VOLUME 44 | NUMBER 3 | FALL 2014 SUGGESTED RETAIL: $10.00 CDN Nature Alberta CELEBRATING OUR NATURAL HERITAGE WATERFOWL LAKE IN BANFF NATIONAL PARK, WITH MOUNT CHEPHREN IN THE BACKGROUND. RICK PRICE feature article Bats in your Hair and Other Wildlife Myths and Misconceptions NATURE ALBERTA A GREAT GRAY OWL COMING IN FOR A LANDING! SEE THE “FIRST HAND” STORY PG 32. DR. SHARIF GALAL ALPENGLOW ADDS FIRE AND VITALITY TO OUR SUBJECTS.” SEE JOHN WARDEN’S COLUMN, PG 16. JOHN WARDEN FALL 2014 1 Nature Alberta: Nature Alberta is composed of natural history clubs from across the province. The aims of the Federation are: Celebrating our natural heritage (a) To encourage among all Albertans, by all means possible, an increase in their knowledge of natural history and understanding of ecological processes; (b) To promote an increase in the exchange of information and views among natural history clubs and societies in Alberta; (c) To foster and assist in the formation of additional natural history clubs and societies in Alberta; (d) To promote the establishment of natural areas and nature reserves, to conserve and protect species, communities or other features of interest; (e) To organize, or coordinate symposia, conferences, field meetings, Contents nature camps, research and other activities whether of a similar or dissimilar nature; NATURE ALBERTA VOLUME 44, NUMBER 3, FALL 2014 (f) To provide the naturalists of Alberta with a forum in which questions relating to the conservation of the natural environment may be discussed, so that united positions can be developed on them, and to Editor’s Page BY DENNIS BARESCO ....................................................................2 provide the means of translating these positions into appropriate actions. Alberta Issues in Brief .............................................................................5 BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESIDENT: Ted Hindmarch Nature Alberta News ............................................................................12 VICE PRESIDENT: Linda Howitt-Taylor SECRETARY: Claudia Lipski Close to Home: Nature Photography in Alberta BY JOHN WARDEN ...............16 TREASURER: Christine Brown PAST PRESIDENT: Chuck Priestley Eyes on IBAs: A Birder’s-Eye View on Cooperation APPOINTED DIRECTORS: Christine Brown, Ted Hindmarch, Joseph Hnatiuk, and Conservation BY BROOK SKAGEN ............................................................21 Geoff Holroyd, Chuck Priestley, Linda Howitt-Taylor ELECTED DIRECTORS: Jennine Pedersen (ANPC); Claudia Lipski, (BLN); FEATURE ARTICLE: Bats in your Hair and Other John & Linda Stewart (CFNS); Lu Carbyn, (ENC); Elizabeth Watts (FEIS); Wildlife Myths and Misconceptions BY LORNE FITCH ...................................24 Martha Munz-Gue, (GN); Jennifer Okrainec (LLBBS); Lloyd Bennett (LNS); Margot Hervieux (PPN); Tony Blake (RDRN); Chris Olsen (VRNS); Nature Diary: Flying Squirrel BY DEBBIE AND ALAN GODKIN ...............................31 STAFF: Petra Rowell (Exec. Dir.) First Hand: The Great Gray Owl…and a little bird! BY DR. SHARIF GALAL ......32 CORPORATE MEMBER CLUBS Alberta Native Plant Council, Box 52099, Garneau P.O. Edmonton, AB Book Review: The Reindeer Botanist: Alf Erling Porsild T6G 2T5 1901–1977 ............................................................................................34 Buffalo Lake Naturalists, Box 1802, Stettler, AB T0C 2L0 Nature Calgary (CFNS), Box 981, Calgary, AB T2P 2K4 Speculation on how Bitterroot (Lewisia rediviva) arrived Edmonton Nature Club, Box 1111, Edmonton, AB T5J 2M1 in Southwestern Alberta BY GEORGE W. SCOTTER ............................................38 Friends of Elk Island Society, Box 70, 9929 – 63 Ave, Edmonton AB, T6E 0G9 Grasslands Naturalists, Box 2491, Medicine Hat, AB T1A 8G8 Up Close Naturally: What do “Bugs” Do When Lac La Biche Birding Society, Box 1270, Lac La Biche, AB T0A 2C0 Winter Comes? BY MARGOT HERVIEUX ............................................................41 Lethbridge Naturalists Society, Box 1691, Lethbridge, AB T1J 4K4 Peace Parkland Naturalists, Box 1451, Grande Prairie, AB T8V 4Z2 Black Coyotes or Coydogs? BY DICK DEKKER ................................................42 Red Deer River Naturalists, Box 785, Red Deer, AB T4N 5H2 Vermilion River Naturalists, 5707 - 47 Avenue, Vermilion, AB T9X 1K5 The North Raven River Conservation Site ............................................44 AFFILIATES: Grey Wolves, Black Wolves, Red Wolves, and Alberta Lake Management Society Friends of Little Beaver Lake Society Alberta Lepidopterists’ Guild Grant MacEwan Mountain Club Black Coyotes BY DICK DEKKER ....................................................................45 Alberta Mycological Society Heritage Tree Foundation of Canada Beaverhill Bird Observatory J.J. Collett Natural Area Foundation Book Review: Wild Wolves We Have Known ........................................46 Beaver River Naturalist Club Lesser Slave Lake Bird Observatory Celestial Happenings BY JOHN MCFAUL ........................................................47 Big Lake Environmental Support Society Little Creeks and Rough Fescue BowKan Birders Appreciation Society Club Page: Friends of Elk Island Society ...............................................48 Calgary Bird Banding Society Purple Martin Conservancy Cochrane Environmental Action Riverlot 56 Natural Area Society Committee Stewards of Alberta’s Protected Areas Crooked Creek Conservancy Society Association PUBLISHED QUARTERLY BY NATURE ALBERTA, Crowsnest Conservation Society The Wagner Natural Area Society 11759 GROAT ROAD, EDMONTON, AB T5M 3K6 Edmonton Naturalization Group Weaselhead/Glenmore Park Ellis Bird Farm Preservation Society PHONE.780.427.8124 FAX.780.422.2663 Fort Saskatchewan Naturalist Society Wizard Lake Watershed and Lake EMAIL. [email protected] Friends of Blackfoot Society Stewardship Assoc. Friends of Elk Island Society EDITOR.DENNIS BARESCO Friends of Jasper National Park [email protected] CIRCULATION.TED HINDMARCH LAYOUT.BROKEN ARROW SOLUTIONS INC. CELEBRATE NATURE ALBERTA THANKS TO THE PROOFREADERS WHO ASSISTED IN PRODUCING THIS ISSUE: SERVING NATURE FOR OVER 43 YEARS!!! SANDRA FOSS, ELAINE GERMYN, SUZANNE LORINCZI, VAL SCHOLEFIELD, JUNE VERMEULEN. MANY THANKS TO THIS ISSUE’S CONTRIBUTORS EDITORIAL DISCLAIMER WANT TO SUBMIT ARTICLES NATURE ALBERTA DEADLINES ARE: The opinions expressed by the authors in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the editor and the Federation of Alberta OR PHOTOS? SPRING ISSUE.FEBRUARY 28 Naturalists. The editor reserves the right to edit, reject or withdraw GUIDELINES ARE AVAILABLE ON SUMMER ISSUE.MAY 31 articles submitted. While due care will be taken of all manuscripts, photos THE NATURE ALBERTA WEBSITE: FALL ISSUE.AUGUST 31 or artwork submitted, FAN cannot be held responsible for any loss or WWW.NATUREALBERTA.CA WINTER ISSUE.NOVEMBER 30 damage to such articles. LINDA KERSHAW/WWW.ANPC.AB.CA 2 NatureAlberta Editor’s Page BY DENNIS BARESCO BEAUTIFUL CLIMATE CHANGE underfunding climate change A number of years ago, climate research and adapting strategies. change was being touted as a After all, “ignorance is bliss” is it blessing for Canadian farmers not? And as the Canadian rock Wheatgrass in Native Grassland.” You because it would lengthen group Trooper sang back in ’77: can download the pdf for free at: the growing season and give We’re here for a good time, not www.publications.gov.sk.ca/details. crops more sun and increased a long time! cfm?p=11094; or warmth. Even the United Nations www.foothillsrestorationforum.ca/ Intergovernmental Panel on CRESTED WHEATGRASS crested-wheatgrass-control Climate Change (IPCC) took a somewhat positive view of the When Crested Wheatgrass HUNTING WITH DRONES impact climate changes would (Agropyron cristatum) was It’s hard to believe that any hunter have on crop yields. My reaction introduced here back in the 1930s, with even the slightest ethical was: oh yes, but also more it was a godsend for erosion principles would use helicopters erratic weather patterns, more control and early spring grazing or drones to track and chase game drought, more floods, more hail, – which reduced grazing pressure animals; fortunately it’s a rare event more wind – all those things that on native grasslands – plus it as far as we know. Nevertheless, damage or wipe out crops, no was drought resistant. But, as there have been incidents in the last matter how well they are growing. with almost all alien species, it created problems, and still does. few years, as well as the promotion Well, it now seems that the IPCC It is invasive on native grassland, of drones as a hunting aid. Most and other researchers have come out competes for soil moisture jurisdictions in Canada and the to realize that the agricultural and nutrients, is long-lived and U.S. are moving to either ban such negatives are already outweighing is a prolific seed producer with so-called hunting (as Manitoba and the positives and will continue seeds that can develop into Saskatchewan did this summer) or to worsen. I hate to say I told new plants very quickly. And, clarify the rules regarding hunting you so, but it’s nice to be proven although young plants are tasty from the air. correct. On the positive side, as for grazers, it becomes more and I first became aware of this issue Globe & Mail business columnist more useless – except as fuel for from a Globe & Mail article by Tu Eric Reguly said: “We humans grass fires! – once it goes to seed; Thanh Ha, “The case against drone- might drown