no food reserves or what or why it might be doing abundance.” (pg. 20 Marl Pond and are dependent on an external that...... It looks like it is going up Trail Guide, Post 26). source for nutrition. If any survive and down this big dead branch, Orchids are considered as one of the landing, they form a bond so the branch has signifi cant bald the most evolved fl owering plants, with mycorrhizal fungi below the spots now!! I have seen them but need specialized and ideal ground. Some can grow from seed throw bunches of cones down, growing requirements. Once they to fl ower in two years; others take then they go and gather the are pollinated by fl ying insects or up to 7 -10 years. bunches up, for winter food ..... birds, it can take some species of but this is dead bark. SOURCES: Orchid Society of Royal orchids up to 450 days to produce Botanical Gardens; Orchid Species “My thought is that it was seed pods; and then when ready Preservation Foundation; The Wagner gathering material for a nest, the tiny, almost invisible seeds Natural Area Website and Marl Pond Guide. but the pile of bark is still sitting on the ground! The squirrel was very systematic about peeling the bark.. Anyone have any answers?” 28 NatureAlberta Autumn is a season followed immediately by looking forward to spring. DOUG LARSON

The 2007 Fall Equinox offi cially starts Sept 23, at 3:51 am MDT and lasts It’s Autumn! until the Winter Solstice, Dec 21 at 9:08 pm MST. BY DENNIS BARESCO

According to Wikipedia, the word “Autumn” - from the French autompne - became common October’s Party only in the 16th Century. Before that, the season October gave a party; was called “harvest,” as might be expected in the Autumn is a The leaves by hundreds came - mostly agrarian culture of the times. Fall (which The Chestnuts, Oaks, and Maples, means exactly the same thing) is mostly a North second spring And leaves of every name. American term. when every leaf The Sunshine spread a carpet, Fall is more than just the time of migration. is a fl ower. And everything was grand, There may be nothing in any season that matches the splendid smell of burning leaves! Fall is ALBERT CAMUS Miss Weather led the dancing, a time when we wait for Indian summer, the Professor Wind the band. mosquitoes are gone, but the wasps are hyped GEORGE COOPER and angry with too much sugar. The stifl ing heat is gone and the numbing cold has yet to come. Ah yes, as P. D. James wrote: Gathering Leaves Spades take up leaves Those perfect English autumnal days No better than spoons, which occur more frequently in And bags full of leaves memory than in life. Are light as balloons. ROBERT FROST For man, autumn is a time of harvest, TUNDRA SWANS MIGRATE OVER ALBERTA EACH FALL, MOST OF THEM ON THEIR WAY TO THE WASHINGTON- CALIFORNIA COAST. RICK PRICE of gathering together. For nature, it is a time of sowing, of scattering abroad. EDWIN WAY TEALE FALL 2007 29

CELESTIAL HAPPENINGS Starry Nights Fall/Winter (November to January) BY JOHN MCFAUL FEATURED CONSTELLATIONS – CASSIOPEIA, ANDROMEDA, AND PERSEUS Perhaps the most prominent of Looking toward Perseus we are square are two parallel strings of stars this group is the constellation looking opposite to the centre of extending back to Perseus. This is the Cassiopeia. It is the w or m our galaxy out to an outer spiral constellation Andromeda. If you look grouping of stars found above arm. To appreciate what our galaxy a little above the second set of stars and to the right of Polaris at this looks like from a distance, we shall from the corner of Pegasus with a pair time of year. Cassiopeia was the go to the constellation Andromeda of binoculars you will see a small fuzzy queen of ancient Ethiopia. She to view the great Andromeda patch of light which is the Andromeda bragged one day that she and her galaxy. Galaxy. daughter, Andromeda, were more To fi nd the Andromeda galaxy it is This galaxy is similar to our galaxy beautiful than the sea nymphs. best to look for the Great Square and is about 2.2 million light-years This enraged the sea nymphs who of Pegasus which is found to the away. Thus the light you see has taken asked Poseidon, the god of the sea, right of Perseus. It represents 2.2 million years to reach your eyes. to avenge this boasting. He sent the body of the fl ying horse. It Note: A light year is the distance that Cetus, the sea monster, to ravage consists of four moderately bright light, traveling at about 300,000 km the coast. stars, fairly far apart, that form a per second travels in one year. This King Cepheus was told by an square or diamond shape in the amounts to about 9 trillion km. The oracle that the only way that he eastern sky at this time of year. Andromeda galaxy is the furthest object could save his land and people From the north-west corner of this that we can see with our naked eyes. was to sacrifi ce his daughter, Andromeda, to Cetus. Thus he CELESTIAL HAPPENINGS chained poor Andromeda to the rocks by the sea to await her fate. Sun: Rise - Nov.1 (08:33 MDT), Dec. 1 (08:27 MST), Jan. 1 (08:50 MST) However, just in the nick of time, Set - Nov. 1 (18:01 MDT), Dec. 1 (4:18 MST), Jan. 1 (16:24 MST) the hero Perseus, who happened Note: Times are for Edmonton. to be fl ying by on the winged Moon: Full - Nov. 24th, Dec. 23rd, Jan. 22nd horse Pegasus, saw the helpless New - Nov. 9th, Dec. 9th, Jan. 8th Andromeda and was immediately smitten by her beauty. He Planets: Mercury can be seen low in the south eastern sky in the pre-dawn hours of confronted Cetus and turned the November 8th and above the western horizon after sunset during the third week monster to stone by showing it the of January. head of the Medusa. He thus saved Venus is located above the eastern horizon in the mornings of November to early the kingdom and gained the hand January. of Andromeda. Mars will be a bright red light in the constellation Gemini, high above the The constellation of Perseus horizon during the late evening hours in December. consists of a line of stars below Jupiter lies low above the western horizon in November. By mid December it and to the north-east of Cassiopeia. Both of these constellations are will set before darkness falls. found within the Milky Way. This Saturn is to be found above Venus in the morning skies of November. It continues is the band of light across the night as a morning object in the Constellation Leo throughout December and January. sky made up of the combined Meteor Shower: Watch for the Leonids on November 17th and the Geminids on light of millions of stars that lie December 14th. along the plane of our galaxy. The rate of meteors observed is for dark skies well away from city lights and with no Moon. 30 NatureAlberta

NEWTON’S OCCASIONALLY CRYPTIC CROSSWORD! #3 Time for the third crossword. Check the answers for #2 on page 17. Yet again, your nature knowledge is up against creator Garry Newton’s sly wit and cryptic mind.

ACROSS DOWN 1. A shorebird rarely seen in SE Alberta, though not in winter (2 2. This girl is almost average (5) words: 5, 6 letters) 3. No bird has one (4) 9. This gland may help when you are terrifi ed (7) 4. Spanish carrier pigeon? Delivering one more letter to the great 10. It’s good, and Christmas brings it (5) observatory in California? (6) 11. Amphibian (4) 5. Favourable juncture of circumstances (8) 12. All kinds of muck from a smokestack (8) 6. Often a useful circular fi eld-mark for the birder (3-4) 14. Cut it out! (6) 7. African invader of the Western Hemisphere (6, 5) 16. Half-baked (6) 8. FeS2, which a fool may over-value (4,7) 18. Looks like an owl (8) 13. What the rock climber should do to the mountain (6, 2) 19. Indonesian island (4) 15. Used to enforce the prohibition against corvids? (7) 22. Fit in securely (5) 17. Hematite is this kind of oxide (6) 23. Diagnostic feature of Sphyrapicus nuchalis (3, 4) 20. Once more (5) 24. These birds enjoy the sun more than any other (6, 5) 21. Bounding line (4)

Answers will be in the Winter issue – lots of time to get them all! “AAAR-RROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO” RICK PRICE FALL 2007 31

Photo Experiences BY RICK PRICE

My wife Lucy and I have always enjoyed the outdoors. Both of us love animals, so when we were looking for something to entertain us – now that the children have grown, we came up with nature photography.

With the digital age upon us, we and nursing for the fi rst time, These mistakes were also part of the purchased a couple of digital also at Waterton. Red-breasted learning, but ones we shall not repeat. cameras and things just grew Mergansers doing their mating In summary, we can honestly say the rapidly from there. ritual on Reesor Lake at Cypress focus of the camera has made us focus Hills Provincial Park. And many, The learning curve is still very steep more on nature, and it’s been a great many more sightings thrilled us. but very enjoyable. We soon found experience so far. We are sure we that the quest for good photos was But most thrilling of all was have many more exciting experiences also forcing us to learn things about having a Grey Wolf in Jasper, to come in the magnifi cent Alberta the creatures we were pursuing near Sunwapta Falls, howl when outdoors. and that, by having the patience to he was only 15 meters away and observe these creatures, we were another of the pack approach to picking up knowledge of their within 3 meters; the shivers and habits and traits. goose bumps came immediately. A BULL MOOSE STANDS HIS GROUND AT REESOR It was an amazing experience! During this learning experience we LAKE, RICK PRICE have been witness to some things There have been that have thrilled us immensely. some mistakes We have seen Grey Wolves feeding made also – like on a fresh Elk kill in the Maligne approaching an Elk River at Jasper National Park (see herd too closely inside front cover). Watched as a during the rut and den of Red Fox pups played and having to do a ate only feet away from us near dance around a tree Medicine Hat. Black Bear cubs, with a very big and high up in a poplar tree with their angry Bull Elk. mom, learning how to get the green Then there was the seed pods, then coming down and Black Bear letting it being nursed, in Waterton Lakes be known that we National Park. A Mule Deer fawn weren’t welcome in just minutes old being cleaned by his dandelion patch. its mom, then getting to its feet 32 NatureAlberta

BOOK REVIEW Reptiles and Amphibians of Canada REVIEW BY: CARLA FROYMAN When you think of reptiles and amphibians, what comes to mind? For many it is fear and disgust. After reading or viewing the book Reptiles and Amphibians of Canada, your opinion may be swayed for the better. by Chris Fisher and Ronald Brooks. For the amateur nature enthusiast to called “Species at a Glance.” A Lone Pine Press 2007 the wildlife professional, Lone Pine visual reference such as this is key Publishing has made a collection of for those with little experience in a ‘did you know’ tidbit. The section on Vagrant, fi eld guides loved and used by all. fi eld identifi cation and/or patience. Introduced and Extirpated Species is the only The new addition to the collection, part of the book that does not provide suffi cient A unique component is the way Reptiles and Amphibians of Canada information for each species. Considering that, each species is presented. The is appreciated, as there was yet to overall, the information isn’t too extensive, reader is provided with illustrations be a simple, clear fi eld guide written the book may appeal more to amateurs than of each species, instead of actual on the topic. The book features 93 professionals. With more information, the photos. Even though the illustrations species of “herpetids” (the collective reading may become too technical for the target are artistically well done, I found name for reptiles and amphibians) audience. the drawings somewhat misleading. including turtles, lizards, snakes, By comparing photos of some Value is always an important aspect for people salamanders, frogs, toads, as well amphibians and snakes to the when choosing whether or not to purchase a as a section designated for vagrant, illustrations shown in the book, I book. The price, $18.95, is reasonable, as this introduced, and extirpated species. was surprised to fi nd many of the gives the reader a fi eld guide for all of Canada, When purchasing a fi eld guide, drawings did not look as close to not just of species from one or two provinces. quality, value, and credibility are the photo as I expected they would. One fi eld guide for this topic is all most people important components to consider. This could be a slight downfall need, and for $18.95 you can’t go wrong. This fi eld guide provides its to the book; I feel it is easier to readers with the knowledge and Herpetids are a group of species people are strengthen identifi cation skills from functionality required by nature quick to judge and dislike with little to no looking at real photos of species lovers in their quest for discovering knowledge of the species and their lifestyles. rather than trying to learn from and understanding the world of The fi eld guide Reptiles and Amphibians of illustrations. herpetids. Canada provides credible and appealing Professionals, semi-professionals knowledge one can use for study, research and/ For most people the purpose of and amateurs can all appreciate or fun. I encourage anyone who has even the a fi eld guide is to provide them the content of this fi eld guide. The slightest interest in herpetids to add this guide with a quick and clear visual and book provides enough information to their collection, as I have yet to fi nd another descriptive reference in order to for a person to understand the enticing publication like it. easily identify a species when lifestyle of each species. The book outdoors. From personal experience includes an introductory and (Carla Froyman is a farm girl from Vanguard, Saskatchewan who I have found Lone Pine books descriptive paragraph followed was a Park Interpreter in Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park (both to be my favourite fi eld guides. by short sections on ID, length, AB and SK), and who ran the “Researching Amphibian Numbers This new book has proven to be distribution, habitat, activity in Alberta” program in Cypress Hills. This past summer, she no exception. One of the most worked at CFB Suffi eld as a Range Sustainability Field Technician. patterns, reproduction, food, similar functional characteristics of the Presently, she is completing her Environmental Assessment and species, the French name, as well as book is the visual index at the front Restoration Diploma from Lethbridge Community College.) FALL 2007 33

What’s the Plone? VID BIJELIC (FAN I.T. MANAGER)

Wouldn’t it be great to have a website where a board member, staff, or volunteer could go to, log in, and add news or events as they happen?

S/he would check the other Zope (www.zope.org). It is trying to fi nd technologies with pages on the website and easy to install and runs well on the affordable price tag and correct any errors or outdated Linux (our preferred), Windows, one that can fi t in the not- information just by using and Mac operating systems. It for-profi t framework where their favourite Web browser is an Open Source product, volunteers play a critical role. (Internet Explorer, Netscape, which allows Plone to be Plone comes free of charge, so or Firefox). Wouldn’t it also downloaded and used free of is the perfect fi t. be great if the news or event charge. The most important component related to a geographical What is Content Management of Plone is probably a built-in location could magically appear System (CMS)? It is a web content management editor. It on the interactive Google-Maps- application designed to allow is similar to Microsoft Word powered map on the web site, non-technical users to add, or Dreamweaver. It allows once the and longitude edit, and manage content the text to be formatted as have been added by the reader? of the website (eg., web in Microsoft Word, where a And at last, wouldn’t it be great pages, images, news, events, paragraph can be aligned if those tasks didn’t require any documents etc.). It also takes differently, and text can be HTML knowledge and this web care of adding new content to converted to title or subtitle, application came free of charge? a navigation system, making made italic or bold. Similar to Would you believe me, if I told content searchable, removing Dreamweaver or FrontPage, you that such web application outdated content, and keeping internal or external links could exists and is called Plone (www. track of users, their permissions, be inserted in the page, as well plone.org)? It’s the website and security settings. as images. Images also could solution for non-profi ts. be resized to fi t the rest of the Why Plone? FAN is constantly page content. This editor also What is Plone? Plone is an out- looking for new advanced allows for automatic insertion of-the-box Content Management technologies to help it achieve of tables, bullets, pull-out System that is built on top of a its vision. As a not-for-profi t quotes, and much more. This web application server called organization we are always 34 NatureAlberta

What’s the Plone?…continued

is all done directly through web browsers like Internet Highlights of the Explorer, Firefox, or Netscape. New Federation of Alberta Naturalists Website There is no need for additional software or HTML Historical issues of Nature Columbian Ground Squirrel knowledge. Alberta Magazine from (contact FAN to fi nd out how) Plone comes with the fully 1971- 2005 available for free integrated administration download in high-res PDF Issues section is added to the system, where members and from Our Magazine section FAN website; it will contain groups and their permissions News is instantly posted as it up to date information about can be easily managed. This happens, by our volunteers, Issues FAN is involved in. administration system allows board directors, project (contact FAN to create your a number of people to be coordinator, or staff own issue section) working on the same website, Natural History section Online Store section, with each being responsible is now in place where where you can browse and for their own section of the individuals and groups can purchase our Publications website. provide their information and other products using a Shopping Cart The news and events system about nature in Alberta; is supported out-of-the-box. see the example of the It is also possible to specify activation and expiry dates for both. Expiry date allows for news and events to Nature Alberta on Web! automatically disappear from BY VID BIJELIC the website. FAN has now placed historical There are hundreds of issues of Alberta Naturalist existing free plug-ins for (1971-2005) on the web. They Plone such as content are in “Previous Issues” section management editor, events under “Our Magazine”. You calendar, Google map have to sign in to see them implementation, form (download them). People who builders, image galleries, don’t have an account with the tools for translation to other new FAN website can create languages, and more. one free. This way we can For more information, contact better keep track of who is Vid from FAN at vidb@ using the website. fanweb.ca or (780) 427-8124. FALL 2007 35

FAN CLUB PAGE Peace Parkland BY MARGOT HERVIEUX Naturalists Club The southern Peace region is a great place for a naturalists club. Four of Alberta’s six natural regions lie within a 100 km radius of Grande Prairie and the Parkland exists nowhere else. The Peace Parkland Naturalists also participate on management 1930s and early 1940s, local naturalist Club (PPN) is actually the second committees. The group has also Bernard Hamm made the country incarnation of a nature group published guidebooks to two aware of nesting swans in the region in the Grande Prairie region. important local natural areas, and worked tirelessly to protect the In 1976, the Trumpeter Swan Kleskun Hill and Saskatoon birds and their habitat. Those efforts Naturalists Club was created Mountain, and is currently continue today with public education to promote trumpeter swan coordinating efforts to purchase programs like the Swan Festival and conservation in the area and threatened native grassland through conservation and land use participate in bird and plant adjacent to the Kleskun Hill site. plans developed with the help of PPN counts and other club activities. members. In smaller communities Despite reaching a membership organizations tend to overlap and has far more wild of almost 50, dwindling volunteer many PPN members also support places than the rest of the province participation brought the group to the Friends of Saskatoon Island but there are also far fewer residents an end in 1981. Provincial Park and the annual who, like the Lorax, will “speak for The arrival of new naturalists to Swan Festival. The Grande Prairie the trees”. PPN members should Grande Prairie in the late 1980s region is the core nesting area be proud of the fact that they are led to the formation of the current for the threatened trumpeter recognized not only as a source for naturalist club in 1989. Like swans and local naturalists have answers to bird and bug questions naturalist groups everywhere, always been at the forefront of but also as a credible voice for habitat the PPN offers fi eld trips, guest their conservation. During the late conservation in the region. speakers and a newsletter and members actively participate in bird, plant and butterfl y counts. Despite a high turnover, membership has remained steady at about 40. Since its formation, the PPN has also been involved in various advocacy projects, particularly those associated with habitat conservation and protected areas. Members of the club serve as natural area stewards and

AUTUMN AT THE BREAKS OF THE PEACE RIVER. MARGOT HERVIEUX 36 NatureAlberta it will soon be yes FAN BOOKSCChrhr i ststmas!mas! There are many exciting gifts that one can buy for family and 16 great titles to treat yourself, friends and family! friends that tie in with naturalist values and reward the gift receiver. Consider these: Atlas of Breeding Birds of Alberta: A Second Look [$64.95] The Atlas of Breeding Birds of Alberta (Atlas 1) [$45.00] • With FAN books, you’re sure to fi nd one that would be greatly appreciated; see the list below and then go to Field Guide to Alberta Birds [$24.95] the website at www.fanweb.ca, or call the offi ce: (780) 427-8124. Alberta Butterfl ies [$25.00] • A gift membership in the local naturalist group; People and Peaks [$60.00] • A donation to FAN or other naturalist organization in the friend/ Ladybugs of Alberta by John Acorn [$29.95] Or buy all 3 family member’s name; Tiger Beetles of Alberta by John Acorn [$19.95] Acorn books • The “must have” gift: a subscription to Nature Alberta. Damselfl ies of Alberta by John Acorn [$29.95] for $69.85! • Stocking stuffer: a package of bird friendly, shade-grown, organic, White as a Ghost by Bill Samuel [$24.95] fair trade coffee – the gift that gives superior tasting coffee AND Prairie River by Dawn Dickinson, Dennis Baresco, Garry Newton [$14.95] helps nature throughout the Americas! Available from Nature Stores and FAN (check our website or call the offi ce). Flight of Deer by Dawn Dickinson [$9.95] • Nature books – like those reviewed in this For the Love of Alberta by Leslie Curthoys [$15.00] issue. Keepers of the Springs by Jean Burgess [$18.00] Go ahead… Naturescape Alberta by Myrna Pearman, Ted Pike [$24.95] go for the unique gift this Christmas: On the Living Edge by Sarah Kipp, Clive Callaway [$14.95] the gift of nature appreciation! Living Near Urban Lakes [$19.95] Fish, Fur and Feathers [$39.95] HOW TO ORDER: Secure online or printable order form at www.fanweb.ca (click on “order books”) [email protected] • Phone: (780) 427-8124 • Fax: (780) 422-2663 • In person: 3rd fl oor, Percy Page Centre, 11759 Groat Road, Edmonton Nature Alberta Celebrating our natural heritage! Nature Alberta welcomes submissions of articles, photos, humour and other suitable material on Alberta’s natural history. Submission guidelines for articles and photos are available on the FAN website at www.fanweb.ca. NATURE ALBERTA SUBSCRIPTION Subscribe Today! REGULAR » $30 per year Name: SUPPORTING » $40 or more per year (amount in excess of $30 is tax deductible) Address: Your support means a great deal to FAN and its conservation objectives. City:

MAIL TO: Province: Federation of Alberta Naturalists Regular SUBSCRIPTION Attn: Membership 11759 Groat Road Postal Code: Supporting SUBSCRIPTION Edmonton, AB T5M 3K6 Total Enclosed $ WOODLAND CARIBOU DAVE FAIRLESS

POLICE POINT PARK, MEDICINE HAT HANS H MUELLER VOLUME 37 | NUMBER 3 | FALL 2007 Naturegallery

MOUNTAIN GOAT AND KID (SEE STORY PG 23) JOHN WARDEN

FEDERATION OF ALBERTA NATURALISTS 11759 GROAT ROAD, EDMONTON, AB, T5M 3K6 PHONE: 780.427.8124 FAX: 780.422.2663