WINTER 2021 VOLUME 50 | NUMBER 4
A COMMUNITY CONNECTED BY A NATURE LOVE OF NATURE ALBERTA MAGAZINE
Eastern Kingbirds Avian Attitude
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Give. Grow. Transform. Call 780-426-0015 or visit our website www.ecfoundation.org CONTENTS
WINTER 2021
02 The President’s Perspective 03 Nature Alberta News 04 Parks Win a Reprieve 05 Eastern Kingbirds 24 08 Winter LakeKeepers
10 Why Are Common Loon Chicks Becoming Less Common? 14 A Fisheye View of Cumulative Effects in Alberta’s Southern East Slopes 18 Keep Those Wily Urban Coyotes Wild! 22 The Road to 50: A Logo, a Look, a Legacy 24 Birding the Badlands 14 30 Stories in the Snow 32 Nature Kids 36 Meet a Member Club 37 Alberta's Nocturnal Owl Survey 18 10
NATURE ALBERTA MAGAZINE WINTER 2021 | 1 NATURE ALBERTA MAGAZINE THE PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE VOLUME 50 | NUMBER 4 | WINTER 2021 ISSN 1713-8639 Publisher Nature Alberta As I write this, 2020 is finally ending; a year of Managing Editor Jason Switner unprecedented challenges, global changes, like Technical Editor Richard Schneider an opened Pandora’s box. It’s a time of change for Creative Susan May, intrinsic design Nature Alberta, too, as we say goodbye to Linda Cover Image Myrna Pearman Howitt-Taylor as president. For the past three Editorial Committee years she has been advocating and promoting the The Magazine Editorial Committee, which consists of dedicated volunteers, who all have changes needed to revitalize Nature Alberta. Her a passion for nature, lend their respective leadership has helped guide and build dynamic experience and expertise to developing editorial outlines, commissioning articles and teams that will drive us successfully into 2021 and beyond. As incoming President, I thank reviewing/vetting article submissions for the Linda for everything she has done and the inspiration she has provided. She now moves magazine. The committee includes: Lu Carbyn into the position of Past President, where her knowledge and expertise will be valued and Linda Howitt-Taylor called upon. I wish Linda all the best and hope she now has more time to relax and enjoy Kim MacKenzie Valerie Miller the natural Alberta around her. Richard Schneider To introduce myself, my name is Elizabeth Watts. I have a B.Sc. in Microbiology, and Content [email protected] have enjoyed a career in clinical trials research — lots of data for processing and details Subscriptions [email protected] to be scrutinized. While not known for any hiking ability, I love being outside, camping Nature Alberta magazine is published four times per year by: and soaking up the beauty of Alberta. I plan on taking up kayaking at the first available Nature Alberta opportunity. I’m on the board of the Alberta Mycological Society, and enjoy guided forays 11759 Groat Road in the fields and forests (my personal favourite) learning about the boundless world Edmonton, AB T5M 3K6 (780) 427-8124 of fungi, including what is and is not OK to eat. I live close to Elk Island National Park, [email protected] so volunteering on the Friends of Elk Island Society board is a natural fit. We work to Nature Alberta Magazine (electronic) is made available free of charge at naturealberta.ca. promote, conserve and research the unique ecosystems found in the Park, and support Print copies of Nature Alberta Magazine are educational needs as they arise. available by annual subscription, which covers the cost of postage and handling of four 2020 has shown us that change is possible and adaptation is necessary. The pandemic issues per year for $30 Canada (Canadian has resulted in a surge in people's desire to reconnect with nature. We can build on funds + GST). Publications Mail Agreement No. 40015475 that and collaborate with the diverse network of clubs, organizations and individuals Advertising in Nature Alberta Magazine is throughout Alberta that appreciate the unique ecology and beauty of our land. Even not considered an endorsement by Nature during the winter months, we can use innovative solutions and technology — including Alberta. Opinions expressed by the authors of articles included in this publication do not our new website, social media, and video conferencing to connect to and enhance our necessarily reflect those of Nature Alberta experience of “This Land of Ours” (with apologies to Oscar Brand). or its affiliates. The Editorial Committee reserves the right to edit, reject or withdraw Whether you’re a longtime member or new to Nature Alberta, I welcome you as we any articles submitted. This publication is venture into the new year. Thank you for adding your voice to those who speak on behalf copyrighted and no part may be reproduced in any form, in all or in part, without the written of our natural environment. consent of Nature Alberta. ©Nature Alberta 2021 About Nature Alberta Alberta is home to incredible natural spaces comprised of beautiful and varied ELIZABETH WATTS landscapes, and rich biodiversity reflected in our abundant and diverse flora and fauna. Across the province, natural history clubs and their members are engaging Albertans NATURE ALBERTA BOARD OF DIRECTORS in the conservation and appreciation of this Directors natural heritage. Nature Alberta represents a Executive Committee President Liz Watts Alberta Native Plant Council Kimberly Seifert-MacKenzie network of these natural history organizations Treasurer Gerben Deinum Buffalo Lake Naturalists Claudia Lipski in Alberta. Secretary Amy Bergunde Edmonton Nature Club Len Shrimpton Past President Linda Howitt-Taylor Grasslands Naturalists Angela Turner Lac la Biche Birding Society Jennifer Okrainec Lethbridge Naturalists Society Ted Nanninga A COMMUNITY Patron Nature Calgary Kaya Konopnicki CONNECTED BY A John Acorn LOVE OF NATURE Peace Parkland Naturalists Margot Hervieux Red Deer River Naturalists Tony Blake NATUREALBERTA.CA Member at Large Brian Joubert
2 | WINTER 2021 NATURE ALBERTA MAGAZINE Nature Alberta News
The New naturealberta.ca Urban Nature Initiative Update Have you had a chance to explore Since this past spring, Urban Nature Initiative our completely revamped website? (UNI) Coordinator Kelsie Norton has worked It’s been rebuilt from the ground up to with homeowners throughout the Edmonton emphasize three core themes: Learn to create urban oases — yards equipped with About Nature, Experience Nature, various tools and techniques to enhance and and Protect Nature. Combining a hub support biodiversity. The results of the program of resources with an ever-expanding are now available to see — and inspire! library of content — including Visit naturealberta.ca/support-urban-nature integrating articles from this magazine to watch four videos that feature homeowners in a searchable blog-like format — our putting beneficial management practices aim is to become the best resource (BMPs) into action in their yards. These folks available to learn about nature and accomplished some pretty impressive things conservation in Alberta. in just one season. If you’re inspired to make The site is designed to serve as a some changes in your yard, you don’t have to hub for what we hope will become go it alone. Supporting Nature and Biodiversity a Nature Network — a place where in Urban Yards is packed with tips and techniques all our member clubs can spotlight just like the ones put into practice on the their news and events, so anyone demonstration yards. You can read or download a in the province can easily find and copy at naturealberta.ca/support-urban-nature, participate in activities in their area. or contact [email protected] for a physical We’re excited to have an online copy. presence that can grow along with us We have to give special thanks to Ryan as an organization! Northcott of Panoramic Media for the beautiful work on the videos. Panoramic Media specializes in corporate filmmaking and drone photography and cinematography, bringing a wider perspective to the production process. Ryan’s work speaks for itself and we would encourage anyone looking for professional video production to get in touch with him. Visit panoramicmedia.com or email [email protected]. We also thank the Edmonton Community Foundation for funding the UNI, and homeowners like Lissa, Amanda, Holly, and Calvin for sharing their urban nature journeys.
NATURE ALBERTA MAGAZINE WINTER 2021 | 3 CONSERVATION ISSUES A NATURE ALBERTA PERSPECTIVE
Parks Win a Reprieve
lbertans love their parks! Individu- in the East Slopes, permitted the sale of mining. In December, nearly 2,000 ha Aals like you from across the prov- Crown lands, increased the intensity of of East Slopes landscapes that the ince have written to the government by forest harvesting, reduced environmen- Lougheed government identified as the thousands, voicing their opposition tal monitoring, and permitted hunting ecologically sensitive were put up for to the proposal to delist 164 parks from of sandhill cranes for the first time in bid. A large open-pit mine, proposed the provincial parks system. And thou- Alberta’s history. by Australian mining giant Benga sands of "Defend Alberta Parks" lawn It is important that we celebrate Mining, is already in review, and many signs have sprung up in neighborhoods the policy reversal on parks and more are in queue. You can read more everywhere. Fortunately, it seems the acknowledge the power we have to about the implications of mining in message finally got through. effect change by working together. this important landscape in Sarah Just before Christmas, like Ebenezer But don’t take those lawn signs down Milligan’s article on page 14. Scrooge, Minister of Environment and just yet! This is not a time to be Coal: The Good News Parks Jason Nixon appeared to have a complacent. This year the government The new coal mines in the East change of heart, declaring that “Many will be advancing plans to align the Slopes are targeting metallurgical Albertans, including myself, love and management of parks and public lands, coal, mainly for export to Asia. The value our parks and wild spaces.” More and there is a danger that the level of news is much better for the thermal significantly, he reversed the govern- protection within parks could decline coal that is burned to make much of ment’s policy direction and promised, as a result. Alberta conservation groups, Alberta’s electricity. TransAlta and in writing, that no parks will be delisted including Nature Alberta, are prepared Capital Power — the two main pro- and that “all will retain their current des- to engage on this front to keep our parks ducers of coal-generated power in the ignations and associated protections.” protected. We hope that you will remain province — are transitioning from coal This is an important development. As engaged as well, since it’s the choir, not to natural gas years ahead of schedule recounted in the Summer 2020 issue of the conductor, that makes the music. (now 2021 and 2023, respectively). Nature Alberta Magazine, the Alberta Coal: The Bad News This will reduce greenhouse gas government has been rapidly advancing Since rescinding Alberta’s long- emissions by millions of tonnes each an anti-environmental policy agenda. standing Coal Policy, the Kenney year, reduce the release of mercury In addition to the proposed delisting of government has wasted no time in and other pollutants into the air, and parks, it has rescinded the Coal Policy leasing the once-protected lands for coal reduce the demand for thermal coal put in place to protect sensitive lands mining.
4 | WINTER 2021 NATURE ALBERTA MAGAZINE Eastern Kingbirds BY MYRNA PEARMAN
Eastern kingbirds are readily identifiable by their distinctive black and white plumage. MYRNA PEARMAN
ast August, while enjoying an evening walk in the Great This encounter was one of many I’ve had with eastern king- LSandhills east of Leader, Saskatchewan, I had an unexpected birds. Common across most of Alberta, these highly visible birds encounter with an eastern kingbird. It flew in surprisingly close, are readily identifiable by their black plumage, conspicuous white a big, juicy two-striped grasshopper in its beak. I watched as it tail tip, and distinctive shallow, rowing wingbeat flight pattern. bashed the hapless hopper against a horizontal branch, then Regularly seen perched on barbed wire, fenceposts, and treetops, tossed it into the air, caught it at a different angle and bashed they wait — in classic flycatcher style — on a perch for an insect it again. It repeated this process three times before gobbling it to fly by, then sally out to snatch it in mid-air. They supplement down. It then sat for a few moments in apparent contentment their insect diet with fruit, especially in late summer. before flying off.
NATURE ALBERTA MAGAZINE WINTER 2021 | 5 Eastern kingbirds belong to a group of birds known as the tyrant flycatchers, and the Latin name of this species, Tyrannus tyrannus, reflects their pugnacious nature. They are extremely aggressive toward each other, with territorial disputes often including dramatic aerial combat. They are also aggressive toward other species, especially crows and other nest predators. Apparently, they will also attack humans if their nests are threatened, but I have never been subjected to any aggression, even when (quickly and quietly) observing their nests and young. Although eastern kingbirds will nest in a variety of locations and have been known to use artificial nesting structures, it has been my observation that they prefer to build their dishevelled yet sturdy nests over water. The female constructs the nest, which can take up to two weeks to complete. She lays two to five red-splotched white eggs, which she incubates for 14–17 days. The nestlings, which hatch with orange skin covered in white fuzz, grow quickly and fledge at about 16–17 days. Both adults feed the young. Interestingly, genetic research confirms that kingbirds not only mate outside the pair bond, but they sometimes parasitize each other’s nests. While watching one eastern kingbird nest near Delburne a few years ago, I was able to observe and photograph the parents tending the nest. There was more than feeding going on. I also observed that the parents would wait for the young to defecate, whereupon they would either eat the fecal sac or carry it away from the nest. Eastern kingbird fledglings stay dependent on their parents for about three to five weeks, which is thought to be one reason why the species is only single-brooded (laying a single clutch during a breeding season). They remain together as a family group until the young are fully independent. Eastern kingbirds overwinter in South America, primarily in the western Amazon, where they forage together in flocks along riparian areas. Fruit is eaten during fall migration and makes up most of their diet on the wintering grounds. The next time you’re out hiking, travelling the backroads, or canoeing, keep your eyes peeled for these wild neighbours. It’s worth taking the time to observe and appreciate their striking beauty, spirited behaviour, and saucy attitude. Enjoy the show!
Eastern kingbirds build a messy but sturdy nest, often low over the water. Both adults are diligent parents. MYRNA PEARMAN
6 | WINTER 2021 NATURE ALBERTA MAGAZINE Eastern kingbird young are very demanding of their parents for two to three weeks after fledging.MYRNA PEARMAN
Myrna Pearman is a naturalist, writer, photographer, and recently retired as the Biologist and Site Services Manager at Ellis Bird Farm. She can be reached at [email protected].
NATURE ALBERTA MAGAZINE WINTER 2021 | 7 Winter LakeKeepers BY BRADLEY PETER
or many, cold weather and freezing Flakes means an end to lake activities for the year. However, for a determined group of citizen scientists, frozen lakes signal the start of a new environmental monitoring opportunity. In Alberta, the bulk of lake monitor- ing occurs during the warm summer months, and not for selfish reasons. The summer is when threats to lake eco- systems and water resources are most obvious: toxic cyanobacteria blooms form expansive neon scums, invasive plants grow into dense mats, and boaters risk carrying invasive organ- isms from lake to lake. As the summer ends, the invasive plants die off, and cyanobacteria go dormant, sinking to the bottom of the lake… Or do they? In February of 2013, bright pink photosynthetic cyanobacteria, called Planktothrix rubescens, rose from the depths of Fork Lake and became trapped in the surface ice. Looking down through the ice created a dramatic effect: the ice glowed an otherworldly pink. Subsequent ice cores revealed row upon row of frozen cyanobacteria, and toxicity tests detected toxin concentrations that more than doubled Alberta’s Volunteer Vien Lam collecting data from Spring Lake during an ice fishing trip.MARIELLE LAM recreational guideline. This discovery led to a blue-green algae advisory so little data has been collected from effect does climate change have on posted by Alberta Health Services — lakes in the wintertime, we don’t have winter lake conditions? These gaps in in February. The same phenomenon a clear answer. The same goes for other our understanding of Alberta’s lake was later observed at Matchayaw Lake important questions related to lake ecosystems inspired the Alberta Lake during November of 2017. ecosystems, such as how do summer Management Society (ALMS) to begin What factors lead to these under-ice cyanobacteria blooms influence the investigating lakes under the ice. blooms of toxic cyanobacteria? Because quality of winter fish habitat, or what
8 | WINTER 2021 NATURE ALBERTA MAGAZINE Winter limnology presents inter- following year, the program caught on esting logistical challenges. Sample with watershed stewardship groups sites that are easily accessible in the and participation more than doubled. summer can become dangerous in In 2019, 25 volunteers sampled 22 the winter depending on snow and lakes across 44 sampling events. ice conditions. Traditional sampling Geographically, lakes ranged from gear might not fit into an auger hole. Beauvais Lake in the south to Snipe Lake Delicate instrumentation might freeze. in the north. As a testament to Alberta’s And how do I keep my fingers warm? citizen science community, volunteers Fortunately, Alberta has an active com- were making excursions solely for data munity of individuals who are equipped collection, rather than in addition to a for winter fieldwork and regularly visit pre-planned ice fishing trip. lakes between December and April: ice After only two years, the program has anglers. Recognizing this community of started to generate interesting results. potential citizen scientists, ALMS devel- Some lakes that exhibit low phosphorus An ice core collected from Fork Lake in 2013 oped the Winter LakeKeepers program concentrations in the summer demon- reveals bands of frozen pink cyanobacteria. DR. RON ZURAWELL with financial support from the Alberta strated high phosphorus concentrations Ecotrust Foundation. in the winter. One volunteer measured hopes to ensure a sustainable future for Before heading out, participants in high dissolved oxygen concentrations healthy lake and aquatic ecosystems. the Winter LakeKeepers program first and observed a pink hue to the water ALMS would like to thank our incred- complete an ice safety quiz. Then, they — a sure sign that cyanobacteria was ible volunteers and the generous sup- are provided with training materials and making another appearance. ALMS port of our funders, including Alberta a sampling kit. Sampling kits include has prepared the results into reports on Environment and Parks and the Alberta a multimeter probe used to measure their website, and the data is uploaded Ecotrust Foundation. We always wel- temperature and oxygen concentrations to DataStream, an open-source water come more volunteers; if you are throughout the water column, a sample quality portal that is becoming increas- interested in becoming involved with bottle and glove to allow for the collec- ingly popular amongst citizen science any of ALMS’ programs, please visit tion of a total phosphorus sample, a hot programs. alms.ca water bottle to prevent the contents of Winter LakeKeepers is just one of the sampling kit from freezing, and a many citizen science programs offered field sheet for recording environmental by ALMS and other organizations across observations. Environmental obser- Alberta. These types of programs are an vations are crucial to understanding affordable way to deliver environmental winter lakes. For example, snow cover monitoring, but the benefits are not and ice transparency are critical factors just in the economics. Engagement of influencing the amount of light available citizen scientists creates an ownership under the ice — a key requirement for of environmental data, breaks down the the growth of cyanobacteria. silos that separate academics from the In 2018, the pilot year of the program, public, and enables citizens to use envi- ten volunteers braved the elements ronmental data to improve the health Bradley Peter is a Professional to collect data from ten lakes. These of the environment. Through programs Biologist and the Executive Director samples were collected primarily during such as Winter LakeKeepers, ALMS of the Alberta Lake Management pre-planned ice fishing excursions. The Society.
NATURE ALBERTA MAGAZINE WINTER 2021 | 9 Why Are trial processes like metal smelting, manufacturing, and oil refining. Once in the atmosphere, these chemicals Common transform and make rainwater acidic, which lowers the pH of lakes over time. In highly acidic lakes (pH less than 6), Loon Chicks fish growth and survival can become reduced, leading to lower productivity in fish predators like loons. An additional consequence of acid Becoming rain is that it speeds the transformation of elemental mercury into its organic and more toxic form, methylmercury. Less Common? As a result, the mercury naturally pres- ent in the environment can become BY KRISTIN BIANCHINI damaging. Additional mercury enters the environment through the burning he common loon is a bird that most waterbodies to study 69 lakes near of fossil fuels (especially coal), certain TCanadians easily recognize. With Sudbury, Ontario. My goal was to figure industrial processes, and waste incin- its jewel-like red eyes, striking black and out which lakes had loons and to count eration. Mercury from such sources is white plumage, and beautiful, echoing how many of those loons had chicks. stable in the air and can travel far from call, the common loon is a bird that is Specifically, I wanted to determine the initial point of release. hard to miss and even harder to forget. the number of six-week-old young Because mercury is not broken down Like most people, I’ve always been per loon pair—a measurement loon when ingested, it becomes increasingly excited to spot a loon or to hear its call researchers refer to as “productivity.” concentrated at higher levels of the when I’ve been near a lake. But it wasn’t Most predation losses occur within the food chain. The implication is that top until I started working with loons as a first six weeks of life, so the number of predators, like loons, can ingest high biologist that I realized how fascinating six-week-old young per pair is a good concentrations of mercury as they eat and important these birds truly are. indicator of the number of loon chicks contaminated fish. Adult loons with I started studying loons in 2019, that will survive to become adults. high mercury in their bodies spend less when I began work as a postdoctoral Measuring loon productivity is also an time caring for chicks, and chicks with researcher with Birds Canada and excellent indicator of lake health. As top high mercury in their bodies are worse Acadia University. I had two jobs. The predators, loons are sensitive to damage at fighting off infections and avoiding first was to analyze almost 40 years of at lower levels of the food chain. For predators. As a result, there are fewer loon monitoring data from over 1,500 example, processes that decrease the six-week-old young per pair on lakes lakes, and the second was to spend a number of fish in a lake can cause food with higher mercury levels. summer canoeing around northern shortages, especially for young loons. In theory, the lakes I visited for Ontario to look for loons. You can Being a top predator also makes loons my field work should have provided imagine which job excited me the most. more vulnerable to pollutants, like acid excellent habitat for loons. They were My summer looking for loons was one rain and mercury. all remote lakes with very little human I will never forget. I spent the better part Acid rain occurs when sulphur diox- disturbance, and to my eye, the lakes of three months driving over rugged ide and nitrogen oxides are released looked clean and unpolluted. But of logging roads, bushwhacking through into the atmosphere by vehicles, power the 69 lakes I visited, only four had the forest, and paddling across countless plants burning fossil fuels, and indus- loon chicks. On average, there were
10 | WINTER 2021 NATURE ALBERTA MAGAZINE Common loon adult with small chick. DARWIN PARK just 0.09 six-week-old young per loon acid rain and mercury pollution, there pair on these lakes. That is just 20% of is also shoreline development and what previous studies have suggested is Determining boating activity to consider. And there required to maintain a stable number of are natural challenges as well, such as adult loons. These results suggest that the specific depredation of loon eggs and chicks the loon populations on these lakes are by other animals and harassment from in trouble. causes of biting black flies. Sorting this all out was Unfortunately, similar declines are the goal of my desk job. also being observed in other locations. the observed Working with a team of colleagues, Data from the Canadian Lakes Loon I analyzed 38 years of Canadian Lakes Survey, a citizen science monitoring decline in loon Loon Survey data from 1,577 Ontario program managed by Birds Canada, indi- lakes. I focused on Ontario because this cate that loon productivity in Canada productivity is province had the longest dataset and has dropped from over 0.8 six-week-old included the largest number of lakes. In young per pair per year in 1981 to under no easy task all, I examined the effects of 16 different 0.6 in 2018. Other studies have shown factors on loon productivity, including similar declines elsewhere.1 Therefore, because there lake acidity, fish mercury levels, fish even though loon populations are cur- abundance, lake size, lake location, rently considered stable in Canada, if are numerous spring temperatures, spring and winter this trend continues, we could start precipitation, and the presence of loon to see fewer and fewer common loons interacting predators and competitors. What I found every summer. was that lake acidity and mercury are key Determining the specific causes of the threats to drivers of common loon productivity observed decline in loon productivity is declines.2 Lakes with higher acidity (pH no easy task because there are numerous untangle. less than 6) had lower productivity and interacting threats to untangle. Besides showed steeper declines in productivity
NATURE ALBERTA MAGAZINE WINTER 2021 | 11 An increasingly frequent sight: a common loon adult without any young in springtime. RICHARD SCHNEIDER over time. I also found that loons urban centres and by oilsands projects, with a low buffering capacity poses a big produced fewer chicks on lakes with and both sources are projected to problem for loons, which breed in the higher fish mercury concentrations. increase acid rain production across northern half of the province. What about loons in Western Canada, northeastern Alberta in coming years.3 Mercury also poses a significant far from the mining developments and Moreover, soils in northern Alberta have threat to loons in Alberta. Many lakes dense human populations of Ontario? a low buffering capacity, so even small in Alberta currently have mercury con- Unfortunately, acid rain is a problem amounts of acid rain can cause lakes centrations that exceed the province’s here as well. In Alberta, sulfur dioxide to become acidic.4 This combination safe consumption limits.5 If eating fish is and nitrogen oxides are emitted from of high acid rain production and soils not safe for people, you can bet it is not safe for birds that eat nothing but fish. Mercury contamination is of particular concern in northeast Alberta because oilsands operations are a significant source of methylmercury emissions.6 Climate change may also intensify the problems that acid rain and mercury pose for loons in Alberta and else- where. A study from Ontario found an association between recent changes in climate, including warmer temperatures and higher precipitation, and increased fish mercury concentrations.7 Climate change is also predicted to cause more frequent and extreme water level fluctu- ations, and this can increase lake acidity and the amount of mercury in loons.8 Figure 1. Common loon productivity in Canada declined between 1981 and 2018. The horizontal dashed line indicates the level needed to maintain a stable loon population.
12 | WINTER 2021 NATURE ALBERTA MAGAZINE What You Can Do To Help There are many meaningful ways for References: 5. Government of Alberta. 2016. Mercury you to support loon conservation, and 1. Tozer, D.C., C.M. Falconer, and D.S. in Fish in Alberta Water Bodies 2009- thankfully, there is still time to avert Badzinski. 2013. Common Loon 2013. Alberta Health, Health Protection serious population declines. By learn- Reproductive Success in Canada: The Branch, Edmonton, Alberta. West is Best but Not for Long. Avian 6. Kirk, J.L., D.C.G. Muir, A. Gleason, ing more about loons and the threats Conservation & Ecology 8:1. X. Wang, G. Lawson, R.A. Frank, they face, you can help spread aware- 2. Bianchini, K., D.C. Tozer, R. Alvo, S.P. I. Lehnherr, and F. Wrona. 2014. ness of their plight and can get others Bhavsar, and M.L. Mallory. 2020. Drivers Atmospheric deposition of mercury interested in protecting this amazing of declines in common loon (Gavia and methylmercury to landscapes and species. Another way is to support Birds immer) productivity in Ontario, Canada. waterbodies of the Athabasca oilsands Canada (birdscanada.org), the coun- Science of the Total Environment region. Environmental Science & try’s leading science-based bird conser- 738:139724. Technology 48:7374-7383. vation organization. 3. Government of Alberta. 2014. 2011 Acid 7. Chen, M.M., L. Lopez, S.P. Bhavsar, and You can also help by becoming a citizen Deposition Assessment for Alberta. S. Sharma. 2018. What’s hot about scientist yourself and participating Alberta Environment and Sustainable mercury? Examining the influence of in the Canadian Lakes Loon Survey: Resource Development, Edmonton, climate on mercury levels in Ontario top birdscanada.org/loons. My research Alberta. predator fishes. Environmental Research would not have been possible without 4. Carou, S., I. Dennis, J. Aherne, R. 162:63-73. Ouimet, P.A. Arp, S.A. Watmough, 8. Watras, C.J., H.-Y. Teng, A.W. Latzka, the amazing efforts of thousands of I. DeMerchant, M. Shaw, B. Vet, V. M.W. Meyer, and Z. Zhang. 2020. survey participants. By taking part in Bouchet, and M. Moran. 2008. A Near-decadal oscillation of water the loon surveys, you can collect critical National Picture of Acid Deposition levels and mercury bioaccumulation information to help conserve loon Critical Loads for Forest Soils in Canada. in the Laurentian Great Lakes region. breeding pairs and their chicks. Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environmental Science & Technology Finally, for anyone who lives on a Environment, Ottawa, Ontario. Letters 7:89-94. lake or who enjoys visiting a lake in the summer, there are a number of simple ways to have a positive impact. Slow down while boating, especially near the shoreline. This helps to minimize wakes and prevents washing out loon nests and separating small chicks from their parents. Allow native wetland plants to grow in wide strips along shorelines to provide shelter for small loon chicks and habitat for the fish that loons depend on. Use non-toxic, lead-free fishing tackle, which prevents loons from ingesting toxic lead jigs and sinkers. Anglers should also properly dispose of fishing Breeding pair with small chicks. DARWIN PARK lines to avoid loons becoming entangled and injured. By working together, we Kristin Bianchini is from St. Albert, Alberta. After completing her Ph.D. at the can ensure that this beloved species is University of Saskatchewan, she moved to Ontario, where she is currently working as a around for years to come. postdoctoral researcher with Birds Canada and Acadia University.
NATURE ALBERTA MAGAZINE WINTER 2021 | 13 A Fisheye View of Cumulative Effects in Alberta’s Southern East Slopes BY SARAH MILLIGAN
n photography, a fisheye lens allows the photographer to capture an extremely alteration and changes in climate. West- Iwide angle of view. You can take a snapshot of an entire landscape complete slope cutthroat trout once inhabited with mountains, forests, meadows, and lakes. If you are a photographer exploring most streams in southwestern Alberta Alberta’s southern East Slopes, your fisheye lens might capture just that—a seemingly from the alpine zone to the prairies, but untouched, beautiful landscape. Turn around and point your lens in another direction, today are largely restricted to the Rocky Mountains and foothills.1 Bull trout have however, and you might see a road crisscrossing a cold mountain stream and well also experienced a significant westward sites, cutblocks, and random campsites dotting the background. This is actually a contraction of their historic range.2 very busy landscape. As Lorne Fitch, professional biologist The southern East Slopes region is fish species — are illustrative of this. and former adjunct professor with the both busy and ecologically significant. Native fish communities are acutely University of Calgary, puts it: “Native It is home to the headwaters of the sensitive to landscape and watershed trout declines are a message hard to Bow and Oldman Rivers and provides a mismanagement, which makes them an ignore. Their plight is a signal that many number of ecological services, including important indicator species. If they’re of the values Albertans hold for the East fresh water for downstream commu- not doing well, it’s a signal that other Slopes are at risk.”3 Given the alarms nities and irrigation districts, habitat aquatic and terrestrial wildlife might these species are sounding, it’s time to for numerous native species, and not be doing too well either. ask serious questions about the future world-renowned tourism and recreation Bull trout, the only native char to of this important region. What will the activities. Its natural resources support historically occupy all the drainages of landscape and wildlife populations look forestry, oil and gas, mining, ranching, Alberta’s Eastern Slopes, and westslope like? What is our land-use trajectory and agriculture. cutthroat trout, the only subspecies of and is it sustainable? If it’s not, how do However, no landscape can provide cutthroat trout native to Alberta, inhabit we change our trajectory? an inexhaustible supply of benefits to the cold waters found along Alberta’s To answer these questions, we need humans. And in the southern East Slopes East Slopes. Both are listed as threat- to put down our camera and pick up region, there are growing indications ened species in Alberta and have exper- another tool called ALCES: A Land that a tipping point has been reached. ienced rapid declines in abundance and Cumulative Effects Simulator. ALCES Wildlife — particularly our native distribution due to progressive habitat is a computer model that tracks land-
14 | SUMMER 2020 NATURE ALBERTA MAGAZINE Panorama of Lake Minnewanka. Z. KOZOMARA use activities and their accumulating because they are cool-water species management scenarios and to use that footprint over time at high resolution. It and become stressed by warmer water to inform land use and conservation allows us to understand how landscapes temperatures. Progressive changes in planning in the region. One scenario, the will change over time and to assess the climate will also have a dramatic effect business-as-usual model, assumed that ecological effects of these changes. The on the water cycles, which in turn will resource development would continue model does this by integrating scientific impact stream flows, water quality, along its current trajectory. A second findings obtained through ecological spawning substrates, food availability, scenario, the protection model, placed field studies and then applying these and disease risk for aquatic species.4 an emphasis on protecting the land from findings to future landscapes. By integrating all of this ecological further industrial development. The For example, studies have shown that information and applying it to evolving protection scenario also assumed that industrial processes — including timber future landscapes, ALCES can predict non-permanent industrial footprints harvest, mining, oil and gas exploration how trout and other species are likely (access roads, seismic lines, and well and extraction, and the associated to fare in coming decades. We can sites) would be reclaimed and that a access roads — cause habitat fragmen- use the model to explore alternative combination of access management tation, which negatively affects trout management scenarios, helping us to and regulatory protection would lower populations. Industrial access roads understand the implications of today’s angling mortality to levels observed in also facilitate entry to remote areas by actions on tomorrow’s landscapes. other protected areas in the province. anglers, which increases angling pres- Such studies afford us a glimpse into Several outcome measures were sure. Roads and other industrial features alternative futures and allow us to select used to assess the consequences of can also lead to greater frequency and the future we want. each scenario, taking cumulative effects intensity of flooding, blockages and In 2019, the Alberta Chapter fully into account. The focus was on changes in water flows, and increased of The Wildlife Society (ACTWS) bull trout and westslope cutthroat sediment and phosphorus loads. commissioned a cumulative effects trout viability, measured in terms of Assessments of future landscapes assessment of this type for Alberta’s the Alberta government’s Fish Sustain- also need to take climate warming southern East Slopes. The overarching ability Index.5 Additional environmental into account. Bull trout and westslope goal was to provide a science-based metrics included the overall intensity of cutthroat trout are at particular risk assessment of two alternative the industrial footprint, the amount of
NATURE ALBERTA MAGAZINE SUMMER 2020 | 15 intact land, water quality, and an indica- these priority areas for conservation tor of approximate water flow. Natural were in western watersheds (Figure resource gross domestic product was 1). Fortunately, these watersheds have used to assess economic outcomes. low potential for new oil and gas devel- The analysis afforded a fisheye view opment. Therefore, the economic con- of the future of Alberta’s southern East sequences of protection relate mainly Slopes — and it doesn’t look good under to forest harvesting, which contributes the business-as-usual model. The Fish much less to GDP than energy devel- Sustainability Index is predicted to opment. The upshot is that western progressively decline as human and watersheds are both of highest value climate-induced stressors progres- to trout and carry the lowest cost of sively degrade freshwater habitats. protection. For an area described as the Consequently, further declines in the last stronghold for trout populations in abundance and distribution of bull trout the region, this is good news. and westslope cutthroat trout can be The cumulative effects assessment Figure 1. Watershed conservation priority expected. Few sustainable populations found that other environmental out- ranked by conservation cost-effectiveness. are likely to remain outside of protected come measures displayed a similar Higher values indicate higher priority. areas. spatial pattern to trout sustainabil- Fortunately, there is an alternative. ity, indicating that land-use impacts should be targeted. The cumulative If we train our fisheye lens on a future encompass the broader ecosystem. effects assessment has identified target landscape that is protected rather than Water quality and intact land cover are areas where there are good prospects developed, things look much better for low in the eastern downstream portion for protecting or restoring values and trout. Watershed protection resulted of the study area, where land conver- the where costs of protection can be in substantial risk reduction in several sion to agriculture and settlement is minimized. watersheds, allowing fish sustainability widespread. In the business-as-usual So, now that you’ve seen a glimpse to stay at moderate risk 50 years into scenario, resource development caused into the world of tomorrow, how does the future despite climate change. Fac- further habitat fragmentation of the it feel to be there? Are you happy with tors contributing to the effectiveness landscape, with intact land cover being the status quo or would you rather of protecting these watersheds include largely limited to protected areas after see a different trajectory for Alberta’s higher elevation and therefore lower five decades. In addition to the ecolog- Southern East Slopes? sensitivity to climate warming, relative ical implications, this can also lead to There is opportunity for change. As habitat intactness, and the potential hydrologic changes, including elevated surprising as it may sound, watershed for habitat reclamation. The potential risk of runoff and downstream flooding. planning for the East Slopes of Alberta to reduce access is also critical for The view from our model-assisted is still in its infancy. Management deci- lowering angling pressure, which was fisheye lens is quite clear. This isn’t sions regarding our resources occur at identified as a limiting factor for both just a fish issue, it’s an entire ecosys- many levels, from individual landowners trout species. tem issue. Achieving a balance in the through to government-led regional By comparing the Fish Sustainability southern East Slopes — ecologically, planning. As fisheries biologist Jennifer Index and natural resource GDP results economically, and socially — will require Earle describes: “As an individual, you under the two management scenarios, more than maintaining the status quo. might not think there is much you can it was possible to identify the water- Conservation action will be needed to do to address large landscape threats sheds where environmental benefits maintain viable native fish communities such as sedimentation, man-made were greatest and the economic costs along with other natural capital values. barriers to fish passage, and climate of protection were lowest. Most of Furthermore, we know where this action change. As part of a group, however,
16 | SUMMER 2020 NATURE ALBERTA MAGAZINE you can get involved in stewardship Coal Mining in the Southern East Slopes initiatives that help champion these issues and effect change at a local The Alberta Chapter of The Wildlife Society, along with other groups like the scale through volunteer projects.”6 The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, the Crowsnest Conservation Society, Alberta Chapter of The Wildlife Society Timberwolf Wilderness Society, and Livingstone Landowners Group, recently and organizations like it need members participated in the Grassy Mountain Mine Public Hearing. Benga Mining Ltd. and financial support to continue to is proposing to construct and operate an open-pit metallurgical coal mine near engage in science-based conservation the Crowsnest Pass, approximately seven kilometres north of the community of and management of wild animals and Blairmore. As proposed, the life of the mine is about 25 years. The hearing was wild spaces. Please consider lending an opportunity for groups and individuals to voice their support or opposition a hand. to the proposed coal mine. It was also an ideal platform for presenting the results of the cumulative effects assessment, which included the proposed Grassy Mountain coal mine footprint and its estimated revenue in the analysis. ACTWS’s full report, Cumulative The results indicate that the watershed containing the proposed coal mine is Effects of Land Uses and Conservation ranked as a high-priority watershed, suggesting that the conservation benefits Priorities in Alberta’s Southern East to trout and ecosystem services over the long-term outweigh the short-term Slope Watersheds, can be read at: economic gains from the mine. bit.ly/actws-east-slopes Without the clarity of a fisheye view into the future of Alberta’s southern East Slopes, that message is eyebrow-raising. It’s an important reminder that the people who reside, work, or play in these watersheds, as well as those who never set foot in the watershed but still value it, need the tools of this report to inform decisions about the future. The Grassy Mountain Mine is unlikely to be the last large-scale development project to be proposed for Alberta’s southern Sarah Milligan is a Professional Biologist whose interests include East Slopes. In 2020, the government of Alberta rescinded the 1976 Alberta wildlife, habitat, and landscape Coal Policy, which has opened headwaters in the East Slopes to open-pit coal ecology. She lives and works mining. This is additive, of course, to the myriad of other land-use pressures in Alberta and holds a M.Sc. that have already put the health and function of an ecologically significant in Conservation Biology and Environmental Science from the landscape at risk. University of Alberta.
References: Alberta Sustainable Resource Devel- footprint. Frontiers in Ecology and the 1. Alberta Westslope Cutthroat opment, Species at Risk Conservation Environment, 18(5), 271-280. Trout Recovery Team. 2013. Alberta Management Plan No. 8. Edmonton, 5. Fish Sustainability Index was esti- Westslope Cutthroat Trout Recovery AB, 90 pp. open.alberta.ca/publica- mated according to Alberta Environ- Plan: 2012-2017. Alberta Environment tions/9781460102305 ment and Parks’ Cumulative Effects Joe and Sustainable Resource Develop- 3. Fitch, Lorne (2020). “A Danger- Model, which was developed to assess ment, Alberta Species at Risk Recovery ous Man with a Dangerous Concept.” multiple threats to aquatic species at Plan No. 28. Edmonton, AB, 77 pp. Nature Alberta Magazine, 50(3), 12-14. risk in Alberta. Accessed from open.alberta.ca/publi- 4. Ebersole, J.L., R.M. Quiñones, S. 6. Earle, Jennifer (2020). “Alberta’s cations/9781460102312 Clements and B.H. Letcher (2020). Bull Trout Need Our Respect – and 2. Alberta Sustainable Resource Managing climate refugia for freshwa- Our Help.” Nature Alberta Magazine, Development. 2012. Bull Trout Con- ter fishes under an expanding human 50(2), 8-11. servation Management Plan 2012-17.
NATURE ALBERTA MAGAZINE SUMMER 2020 | 17 KeepKeep ThoseThose WilyWily UrbanUrban CoyotesCoyotes
Wild!Wild! BY COLLEEN CASSADY ST. CLAIR
My goal was to understand how millennia and are extremely good at coyotes make a living in cities and to adapting to, and then exploiting, our identify the factors that are associated human habits. I use these terms—adapt with conflict. I hoped this information and exploit—in a neutral way. Coyotes would facilitate coexistence between are among the handful of species that people and coyotes to increase security thrive in cities, in contrast to most other for people while supporting the many species, which avoid urban areas or face ecological and aesthetic benefits coy- local extinctions. otes bring to cities. The associated research has been a collaborative effort with wonderful participa- tion from academic colleagues, ’ve heard many opinions about urban civic officials, a private company, coyotes. “They don’t belong here! I citizens, and, especially, several Can’t the government move them some- graduate and undergraduate stu- where else?” “They have a right to exist dents in my lab at the University and we’ve invaded their space.” “They of Alberta. make me afraid for my kids and myself, What I’ve concluded over the just walking down my own front street.” past ten years is that there are “I love seeing coyotes and have never four broad components to reduc- had a negative experience with one.” ing conflict: (1) remove or secure These kinds of sentiments about coyotes attractants, (2) control and protect come via emails, conversations, radio pets, (3) increase wariness of bold call-in shows, and posts to the website coyotes, and (4) prevent denning of the Edmonton Urban Coyote Project in residential areas. None of these (edmontonurbancoyotes.ca). recommendations is unique to I began studying urban coyotes a little Alberta’s cities or the studies over a decade ago because Alberta’s in my lab. But we’ve uncovered cities, like virtually every city in North some details that help us stay a America, have seen a steady increase in step ahead of wily coyotes, which reports of urban coyotes over time. This have shared space with people for is likely the result of cities expanding into rural areas and coyotes expanding their range over the past many decades. Top: A mature coyote in prime condition. TONY LEPRIEUR
Right: An urban coyote at rest. COLLEEN CASSADY ST. CLAIR
18 | WINTER 2021 NATURE ALBERTA MAGAZINE Before sharing some of the details In Edmonton, it is increasingly com- Natural food sources are also abun- of what we’ve learned, I think it’s mon for coyotes to den in derelict sheds dant in cities, especially sprawling important to acknowledge some or under decks and sunrooms. Last cities like Edmonton and Calgary where characteristics of urban coyotes that spring, we discovered nine pups in such there are abundant open fields, forested are relevant to successfully coexisting a location, birthed by a small, appar- areas, river valleys, golf courses, grassy with them. Relative to surrounding rural ently lone female. She likely sought freeway verges, and major railway lines areas, coyotes frequently reach higher this denning location, which required with spilled agricultural products. Prey population densities in cities because Houdini-like contortions while crawling sources such as insects, rodents, and of earlier breeding, larger litters, and under a fence to access, mainly for its birds have become more abundant higher survival of pups. In addition, security from other, more dominant coy- through progressive policies of pest urban pups are slower to disperse, which otes. The large size of her litter (five to management that eschew chemical results in large family groups of adult- six is average) probably meant she had control. Underground stormwater pipes looking animals. Their urban diets are access to high-calorie human food, such create naturalized habitat and attrac- more diverse than in rural areas and they as garbage, but there was no such food tive wetlands bordered by shrubs and readily make use of buildings and other source immediately around the den site. grasses. These natural features provide infrastructure as den sites. Coyotes that What kind of food could a meek but many ecosystem services cities need, but would not survive or reproduce without wily coyote like this one find nearby? they also attract coyotes. Conflict can human sources of food and shelter There are many surprising sources. result, especially in adjacent residential are able to do so in cities. The food Work in my lab, led by Maureen Murray or recreational areas. subsidy is usually the root of subsequent and Deanna Steckler, showed that urban For wildlife professionals tasked with problems with conflict, which often coyotes eat rodents, rabbits, insects, managing urban wildlife, the presence of involves den sites in residential areas. and berries, as expected. But they also coyotes, even in residential areas, does eat birdseed, fruit (of both native and not automatically signal conflict. Con- domestic species), pet food, compost, flict requiring intervention occurs only and all manner of garbage, ranging from when people or their pets are directly a leather glove to an entire wrapped threatened by coyotes with aggres- burrito. Several people have shared sive and repeated approaches. This stories and photos of coyotes climbing behaviour is almost always accompanied crabapple trees to eat the apples! by food conditioning and/or the pres- Sometimes people provide food to ence of a den site, both of which increase coyotes and other wildlife intentionally. defensive behaviour toward pets and This has motivated a proposed and very sometimes people. Thus, key actions Alberta's cities... welcome bylaw amendment in Edmon- for minimizing conflict are: securing or have seen a steady ton to prohibit feeding of wildlife except removing attractants, preventing food increase in reports of for conventional, suspended bird feed- conditioning, controlling or containing urban coyotes over ers. Over the years, every single time pets, and preventing establishment of time. This is likely I’ve investigated clusters of complaints den sites in residential areas. the result of cities about aggressive coyotes, I have found Many of the coyotes that use res- evidence of access to human sources idential areas are young, dispersing expanding into rural of food. Feeding was associated with animals and first-time breeders that are areas and coyotes the lethal attack on a 110-pound dog in excluded from natural areas by larger, expanding their range Edmonton and severe bites to the head more dominant coyotes. Murray’s work over the of a toddler in Burnaby. Repeated access showed that animals suffering from past many to human sources of food produces food mange (a skin parasite) are more likely decades. conditioning: the association animals to use residential areas, particularly make between people and food. It con- during the day. She also identified the sistently generates conflict, whether characteristics of residential yards that with coyotes, wolves, bears, or geese. are most likely to attract coyotes. These
NATURE ALBERTA MAGAZINE WINTER 2021 | 19 Left: Two coyotes at home in one of Calgary's natural areas. TONY LEPRIEUR Below: A coyote casually moves through a playground. COLLEEN CASSADY ST. CLAIR
Many of the coyotes that use residential program for residential neighbourhoods. areas are young, We are investigating whether intensive dispersing animals and and repeated frightening encounters with trained volunteers can teach first-time breeders coyotes to be generally more wary of that are excluded people, thereby reducing the likelihood from natural areas by of encounters and conflicts. By larger, more dominant designating both treatment and control include the lack of a fence, presence of coyotes. neighbourhoods, we will later be able to hiding cover (dense vegetation, sheds, assess the effects of the hazing program. old cars, piles of debris), and food In both neighbourhood types, volun- sources. Mangy animals were much teers will conduct patrols, assess coyote more likely than healthy coyotes to wariness, and follow up on complaints shelter under decks and beside house for decades to infect coyotes, but a by residents. In treatment neighbour- foundations. In a nasty feedback loop, new, more virulent strain has arrived hoods, volunteers will react to coyotes eating human-sourced food, especially from Europe, probably with imported that permit close approaches (i.e., that compost containing mycotoxins, can dogs, only in the last decade or so. This are habituated to people) by chasing result in immune suppression, which parasite usually cycles between coyotes them while throwing tennis balls, increases susceptibility to parasites and and their rodent prey, but humans can shaking a can full of coins, and shout- disease. Another student, Scott Sugden, be infected if they accidentally eat the ing. Similar but more intensive forms showed that animals in poor condition microscopic eggs deposited with coyote of aversive conditioning are already exhibit disrupted microbiomes in their feces. Since 2013, 17 Albertans have been used in Edmonton and Calgary by city intestines, which appear to stem from diagnosed, but the infected number may wildlife professionals and have been protein-poor diets. be much higher because symptoms, used successfully to manage bears in Beyond the conflict associated with related to liver cysts, can take 10 to 15 protected areas for a couple of decades. coyote behaviour, a new parasite makes years to develop. We hope our community-based aversive it more important to deter coyotes from Because the rates and severity of conditioning program will complement residential yards and similar human-use conflicts with coyotes has been rising in current approaches by increasing the areas like playgrounds and community residential areas, grad student Gabrielle frequency and immediacy of negative gardens. The tapeworm parasite Echi- Lajeunesse and I are initiating a experiences for coyotes encountering nococcus multilocularis has been known community-based aversive conditioning people in residential areas.
20 | WINTER 2021 NATURE ALBERTA MAGAZINE If we are successful at deterring coy- Homeowner Tips for Reducing otes from residential areas, it becomes that much more important to support Conflict with Urban Coyotes coexistence in natural areas, where most people prefer our urban coyotes to Remove or secure attractants in and around your yard. This includes reside. This means restricting off-leash all food consumed by either coyotes or their prey as well as any kind of dogs to designated areas where coy- shelter. Coyotes eat surprising amounts of bird seed, fruit, garbage, and otes learn to expect them, to maintain pet food; anything available at ground level will attract coyotes. control of dogs even in off-leash areas, to know how to deter an approaching Control and protect your pets. Keep cats indoors or in a “catio.” Leash dogs outside your own yard unless you are in a designated off-leash coyote, and to respect park closures area. Maintain a six-foot fence around your yard to protect small pets associated with den sites. and consider adding coyote rollers or fladry (flagging). This attitude of personal responsi- bility is similar to the expectations for Increase wariness of bold coyotes. Treat coyotes in residential areas aggressively to help them learn that people are best avoided. Anyone recreating in natural areas outside of can do this by shouting, throwing things, waving sticks, and running cities and is an essential part of fostering towards coyotes. Carry a stick or umbrella on walks. biodiversity in cities in general. Such attitudes support the ecosystem ser- Prevent denning in and around your yard. Coyotes are drawn to yards vices that natural areas provide, includ- without complete fences and those that offer open sheds, open garages, or spaces under decks and additions. Very dense vegetation ing their restorative effects on people. serves as shelter for resting and denning coyotes and their prey, which Coyotes provide ecosystem services too, includes mice, voles, squirrels, hares, and ground-dwelling birds. such as the regulation of rodents and hares, dispersal of plant seeds and pits, scavenging of carrion, and the aesthetic pleasure many people enjoy from seeing program, and links to publications from health professionals about this parasite. coyotes in natural areas. past research. An Internet search for Finally, I invite your questions and ideas If you would like to know more about “Echinococcus multilocularis Alberta” will for coexisting with urban coyotes via the work my students and I have done on provide information and advice from email at [email protected]. urban coyotes, I invite you to visit our website at edmontonurbancoyotes.ca, where you’ll find some tips on avoiding Colleen Cassady St. Clair is a professor of Biological Sciences at the University of conflict with coyotes, more information Alberta.The Edmonton Urban Coyote Project has garnered national attention from about current research, including the the CBC (bit.ly/cbc-coyote) and a light-hearted look from The Beaverton (bit.ly/beaverton-coyote). community-based aversive conditioning
Left: Another generation of urban coyotes. JOHN MCLAY Above: Coyote pups playing with a discarded can in their den in Arbour Lake, northwest Calgary. KATHRYN KOPCIUK
NATURE ALBERTA MAGAZINE WINTER 2021 | 21 1971
1973 The
The first “symbol,” as editor Road M.T. Myres described it, to adorn the Federation of Alberta Naturalists’ Newsletter and early Vol. 3, No. 1 was the first news- letterhead was designed by Peter letter to bear an illustrated cover Karsten to encompass Alberta’s (by Ludo Bogaert) and the title many landscape features, including Alberta Naturalist, which the to 50 boreal forest, prairie foothills, and publication would go by for the Rocky Mountains. next 30 years. A Logo A Look
1992
The third issue of the FAN Newsletter bore a new symbol, designed by A.B. Mied. Featuring a prairie rose, prairie falcon, and the Rocky Mountains, this “attractive, symbolic and compact” (Myres) design would serve as FAN’s logo until 2011.
With Vol. 22, No. 1, Alberta Naturalist grew to the 8.5”x11” magazine format.
2004 Vol. 34, No. 1: Introducing Nature Alberta! The name change is accompanied by full- colour front and back covers.
2010
2011 Vol. 39, No. 4: Our first In the current issue featuring full-colour Nature Alberta interiors. logo, designed by Judy Fushtey, a stylized bird soars over the landscapes and waterways of For our 50th anniversary year, Alberta. It appeared Nature Alberta Magazine underwent on the back cover a complete redesign. A new design of Nature Alberta team took the reins as of Vol. 50, Magazine as early No. 2, and we’re excited to continue as 2006, and was to connect this community with adopted as the informative articles from authoritative organization’s official professionals and engaging stories of logo in 2011. individuals exploring nature. 2020
22 | WINTER 2021 NATURE ALBERTA MAGAZINE YEARS 1971 5 The FAN Newsletter, Vol. 1, No. 1 started with a humble design The Road to 50 19700 – 2020 but was packed with news and information compiled by Myres.
1974 With Vol. 4, No. 1 (cover by Peter Karsten), Alberta Naturalist was published as a 7”x8” booklet—its first step towards a magazine format.
1980 Tim Myres celebrates FAN’s first decade. Photo: Mary S. Lore
1984 Vol. 14, No. 1 featured black and white photography on the cover (by Dick Russell) and A Legacy interior pages.
1990 Loyd Lohr, Pat Clayton, Don Stiles, and Maryhelen Posey receive the Order of the Bighorn Award from Minister LeRoy Fjordbotten for 20 years of outstanding conservation achievement.
Nature Alberta’s current focus is on outreach and education, to enhance knowledge and appreciation of Alberta’s natural heritage. Through programs like Nature Kids Family Nature Nights, we pass on our love of nature to the next generation. Like the child who gave the pincherry she planted this summer at Lac La Nonne an auspicious name, we’re “planting Hope.” 2020
NATURE ALBERTA MAGAZINE WINTER 2021 | 23 Birding the Badlands Monitoring Raptors Along the Red Deer River Valley
BY RYAN WILKES WITH HEATHER BLANCHETTE
outhern Alberta is the site of Local birder Jim McCabe has observed Canmore and Kananaskis. Establishing SCanada’s largest concentration of an incredible 113 species since 2001 a raptor migration monitoring hot badlands, the scars of a receding glacier from his riverside backyard in Nacmine. spot somewhere in the 1,300 km of whose meltwaters assisted in carving Bald eagles build their nests in the giant prairies separating the Rockies and the out the valleys some 13,000 years ago. cottonwoods that hang over the river Pembina Valley would be a worthwhile The Red Deer River meanders below and have been observed overwintering achievement. the famous layered cliffs, which offer in the valley. The valley is home to Local biologist Tim Schowalter recog- a look into Alberta’s prehistoric past. populations of turkey vultures and nized the lack of data around migrating While many visitors look towards the prairie falcons, while the surrounding raptors in the region and brought us on ground during their visit to the region, prairies are part of the summer range for board to do this preliminary research. we came here to look towards the sky. red-tailed, Swainson’s and ferruginous Over the years, he had received several Despite the barren landscape that is hawks. However, a survey of migrating local reports of hawks soaring over the often associated with the badlands, the raptors has never been attempted river valley during migration season. valley accommodates a lively riparian in the region. To our knowledge, the He realized that raptors may be taking forest. This ecosystem makes the river closest raptor migration survey is the advantage of thermal and wind-driven valley a popular birding spot for local annual Rocky Mountain Eagle Research updrafts on the flanks of the river valley, naturalists and visiting birders alike. Foundation (RMERF) survey in
24 | WINTER 2021 NATURE ALBERTA MAGAZINE which runs 120 km north to south, to and goings of avian visitors. A number west of Drumheller and operated and help them move south in the fall. of birds went unidentified during our maintained by Kneehill County. OVP We were new to birding when we survey as a result of our inexperience. is a popular lookout amongst both arrived, but after spending six weeks However, the photos that I took proved locals and tourists due to the beautiful, immersed in the practice of searching to be invaluable, allowing us to revisit 180-degree panoramic views of the for, photographing, and identifying birds of prey, we feel that we are well Orkney Viewpoint offers birders the opportunity on our way to becoming true birders. to see several species of raptor from a unique Tossed in the deep end, we quickly vantage point. Birds flying through the valley were learned how to identify buteos at a dis- often at or even below eye level, and sometimes tance, to recognize the flight pattern of passed within a few metres. an accipiter and the soaring silhouette of an eagle. We experienced the chang- observations at the end of each day and river valley. It is located near the south ing seasons from our perch overlooking help us learn, reconsider, and confirm end of the 120-km north-south stretch the river valley, enduring sunburns in identifications. of the river valley. The valley is about early September and occasional bliz- We were positioned at Orkney 1,800 metres wide here and the bank zards in October, recording the comings Viewpoint (OVP), located 18 km north- is steep, dropping 92 vertical metres to
The beautiful northern-facing view of the Red Deer River valley from Orkney Viewpoint. RYAN WILKES
A juvenile bald eagle flying northbound over Orkney Viewpoint. This A curious rough-legged hawk deviates from its initial path to get a closer bird is a suspected resident of the Red Deer River valley. RYAN WILKES view of the surveyors stationed at Orkney Viewpoint. RYAN WILKES
NATURE ALBERTA MAGAZINE WINTER 2021 | 25 Left to right: A rough-legged hawk taking off from its perch near the village of Carbon. A raven soars within meters of the edge of the cliff after performing a series of aerial acrobatics at Orkney Viewpoint. A Harlan’s hawk exhibiting kiting behaviour during a blizzard, no more than 20 metres from the parking lot at Orkney Viewpoint. A light-morph juvenile Harlan’s hawk perched in a tree, spotted just south of Big Valley. A Harlan’s hawk gliding below Orkney Viewpoint over a partially frozen Red Deer River. RYAN WILKES
the river, offering the potential for close OVP. Unfortunately, we were unable to viewing of passing raptors. identify their species due to how distant Our main goal was to collect data they were, but we are confident they that could help us determine if migra- were buteos. In the 20 minutes prior, tory raptors are using the Red Deer two smaller groups of three and four River valley as a fall migration corridor unidentified buteos had also passed us — data that could motivate a more in a similar fashion, separated by closer rigorous study in the future. The sec- flybys of soaring individual red-tailed ondary goal was to collect data to share and rough-legged hawks. with birders so that they may have a On October 21, following the passing better chance of observing a raptor in of a cold front, a surprising number of flight over the beautiful backdrop of bald eagles began to fly directly over the badlands. Observations were col- us. At one point I was photographing lected five days per week for six weeks a juvenile bald eagle that was soaring between early September and late overhead, when out of nowhere, an October of 2020. We also embarked adult came straight over a small patch on a 400-km drive once per week to of aspen trees and was forced to bank the northeast of Drumheller to keep very abruptly to avoid a possible colli- tabs on the movement of raptors over sion with me. What I would have given the prairies. to have a film crew with us! We finished Notable Appearances and a Near Miss! the day with 19 bald eagle sightings, 15 October 8 and October 21 were par- more than the next highest daily count ticularly noteworthy — we observed for the species. It is worth mentioning 41 and 43 raptors, respectively, on that a family of bald eagles (two adults those two days. I vividly remember and one juvenile) nest about 5 km south photographing a rough-legged hawk of OVP along the river, and these birds on October 8, as it passed overhead may have been included in our counts. on its way south. When I took my eye October 21 was also notable for a away from the viewfinder, I had to pinch survey-high 11 sightings of northern myself. Suddenly there were nine more harriers. hawks soaring far above us, just west of Interestingly, the RMERF survey at the Mount Lorette site in Kananaskis
26 | WINTER 2021 NATURE ALBERTA MAGAZINE recorded no raptors at all on October grounds in the Arctic to the central and migration is the rough-legged hawk. 21, while just 200 km to the east we southern United States. Schowalter Our first six sightings at OVP came on observed 43 raptors at OVP. Observ- warned us about these black red-tailed October 7 and we identified 27 birds ers at Mount Lorette reported their hawks and that we might have trouble in total between the October 7 and 26. weather conditions as “Snowing and identifying them at first. He was right! In A total of 16 rough-legged hawks were mountains lost in cloud and falling true red-tailed hawk fashion, we quickly observed during our six road surveys, snow most of the day.”1 It is difficult to found out that Harlan’s hawks come in with a high of nine observations on know if the lack of sightings was due a wide array of morphs. A juvenile light October 14. to poor visibility, if the birds stayed put morph Harlan’s we spotted near Big You never know what you’re going earlier in the day and waited for better Valley spurred quite the identification to get when you spend a few hours at weather, if they flew eastward through debate on the Alberta Birds Facebook OVP. We regularly saw moose, mule the prairies to find more favourable group. In total, we identified nine Har- deer, coyotes, and beavers in the val- conditions to continue their migration, lan’s hawks at OVP between October 8 ley below. It was not unusual to see or a combination of these possibilities. and 23, including four during our road osprey scooping fish out of the river All we know for sure is there were many surveys and two in the river valley on throughout September, and we were more bald eagles moving south over our daily commute from Drumheller visited by waxwings, spotted towhees, mountain bluebirds, and a variety of On days when raptor sightings were scarce, woodpeckers. On days when raptor we were often given a front-row seat to aerial sightings were scarce, we were often acrobatics displays from ravens, and we watched given a front-row seat to aerial acro- chipmunks and thirteen-lined ground squirrels make batics displays from ravens, and we preparations for the impending winter. watched chipmunks and thirteen-lined ground squirrels make preparations OVP on October 21 than on any other to OVP. It is interesting to note that our for the impending winter. On the other day of our survey, and that raptors seem observations of red-tailed hawks (not hand, while we regularly saw kestrels to take advantage of strong northerly of the Harlan’s variety) during the road and merlins during our road surveys winds and passing cold fronts. survey rapidly dropped off at the end of in September, it was uncommon to One hawk that often stirs up excite- September and beginning of October, see falcon species at OVP. Similarly, ment among Alberta birders is the which coincided with an increase in Swainson’s hawks appeared to be Harlan’s subspecies of red-tailed hawk. Harlan’s hawk observations. underrepresented at the viewpoint. They pass through Alberta in the fall as Another buteo that makes a brief Turkey vultures are a common sight they make their way from their breeding but notable appearance during fall over Drumheller and Nacmine, but we
NATURE ALBERTA MAGAZINE WINTER 2021 | 27 A Harlan’s hawk soaring straight overhead of the surveyors at Orkney Viewpoint. RYAN WILKES
didn’t see a single one soaring near within a few metres. This location References: OVP, just 18 km to the north. offers some great opportunities for the 1. Wilson, B. and C. Hansen. 2020. Our findings suggest that raptors patient and dedicated birder looking for RMERF Count Summary 21/10/2020. eaglewatch.ca/rmerf-count-summary- use the Red Deer River valley as a fall an experience that is hard to replicate 2020-fall/ (2020). migration corridor; however, the num- elsewhere in southern Alberta. And if bers do not appear substantial enough you’re willing to pay close attention to warrant a more in-depth study. That to the weather forecast and can be at said, OVP offers birders the opportunity OVP on a fall afternoon with a passing to see several species of raptor from cold front, you may bear witness to a a unique vantage point. Birds flying spectacle of dozens of raptors flying through the valley were often at or even south throughout the day. below eye level, and sometimes passed
Ryan Wilkes is a filmmaker, photographer, and PhD candidate in Biomedical Engineering. You can find out more about his work at ryanwilkes.com. Heather Blanchette is an avid nature lover who is passionate about Looking south over the Red Deer River valley making conservation accessible to from Orkney Viewpoint. RYAN WILKES everyone.
28 | WINTER 2021 NATURE ALBERTA MAGAZINE Total Daily Date of Name Observations High Highest Count Red-Tailed Hawk 43 12 Oct 8 Rough-Legged Hawk 27 6 Oct 7, 16 Swainsons Hawk 5 3 Sept 16 Sharp-Shinned Hawk 37 8 Sept 28 Cooper's Hawk 5 1 Sept 28, 30, Oct 7, 8, 21 Northern Goshawk 1 1 Oct 22 Northern Harrier 25 11 Oct 21 Osprey 15 2 Sept 10, 11, 16, Oct 8, 15 Bald Eagle 48 19 Oct 21 Golden Eagle 8 2 Sept 30, Oct 20, 23 American Kestrel 3 2 Sept 11 Peregrine Falcon 1 1 Sept 16
Unidentified Buteo 42 17 Oct 8 Accipiter 13 5 Sept 11 Falco 3 3 Sept 16 A red-tailed hawk soaring through the Hawk 11 2 Sept 17, Oct 7 Red Deer River valley on a clear September afternoon. RYAN WILKES Raptor 10 4 Oct 20
Acknowledgements Ryan Wilkes and Heather Blanchette completed this work as part of Stage 2 of the Canadian Wildlife Federation’s Canadian Conservation Corps program. The authors would like to thank Kim McGough from the CWF, Stan Solberg, the Town of Drumheller, and Kneehill County for making this work possible. Special thanks to Tim Schowalter for his supervision, guidance and expertise, and to Jim McCabe for sharing his knowledge of the area.
NATURE ALBERTA MAGAZINE WINTER 2021 | 29 Stories in the Snow BY MARGOT HERVIEUX
he woods and fields may seem Long, sleek weasels bound through leave a mark. Small, isolated holes in T empty at this time of year, but even the snow, leaving a line of paired tracks. deep snow are actually air vents created a short walk through new snow reveals By looking at the size of the footprints by mice to bring fresh air into their all kinds of activity. Reading the stories and measuring the distance between winter chambers. told by animal tracks is a great way tracks, you can usually figure out to discover who is living beyond your whether the hunter was a short-tailed back door. You can follow a grouse as it weasel, a mink, or occasionally even a searches for food or spot where an owl martin or fisher. Also watch for places has captured its prey simply by looking where the animal popped down under at marks left in the snow. the snow to look for dinner. Many city and country residents, During the winter, mice spend most especially those with bird feeders, are of their time under the snow. Both deer likely to have red squirrels active in their mice and meadow voles will, however, Deer mice and squirrels will yards. Squirrels usually leave tracks in come up to the surface to cross barriers leave tiny tracks in sets of four. groups of four with the slightly larger or check their surroundings. Voles hind feet showing ahead of the front usually leave paired tracks that look Larger animals also leave signs of feet. Their trails are easy to spot as they like miniature weasels. In contrast, deer their presence as they pass in the night. run between trees and you can also find mice move more like squirrels and leave Coyotes and foxes leave a wandering holes in the snow where they tunnel tracks in sets of four. In light snow, the trail as they check every sound and smell down to food stashes. long tail of the deer mouse may also in search of food. Like all dogs, their Snowshoe hare and jackrabbit track feet have four clawed toes in front of sets also show all four feet, but the furry a broad foot pad. The distinctive hoof- hind feet are at least twice as large as prints of deer and moose are also easily the front feet. The hopping gait of these recognized as they step lightly through hares also results in the front feet land- the snow. ing behind the back feet. Hares are easy The morning after a fresh snow, to track as they move about. Watch for I always scan my backyard from an hiding places and feeding areas where Hares' large back feet upstairs window to check for signs left branches have been stripped of bark are at least twice as by unseen visitors. I’ll notice where the large as their front feet. and twigs neatly snipped off at an angle. deer have stopped to check my flower
30 | WINTER 2021 NATURE ALBERTA MAGAZINE The meandering tracks of a curious fox. beds and sometimes see the zigzag path a fallen sunflower seed. Without the of a red fox circling through the yard. stories left in the snow, I would never There may even be delicate wing-prints know who had dropped by. left by a chickadee as it took flight with
Margot Hervieux is a founding member of the Peace Parkland Naturalists, an honorary member of Nature Alberta, and a longtime Nature Alberta board member. This article originally appeared in her “Naturally Yours” column in the Peace Country Sun, which she has been writing for 15 years. You can read more of her archived columns at A silent lynx has stalked peacecountrysun.com. through the snow.
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NATURE ALBERTA MAGAZINE WINTER 2021 | 31 My BIG Alberta Backyard
BY ZOE MACDOUGALL, NATURE KIDS PROGRAM COORDINATOR
lberta is a great place to live. areas that are important for birds IBAs and how to visit these sites AIt’s a big beautiful province full and biodiversity. This program was by downloading our Important Bird of all kinds of natural wonders. This started by BirdLife International to and Biodiversity Areas Checklist at is where we introduce you to the recognize significant places for bird naturealberta.ca/guides-checklists diversity of wildlife, and unique and and biodiversity conservation around Grande Prairie Trumpeter interesting wild spaces, that are part the world. Swan IBA of your Big Alberta Backyard. This In Canada, Birds Canada and Nature The Grande Prairie Trumpeter time, let’s explore the Grande Prairie Canada have partnered to provide Trumpeter Swan Important Bird and Swan IBA is located near the city information about ways that we can of Grande Prairie in the Saskatoon Biodiversity Area (IBA) located in work together to keep these important Saskatoon Island Provincial Park. Island Provincial Park, just a quick areas wild and healthy for our furry 25-minute drive from the city centre. What is an IBA? and feathered friends! There are 325 It has several lakes that many species The Important Bird and Biodiversity IBA sites in the country and 47 of of birds call home every year — Areas program is a global initiative those are located here in Alberta. more than 150 species have been to monitor and conserve natural You can learn more about Alberta’s recorded here! It is a significant area for waterfowl and a special place for trumpeter swans. These wonderful birds migrate here in the spring to breed and stay until the fall when they migrate south. This area is especially important for trumpeter swans because over 100 years ago biologists thought that these birds had completely disappeared in Canada, but a small flock was found in this area in 1918. This led to Saskatoon Lake becoming a Federal Migratory Bird Sanctuary 30 years later, and the trumpeter swan numbers kept growing!
Saskatoon Lake within the IBA, which many birds call home. KELSIE NORTON
32 | WINTER 2021 NATURE ALBERTA MAGAZINE A family of trumpeter swans at Saskatoon Island Provincial Park. KELSIE NORTON
If you live in or around the Grande Prairie area or if you are visiting the area, Saskatoon Island Provincial Park, one of Alberta’s first provincial parks, has lots for any naturalist to explore! There is a wide variety of plants and animals to see while you take a nature walk on the four kilometres of trails through the forests, wetlands, and native prairies! There is a viewing platform on Little Lake where you can watch the trumpeter swans in the summer. You can also camp and canoe, and cross- country ski and Great Backyard Bird Count snowshoe in the Nature Kids hosted a Great winter! Backyard Bird Count event in this IBA last year and hopes to host another one in February 2021, so keep an eye on our website, naturealberta.ca for more info (look for Events under Experience Nest seen while walking the trails during the Great Backyard Bird Nature). Hopefully you can join us Count event in February 2020. ZOE MACDOUGALL to explore this natural area!
NATURE ALBERTA MAGAZINE WINTER 2021 | 33 inter is a wonderful time to get outside and explore Wnature! All you need is a few warm layers and a Thermos of hot cocoa and you’re ready for an outdoor adventure! Out and In this Out and About activity, we have gathered some out- door winter sights and activities and put them in a word search. Words are hidden across, up-and-down, and diagonally. Once you have found all the words in the search, head outside on a About scavenger hunt and see how many of the words you can find for BY ZOE MACDOUGALL, NATURE KIDS PROGRAM COORDINATOR real while out on a nature walk! Some will probably be easy to spot, while others are pretty rare and special. Happy Exploring!
Name: Explore Winter!Created with TheTeachersCorner.net Word Search Maker Explore Winter! WUUXSWTGKWCORIKRSP JNORTHERNLIGHTSANW TOBOGGANMSCMCBDYOS WHPTKEGXISHMSLBKWC KJWKGVKZPRIKLUKNYP SSTJMASTCRCSZESHOZ WLKYSBYMBAKUKJMBWY GZMAGNEBRQANAADYLM GHFDTYOTAQDDDYSDDD SNRONILWVKEORXBSHS KOOABANNSUEGFSHLHM IFZRMBRGXHJLPNAHUT IHEIZAMEUFOTWOSKJR
NRNBIRDFEEDERWVLGE TOBOGGAN SKIING POND FROZEN
SUNDOG SKATING HICKADEE C
NORTHERN LIGHTS SNOWY OWL OWL SNOWY LIGHTS NORTHERN JAY LUE B
SNOWSHOE HARE HARE SNOWSHOE ICICLES FEEDER IRD B
IA RCS ORRS SNOWMAN HOARFROST TRACKS NIMAL GAPSOJPRTWKCHMPNME A
E E L M D F T S O R F R A O H D N L
R R I D N V X W W R I I I W T N I P
A H U H Q O S E L C I C I I B O TCOBIICICLESOAQHUH C T
H A E M N P M C K W T R P J O S P G
E N E G L V W R D E E F D R I B R
PINTWIIIRWWXVNRDIR N
O I R J K S O W T F U E M A Z E H I
H G M T U H A N P L J X R B R Z F I
S N A M H L H S F G E U N B A O O
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W L I S H S B X R O E K V N O R N S
T O T D D D S Y D D D Q A Y D F H G
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ANIMAL TRACKS HOARFROST SNOWMAN Q B E G M Z G
A S K Y W B M J K U K B M Y B Y L W
C S Z O H S E Z S BIRD FEEDER ICICLES SNOWSHOE HARE R C T S A M J T S
K P Y N K U L I
BLUE JAY NORTHERN LIGHTS SNOWY OWL R P Z K V G K W J K S C W K B L M H S I X G E K T P H W
S O Y D B C M C S M
CHICKADEE SKATING SUNDOG N A G G O B O T
W N A S T H G I L N R E H T R O N J
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FROZEN POND SKIING TOBOGGAN R K I R O C W K G T W S X U U W
Explore Winter! Explore
Created with TheTeachersCorner.net Word Search Maker Search Word TheTeachersCorner.net with Created Name: Name:
34 | WINTER 2021 NATURE ALBERTA MAGAZINE Ask Stuart ZOE MACDOUGALL, NATURE KIDS PROGRAM COORDINATOR elcome to Ask Stuart, a regular feature in which Stuart, Q Why do the days get W our Nature Kids mascot (who just happens to be a swift fox) responds to shorter in the winter? questions asked by kids across Alberta. From time to time Stuart will also ask local experts to help him answer these questions. If you have a question you would like Winter in Alberta means the to ask Stuart, send it along to our Nature Kids Program Coordinator at days get shorter and the weather [email protected] and it may be featured in a future issue. gets colder. The closer we get to the winter solstice (the first day of winter, Q How do cold-blooded animals, like reptiles December 21, which also happens and amphibians, get through Alberta’s frigid to be the Nature Kids Program Coordinator’s birthday!), the earlier winters? it gets dark outside. This occurs Have you ever wondered where the Conservancy’s website: because the Earth is on a tilted axis frogs, toads, salamanders, snakes, savingalbertasherps.org/species (the imaginary line on which the earth lizards, and turtles of Alberta go in the Amphibians and reptiles are rotates). During the winter months, as winter? ectotherms, which means that they are the Earth rotates around the sun, the Alberta is home to ten different cold-blooded and regulate their body northern hemisphere (the northern amphibian species — two salamanders, temperature using outside sources such half of the Earth where Canada is four frogs, and four toads — and as sunlight. Because of this they are located) leans further away from the nine reptile species — seven snakes, at a huge risk when the temperatures sun, and the further away from the sun one lizard, and one turtle. Many start to change and get colder. Reptiles we are, the less sunlight we get and people aren’t aware of just how many such as snakes do something similar the shorter our days are. amphibian and reptile species Alberta to hibernation called brumation, where has and these little critters are very their metabolism slows down and they fascinating indeed! If you would like decrease their movements to conserve to learn more about the amphibians energy. They find a place to nest, called and reptiles of Alberta, check out a hibernaculum, and stay there for the the Alberta Amphibian and Reptile winter, often with hundreds of other snakes. Terrestrial toads and frogs do something quite the same as snakes, where they find a log or burrow to stay warm in and slow down their metabolism to save energy. Aquatic species of reptiles and amphibians do things a bit differently. Frogs find a body of water that has lots of flow and oxygen and spend their winter on top of the
mud in the water. The western Information gathered from: painted turtle buries itself in the loudounwildlife.org/2019/11/ectotherms- mud where it will not freeze and in-winter-how-do-reptiles-and- breathes through its skin! amphibians-survive/
NATURE ALBERTA MAGAZINE WINTER 2021 | 35 MEET A MEMBER CLUB BY RYAN JAMES AND LIZ WATTS
Alberta Mycological Society
he Alberta Mycological Society mushroom pickers, but no old bold in member participation, with many forays T(AMS), founded in 1987, has mushroom pickers.” To help those new having waitlists due to participant number a particular fondness for fungi and to mushroom identification we offer an capping. The rules were well respected mushrooms. Our membership is large “Introduction to Mushrooms” course at and led to a safe, socially distanced foray and stable with approximately 500 every GAMF. Our 2020 GAMF, which season. members provincewide. We hold an was scheduled for Zama City in north- Our Speaker Series moved online, with annual Mushroom Expo at the University eastern Alberta, was cancelled due to webinars on fungal reproduction, fungal of Alberta Botanic Garden where we public health safety concerns and travel conservation in Alberta, mushroom culti- introduce people to mushrooms with restrictions preventing mycologists vation, mushroom identification, and being displays of currently fruiting fungi, from the U.S. travelling to the event. “bear smart” while foraying in the woods. provide mushroom tastings, and lead We hold regular mushroom forays Our delayed annual general meeting also forays in the gardens. In 2019 we had for members throughout the summer. went virtual in October. We emerged with our best attended expo ever, with 1,300 Our most active regions are Edmonton, a new board full of diverse experience and attendees, despite showery weather! Red Deer, and Calgary. The 2020 foray skillsets. We’re in a good position to con- Unfortunately, the 2020 Mushroom season was challenging, but we found tinue offering mushroom-themed nature Expo and our Great Alberta Mushroom responsible ways to continue these activities. Foray (GAMF) were cancelled due to activities and give members an oppor- Despite COVID-19, AMS has remained COVID-19. tunity to get outside. We created a set resilient by adapting to the new, challeng- GAMF is a citizen science initiative of foray rules based on public health ing environment. We were successful in that surveys mushroom biodiversity in guidelines. Foray participants had to safely encouraging Albertans to explore a different area of Alberta each year. wear masks during check-in and check- the outdoors and engage with the natural Through GAMF we have developed out procedures, and during post-foray world. mushroom collection, preservation, mushroom identification. Hands also Please visit our website, albertamush- and DNA sampling practices and tech- had to be sanitized before touching rooms.ca, for more information about niques that are being adopted by other any common surfaces. While foraying, AMS, our activities, and membership mushroom clubs across North America. participants were asked to stick with options, or email contactus@albertamush- GAMF is a great way to learn to identify their travel cohort. We saw an increase rooms.ca mushrooms, which is critical to knowing which mushrooms are edible and which Ryan James is a Professional Biologist and the current Foray Coordinator for the AMS. are poisonous. We have a saying: “There Liz Watts is a microbiologist, clinical researcher, and AMS Board Member at Large in are old mushroom pickers and bold addition to her new role as President of Nature Alberta.
36 | WINTER 2021 NATURE ALBERTA MAGAZINE Alberta’s Nocturnal Owl Survey Participate in the 20th Year in 2021
BY LISA TAKATS PRIESTLEY
he Alberta Nocturnal Owl Survey have 11 commonly detected species of BY RYAN JAMES AND LIZ WATTS Thas been running for 19 years. The owls. Of these, only six are considered survey is coordinated by STRIX Eco- nocturnal: boreal owl, barred owl, great
logical Consulting and was initiated in gray owl, great horned owl, long-eared Northern saw-whet owl. LISA TAKATS PRIESTLEY 2002 as part of a Canada-wide National owl, and northern saw-whet owl. All Owl Survey program run by Bird Studies species have unique calls that help us We have almost 200 volunteers sur- Canada. The help of volunteers has been identify them. Owls call to protect their veying about 100 routes throughout crucial in helping determine owl popula- territory from other owls or to attract a Alberta, however we have many routes tion changes in the province. As part of mate and begin setting up their territory. available across the province. The more a network of organizations from across coverage we have, the better our picture Canada conducting nocturnal owl Raptors, such as owls, of nocturnal owl health. Surveys are run surveys, this citizen science program can be good indicators twice between March 20 and May 5. All collects important long-term informa- of the health of the you need is a reliable vehicle (it is a road- tion on owl distribution, abundance, environment because side survey); an MP3 player, CD player, and population trends regionally, pro- they respond relatively smartphone, or other device to play owl vincially, and nationally. The volunteer quickly to changes calls; and lots of enthusiasm! We pro- data has also been provided to various in habitat and food vide information on safety supplies to agencies to help inform survey designs availability. bring with you, and have a COVID-safe in remote areas and help with habitat protocol for you to follow. If you would management considerations. Broadcasting recordings of owl calls like to participate, please contact Lisa Raptors, such as owls, can be good can increase the number of owls you Priestley via email at [email protected] or indicators of the health of the environ- hear; therefore, roadside call-playback by phone at 780-662-4909. Please let us ment because they respond relatively surveys are one of the most widely know a general area (around what town/ quickly to changes in habitat and food used and most effective techniques to city/region) you would like to survey, availability. Alberta is fortunate to survey owls. and provide a mailing address so we can send you a package and route. Survey packages are mailed in February.
Lisa Takats Priestley is a Professional Biologist with an M.Sc. in Wildlife Ecology and Management. She is the co-owner of STRIX Ecological Consulting. Her Master’s thesis work led to her taking the lead on developing nocturnal owl monitoring guidelines now in use throughout Great horned owl by moonlight. LISA TAKATS PRIESTLEY North America.
NATURE ALBERTA MAGAZINE WINTER 2021 | 37 NATURE ALBERTA brings together organizations LEARN. and individuals from across the province to EXPLORE. speak with a unified voice for the appreciation and conservation of Alberta’s PROTECT. natural environment.
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