VOLUME 41 | NUMBER 1 | SPRING 2011 SUGGESTED RETAIL: $7.50 CDN Nature Alberta CELEBRATING OUR NATURAL HERITAGE TREE SWALLOWS. SANDRA HAWKINS feature article Picturing Love of Nature NATURE ALBERTA GRIZZLY BEAR MOTHER AND CUB IN THE FOOTHILLS. KIRK DAVIS PYRAMID LAKE, JASPER NATIONAL PARK. ASHLEY HOCKENBERRY SPRING 2011 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, fi eld meetings, Contents nature camps, research and other activities whether of a similar or NATURE ALBERTA VOLUME 41, NUMBER 1, SPRING 2011 dissimilar nature; (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 President’s Report 2010 BY CHUCK PRIESTLEY ..................................................2 provide the means of translating these positions into appropriate actions. Editor’s Page BY DENNIS BARESCO ....................................................................4 BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESIDENT: Chuck Priestley Alberta Issues in Brief .............................................................................6 VICE PRESIDENT: Ted Hindmarch SECRETARY: Iris Davies Nature Diary: “Mother Black Bear and Cubs” BY DEBBIE AND ALAN GODKIN .........8 TREASURER: Peichen Gu PAST PRESIDENT: Sandra Foss Up Close Naturally: Fish-eating Birds! BY MARGOT HERVIEUX .........................10 APPOINTED DIRECTORS: Dennis Baresco, Dawn Dickinson, Peichen Gu, Ted Hindmarch, Chuck Priestley, Don Stiles Nature Alberta News ............................................................................11 ELECTED DIRECTORS: Chrissie Smith (ANPC); Claudia Cameron, (BLN); Scott Jubinville (CFNS); Lu Carbyn, (ENC); Grant Henry (FMFNS); Marty Drut, (GN); National Parks: Open Letter: Park Warden Alumni Society Ted Johnson (LLBBS); Lloyd Bennett (LNS); Margot Hervieux (PPN); Tony of Alberta ..............................................................................................15 Blake (RDRN); Iris Davies (VRNS); STAFF: Philip Penner (Exec. Dir.); Vid Bijelic; Michelle Bacon (LbyW) Close to Home: Nature Photography in Alberta BY JOHN WARDEN ...............16 CORPORATE MEMBER CLUBS AKAYO’KAKI A’PAWAAWAHKAA BY RYAN HEAVY HEAD .................................19 Alberta Native Plant Council, Box 52099, Garneau P.O. Edmonton, AB T6G 2T5 FEATURE ARTICLE – Picturing Love of Nature ....................................22 Buffalo Lake Naturalists, Box 1802, Stettler, AB T0C 2L0 Nature Calgary (CFNS), Box 981, Calgary, AB T2P 2K4 Do Nothing – For Wildlife BY LORNE FITCH ..................................................28 Edmonton Nature Club, Box 1111, Edmonton, AB T5J 2M1 Fort McMurray Field Naturalists Society, 152 Cote Bay, Fort McMurray, AB Coyotes: the discussion continues ........................................................32 T9H 4R9 Grasslands Naturalists, Box 2491, Medicine Hat, AB T1A 8G8 First Hand: “Spirit” BY RICK PRICE.................................................................33 Lac La Biche Birding Society, Box 1270, Lac La Biche, AB T0A 2C0 Lethbridge Naturalists Society, Box 1691, Lethbridge, AB T1J 4K4 BY SANDRA HAWKINS Wildlife! Starring…Red-winged Blackbird ...................34 Peace Parkland Naturalists, Box 1451, Grande Prairie, AB T8V 4Z2 Book Review: The Will of the Land .......................................................36 Red Deer River Naturalists, Box 785, Red Deer, AB T4N 5H2 Vermilion River Naturalists, 5707 - 47 Avenue, Vermilion, AB T9X 1K5 Saying Goodbye to Another Banff Wolf BY JOHN MARRIOTT ..........................37 AFFILIATES: Respecting the Wisdom of All Species BY JIM COVEL ..................................39 Alberta Lake Management Society Friends of Jasper National Park Alberta Lepidopterists’ Guild Friends of Little Beaver Lake Society Celestial Happenings BY JOHN MCFAUL ........................................................41 Alberta Mycological Society Grant MacEwan Mountain Club Alberta Stewardship Network Heritage Tree Foundation of Canada Beaverhill Bird Observatory J.J. Collett Natural Area Foundation Club Page ..............................................................................................42 Beaver River Naturalist Club Lee Nature Sanctuary Society Big Lake Environmental Support Society Lesser Slave Lake Bird Observatory BowKan Birders Purple Martin Conservancy PUBLISHED QUARTERLY BY NATURE ALBERTA, Calgary Bird Banding Society Riverlot 56 Natural Area Society Cochrane Environmental Action Stewards of Alberta’s Protected Areas 11759 GROAT ROAD, EDMONTON, AB T5M 3K6 Committee Association PHONE.780.427.8124 FAX.780.422.2663 Crooked Creek Conservancy Society The Wagner Natural Area Society [email protected] Crowsnest Conservation Society Weaselhead/Glenmore Park Edmonton Naturalization Group Preservation Society SUBSCRIPTION $30.00 PER YEAR; $55 FOR TWO YEARS Ellis Bird Farm Wizard Lake Watershed and Lake Fort Saskatchewan Naturalist Society Stewardship Assoc. EDITOR.DENNIS BARESCO Friends of Blackfoot Society [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 40 YEARS!!! ELAINE CATHCART, SANDRA FOSS, MARILYN ROSS, VAL SCHOLEFIELD, JUNE VERMEULEN. MANY THANKS TO THIS ISSUE’S CONTRIBUTORS EDITORIAL DISCLAIMER WANT TO SUBMIT ARTICLES NATURE ALBERTA DEADLINES ARE: The opinions expressed by the authors in this publication do not necessarily refl ect those of the editor and the Federation of Alberta OR PHOTOS? SPRING ISSUE.FEBRUARY 14 Naturalists. The editor reserves the right to edit, reject or withdraw GUIDELINES ARE AVAILABLE ON SUMMER ISSUE.MAY 15 articles submitted. While due care will be taken of all manuscripts, photos THE NATURE ALBERTA WEBSITE: FALL ISSUE.AUGUST 15 or artwork submitted, FAN cannot be held responsible for any loss or WWW.NATUREALBERTA.CA WINTER ISSUE.NOVEMBER 15 damage to such articles. 2 NatureAlberta President’s Report 2010 BY CHUCK PRIESTLEY, NATURE ALBERTA PRESIDENT (2010-11) For Nature Alberta, the year 2010 the organization afl oat and for integrate these projects. There was defi ned by challenges and continuing to weather what has is a feeling that bringing these a heavy workload. However, been a diffi cult fi nancial storm. projects closer together could we maintain our sense of create effi ciencies and increase Despite being in the midst of optimism and enthusiasm about effectiveness of each. Also, a tough fi nancial situation, future opportunities for our staff are exploring new ways there is a sense of optimism organization and the goals we to address the goals of these and eagerness about future collectively aim to address. projects in closer partnership opportunities. The team with the clubs. There are good After becoming President in April is pursuing new funding opportunities to work together 2010, I enjoyed the opportunity opportunities with Foundations to address common goals and to work closely throughout the and exploring ways to most needs. year with our Executive Director, effectively engage potential Philip Penner, and our Executive, corporate sponsors. In addition Added interest and discussion Ted Hindmarch (Vice President), to fundraising with the has been surfacing about how Peichen Gu (Treasurer) and Hypothermic Half Marathon best to engage members under Sandra Foss (Past President). (in partnership with The our newly adopted membership Our Secretary position remained Running Room) again this year, structure. Nature Alberta now vacant during 2010 [a position Nature Alberta worked on new has a new way to engage with now fi lled by Iris Davies – Ed] fundraising initiatives with the Albertans via membership for but duties which this position Edmonton Oil Kings. Not only individuals. There might be requires were taken on by did these events bring in money opportunities to bring in the Project Coordinator and Offi ce for the organization, they were folks who might not want to join Administrator, Christine Brown. also new and interesting ways a nature club but are inclined We appreciated Christine’s offer to engage with the public, to support a provincial nature- to help and for all her additional our membership and partners. oriented organization. For effort and support in this regard. Positive feedback was received example, they might not want to The Executive also appreciated from people who volunteered (or have time to) join a nature input from Dennis Baresco at these events. Many club but might see value in during various meetings and volunteers expressed interest in contributing to, or hearing more online communications. participating in the events next about, projects which involve year. Certainly a good sign! youth engagement with nature Financially, Nature Alberta’s such as