VOLUME 42 | NUMBER 4 | WINTER 2013 SUGGESTED RETAIL: $7.50 CDN Nature Alberta CELEBRATING OUR NATURAL HERITAGE

A BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE ENJOYING THE SEASON! SEE THE FEATURE STORY (PAGE 22). LEN PETTITT

feature article Winter Wild!

NATURE ALBERTA CAPE MAY WARBLER; SEE THE STORY, “LATE WARBLERS” PG 26. RON DONNELLY

YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER; SEE THE STORY, “NATURE DIARY” PG 10. DEBBIE GODKIN

WESTERN TANAGER; SEE THE STORY, “NATURE DIARY” PG 10. DEBBIE GODKIN Nature Alberta: WINTER 2013 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 42, NUMBER 4, WINTER 2013 (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 Letters to the Editor ...... 4 relating to the conservation of the natural environment may be discussed, so that united positions can be developed on them, and to Alberta Issues in Brief ...... 6 provide the means of translating these positions into appropriate actions. Water Matters ...... 9 BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESIDENT: Ted Hindmarch Nature Diary: Tanager and Warbler BY DEBBIE AND ALAN GODKIN ...... 10 VICE PRESIDENT: Vacant SECRETARY: Margot Hervieux Book Review: Little Black Lies ...... 12 TREASURER: Christine Brown PAST PRESIDENT: Chuck Priestley Nature Alberta News ...... 13 APPOINTED DIRECTORS: Christine Brown, Ted Hindmarch, Geoff Holroyd, Chuck Priestley, Linda Howitt-Taylor Eyes on IBAs: Lesser Slave Lake Provincial Park IBA BY ERIN CAMPBELL ...... 15 ELECTED DIRECTORS: Chrissie Smith (ANPC); Claudia Cameron, (BLN); John & Linda Stewart (CFNS); Lu Carbyn, (ENC); Grant Henry (FMFNS); Book Review: A Short History of Progress ...... 17 Martha Munz-Gue, (GN); Ted Johnson (LLBBS); Lloyd Bennett (LNS); Margot Hervieux (PPN); Tony Blake (RDRN); Chris Olsen (VRNS); Close to Home: Nature Photography in Alberta BY JOHN WARDEN ...... 18 STAFF: Petra Rowell (Exec. Dir.); Vid Bijelic FEATURE ARTICLE: Winter Wild! ...... 22 CORPORATE MEMBER CLUBS Alberta Native Plant Council, Box 52099, Garneau P.O. Edmonton, AB AKAYO’KAKI A’PAWAAWAHKAA BY RYAN HEAVY HEAD ...... 28 T6G 2T5 Buffalo Lake Naturalists, Box 1802, Stettler, AB T0C 2L0 The Saga of “Ed” the Duck, and Others BY LORNE FITCH ...... 30 Nature Calgary (CFNS), Box 981, Calgary, AB T2P 2K4 Edmonton Nature Club, Box 1111, Edmonton, AB T5J 2M1 Beetle Hitchhikers! ...... 32 Fort McMurray Field Naturalists Society, 152 Cote Bay, Fort McMurray, AB T9H 4R9 Wings of Spring: The 2012 May Species Count for Birds BY JUDY BOYD .....33 Grasslands Naturalists, Box 2491, Medicine Hat, AB T1A 8G8 Lac La Biche Birding Society, Box 1270, Lac La Biche, AB T0A 2C0 John Acorn Wins RSC Award for Promoting Science ...... 35 Lethbridge Naturalists Society, Box 1691, Lethbridge, AB T1J 4K4 Peace Parkland Naturalists, Box 1451, Grande Prairie, AB T8V 4Z2 First Hand: More Great Wildlife Encounters ...... 36 Red Deer River Naturalists, Box 785, Red Deer, AB T4N 5H2 Year of the Bat: Bats in the News: Learning from Friends ...... 39 Vermilion River Naturalists, 5707 - 47 Avenue, Vermilion, AB T9X 1K5 AFFILIATES: Wildlife! Starring…Winter Crane Flies ...... 40 Alberta Lake Management Society Friends of Jasper National Park Alberta Lepidopterists’ Guild Friends of Little Beaver Lake Society Up Close Naturally: Early Nesters BY MARGOT HERVIEUX ...... 42 Alberta Mycological Society Grant MacEwan Mountain Club Alberta Stewardship Network Heritage Tree Foundation of Canada Celestial Happenings BY JOHN MCFAUL ...... 43 Beaverhill Bird Observatory J.J. Collett Natural Area Foundation Beaver River Naturalist Club Lee Nature Sanctuary Society Earth Matters Conference ...... 44 Big Lake Environmental Support Society Lesser Slave Lake Bird Observatory BowKan Birders Little Creeks and Rough Fescue Calgary Bird Banding Society Appreciation Society Cochrane Environmental Action Purple Martin Conservancy PUBLISHED QUARTERLY BY NATURE ALBERTA, Committee Riverlot 56 Natural Area Society 11759 GROAT ROAD, EDMONTON, AB T5M 3K6 Crooked Creek Conservancy Society Stewards of Alberta’s Protected Areas PHONE.780.427.8124 FAX.780.422.2663 Crowsnest Conservation Society Association [email protected] Edmonton Naturalization Group The Wagner Natural Area Society Ellis Bird Farm Weaselhead/Glenmore Park Fort Saskatchewan Naturalist Society Preservation Society EDITOR.DENNIS BARESCO Friends of Blackfoot Society Wizard Lake Watershed and Lake Stewardship Assoc. [email protected] CIRCULATION.TED HINDMARCH LAYOUT.BROKEN ARROW SOLUTIONS INC.

THANKS TO THE PROOFREADERS WHO ASSISTED IN PRODUCING THIS ISSUE: CELEBRATE NATURE ALBERTA IAN FOSS, SANDRA FOSS, ELAINE GERMYN, SUZANNE LORINCZI, SERVING NATURE FOR OVER 43 YEARS!!! 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

FOLLOWING GORDON GEKKO given short shrift by those who of human activities affecting it. It is “The question is: In the wake of consider only their own personal intended as an educational product progress, can its natural beauty and immediate gratifi cation. for watershed residents as well as a fundraiser for the NSWA. Copies hold out?” And so we get “Jobs, Growth and are available for $35 each at the This was a comment in the Prosperity,” the spin-doctored name North Saskatchewan Watershed Globe & Mail “Travel” section on of the federal 2012 omnibus bill Alliance, 9504-49 Street, Edmonton, Saturday November 24th, in an (ludicrously referred to as a budget T6B 2M9, www.nswa.ab.ca. article by Cliff Lee called “Making bill) and the catch-phrase of the Malaysia.” mega-millions of dollars advertising campaign by the Harperite EALT TO PRESERVE NEW The comment indicates a rather LANDS Government. Granted, it would not perverted confusion about have had the same convincing effect The Edmonton and Area Land “progress” that saturates the if it was more accurately called the Trust (EALT) has secured another mainstream media, government “Extermination of Science, Society conservation property thanks to and business – the hard and fast and the Environment” bill. the generosity of an anonymous decree that progress everywhere donor. It’s a terrifi c wooded area, is good and inevitable, while And so we get an almost maniacal adjacent to Pipestone Creek, natural beauty everywhere is obsession with exploiting every which was slated for a country a luxury and of no meaningful last natural resource and every residential subdivision. The EALT, a value. Granted, the question drop of gas and oil, and damn the Registered Charity, uses donations wouldn’t have the same consequences. We can cheerfully to support the securement of land, convincing effect if it was: “In the allow the potential polluting and monitoring, interpretation and wake of avarice and exploitation, destroying of almost every single education about the land. Visit their can natural beauty hold out?” water body in Canada (see “Alberta website at www.ealt.ca for further Issues: What Water Bodies are Referring to nature as “natural information. Federally Protected in Alberta?” beauty” illustrates how page 8). propagandists can subtly twist a BLOGS person’s thinking. Beauty, it is But all that is okay. After all, as One could spend all their waking insinuated, is merely aesthetics; Gordon Gekko said in the movie hours reading blogs, even if it should never stand in the way Wall Street: “Greed, for lack of limiting it to those about nature. of jobs, economic advancement, a better word, is good. Greed is Two of my favourites are John growth and prosperity. The fact right.” Marriott’s Wildlife Photography is that when the word progress Blog (http://blog.wildernessprints. is used, it’s almost exclusively NSWA ATLAS AVAILABLE com), to which I’m subscribed, referring to money-making; the The North Saskatchewan Watershed and Ryan Heavy Head’s journal progress of society, humanity Alliance (NSWA) has a new (http://akayokaki.blogspot.com), and intellect is given short shrift. publication: Atlas of the North an excerpt of which is a regular That “nature” provides hundreds Saskatchewan River Watershed. feature of Nature Alberta. of billions of dollars of economic The Atlas is intended to provide a I mention this because Nature benefi ts annually and that our broad overview of the watershed, Alberta recently got a request to existence depends on it is also its natural attributes and the nature post a blog article (or link to it) WINTER 2013 3

on our website. For a variety of good reasons, that’s something we On the Covers: avoid doing. Still, since I enjoyed the writing style, the informality, the FRONT COVER personality and feel of the writing Black-capped Chickadees are certainly one of the best-known, friendliest and easiest to attract birds at our Alberta feeders. W. Earl (which is an engaging mixture Godfrey, in Birds of Canada, got it right when he wrote: “Whoever of nature, recreation and social saw a dejected chickadee? …the chickadee is the personifi cation of comment), I thought I’d mention it cheerfulness and good nature.” Looking at Len Pettitt’s photo, you can in case you’d like to check it out. almost hear it chuckling, chicka-dee-dee-dee! The author is Aspen Gainer (who lists herself as “Professional Writer”); INSIDE FRONT COVER the blog is at http://inthewildspaces. It always pays to have a camera on hand, even wordpress.com/. during the winter. Assuming you can contain your excitement and remain steady-handed at CORRECTION: the sight of an unexpected visitor, you could catch the proof to show that, yes…that is a In the Fall 2012 Feature Story, Cape May Warbler and a Wilson’s Warbler – or the credits for the three photos in Debbie Godkin’s case, a Yellow-rumped Warbler and a Western in the “Hazards of Monitoring!” Tanager. See “Late Warblers” (page 26) and Godkins’ “Nature Diary” section (page 29) were deleted. (page 10). Susanne Maidment took the photo of the cows around the car; Wim and Marijke Jalink took the other two photos: of the squirrel in the nestbox; and the deep snow almost INSIDE BACK COVER burying a nestbox. Our apologies for In addition to the lovely photos making up the the omission. “Cover Story,” Ryan Heavy Head’s Cottontail and Paul Horsley’s Porcupine illustrate just how MEA CULPA (AGAIN!) unique and dramatic winter wildlife watching can be. Meanwhile, John Warden’s autumn If this winter edition of Nature photo, as part of his column in this issue (see Alberta seems late, it’s because it “Inspiration” page 18), concentrates on the sky to highlight this is. Your Editor’s computer gave inspiring landscape. up the ghost in early January, and it wasn’t until mid-February that the new computer was up and running, fi les (photos, articles, emails) extracted BACK COVER and available for Edmontonian Ewen Clark has a strong interest in amateur wildlife and use – and then landscape photography. His shot of two Mountain Goats and their the hassle of surroundings – the rocks and snow, sprigs of vegetation – is beautiful using a new Word and deserves to be highlighted in the “Nature gallery”! The photo program. was taken with a Canon Digital Rebel XTi w/ Sigma 70-300mm at F7.1, 1/400 Sec. Iso 200.

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

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Journal now Online

Volume 2 Issue 1 of the open- This new Journal refl ects our aim Do not hesitate to contact me if access Canadian Wildlife to help wildlife professionals and you have questions or comments, Biology & Management is naturalists report their fi ndings, or if you wish to submit a paper now available online at http:// encourage more fi eld work on for publication. cwbm.ca. All papers have been wildlife populations, habitats and GILBERT PROULX, PHD, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF refereed, revised and published behavior, and provide managers Tel: 780-464-5228 within 6 months of their original with recommendations for state- Email: [email protected] submission. Under Archives, you of-the-art conservation programs. can also view Volume 1 Issue 1 (2012).

Sandhill Crane Hunt

It has come to my attention that a for them resulted in a continuous disappeared in the fall of 2008 Sandhill Crane season in Alberta decline in populations with the alone during the southward is proposed in the amendments species ultimately being listed as migration. How many of those to the Migratory Birds Seasons in an endangered species. The sage were shot but never reported? 2013. Such a season in Alberta grouse now teeters on the brink While it is true that the hunts was proposed in 2009 and of extirpation in Canada. elsewhere to date do not appear rejected. I was opposed at the We talk of hunting opportunities, to have endangered the crane time and can see no reason for yet why would we need to add populations, any additional reconsideration. the crane to the list when we mortality would be cumulative. In I am opposed to any Alberta enjoy huge surpluses of the goose the Status and Harvests of Sandhill Sandhill Crane hunt, now or at species and nearly unlimited Cranes 2012 it is stated that any time in the future. Any such hunting opportunities already? I “Compared to increases recorded hunt would be ill-considered, not have been a hunter all of my adult in the 1970’s, annual indices to only for the cranes which have life, the most of which I have abundance of the Mid-Continent an extremely low reproductive spent employed as a waterfowl Population (MCP) of Sandhill rate and subsequent recruitment biologist, and quite frankly, the Cranes have been relatively stable to their population, but also for concept of crane hunting in since the early 1980’s.” This report the public viewpoint that it would Alberta appalls me. Proponents goes on to state that “The long- cast on hunting and hunters in of the hunt have stated that term (1982-2008) trends for the Alberta. The nearest example government documents note MCP indicate that harvest has that I know of a hunted species that only two of the endangered been increasing at a higher rate with such a low reproductive Whooping Crane have been shot than population growth.” This potential (yet still higher than by hunters in Saskatchewan in would appear to indicate that a that of the crane) is the sage four decades of hunting, yet 34 negative population growth trend grouse. The hunt which existed of the endangered Whoopers has already been established SANDHILL CRANES. THINKSTOCK.COM WINTER 2013 5 without the existence of any Alberta hunt. It has been stated that a hunt in eastern Alberta would not affect the sensitive population that nests in the northern boreal forest. These birds, the Canada Sandhill or Grus canadensis rowani, have never been the subject of scientifi c study and in reality the migratory pathways are ill-defi ned at best. However, as nearly all northern sandhills follow a northwest to southeast fall migration route, it is most probable that these birds do stage in the major concentration sites in eastern Alberta alongside the Lesser Sandhills, the area where the hunt is proposed. No scientifi c study of Alberta Sandhill Crane populations has been carried out, and virtually nothing is known about the biology of this species in Alberta. The Northern Prairie and Parkland Waterbird Conservation Plan (2004) identifi es several research needs with respect to the Sandhill Crane, mostly centering on determining factors infl uencing recruitment to the population. How can we categorize a species A Big Thank You! as safe when we do not even understand these factors? It is I would like to extend a big the race demonstrates that we can far easier to continue to protect Thank You to all our volunteers all get outside, enjoy the outdoors what should be a protected at the February Hypothermic Half and be active, even in the middle species, than it would be to Marathon. It is because of you that of winter. discontinue any hunt once a the event was a success. It was a Don’t forget to check out Nature season has become established. beautiful day for the race and we Alberta on our website at Again the Alberta [Greater] Sage had a wonderful turn-out. Grouse comes to mind. Please www.naturealberta.ca. This race is an important do not allow this potentially Again, thank you everyone, dangerous crane hunt. fundraising event for Nature Alberta and, in addition to CHRISTINE BROWN, NATURE ALBERTA, THOMAS (TOM) S. SADLER HYPOTHERMIC HALF VOLUNTEER STRATHMORE, ALBERTA showcasing excellent athleticism, COORDINATOR 6 NatureAlberta

ALBERTA ISSUES IN BRIEF

Sandhill Crane Hunt

At the behest of Alberta Fish and rowanii) as well as Whooping Game Association, the Alberta Cranes. Government is yet again trying A Lesser Sandhill Crane hunt has to initiate a Lesser Sandhill Crane been suggested for roughly a half- (Grus canadensis canadensis) century; it was last ruled out in hunt, with a daily allowable shoot 2009. Nature Alberta, along with of fi ve birds. The hunt dates (Sept many other groups, was opposed through Dec) would be consistent at that time, and still is. The PAUL HORSLEY with waterfowl seasons and in an reasons for our opposition are area roughly from central Alberta many, perhaps one of the more south to the US border and the signifi cant being misidentifi cation the game list. It should be noted eastern two-thirds of the province. by hunters with other cranes. that, at this point, the population The hunt would be in Wildlife While a very small amount of the numbers are high enough to Management Units which the meat is edible, the main reason support a well-managed hunt. government hopes would avoid for the proposed hunt seems to be For more detail, see Tom Sadler’s contact with Greater (or Canada) simply to add another species to “Letter to the Editor” page 4. Sandhill Cranes (Grus canadensis

The story of Caribou policy in action, or is that inaction

[Taken from an Environmental Law which then disbanded the 95% habitat disturbance (with Centre (Alberta) Post of January 29, Team. The story becomes clear: buffers included). The recently 2013, by Jason Unger] a proclamation of balancing published federal recovery environmental protection with strategy aims at having habitat A recent story of a road being economic development is disturbance at 35%, and this only built in the Little Smokey Caribou revealed as a falsehood; attempts results in a 60% chance that the range refl ects the provincial to meaningfully protect habitat caribou herd will become self- government’s narrative of the are isolated to small portions of sustaining. There are no legal demise of a species. It refl ects the province. Governments are provisions protecting Caribou a disconnect between policy unwilling or unable to proclaim habitat (or critical habitat) that and action, both federally and that, practically speaking, the currently apply to provincial lands provincially, and indicates an outcome of their Caribou policies, (although the federal government inability on the part of the as implemented, will result in could theoretically step in). The government to come to terms with the extirpation of some herds. federal recovery strategy relies on habitat needs of a species. Short of a display of miraculous provincial policies to reach the The recommendations of the adaptability on the Caribou’s part, 35% disturbance goal. Woodland Caribou Recovery herds will be gone. There is 95% habitat disturbance; Team – for a moratorium on According to the proposed federal what’s one more road? The end of further mineral and timber recovery strategy, the range the story appears clear. allocations in caribou ranges – of the Little Smokey herd has were rejected by governments, WINTER 2013 7

CEMA Funding Pulled, then Restored Last year, the OSDG (the Oil The same be done and who will do Sands Developers Group, Edmonton it,’ Semenchuk said.” made up of companies Journal article Whether CEMA’s funding involved in tarsands mining) stated: “CEMA will continue in 2014 announced that they would executive director depends on the review. halve funding for the Glen Semenchuk However, it is hoped that its work Cumulative Environmental said he’s ‘surprised and pleased’ will continue and the “strong Management Association with McQueen’s handling of the environmental policy” mentioned (CEMA), with a view to situation and the speedy reversal by Ms. McQueen will not be immediately review the by the oilsands group. ‘The review abandoned for any reason. agency, then shut it down. will force everyone to sit down at CEMA was started in 2001 to the table and see what needs to develop policies to reduce air and water pollution and protect wildlife, and produces technical reports on safe 2012 Fall Report of the Commissioner of the storage of the toxic tailings ponds. Environment and Sustainable Development

The announcement came as The Fall Report from the The Commissioner, Scott a surprise to (and angered) federal Commissioner of the Vaughan, was being overly many; the $5-million annual Environment and Sustainable diplomatic in that assessment. budget was but a drop in Development was released in The report examines the federal the proverbial bucket to February. The Question reported environmental programs and the industry. Fortunately, on: Is environmental protection activities which are supposed Environment Minister Diana keeping pace with economic to “help ensure that natural McQueen intervened, resulting development? The Commissioner resource development is both in the restoration of the stated, in his introduction: responsible and sustainable.” In funding. a nutshell, one could say that “It is vital from an economic the Commissioner has found In an Edmonton Journal perspective that Canada’s the opposite. You can read the article (by Sheila Pratt, environmental protections Commissioner’s fi ndings and get Dec 19th, 2012), Minister keep pace with economic links to the full report at: www. McQueen said that the development. In this report, we oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/English/ restoring of the funds “‘is found a number of encouraging parl_cesd_201212_00_e_37709. an important signal for me practices, but also numerous html. Mr. Vaughan has resigned and Albertans and industry shortcomings. When combined from his post two years before as well’ of the continued with our previous reports and the end of his term. He will importance of CEMA’s work viewed in the context of the become the President and CEO in helping to devise strong risks and challenges posed of the International Institute for environmental policy.” Ms. by increasing development, Sustainable Development based McQueen announced that her these shortcomings leave me in Manitoba. department would initiate a concerned that environmental review of what policy issues protection is failing to keep pace CEMA needs to address. with economic development.” 8 NatureAlberta

What Water Bodies are Federally Protected in Alberta? Not many any more, is the short answer – fi ve, to be exact. As part NORTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER. THINKSTOCK.COM of the systematic destruction of environmental protection across Canada, the federal government • Athabasca River (from the protected through four other has essentially eliminated confl uence with the Whirlpool acts: the Canadian Environmental protection for almost all – literally River to Lake Athabasca) Assessment Act 2012, the Canadian thousands of – water bodies by • Peace River (from Williston Lake Environmental Protection Act, the removing them from the now to the Slave River) Species at Risk Act, and the Fisheries eliminated Navigable Waters Act. However, since those Acts • South Saskatchewan River (from have been (or are being) gutted as Protection Act. The new Act – its confl uence of the Bow and called the Navigation Protection well, saying that they will provide Oldman Rivers to the confl uence Act – now lists, only 97 lakes, protection is nothing more than spin. with the North Saskatchewan the three oceans and 62 creeks, It is now up to the provinces and River) rivers and canals as protected – municipalities to protect their future. or, considering pipelines were • North Saskatchewan River (from Why the changes? The answer was previously removed from the Act’s the confl uence with the Ram given in a Postmedia News article: scope, sort of protected. River to the confl uence with the “Transport Minister Denis Lebel South Saskatchewan River) The Alberta lake and rivers suggested that the changes could identifi ed in the Navigation And that is it! Note that the waters ease the burden on companies Protection Act are: that feed these water bodies are seeking approval on new not listed. industrial projects such as oilsands • Lake Athabasca (includes the development or mining extraction.” mouths of connecting waterways) The federal government claims that water bodies will still be

New Study Implicates Pesticide Use for Grassland Birds Decline

A new study led by a preeminent if we want to reverse, halt or You can read the article (from Canadian toxicologist identifi es simply slow the very signifi cant which the above was taken) on the acutely toxic pesticides as the downward trend in grassland bird Focusing on Wildlife website: http:// most likely leading cause of the populations,” said Dr. Mineau. focusingonwildlife.com/news/new- widespread decline in grassland “Our study put the spotlight on study-fi nds-pesticides-leading-cause- bird numbers in the United States. acutely toxic insecticides used of-grassland-bird-declines/ The study was conducted by Dr. in our cropland starting after the Pierre Mineau, recently retired Second World War and persisting from Environment Canada, and to this day – albeit at a lower Mélanie Whiteside of Health level. The data suggest that loss of Canada. birds in agricultural fi elds is more than an unfortunate consequence “What this study suggests is that of pest control; it may drive bird we need to start paying a lot more populations to local extinction.” attention to the use of pesticides

HORNED LARK AND CHICKS. MIDDLETON EVANS WINTER 2013 9

Abundant, clean water for people, and for the healthy ecosystems on which we all depend, is a basic need and priority of Albertans.

Across the province’s watersheds, involvement and led workshops Our research also focused on from the tapped out river basins across the Oldman Basin engaging other issues such as water rights in the southwest to the industrial local residents, landowners, and drought management. pressures of the northeast, municipal offi cials and business Four publications outlining the Albertans are increasingly people in dialogue about local research and recommendations concerned about the future of water uses, health and activities - Maintaining Healthy Aquatic their water. Take a moment that impact headwaters integrity. Ecosystems, Moving Waters, to think of the ways that you Delivered in partnership with Allocating Our Water, and Sharing relate to water in your life. How the Oldman Watershed Council Our Rivers, are available at www. confi dent are you that your water (OWC), the information will water-matters.org/pubs. needs will be acknowledged and add critical local knowledge to The Government of Alberta has addressed as Alberta continues to OWC’s Headwaters Action Plan announced its intention to hold grow and develop over the next for furthering on-the-ground province-wide consultations in decade? stewardship of this important 2013 about key water issues. source water area in Alberta. Water Matters is a voice for Our proven expertise and recent A second phase of community watershed protection in Alberta. Water Policy Dialogues research workshops will occur in Feb/Mar As a registered charitable positions us exceptionally well to of 2013, identifying headwaters organization, we: contribute thoughtful and critical stewardship successes and input to the provincial water · conduct and promote timely priorities. consultations. and leading edge research and The “Water Policy Dialogues: investigation; We hope you will engage with Instream Flow Needs and Water us to ensure Alberta’s water · provide and support outreach Allocation” project developed resources are protected and and education programs; progressive policy options for sustained for the long-term. · advance initiatives for watershed incorporating instream fl ow health; and needs protection into water · work with others concerned management in Alberta to ensure about the protection of long-term ecosystem health. The watersheds. recommendations and tools were Two highly successful projects informed by interviews with were undertaken in 2012. In key stakeholders, experts and “Community Conversations on decision-makers across Alberta. Headwaters Health in the Oldman River Basin,” Water Matters built Consider a donation to Water Matters as your way of advancing progressive action a unique model of community on water issues in Alberta. Call the offi ce at (403) 538-7785; email Carlos R. Garcia ([email protected]); or donate online through our website. To learn more Water Matters, please visit www.water-matters.org. 10 NatureAlberta

DEBBIE GODKIN Nature Diary: Western Tanager and Yellow-rumped Warbler BY DEBBIE AND ALAN GODKIN

If there is a storm during the spring or fall migration, I always go to the window with my camera, because quite often I’ve seen a bird that would have passed through unnoticed had it not been storming.

Such was the case on May 12th, on the window ledge to catch the fourth day the female left, but the 2009 when a male Western Tanager some heat and escape the snow for male was in no hurry to leave even appeared at the feeder. Upon a few minutes. They both fed on though the weather had improved. He sighting it, I put out half an orange the grape jelly at approximately 20 hung around the yard for three more and some grape jelly, to which minute intervals from 2:00 pm until days, and didn’t hesitate to come to it was immediately attracted. An dark. the bird bath to drink and bath with hour after the male arrived, a me only ten feet away. To say, “what a The next morning I expected them female Western Tanager showed beautiful bird” is the Western Tanager, to be gone, but they were both up looking very tired and cold. is inadequate so I’ll let the photographs at the feeder and looked perkier Several times a day, she perched do the talking. than when they had arrived. On

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 2013 11

DEBBIE GODKIN

A male Yellow-rumped Warbler conditions the catkins on the also showed up during a stretch willows and poplar weren’t out of stormy weather on April 27th yet, which would have attracted 2009. The warbler ate suet at insects for the warblers to feed on. half-hour intervals for three days By day four, it had warmed up and straight, which is something I the warbler stopped coming to the hadn’t seen before. But due to suet, but could be seen fl y catching the abnormally cold and dry down in a low spot in the pasture. I’ve seen several Yellow- rumped Warblers as they pass through in the fall, but have rarely seen an adult male in its breeding plumage in the spring. It was the highlight of the ‘09 spring migration to get to observe both the Western Tanager and the Yellow- rumped Warbler up close over several days.

DEBBIE GODKIN 12 NatureAlberta

BOOK REVIEW Little Black Lies: Corporate & Political Spin in the Global War for Oil REVIEW BY: TED HINDMARCH Calgary writer, columnist, lecturer and or against and, as a result, have left champion of sustainable ecosystems truth and fact somewhere unstated in and development, Jeff Gailus, has the middle. Jeff references Alberta oil a new book on the shelves of historian David Finch’s explanation By Jeff Gailus. (http://jeffgailus.com/) bookstores. In Little Black Lies, a that the term tar sands was in use Published by Rocky Mountain Books small manifesto style publication, Jeff until the 1960’s, when both terms 2012. 192 pages; hard cover: $16.95; explores and sheds light on the public started to be used. Only in the ISBN 9781926855684 relations war being waged around last ten years have the politicized oil production from bitumen mining term “oil sands” dominated pro- that Canadians know the full impact of operations in Northern Alberta. This development public relations moving ahead with development, rather compilation of the various public campaigns. than become complacent with the claim relations campaigns with background, that everything is growing up green in the The book examines example after facts and insight from various sources world of the Athabasca tar sands. In the example of various advertising provides an interesting, informative quoted words of Bob Gibson, professor campaigns and fi lls in some and thought-provoking read and is not of environmental studies at the University of the information missing or without controversy. of Waterloo: “Their battles for infl uence misrepresented to the public. based on swayed opinion threaten to bury The battle, he explains, is being This includes an examination of the struggle for truthful communication, fought on one side through a the propaganda around industry perhaps even truthful understanding.” collaborative approach by both and government environmental In his closing statement, Jeff sums up federal and provincial governments monitoring claims, what is and his hopes for facts and truth to prevail, and industry (which Jeff describes as isn’t being said about efforts to “because a future built on little black lies the Triple Alliance). The other side reduce GHGs (Green House Gas will be a dark one indeed.” The reader of the public relations war, arrayed emissions), and claims about other can be the one to decide if Little Black against this superior fi repower, major environmental concerns such Lies achieves the result of balancing truth is a loose coalition of individuals as reclamation. It looks at the anti- against fi ction. Read it and draw your own and organizations – activists, development “Rethink Alberta” conclusions. environmentalists, First Nations and campaign, some of its questionable a few vocal scientists (opposition, claims and the resultant backlash, In his previously published book, The he points out, that the government comparing this with the more Grizzly Manifesto (2010), Jeff Gailus has attempted to label as adversaries, successful fact-based literature and dealt critically with political and man- radicals and extremists). approach of the Pembina Institute in made challenges that face this great pushing for change. bear’s struggle for survival and the factors The book demonstrates that the pro- determining its fate along the Yukon to development propaganda has focused This book challenges statements that Yellowstone corridor. He had a previous on the socio-economic benefi ts but the oil sands can, are or ever could 2007 published magazine article on the has either misrepresented or dismissed be sustainably developed. Canadians Great Plains Grizzly titled Ghost Bear facts related to both short and long- should be able to count on our and available on-line at http://jeffgailus. term impacts to the health and well- government and its agencies not to fi les.wordpress.com/2010/08/swerve- being of humans, wildlife and the be part of the industry “greenwash” may4-bearcoverstory.pdf. Jeff is currently ecosystem. The book explores the regarding the development of the teaching at the University of the Rockies escalation of rhetoric on both sides, oil sands. Our elected offi cials in Missoula, MT. as messages to the public have often should “man-up” to the impacts as moved to the argument extremes for well as the economic benefi ts, so WINTER 2013 13

Nature Alberta NEWS New Affi liate Member A new club has applied The membership as a Hypo-Half Marathon for Affi liate Membership in Nature Alberta Affi liate Nature Alberta: the Little was approved in principle Nature Alberta sponsored two Hypothermic Creeks and Rough Fescue at the February Directors Half marathons – on Feb 10th and Feb 24th. Appreciation Society (LCARF). meeting, subject to some These Running Room events are always a further documentation to great success, even in the dead of winter. What does LCARF want to comply with our bylaws. An Nature Alberta volunteers are stationed do? Based out of Cochrane, electronic vote will likely along the route to guide runners. Teams AB, members “promote the have been taken by the time of 2-4 volunteers work together to cheer importance of riparian health you read this. on participants and provide support. Hot on feeder creeks, and the chocolate is provided! natural capital value of native Membership in LCARF costs grasses, particularly Rough $5.00 per annum. To join, A huge thank you to the Running Room Fescue, in the watersheds please send your contact and to all the volunteers; a special mention of the Bow and Little Red information and $5, or other for Christine Brown (NA’s Treasurer), who Deer Rivers in the counties of donations, to: PO Box 793, coordinated our involvement in 2013. Bighorn, Mountain View and Cochrane, Alberta T4C 1A9. Hooray! There are some good photos taken Rockyview.” by Sean Gordon on the NA Facebook page: www.facebook.com/NatureAB#!/media/set/?s et=a.10151531513439954.555921.576384953& Extended Membership type=1 Nature Alberta recently economical – for members VOLUNTEER ELAINE introduced a new category, of NA clubs to get the GORDON AT HER POST! the Extended Membership. opportunity to read our SEAN GORDON This is available to any magazine. Note: for present individual or family who is a members who may be eligible current member of a society for the Extended Membership, or club that is a Corporate or you can request same upon Affi liate member of Nature your renewal date; however, Alberta. The applicant must if you wish to continue provide the name of their with the hard copy, then Corporate or Affi liate Club. simply maintain your present This membership fee includes membership category. the e-version (but not the Cost of a one-year Individual hard copy) of Nature Alberta Extended Membership is Magazine. $15.00; a one-year Family

It is hoped that this will Extended Membership is RUNNERS HEAD make it easier – and more $25.00. FOR A CHECKPOINT. SEAN GORDON 14 NatureAlberta COMPUTERS Nature Alberta 2013 AGM Bookkeeper Hired and STUFF Nature Alberta’s Spring Board Meeting, Nature Alberta welcomes the Annual General Meeting (AGM), and services of Janet Melnychuk as Awards Banquet is being planned for bookkeeper for Nature Alberta. the weekend of 26-28 April 2013 in Janet started a one-day per week Edmonton. contract in early Dec 2012 to assist Due to some recent computer in our bookkeeping efforts. Janet The weekend activities are planned to was a member of the Canadian failures in the offi ce, Nature Alberta include a bus outing on the Edmonton Forces for 32 years in Resource is seeking donations of used Nature Club’s Snow Goose Chase to Management Support with computer equipment/peripherals the Tofi eld and Beaverhill area. experience in various areas of in good working condition and of Affi liate clubs and all members of fi nance and administration. A few recent vintage. Have you and any Nature Alberta in good standing are of her primary fi nancial functions one you know upgraded computer invited to attend and hold a vote at have been accounts payable, systems recently, for example over the AGM, and to purchase tickets for audit, travel reimbursement, the Christmas season, and have the annual Awards Banquet and for fi nancial management, business equipment around that is no longer the Snow Goose Chase. planning, reporting and cashier required and might be seeking a good related duties. She has extensive The details and fi nal timings are still home? In particular, we need three experience in Excel, Word, power being worked out. If you are thinking fl at screen monitors, and as many as point and Microsoft Offi ce. For the of attending, watch for details on our six desktop computers. Any assistance past 4 years she has also provided website at www.naturealberta.ca, will help alleviate our expense of contact [email protected] or call full cycle bookkeeping services purchases. the offi ce at 780-427-8124. (including CRA submission) for a local painting company utilizing If you can assist, contact the Nature Quickbooks. Alberta Offi ce at info@naturealberta. Kelsie Adds to Duties ca or 780-427-8124 with your Congratulations to our Young Naturalist Club Coordinator, Kelsie Sharun, who contact info. We can arrange pickup recently won a competition for the part-time position of Youth Coordinator at in the Edmonton area, but will need Morinville, AB. Kelsie will continue to be at Nature Alberta part time to manage to coordinate on sources outside of the Young Naturalist Club activities as we provide and seek out additional Edmonton. And thank you very much coordinators and support for this programme in areas around the province. for any help you can provide!

FACEBOOK AND SUPPORT BOOKS on SPECIAL Follow Nature Alberta on Facebook at Nature Alberta carries a number of nature- www.facebook.com/NatureAB. associated books in its bookstore (online: www. There are many different photos, links, naturealberta.ca). Several titles are on special comments – and an opportunity for you to or have had prices reduced. One of those titles add something yourself! is Caught in the Spin: The Wild Horses of CFB Suffi eld, by Dawn Dickinson and published While volunteers provide a huge service to by Grasslands Naturalists. The book is now Nature Alberta, our organization also needs reduced by 50%, to $10.00. Caught in the Spin fi nancial resources to operate and provide is a carefully documented account of the events the services and benefi ts that we do for which led to the horses’ removal and answers Albertans. Please consider supporting us many of the questions still surrounding the issue. with whatever you can afford. Your support means a great deal to the conservation of For other book specials, check out the Nature nature in Alberta. Alberta website. WINTER 2013 15

Eyes on IBAs Seventh in a Series Lesser Slave Lake Provincial Park IBA BY ERIN CAMPBELL

It’s January and freezing out. As I dial the number for the Lesser Slave Lake Bird Observatory (LSLBO), I can’t help but think of the coming spring and the promise of warmer days heralded by migrating birds returning to Alberta.

It is for this reason I am reaching organizations like the IBA program appreciate it, but if you can hold out to Patti Campsall, executive and the Boreal Centre for Bird a Yellow-rumped Warbler in your director of the LSLBO, which is one Conservation (BCBC) have led to hands, and recognize that this small of only three bird observatories in a multitude of public education bird traveled 4000 miles to breed in Alberta. programs, tourism, and scientifi c this area, that generates a connection research, enabling the LSLBO to between yourself and nature that is Lesser Slave Lake Provincial Park, grow in both scope and size. hard to deny.” located right in the middle of the province, is home to a remarkable Working out of the BCBC facility, This is precisely what the LSLBO amount of biodiversity, even by Patti describes the work of the strives to do: bridge the connection northern Alberta standards. Frank LSLBO as building a stewardship between the public by getting them Fraser, one of the founders of the for the public and keeping them directly involved with Alberta’s boreal LSLBO, spent years championing connected to the boreal forest, forest biodiversity. The LSLBO delivers for the area, and was instrumental which is something that we tend educational programs to people of in gaining IBA status based on the to take for granted in Alberta. Says all ages by connecting them with Tundra Swan and Western Grebe Patti: “The example I always use real research being conducted in the populations, both of which are when talking about what we do is area. Anyone can visit the site and globally signifi cant for migration this: Anyone can look at a picture participate in bird banding, view past and nesting in the area. Although of a Yellow-rumped Warbler and research from the area, and even see the history of the LSLBO has scientists working out of the BCBC been primarily volunteer-driven, THE LOOK ON THESE CHILDREN’S FACES IS UNDENIABLE PROOF OF THE VALUE OF EXPERIENCING NATURE FIRST HAND! partnerships with LESSER SLAVE LAKE BIRD OBSERVATORY

IBA COORDINATOR ERIN CAMPBELL. 16 NatureAlberta

ASSISTANT BANDER NICOLE LINFOOT EXTRACTS A MALE YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER (THE MYRTLE WARBLER VARIETY) FROM THE MIST NET. BACK AT THE LAB, BANDER-IN-CHARGE RICHARD KRIKUN GATHERS DATA. YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS ARE THE NUMBER ONE BANDED BIRD AT THE LSLBO. LESSER SLAVE LAKE BIRD OBSERVATORY

fi eld station, which hosts graduate the Lesser Slave Lake area. “We including the bird banding initiatives research in addition to public get asked that question a lot, that the public can get involved in, education. Patti estimates that the whether or not the fi res affected is focused on tracking migration facility hosts between 5000 and the bird populations,” Patti tells patterns and numbers. This research 6000 visitors each year, comprising me. “But there was very little is the backbone of the LSLBO. students as young as four or fi ve, impact. The fi re was May 15th, For years they have prided all the way up to seniors. “Birding which is right in the middle of themselves on creating democratized is one of those things that attract peak migration for many species, citizen science programs where all types of people,” Patti says including the Tundra Swans and everyone has the opportunity to visit with a laugh. “We get tourists the Western Grebes. Because of and really get involved. According from all over the world who are that, the birds just avoided the to Patti, public involvement and just fascinated with the amount area when fl ying, and because awareness is truly the cornerstone of diversity in the area. That’s they hadn’t yet settled down to to the continued preservation of what I like about what I do; I get nest, and many of the established areas like the Lesser Slave Lake to spend time with people who nesting areas were outside the Provincial Park: “If people don’t traveled thousands of miles to visit range of the fi re, the populations understand what you’re doing, in an area that is so familiar to us.” weren’t at risk.” terms of research, you can’t build Which, I say, leads me to my next Known for the area’s unique that stewardship.” The Boreal Centre question: about the 2011 fi res in “Point Pelee Effect”, the location for Bird Conservation is open year- of Marten Mountain right in the round, and welcomes students and middle of a huge migratory path visitors alike to get involved in any helps direct thousands of transient way they can. The Tundra Swans ATTACHING birds to the shorelines of Lesser will start returning to the area in A BAND. Slave Lake, accounting for the April, one of the earlier migrations LESSER SLAVE remarkable numbers of birds who to the area, and are surely LAKE BIRD temporarily inhabit the lake and harbingers of spring. So until then, OBSERVATORY surrounding forest. Most of the try and stay warm! research conducted at the facility,

Important Bird Areas (IBAs) is a program of BirdLife International (BLI); the Canadian BLI partners are Nature Canada and Bird Studies Canada. Nature Alberta, as Nature Canada’s provincial affi liate, is the IBA lead in Alberta. The three pillars of the IBA program are identifi cation, conservation and monitoring. WINTER 2013 17

BOOK REVIEW A Short History of Progress, Massey Lecture Series, 2004 REVIEW BY: TED HINDMARCH

Companion Reading Material to Little Black Lies… (see page 12).

When one stops to think resources. In assessing modern about our society’s increasing civilization on a global level, emphasis on short-term he advises that we should be economic growth – to the reading the “fl ight recorders” continued detriment of the in the wreckage of crashed By Ronaldld Wright i h . Publishedbl h d by b House environment, bio-diversity, and civilizations – and points out of Anansi; fi ve one-hour lectures (5 CD our own health – it may be that our present behaviour is set): available from the CBC Shop. time to pull the 2004 national typical of failed societies at bestseller A Short History of the zenith of their greed and Progress off the shelf, dust arrogance. He refers to the off the cover and re-discover triggers to each collapse as to his narrative. Is Wright correct some of our world’s previous ‘progress traps’. He makes the in stating: “If we don’t make civilizations that have fallen for statement that if civilization corrections now, while we much the same reasons. Wright is to survive, it must live on prosper, we will never be able to moves through history to answer the interest, not the capital, of do them when times get hard”? the questions, “Where do we nature. Regrettably for mankind, I feel he come from?” “What are we?” and He provides the example of is correct, and yet – we continue to ultimately consider “Where ecological markers which to throw our environmental health are we going?” Who felled the suggest that in the early to the winds to maintain short- last tree on Easter Island, once 1960’s, humans were using term economic progress; we heavily forested, which caused about 70 per cent of nature’s are defi nitely caught in another a resource war that ended that yearly output. By the early progress trap. civilization? What caused the 1980’s, we’d reached 100 per fall of the Sumerian civilization cent, and in 1999 we were at in what is now southern Iraq? 125 per cent. He admits such What about the collapse of the numbers may be imprecise, Romans and of the Maya? but their trend is clear – they Wright provides a very mark the road to bankruptcy. readable look at the collapse His notes and bibliography of several successful human in this relatively quick read civilizations and relates them to provide additional background an over-exploitation of natural 18 NatureAlberta

Close to Home: Nature Photography in Alberta Inspiration… BY JOHN WARDEN To breathe in the spirit of the muse. JOHN WARDEN

I’ve been doing a lot of reading Thomas Blakiston the explorer Kootenay Pass and along Pass lately, studying about the and ‘Kootenai” Brown the Creek (renamed Blakiston Creek) early explorers, painters and frontiersman. down to the Kootenay Lakes, photographers of the West. What In 1858, the Palliser Expedition which he renamed Waterton did they see and feel when they was searching for a route through after Sir Charles Waterton, a observed the landscape of early the Rocky Mountains for the prominent English naturalist. From Alberta. Can I improve my ‘long Canadian Pacifi c Railway. As Blakiston’s writings: slow look’ approach to nature a result of some differences, After two hours travelling on photography by trying to see Blakiston and a small party split level ground along Red-stone through their eyes? away from the expedition and Creek (Red Rock) we emerged The comments from two people continued on their own. Their on the Saskatchewan plains, just seem to really stand out for me: journey took them over the South six geographical miles north of

JOHN WARDEN

JOHN WARDEN WINTER 2013 19

JOHN WARDEN

the 49th parallel and camped at Brown is described4 as a gold game guardian and eventually, the lakes… The scenery here is miner, pony express rider and park ranger. grand and picturesque…1 buffalo hunter. He was wounded The beautiful descriptions of by the Blackfoot, captured by the While Blakiston may have been Waterton by both Blakiston and Sioux, spent time as a wolf hunter, one of the fi rst Europeans to travel Brown inspired me. I needed to was a whiskey trader and chief the South Kootenay Pass, the go and see what they had seen scout for the Rocky Mountain Waterton Park website advises that and perhaps get some sense of Rangers during the second evidence of bison hunts and travel the feelings and emotions behind Riel Rebellion. Interestingly, along this route date to more than their words. By standing in their 2 considering his past, Kootenai 10,000 years ago . footprints, could I breathe in their Brown became a champion for spirit? Seven years after Blakiston, the conservation. He loved the beauty legendary Kootenai Brown came of Waterton Lakes and was one I left Sherwood Park early, 4:30 through the pass. of the key drivers behind the AM, taking highway 21 south, Emerging from the South Waterton Lakes area becoming a and three hours later stopped to Kootenay Pass we hit the foothills forest reserve in 1895 and then experience the solitude of sunrise near the mouth of Pass Creek through his continued persistence, on the edge of the Dry Island and climbed to the top of one of a national park in 1911. the lower mountains. The prairie Brown was appointed JOHN WARDEN as far as we could see east, north the fi rst fi sheries offi cer and west was one living mass of in the reserve, then a buffalo3.

1 Retrieved from: www.mywaterton.ca/about-history.cfm 2 Retrieved from: www.watertonpark.com/activities/drives.htm 3 Retrieved from: www.ourheritage.net/index_page_stuff/following_trails/Blakiston/ Blakiston_Rockies/Blakiston_Rockies_html/Kootenai_Brown_shack.html 4 www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/mb_history/30/kootenaibrown.shtml 20 NatureAlberta

JOHN WARDEN

Buffalo Jump. In the valley below I was born at Vulcan, so made I paid my respects to the land the cliffs, mist was fl oating above the time for a small detour and around the old Warden place the Red Deer River. Clouds swirled headed east on the Lomond Road and the Clifford place and around the rising sun and spirits towards our old farm. Imagine then returned to Highway 23. of the past danced in the sparkling my surprise when at the turn-off I followed the highway past sunlight. Easy to see why some say for the farm, there at the corner, Carmangay where my grandfather Dry Island is a sacred place. alone on the prairie was a big bull came to Alberta in 1906 and bison (see the photo). Certainly carried on south to Fort MacLeod It was hard to leave, it’s so it was a domestic bison and of and west to Pincher Creek. beautiful and mystical there, but course the land was fenced, but Turning south on Highway 6, I Waterton, my muse, was tugging somehow, the symbolism was recognized the silhouette of Chief at me. I continued on Highway 21 just so appropriate. The buffalo Mountain from the paintings of to Strathmore, but then cut across landscapes as seen by Blakiston local artist Brent Laycock, and I to Gleichen to get a sense of the and Brown remain, close to home. was at Pass Creek by 4:00 PM. prairies. The sky was huge and It was a moment steeped in imposing as I zigzagged along Driving up onto the Red Rock connections with the past and an highway 547 through the lands Parkway was to step back in time. opportunity for artistic expression of the Siksika Nation. Picking up As I drove along the Parkway that for me bridged the gap of Highway 23, I stopped for gas and and into Blakiston Valley, the fall time. JOHN WARDENlunch at Vulcan. colors and sweeping lines of the landscape spread out before me. Parks Canada describes the Red Rock Parkway as the best place to experience Waterton’s classic prairie meeting mountain landscape. The parkway follows the creek for 14 km into the mountains and Red Rock Canyon. I stopped for photographs of bears eating berries, the rocks and wave ripples at Lost Horse Creek and then spent an hour or so exploring Red Rock Canyon as the light faded into the mountains.

JOHN WARDEN WINTER 2013 21

JOHN WARDEN

I was up before the sun the next years. It was gloriously beautiful, the spirit of the old buffalo trail morning. The parkway climbs standing there as the sun rose was revealed to me. Cracks and up about twenty meters or so over the prairies to meet the shadows in the red argillite rock above the highway and the view mountains and easy to appreciate became a bison with one horn. is amazing. I parked my car and that I was standing in the The rippling waters of Red Rock walked amongst the rolling hills footprints of mountain men. Canyon swirled together to form and eskers. Looking to the east the face of a black bear and It was still early, a good time to and the fi rst rays of the morning somehow, camoufl aged amongst see wildlife, so I took another sun, bull elk were bugling all the trees, was it a trick of the light slow cruise along the parkway. around me. I caught glimpses of or did I see an old park ranger’s It follows an old buffalo trail and them running through the trees, Stetson, set low, over a big white Parks Canada roadside displays do their hooves pounding in the moustache? a wonderful job of explaining the solitude of the morning. Blakiston long history of buffalo hunting in Inspiration allowed me to see the and Alden had come through the area. landscape with new eyes. Being this same valley in September open to the spirit of the land 154 years ago. Then too, the elk As I drove the parkway, inspired though, allowed me to feel it’s would have been rutting. We by the past and motivated by the magic. shared a connection across the sublime beauty of the present,

John Warden’s website (www.jwardenphotography.com) is defi nitely worth a visit for excellent photos of wildlife and landscapes in Alberta and beyond. John also posts articles on his blog (http://jwardenphotography.blogspot.com/) from previous Nature Alberta magazines. www.jwardenphotography.com Drop in and say hello! 22 NatureAlberta

FEATURE ARTICLE WINTER WILD!

THE WHALEBACK RIDGE, BOB CREEK WILDLAND “Celebrating our natural history” is the theme of Nature PARK, LOOKS VERY COLD AND DESOLATE IN Alberta magazine. The season does not matter. Celebrating WINTER, IN PARTICULAR WITH A DARK AND nature, watching wildlife, viewing landscapes and LOOMING SKY…YET ITS STARKNESS IS BEAUTIFUL. IAN GARDINER discovering new things are all thrilling at any time of year.

Spring fl owers, summer greenery, Though winter technically runs and ending sometime in April. fall colours…what does winter from Dec 21st to March 20th (this Thus, in particular for birders, offer? A totally different view of year), those offi cial dates bear winter time could mean some nature – which includes colours little resemblance to the reality unusual, out-of-season sightings – beyond white and dramatic photo of winter in Alberta. Depending or changes in the seasonal habits opportunities. Winter even offers on where you live, winter could of birds. insects; look for the “Wildlife easily be seen as starting Oct 1st Starring” article (page 40).

DOWNY WOODPECKERS ARE NOT QUITE AS TRUSTING AS CHICKADEES, BUT NONETHELESS CAN

BE PERSUADED BY A HELPING HAND. LEN PETTITT A VERY FROSTY JANUARY DAY IN RED DEER. BONNIE MULLIN WINTER 2013 23

A COW MOOSE, WITH A DUSTING OF SNOW, PEEKS AROUND AN ASPEN IN THE CYPRESS HILLS. RICK PRICE

DARK-EYED JUNCOS ARE USED TO SNOW – ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT OVERWINTER IN SOUTHERN ALBERTA, BUT ALSO THE RETURNING MIGRANTS. THEY RETURN IN LATE MARCH AND APRIL (THE PHOTO WAS TAKEN APRIL 14TH) – WHICH VIRTUALLY GUARANTEES A TASTE OF WINTER WEATHER. HOLLE HAHN

A BRIGHTLY SUNNY DAY WITH BRIGHT BLUE SKIES ON THE BENCH AT CYPRESS HILLS: ON SUCH A DAY, ONE HARDLY NOTICES THE COLD! RICK PRICE 24 NatureAlberta

MOST AMERICAN PIPITS ARE LONG GONE SOUTH BY THE TIME THIS PHOTO WAS TAKEN ON OCTOBER 13TH, BUT OCCASIONALLY STRAGGLERS CAN BE FOUND AS LATE AS MID-NOVEMBER. AMERICAN PIPITS, WHICH USED TO BE KNOWN AS WATER PIPITS, NEST IN ALPINE REGIONS ABOVE THE TIMBERLINE. GEORGE HALMANZA

IT LOOKS AND FEELS LIKE AND MIGHT AS WELL BE WINTER TO THIS LAZULI BUNTING; BUT IT’S A RATHER COMMON SCENARIO IN WATERTON LAKES NATIONAL PARK DURING VARIED THRUSHES ARE HARDY BIRDS AND CAN BE FOUND (ALBEIT IN SMALL THE FIRST WEEK OF MAY. RICK PRICE NUMBERS) THROUGHOUT THE WINTER IN THE SOUTHERN HALF OF THE PROVINCE. SPOTTING ONE ON A SNOWY CREEKSIDE IS ONE OF THOSE SPECIAL MOMENTS FOR NATURALISTS. GEORGE HALMANZA

FOG… SNOW… BULL MOOSE… WINTER WILD! DEBBIE GODKIN WINTER 2013 25 Flicker BY LEN PETTITT This January, I have seen at least three Northern Flickers in the area above the Kennedale Ravine. We have feeders out – some seed and some suet feeders. Quite a few birds visit: Chickadees, Redpolls, House Finches, Woodpeckers (three types including Pileated) and Flickers. I have seen both Yellow-shafted (male and female) and also one Red-shafted male. Although the Flickers are considered strongly migratory, I wonder if there are more that winter now in the area due to the availability of food, as more people put out and keep feeders fi lled during the winter months?

LEN PETTITT

LEN PETTITT

Bald Eagle BY LEN PETTITT Even with the big swings in temperature and early heavy snow, it seems that these raptors will hang out close to the river, probably waiting for a wounded waterfowl as an easier mark for lunch. This photo was taken in the Hermitage Park area and near the North Saskatchewan River. 26 NatureAlberta

WILSON’S WARBLER. RON DONNELLY CAPE MAY WARBLER. RON DONNELLY CAPE MAY WARBLER. RON DONNELLY Late Warblers BY TED HINDMARCH This late migrating Wilson’s week of Nov through 11 Nov [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ Warbler was photographed in the [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ Albertabird/message/7952] “Late yard of Ron and Nancy Donnelly Albertabird/message/3021], and Report: Photos have confi rmed in Cold Lake south on 17 Oct. another Nov 2005 record in that another late migrant Cape that same yard [http://groups. May Warbler (fall adult male) was A late migrant Cape May Warbler yahoo.com/group/Albertabird/ observed 30 Oct 05 in a mountain showed up in the yard of Ron and message/7831]. ash at one of our society Nancy Donnelly in Cold Lake on members’ yards in Cold Lake 2 Nov 2012. Doing some further That same fall there was a south. Same location frequented research on late sightings of Cape 30 Oct, 2005 record at Ron and by the House Finches”. May Warblers in Cold Lake, I Nancy’s yard in Cold Lake south found that we had a November – the same yard as this latest late 2002 Cape May Warbler at a yard migrant has now shown up. A in Cold Lake North from fi rst snip from 10 Dec 2005 states:

House Finch Expansion BY TED HINDMARCH On 17 Oct 2012 at least 6 House 1970s, but signifi cant populations Finches visited Ron and Nancy did not develop until the late Donnelly’s yard (two of them 1990s. The fi rst report in the captured in the photo). House Bonnyville-Cold Lake checklist Finches have been steadily area was of a tentative sighting increasing their range north in 30 May 2005 at the then home Alberta. A “Birds Calgary” report of Del Huget, in Whispering advises that the fi rst Alberta House Spruce estates on the west shore Finches were reported from the of Cold Lake. That same May, mountains in the 1960s. Sightings House Finches were recorded in expanded to Calgary in the early Vilna, midway between Edmonton

A FEMALE AND MALE HOUSE FINCH. RON DONNELLY

Ted is President of the Beaver River Naturalist Society as well as Nature Alberta WINTER 2013 27 and Cold Lake. On 5 Jun 2005, period, although 2 were reported (3), 2009 (1), 2010 (12); and the a pair was confi rmed within the in Bonnyville this past year. In Cold Lake results provided earlier town of Bonnyville and on 9 Jun 2000 only 2 Alberta CBC circles in this report. They have yet to be 2005 a confi rmed sighting was reported House Finch (197 birds). reported by Fort McMurray. made of a male at a Beaver River By 2011, the number of reporting In Saskatchewan, Prince Albert Naturalist Society member home count circles had increased to 17 recorded House Finches in 2009 in Horseshoe Bay estates. House (3392 birds). (7), 2010 (5). It will be interesting Finches have now been irregularly For the Edmonton area the to watch the expansion of the observed in Cold Lake over the Edmonton CBC’s started reporting House Finch over the next past 7 years, several of these House Finches in 1995 (4), few years as development and sightings in Ron and Nancy’s yard. followed by 1998 (1) and annually populations continue to increase Following the initial 2005 from 2001 (1) through 2011 (941 – north in the province. The current sighting in Cold Lake, sporadic high count to date); St Albert has small numbers in locations north sightings were made during the reported annually since 2006 (12) of Hwy 16 may indicate winter summer, early fall, with a fl ock with a high count in 2010 (95); conditions remain too harsh for of 5, presumed to be a family Strathcona annually since 2007 an increase in the House Finch group, observed at Ron and (9) with a high count in 2010 population. To date, numbers Nancy’s feeder in Nov 2005 which (35); Fort Saskatchewan 2007 (1) do not appear to indicate any indicated probable breeding in the through 2010 (2) with a high in substantial increase in numbers of area that year. Since 2005 irregular 2008 (50): and Devon-Calmar 2005 resident wintering birds at each of sightings have continued. The (6), 2007 (38), 2011 (7), with high the listed population sites outside initial report of a wintering bird 2008 (43). of the Edmonton area. was reported on the Christmas A check of the records on more Bird Count (CBC) that same 2005 northerly Alberta Count Circles (6), with other reports in 2006 refl ect the following reports for (1), 2009 (5), 2010 (5), but there House Finches: Grande Prairie were no reports in 2011. They 2011 (2); Lac la Biche 2010 (8); have been seldom encountered Opal 2011 (1); Vermillion 2006 during the May species count

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Nature Alberta is now accepting a limited Full details, including rates and sizes, are available at: number of advertisements for future issues. online: www.naturealberta.ca Ad rates vary from $35 (business card size) to email: [email protected] $249 (full page), X2 for colour. phone: (780) 427 – 8124 EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a condensing of Ryan’s December, 2012 blog; to 28 NatureAlberta read more, plus his past walks through ecology, see http://akayokaki.blogspot.com.

AKAYO’KAKI A’PAWAAWAHKAA BY RYAN HEAVY HEAD; SIKOOHKOTOKI, KAINAISSKSAAHKOYI My Walk through Ecology, Dreams, Natural Education and Experience in Blackfoot Territory.

CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT IN off toward the dense chokecherries not fi nd any waterfowl at all; they’re SIKOOHKOTOKI (26 DEC 2012) below the coyote playground. usually easy to pin down at the small, 10:11. Sspopiikimi – Mahoney and fl owing crags of your average winter. 10:24. As we approach south- I have volunteered to cover the But a little ways down the trail, we pond, a second mamia’tsikimi fl ies western river bottom, from the see that a little ways ahead, at the high overhead, this one heading pond all the way to Whoop Up bend before Whoop Up, the opposite toward the neighborhoods above Bridge. The temperature’s about shoreline is thick with aapsspinii the coulee rim. At our feet, there twenty below and, starting off, [Canada Goose], and that there are have been more tracks. Some of everything seems pretty quiet, but quite a few kihtsipimiisa’aiksi [Common them belong to deer, probably the we’ll see. Goldeneye] diving in the river itself. awatoyiiksi (‘wag-tails’ or white- Counting through the thick steam 10:18. Hiking in, there are plenty of tails) who reside down here in the coming off the water, I confi rm at least signs of life…aapi’si [Coyote] tracks wet meadows and forest main. The a hundred and eighty-four geese, while galore, and therefore presumably a others belong, I’m fairly certain, to Mahoney gets a minimum of twenty- good number of subnivian rodents, the western jumping mouse, and fi ve goldeneyes. though the snow pack is really comprise a series of hops, with shallow, and we haven’t spotted feet parallel, and tail dragging all 11:30. A little further up the trail, along any little critter trails yet. the way, leading between favored the steep coulee slopes, we become Our fi rst live encounters occur seed plants like gumweed and wild surrounded by a small foraging fl ock before even reaching the licorice. of Common Redpolls. I fi gure at least seventeen of them, but they are so ksisskstakioyis at mid-pond. First 10:46. Reaching the wide south small and swift it’s diffi cult to know. we hear, and then spot, three pool, we’re surprised to fi nd They’re stopping off at several seed niipomakiiksi [Black-capped absolutely no birds in the currant plants, including Prairie Sunfl ower Chickadee] scouring the deep bark and bulberry patch above the and Wavy-leaved Thistle. Most of fi ssures of the mature a’siitsiksiistsi peninsula, nor in the brush leading the efforts, however, are focused on on the golf course. Then a single up the coulee draw there. It’s Canada Goldenrod. Their bills are mamia’tsikimi [Black-billed Magpie] unusual that these areas, which caked with the fl uff from goldenrod wings toward the north wood. And usually offer some of the best seeds. just when we think that’s it for the birding for small passerines, moment, a female omahkiitokii should be absent of such life. The [Ring- only ones here at the moment necked are sikaaatsisttaiksi [Mountain Pheasant] Cottontail], and we stop briefl y to is fl ushed greet one of them. from the 11:02. So much of the river is cutbank, open that I’m concerned we might gliding

RYAN HEAVY HEAD RYAN HEAVY HEAD RYAN HEAVY HEAD WINTER 2013 29

From our position on more conspicuous, and it’s the coulee slope, we can likely their main predators see even more aapsspini at the moment - eagles and upriver. I count another coyotes - would focus on the eighty-four. Mahoney larger, more obvious birds. and I are splitting up at Secondly though, so long as this point. She’s going to the aapsspini are near, the head back to Sspopiikimi goldeneyes have many sentries and the forest main, to owing to either their numbers, the to look-out for predators ensure her legs don’t give out while presence of so many geese, or the while they themselves are busy diving she’s too distant from our vehicle. amount of open water. In any case, underwater. I’m continuing upstream. I’m allowed to approach as close as I ponder these relationships as I 12:15. Hidden in the dense feels safe on the ice. continue moving, soon passing back Chokecherry shrubbery of this The goldeneyes are using some under the high-level bridge. Another fl at I’m surveying is a very small of the same fi shing strategies Magpie passes by. And somewhere and secluded oxbow wetland, employed by the pelicans in ahead, in the forest main, Mahoney complete with cattails and bulrush summer. A few of them will fl y has come across the kai’skaahp we hummocks. I walk across the ice, a short distance upstream, then call Peekaboo. looking for mi’sohpsski [Muskrat] allow the current to drift them over 13:35. Mahoney’s sighting of our old push-ups, hoping to fi nd evidence what I assume are the best fi shing porcupine friend is the last I hear that a few of them are still getting holes, where they dive vigorously from her. Even though warmed in around on the surface in this in pursuit of their prey. When they my pocket, my phone has fi nally season. No luck. But I do fi nd reach a certain point, they repeat succumbed to the freeze and died. another, rather distinct and fresh the process. Though they aren’t trail. It leads me to a hollow working as closely together as the With communications cut-off, I hustle under a shoreline pile of logs, a pelicans do, it seems at least that back toward our jeep. Soon, I too pass den no doubt originally carved same-gendered birds are somewhat Peekaboo. He’s asleep in the canopy out by a ksisskstaki [Beaver], but cooperative. At one point, I witness of one of the large poplars of the presently inhabited by the terrestrial a female come too close to a male, forest main. As I came to the clearing equivalent, kai’skaahp [Porcupine]. which prompts a violent chasing. at the north end of the forest, where Laying down on the snow to peer When the female ultimately the cutbank overlooks the big island into the den, sure enough a thickly- escapes, the male cranes his head on the Oldman, another male pheasant haired, sloth-like face looks back back onto his wings in display is fl ushed from the grass. I stop briefl y out at me. We inspect one another at the cutbank to count goldeneyes on 13:00. As I put my camera away quietly for a few moments, then the this downstream section of the river. and start seriously hiking back, a porcupine turns and moves deeper There are nine who I can see, and no cluster of aapsspini breaks off from into the logs, beyond my vision. geese to accompany or protect them. one of the upstream groups and 12:38. Eventually, I make my way drifts along beside me, eventually From there, I round north-pond and to the Oldman River and begin joining the northernmost fl ock. quickly arrive at the parking lot, where slowly walking the ice downstream, Along with them come several I fi nd Mahoney observing a group of back toward the pond. Along the goldeneyes, who obviously want ten niipomakiiksi, who are scouring way, I attempt to photograph the to keep near the geese. I fi gure the bark of a small cottonwood. These kihtsipimiisa’aiksi. They’re behaving the latter offer safety in several chickadees are the last we add to our surprisingly calm today, perhaps respects. First of all, the geese are contribution toward today’s bird count.

Ryan Heavy Head and his wife Adrienne are caretakers of a Beaver Bundle for the Blood Tribe of southern Alberta. He works as the coordinator of Kainai Studies at Red Crow College, on the Blood Reserve, where he teaches fi eld courses in phenology and traditional foods. 30 NatureAlberta

The Saga of “Ed” the Duck, and Others BY LORNE FITCH, P. BIOL.

In the movie “On Golden Pond” Henry Fonda’s character pursues a big trout named “Walter”. Walter the fi sh apparently had a personality and gave Fonda’s character meaning, if a fi sh can perform such a miracle. The attachment and dynamic tension between the two was poignant.

Walter reappeared, or was mallard with a ham allergy. Day drive a few years ago, to reincarnated, as a large Rainbow Whether or not Calgary “Ed” watch the timeless return of Trout named “Gus”. Gus had was allergic to ham was never waterfowl to prairie wetlands, been marooned in a water- determined but he remained we found a Short-eared Owl fi lled construction hole on the much averse to capture. His fate impaled on a barbed wire fence. grounds of the Sam Livingstone captivated the print and screen Short-eared Owls are not rare and Fish Hatchery in Calgary. Work media of Calgary (and much of saving this one would not have progressed around Gus on an southern Alberta) for almost two made a difference one way or the outdoor interpretive display for weeks. The nightly TV news had other to the grassland population the Bow Habitat Station along the updates on attempts to capture Ed of the species. That never entered banks of the Bow River. Workmen and liberate him from his human- our minds. We carefully extracted routinely checked to ensure the induced dilemma. Even the it from the barb and rushed it to trout was still occupying the deep national news had clips on this a wildlife rehabilitation center puddle. Care was taken not to wildlife drama. some distance away. There muddy the water or to disturb we expressed concern for its Ed eluded capture, ratcheting up Gus during construction. As an condition and offered a hefty the emotional outpouring from unintentional interpretive display donation to ensure it received well-meaning people. Finally and awareness program, Gus veterinary and extended care. one individual, in a Rambo-like succeeded beyond the best of When we found a post card in the enterprise, dove off a footbridge planned initiatives. mail many months later with news – snaring Ed, but breaking the of its successful convalescence Then there was the Mallard drake rescuer’s leg in the process. It’s and release, we were thrilled. in the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary hard to get that much exposure in Calgary with a plastic six-pack to wildlife in the media but Ed, The issue with that Short-eared holder fi rmly gripping his green with his plastic collar of a six-pack Owl and its kin relates more head. He became “Ed” the duck, holder, managed it in spades. to the loss of native grasslands likely linked to a British puppet and the fragmentation of the As a biologist I’m not immune landscape with fences which, in to the anthropomorphizing of this case, snared the unsuspecting wildlife, though I have resisted owl as it went about its business. naming individuals. On an Earth

Lorne Fitch is a Professional Biologist, Adjunct Professor with the University of Calgary and a retired Alberta Fish and Wildlife Biologist. He is a well-known speaker, writer and photographer, living in Lethbridge AB. “The Saga of “Ed” the Duck, and Others” is the seventh in a series of articles by Lorne. WINTER 2013 31

When Aldo Leopold suggested adaptability, connectivity and “thinking like a mountain”, it A fi xation on the individual resilience. It’s the habitat, not means considering the needs of does little to connect the the individual that defi nes the the whole wildlife community essential dots. persistence of wildlife and our (and landscape integrity) rather ability to interact, enjoy and learn than those of one member, from them. or one individual, alone. In Wildlife is not named Woody, or all of the coverage of Ed the The basic unit of biodiversity Smokey, or Pooh, nor does it live duck, not once was the loss of is not the individual but the a happy-go-lucky, magical life waterfowl habitat, especially the population of which that animal at Disneyland playing a ukulele pervasive loss of prairie wetlands or plant is a part. A population for the tourists. It doesn’t exist ever discussed. Gus the Rainbow should be thought of as the solely in a National Geographic Trout never got his message reproductive community, a factory special or as the emblem of an across that there are many rivers, that keeps turning out workable insurance company, a trucking or river reaches, in southern individuals. Evolution’s raw fi rm or a country. It often shares Alberta that are no longer trout material is not the individual but a common landscape with us; it habitat, let alone habitat for any the population whose pool of can be a metric showing how well fi sh, because of diversions for genes provides robustness and is we can manage that place and irrigation agriculture. the intermediary between today’s its disappearance should alarm individual and the future survival It is one thing to see an individual us. When only a remnant occurs of the population. Individuals are, bird (or any species of wildlife behind bars, or glass, in controlled in the greater scheme of things, or fi sh), to watch it, to identify circumstances it could be a expendable. It is the population, its characteristics and to name measure of failure. Alternately, the collection of individuals that the species. It is a far bigger step when populations of some species must meet the rigors of natural to realize what that individual explode into unsustainable selection over space and time. embodies: energetics, migration, numbers we have to ask what our Focusing on the individual – cute interactions, habits and habitats, role has been to accommodate or fi erce or iconic as the animal population dynamics and threats. that eruption. might be – is the wrong channel Until we can see through the bird, to be tuned to; context is the only In conservation the most to all the factors that make and channel that counts. powerful, evocative message is maintain a bird, a bird is all we about consequences and what is see. A fi xation on the individual does at stake for wildlife to persist. A little to connect the essential dots. The challenge is to distinguish deeper appreciation is, inevitably, It might be dangerous to over- between caring for the good of what connects us and helps us invest individual animals with a species and obsessing about realize we are of the same world symbolism. Who can resist the an individual creature. Picture and circumstance. To develop yawn of a lion, a Timber Wolf an animal: a bright eye, the empathy for fellow creatures, to howling on a snowy ridge or a sleekness of hair or fur, the care, to envision a future for them, dappled White-tailed Deer fawn fi erce independence, wildness. as well as ourselves, requires the nestled in tall grass? But unless Everything else disappears, acquisition of a sense of context. we connect that lion, wolf or sometimes even the bars on the It is balancing the emotion deer to place, the place may not cage. Whether a photograph or related to the individual with remain to sustain the individual. a fl esh and blood sighting, what pragmatism about the population Wildlife should be seen as the jumps into focus is the animal. and its habitat. The rest is just embodiment of the landscape in The background, the population, unconnected distraction, tinged which they survive. A focus on the the connections and the habitat with entertainment. landscape, including the human are out of focus, out of mind and footprint, provides a lesson on largely unseen, unobserved. 32 NatureAlberta Beetle Hitchhikers!

Del McKinnon, of the Purple Martin Conservancy (a Nature Alberta Affi liate Club) recently sent a photo of

a burying beetle which had hit a window. A close look PHORETIC MITES ON SEXTON BEETLE (POECILOCHIRUS SPP). at this rather attractive creature revealed about twelve LYNETTE SCHIMMING/CREATIVE COMMONS arachnids bumming a ride. Were they parasites?

Not parasites, says John Acorn, Phoresys is a method which some The “beetle bus” can often get but rather phoretic mites hitching animals use for transportation quite overloaded, which results a ride. John thought the burying – sort of public transit for in preventing said beetle from beetle was Nicrophorus defodiens. arthropods. In this case, the mites normal movement. Thus, hitching The mites, as identifi ed by Heather clung to the burying beetle in a ride may sometimes defeat the Proctor, are Poecilochirus spp; there order to move some distance purpose of phoresys if the bus are, says Heather, lots of photos away; at some point, they would is as full as demonstrated by the and information on them at: http:// release their grip and fall to the Sexton Beetle photo. bugguide.net/node/view/87680 ground.

DEL’S BEETLE. DEL MCKINNON WINTER 2013 33

IT WASN’T JUST NATURALISTS THAT WERE WATCHING BIRDS! JACK BORNO Wings of Spring: The 2012 May Species Count for Birds BY JUDY BOYD [ NATURE ALBERTA SUMMARY ] The number of species went down in 2012: from 279 last year to 272 this year; the number of individual birds also went down: 257,605 from 310,396.

In 2011, the most numerous TABLE 1. 2012 May Species Count Sightings at Single Location species was Franklin’s Gull with Location Species a whopping 138,350. Second BowKanBirders American Tree Sparrow, Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch was Red-winged Blackbird with Brooks Semipalmated Plover, Ruddy Turnstone, Western Sandpiper, Dunlin 8,956 and third was Cliff Swallow with 7,725. This year, the most Calgary Surf Scoter, Clark’s Grebe, Northern Hawk Owl, Northern Pygmy Owl numerous species was again Cardston Eurasian Wigeon Franklin’s Gull with 38,894 (but Central Alberta Short-billed Dowitcher 100,000 less than 2011). Second Claresholm Northern Mockingbird was Cliff Swallow with 15,953 Cold Lake Yellow Rail, Sedge Wren, Black-throated Green Warbler, Bay-breasted and third was Canada Goose with Warbler 10,752. Crowsnest Pass Pacifi c-slope Flycatcher, Common Redpoll Last year, 26 species were seen in Fort McMurray Yellow-bellied Flycatcher only one location and 19 species Lac La Biche Virginia Rail were found in only two locations around the province. See Table Lethbridge Great Egret 1 for 2012 single locations and Medicine Hat. Yellow-breasted Chat Table 2 for two locations: Taber-Vauxhall Brewer’s Sparrow Waterton Pine Grosbeak GRAY-CROWNED ROSY-FINCH. 34 NatureAlberta NATURESPICSONLINE.COM

TABLE 2. 2012 May Species Count Sightings at Two Locations Location Species Central AB, Calgary Northern Goshawk Brooks, Medicine Hat Rough-legged Hawk Calgary, BowKanBirders Peregrine Falcon, Golden-crowned Kinglet Calgary, Cold Lake American Golden Plover, Chestnut-sided Warbler Last year we had three species in all areas: Brooks, Calgary Hudsonian Godwit Canada Goose, Tree Swallow and American Brooks, Cold Lake White-rumped Sandpiper Robin. This year only the American Robin was Cold Lake, Lac La Biche Connecticut Warbler seen in all areas. Last year four species were Calgary, Claresholm Bullock’s Oriole found in all but one area, and thirteen species were found in all but two areas. This year eight Brooks, Milk River Burrowing Owl species were found in all but one area: Canada Calgary, Fort McMurray Black-backed Woodpecker Goose, Mallard, Buffl ehead, Wilson’s Snipe, Fort McMurray, Lac La Biche Philadelphia Vireo Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Red-winged Crowsnest Pass, Waterton Stellar's Jay, Cassin’s Finch Blackbird and Brown-headed Cowbird. This Brooks, Taber Gray-cheeked Thrush, Grasshopper Sparrow year six species were found in all but two areas: Sora, Northern Flicker, American Crow, Cold Lake, Yamnuska Palm Warbler Common Raven, Yellow Warbler, and Chipping Cold Lake, Fort McMurray Canada Warbler Sparrow.

Ruth Catana Moving On

Ruth Catana, Chief Operating development of Nature Canada’s so much on behalf of nature Offi cer at Nature Canada, has major program initiatives.” conservation both in Canada and resigned effective November throughout the Americas.” Ruth has accepted a position 30th, 2012. Ruth is well known by (Executive Director) with St. Nature Alberta joins Nature Canada in many Nature Alberta folks, as she Patrick’s Home of Ottawa thanking Ruth for her professionalism, worked with NA very often over Foundation. Exclaimed Ruth: dedication and commitment to the the years. “Being involved at Nature Canada organization’s mandate. Ian Davidson, Nature Canada’s has been a great opportunity Executive Director, said: “We for me both are very proud of Ruth’s professionally and accomplishments over the last 17 personally which has years. She played an instrumental allowed me to meet role and contributed signifi cantly and work with some to the development of Nature wonderful people. Canada. During her tenure she I am proud to have oversaw the growth of Nature played a role in an Canada’s membership services organization that and played a vital role in the has accomplished WINTER 2013 35

John Acorn Wins RSC Award for Promoting Science John Acorn has won the 2012 Royal Society of Canada’s McNeil Medal, awarded for outstanding ability to promote and communicate science to students and the public within Canada.

It’s the latest acknowledgement of by the University Acorn’s work to promote science of Alberta Press. and share his passion for nature, Acorn has written and insects in particular, to a 16 books so general audience. In 2008, he won far, including NSERC’s Michael Smith Award for a wide variety Science Promotion, and in 1998 he of fi eld guides was the recipient of the ASTech such as Tiger Award for Excellence in Science Beetles of Alberta, and Technology Journalism. Compact Guide to Alberta Birds, Bugs of Northern Acorn is best known as the host produced a radio series about California, and a children’s book and creative force of Acorn, the dinosaurs at one point), is his about dinosaurs. He is currently Nature Nut, an award-winning, ability to communicate his working on another fi eld guide, fun and creative television series enthusiasm for insects and nature. expected to come out in 2013, that was produced in Edmonton “Enthusiasm is contagious,” said about eastern Canada butterfl ies. and ran for seven seasons on John. “It’s at least as important as a variety of networks including “When someone says, ‘I got your the subject matter.” CTV, PBS, Discovery Canada and book and I just want to get out John is President of the Alberta Animal Planet, among others. there and chase ladybugs or Lepidopterist Guild and a tiger beetles or whatever,’ that’s What pleased Acorn most member of the Edmonton Nature the thing that really makes me about this award was that the Club, both Nature Alberta club happy,” Acorn said. nomination, which he only saw members. Nature Alberta heartily after being told he won, focused He added that the key to his congratulates John on receiving more on his work as an author, success, whether in television the McNeil Medal! especially those books published or in books or even radio (he

From an article by Michel Proulx, Sept 13, 2012, University of Alberta, Faculty of ALES website: (www.ales.ualberta.ca/ALESNews/) 36 NatureAlberta

First Hand: More Great Wildlife Encounters A Hallowe’en Treat BY EILEEN FORD The trick or treaters have of the afternoon an American demanded their treats. A Raven come and gone and so has my Robin and a Starling foraged in “kr-a-a-ked” over and three appropriately-attired Hallowe’en the same area, albeit the Starling Magpies would periodically upset visitor. He appeared just after was interested mainly in the the scene. Some 200 metres noon on October 31 and helped berries of the mountain ash. A further west on the partially himself to goodies from beneath few metres away, at the feeders frozen wetland, a majestic adult the spruce boughs and the and bird bath, the gluttonous Bald Eagle threatened the lone mountain ash. What a sight with Black-capped Chickadees, House Tundra Swan, the Coots, and the his orange and black costume Finches, English Sparrows, Pine ducks. All the while, a female against a background of frosty Siskins, Juncos, Red-breasted and Northern Harrier performed her branches. White-breasted Nuthatches, a aerials in hopes of securing some Downy Woodpecker, a Northern Hallowe’en treats of her own. An adult male Varied Thrush Flicker, a Blue Jay, and three (Ixoreus naevius) retains his vivid A memorable Hallowe’en! Eurasian Collared-Doves, all colours through the winter. Chris Fisher and John Acorn, in Birds of Alberta, tell us that “the Varied A VARIED THRUSH, WITH A DIFFERENT THRUSH SPECIES – A ROBIN – SITTING TO ITS LEFT. Thrush is typically a bird of damp EILEEN FORD coastal coniferous forests, but it extends its range into Alberta in appropriate habitat. Varied Thrushes arrive early to Alberta; they can be seen hopping under feeders and along open shorelines in mountain townsites by the end of March…In fall, most Varied Thrushes have left the mountains by the end of September. Every year a few birds seem to become disoriented and head east instead of west…” How fortunate for us! By early evening he had his fi ll and now has moved on. For most WINTER 2013 37

LEN PETTITT First Hand from Len Pettitt Len Pettitt is often out in nature with camera in hand, so he gets many chances to encounter some great wildlife sightings. Here are just two of them.

CARSON LAKE LOONS wildlife is fairly abundant in this I’m not sure if they were raised On September 6th, in the area. The man-made ponds and here or in migration mode. One company of a friend, we traveled constructed Kennedale wetland evening I saw a Great Blue Heron to Carson Lake to try fi shing have many waterfowl and a few feeding near the edge of a pond. for Rainbow Trout. We were shorebirds. I have seen Canada Walking a bush trail turned up successful in catching three Goose, Mallard, American Cedar Waxwing, House Finch keepers and had them in a live Wigeon, Red-necked Grebe, and one Black-and-white Warbler. well close to our spot on the Pied-billed Grebe and Common Mammals so far have been Red walkway at shore. There were two Merganser. The latter was a bit of Squirrel, Coyote and White-tailed Common Loons in the area and a surprise; there was a group of Jackrabbit. I am pleased with the one was attracted to the fi sh in the three Common Mergansers and results. live well. Thus with my camera at hand, I was able to get a few shots at fairly close range!

EDMONTON WILDLIFE After moving from Camrose we are settled in Edmonton for about ten days now [August 28th]. Since my main hobby is taking photos of wildlife, I had a concern as to how far I might have to travel. Well, my concern has been allayed. We live not far from Hermitage Park and after a few short hikes found that

A FEMALE COMMON MERGANSER. LEN PETTITT 38 NatureAlberta

PETRA ROWELL First Hand from Petra Rowell Petra is Nature Alberta’s Executive Director and came upon a rather unusual sight! I was travelling home after a great think that, while we often focus appears to be what attracted this day of birding at a number of on habitat we are losing, we don’t Osprey to the area. The light Important Bird Areas in central often think about the habitat standard beside the lake made a Alberta. Just as I passed the we are creating! Over the years, perfect perch for this piciverous stormwater pond that is Lacombe Lacombe Lake has been stocked predator to feast upon his bloody Lake in St. Albert (immediately with trout and also has become but colorful prey! north of Edmonton), I saw this the recipient of a large number of sight (see photo). It made me unwanted domestic Koi - which

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. WINTER 2013 39

YEAR OF THE BAT Bats in the News: Learning from Friends

The biological sonar system Spanjer Wright and her a “feeding buzz” (a very high called echolocation is a colleagues trained 12 frequency call that bats use to powerful tool for insect-hunting “demonstrator bats” to catch home in on prey), the naive bats. Now an innovative the mealworm. By repeatedly bat stayed very close to the experiment with Big Brown changing the worm’s location, demonstrator, the BBC reported. Bats suggests that young bats the bats had to use echolocation Spanjer Wright told the reporter learn to use echolocation by pulses to hunt for it, the BBC that there previously had been no eavesdropping on the calls of said. conclusive evidence that young, their more-experienced hunting Then 22 young “naive” bats were insect-eating bats used social companions, the BBC reports. added to the experiment. Half of learning to acquire hunting skills. Reporter Victoria Gill said this is them were released into the cage “This is good evidence that they the fi rst study to show that bats while the trained demonstrator do,” she said, “and it [shows] the (at least Big Browns [Eptesicus bats hunted for the mealworm, mechanism by which the bats fuscus]) actively listen for the Gill said. The other half fl ew may learn: by increasing their echolocation calls of other bats with untrained bats. interaction with a knowledgeable in order to learn from them. demonstrator bat.” “When the naive bats then Such social learning has been fl ew on their own, most of the Biologist Marc Holderied of confi rmed in many mammals, animals that had previously Bristol University in the United but until now it had not been fl own with an experienced Kingdom told the BBC that bats clearly demonstrated in bats. demonstrator knew how to of many species tend to fl y in A University of Maryland capture the mealworm,” Spanjer small groups, which had been team, led by graduate student Wright told the BBC. “None interpreted as social learning. Genevieve Spanjer Wright, of the ones that fl ew with an “But this experiment provides conducted the experiment in untrained bat captured the very convincing evidence that a fl ight cage, tracking bats as worm.” this species specifi cally looks at they “hunted” a mealworm experienced foragers to learn how An analysis of video from suspended on a string, Gill to forage.” the experiment revealed that reported. The results are whenever an experienced bat published in the journal Animal found the worm and emitted Behaviour.

From: Bat Conservation Times; September 2011, Volume 9, Number 10 40 NatureAlberta

THE WINTER CRANE FLY SEEN BY JOHN AND SANDRA. JOHN MCFAUL Wildlife! Starring… Winter Crane Flies BY DENNIS BARESCO

On Jan 24th, John McFaul and Sandra Foss were out cross-country skiing near Cochrane during a very snowy and hard-blowing windy day. Crawling on the snow and fi ghting through the snow crystals were some long-legged and odd-looking creatures.

John and Sandra always see Winter (or Snow) Crane Flies (in Adults do not feed (neither do them, but never knew what they the genus Chionea) were named summer crane fl ies) but may drink were and why they were out for the obvious: they occur during water by actively seeking out the there in weather hardly fi t for a winter, usually in forested areas, coldest place they can fi nd and human much less an insect. and can be seen walking on pressing their proboscis against snow, just like John and Sandra the snow. Well, we learn stuff every day! saw. As with a surprisingly large Who knew there was a genus Why don’t they freeze? They number of animals, the natural of crane fl ies that could be seen produce glycerol in their history knowledge of Winter during the winter? Okay, maybe hemolymph (a fl uid in the insect’s Crane Flies is not complete; many of you knew, but this circulatory system) which prevents however, some information is naturalist did not. them from freezing. Chionea are known or at least surmised. A CLOSER LOOK AT A CHIONEA NIVALIS. WINTER 2013 41 TOM MURRAY/CREATIVE COMMONS

wingless, probably because at Considering sub-freezing temperatures, it is the diffi culties very hard to generate enough associated energy for maintaining fl ight with being an muscles. insect in icy conditions, one However, unlike the fl ying has to wonder summer crane fl ies, being why this trait wingless is very limiting as evolved. One far as getting around. Limited reason given is range creates a problem – a the absence of big problem! When walking predators; other speed may be only about 1.3 than perhaps metres per minute (though Chionea valga (likely the species mice and a few species of apparently males can leap if photographed by John) is the most birds, there are not a lot of they wish), fi nding a mate widely distributed species of Winter insect-eaters out in the dead takes on an urgency. For that Crane Flies, ranging from central of winter. That may be the reason, it is thought, mating Alberta eastward to coastal Labrador. reason why some other insects is indiscriminate. It takes 30 Life span is about two months, (albeit, very few) are out and to 70 minutes. Unlike winged which is considerably longer than about during winter: the very crane fl ies which mate facing winged crane fl ies, which only have numerous springtails (“snow in opposite directions, Winter a week to ten days. fl eas”) and winged insects like Crane Flies position themselves some winter stonefl ies and For more information on Winter like many beetles do. Females some midges. Crane Flies, see: www.emporia.edu/ store their eggs in the space ksn/v38n2-may1992/index.html normally taken by the fl ight muscles, with as many as 200 eggs laid singly.

It is horrifying that we have to fi ght our own government to save the environment. ANSEL ADAMS (1902 – 1984) GRAY JAY IN WATERTON. 42 NatureAlberta RICK PRICE

Up Close Naturally: Early Nesters BY MARGOT HERVIEUX

No matter what the winter weather, early March is nesting time for a hand-full of local birds.

It is hard to imagine ever sitting later use, thus providing valuable At this time of year you may also on eggs for weeks, let alone doing provisions during late springs. notice signs of courtship among it at sub-zero temperatures. For some year-round residents. Even more unusual are the Red some northern residents, however, The two-note whistle of the and White-winged Crossbills, getting a jump on the season is Black-capped Chickadee is their which use their very distinctive worth enduring the cold. territorial spring song. Raven crossed beaks to pry seeds out pairs can be spotted sitting The prize for fi rst egg in the nest of pine and spruce cones. The together grooming or doing aerial goes to the Gray Jay which is often fl ocks are nomadic, moving from acrobatics. Other owls, including called a “whiskey jack.” These feeding area to feeding area. the tiny Saw-whet Owl with its outgoing birds stay year-round When they fi nd a site with a good repetitive whistle and the larger on their territory with their life- cone crop they will nest, whether Barred Owl that says “who cooks long mates. Lengthening days in it is February or August. They for you”, are also beginning to late February trigger a fl urry of do make one allowance for the call. nest building activity. Over the weather, however, and build a course of two weeks, a tangled more substantial nest during the Birds big and small can survive a cup of twigs and grass is carefully winter months. northern winter but only if they lined with moss, lichen, feathers, can fi nd food. Nesting early gives Another late-winter nester is hair and even fur. Hidden in the local residents a head start over Alberta’s provincial bird, the Great crotch of a spruce tree, the nest is the competition arriving from Horned Owl. February and March partly exposed to the sun for extra the south but that only works is the time to start listening for warmth. if your young don’t need juicy their deep whoo whoo--whoo- insects to live on. It is defi nitely By the middle of March, two to six whoo whooo in wooded areas more challenging to raise a family hungry youngsters inhabit the nest. after dark. Old hawk or crow during the coldest season but, for Mother jay will continue to provide nests are the preferred choice for a few hardy birds, the benefi ts warmth for her brood whenever nesting and two or three owlets out-weigh the risks. necessary, leaving fl edge in mid-May – just in time Dad doing most of to practice their hunting skills on the food gathering. a wide variety of young mammals Gray Jays actively and birds. store food for

Margot also writes a column for the Peace Country Sun, archived copies of which are available at www.peacecountrysun.com. WINTER 2013 43

CELESTIAL HAPPENINGS Starry Nights Spring (March to May) BY JOHN MCFAUL FEATURED CONSTELLATION: CENTAURUS AND CRUX

In the second century AD Claudius its relative closeness it would take in the 1600’s. Of all the southern Ptolemy catalogued 48 constellations. Voyager 1, the fastest space craft sent constellations Crux is the most sought by Most of these constellations are visible from Earth traveling at 17 km/sec, travelers to the southern hemisphere. In to Albertans. However, some of these over 73,000 years to reach it. fact it did provide guidance to the early can only be seen very low on the sailors of the southern seas, as the vertical Below Centaurus is the small southern horizon during the spring axis of the cross points toward the South constellation Crux also known as the months. This is because Ptolemy Pole. There are 5 nations which have the Southern Cross. This constellation did his work in the ancient Egyptian Southern Cross as part of their national was considered as being part of city of Alexandria whose latitude is fl ags. Unfortunately Crux is not visible Centaurus by Ptolemy, but was since some 28 degrees south of Alberta’s. from Alberta. separated as its own constellation One such constellation is Centaurus –the Centaur whose northern stars barely peak above Alberta’s southern CELESTIAL HAPPENINGS horizon during the spring months. Sun: Rise – March 1 (7:21 MST), April 1 (7:06 MDT), May 1 (5:58 MDT) Centaurus was Chiron, the offspring Set – March 1 (18:12 MST), April 1 (20:10 MDT), May 1 (21:05 MDT) of the titan Cronus and the oceanid Note: Day Light Savings Time started on March 10th. Spring Equinox occurs at 5:02 Philyra. In order to seek the favour MST on March 20th. of Philyra, Cronus turned himself into a horse. As a result Chiron had Moon: Full – March 27, April 25, May 24 the body of a horse and the torso New – March 11, April 10, May 9 and head of a human. Unlike most Planets: Mercury may be seen with diffi culty very low in the eastern sky just before sunrise of the centaurs that were mostly a in late March. In late May it can be seen low in the western sky just after sunset. At lustful, rowdy bunch, Chiron was very this time it forms a nice grouping (conjunction) with Venus and Jupiter. civilized and intellectual. He was a Venus is hidden from view by the Sun’s glare until late May when it will be seen teacher of many of the gods. One day very low in the western sky just after sunset. At this time it will be very close to he was accidently injured by a poison Jupiter and Mercury in the evening twilight. arrow dropped or shot by Hercules. Mars is too close to the sun to be seen this season. Being immortal he could not escape his suffering until he traded places Jupiter continues to ride the back of Taurus the Bull in the evening sky. In March with the mortal Prometheus. This it is 40 degrees above the western horizon after sunset. By late May it will set soon heroic act was rewarded by Zeus who after sunset. The Moon will be nearby on March 17th, April 14th and May 12th. placed Chiron amongst the stars. Saturn is opposite the Sun during the spring season. In March it rises in the east in the late evening hours. By the end of April and into May it will rise around The brightest star in Centaurus is sunset time and sets a little before sunrise. The moon will be close to Saturn on Rigel Kent also known as alpha March 27th, April 26th and May 23rd. centuari. It is actually a double star with a third star orbiting the pair Meteor Shower: Lyrids (April 21, 15/hour in a dark sky), Eta Aquirids (May 4th, 20/hour) known as Proxima Centauri. This The rate of meteors observed is for dark skies well away from city lights and with no Moon. is the closest star to the earth being Comet PanSTARRS: This moderately bright comet will be visible from the middle of March about 4.24 light years away. Despite through early April low in the western sky shortly after sunset. Binoculars may be required to see it well. 44 NatureAlberta EARTH MATTERS CONFERENCE The Alberta Council for Environmental Education is hosting a conference in Canmore AB, April 25-27, 2013 The full program with workshop descriptions, as well as registration, is now available at http://abcee.org/conference/

Keynote speaker is Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods and Alberta students, connecting with your colleagues, fi nding inspiration The Nature Principle, a speaker who will inspire you and remind you of and support from the dynamic environmental education community, the importance of getting people outdoors – and how you can do that. and a lot of fun: that’s what you’ll gain from this Earth Matters Conference. Over three dozen workshops, fi ve hours working with colleagues in a Community of Practice of your own design, ‘Environmental For Nature Alberta, Kelsie Sharun, for Young Naturalists, and Brianne Responsibility’ competence that Alberta Education proposes for all Lovstrom, for Living by Water, are both planning to attend.

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! E-VERSION » Individual*: $20/yr; $35/2-yr Donations welcome! MAIL TO: Nature Alberta Family**: $35/yr; $65/2-yr Your support means Attn: Membership Life: $1,000 ($450 tax receipt) a great deal to 11759 Groat Road Edmonton, AB Nature Alberta and its * add $10/yr for hard copy of magazine T5M 3K6 ** add $15/yr for hard copy of magazine conservation objectives. COTTONTAILS SPEND THEIR TIME IN SHRUBBY AND WOODY HABITAT, WHERE BROWNISH COLOURS ARE BETTER CAMOUFLAGE. THUS, THEY DON’T TURN WHITE IN WINTER LIKE HARES. RYAN HEAVY HEAD

PORCUPINES ARE DRESSED FOR WINTER: A DENSE, WOOLLY UNDERCOAT; LONG GUARD HAIRS; THOSE STIFF QUILLS; AND OF COURSE, LOTS OF BODY FAT! PAUL HORSLEY

SEE “CLOSE TO HOME: INSPIRATION” PG 18. JOHN WARDEN VOLUME 42 | NUMBER 4 | WINTER 2013 Naturegallery

MOUNTAIN GOATS AT PLAIN OF THE SIX GLACIERS, BANFF NATIONAL PARK. EWEN CLARK

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