PROCEEDINGS OF THE TH 10 PRAIRIE CONSERVATION AND ENDANGERED SPECIES CONFERENCE Engaging People in Conservation Co-hosted by: Prairie Conservation Forum Alberta Society of Professional Biologists Engaging People in Conservation Proceedings of the 10th Prairie Conservation and Endangered Species Conference February 19 to 22, 2013 – Red Deer, Alberta Edited by Geoffrey L Holroyd Amy J Trefry Brittany Crockett Published by Alberta Prairie Conservation Forum Lethbridge, Alberta 2014 Conference website is: http://www.pcesc.ca/ Suggested citation: Holroyd, G.L., A.J. Trefry and B. Crockett (eds.). 2014. Engaging People in Conservation, Proceedings of the 10th Prairie Conservation and Endangered Species Conference, February 19 to 22, 2013 – Red Deer, Alberta. Alberta Prairie Conservation Forum, Lethbridge, Alberta. 320pp. Proceedings of the 10th Prairie Conservation and Endangered Species Conference 2 Table of Contents SPONSORS .............................................................................................................. 14 WELCOME TO THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE 10th PRAIRIE CONSERVATION AND ENDANGERED SPECIES CONFERENCE .......................................................................................... 17 ORGANIZING COMMITTEE ......................................................................................... 19 EDITOR’S COMMENTS ............................................................................................... 21 YOUNG PROFESSIONAL STEWARDSHIP GRANTS ............................................................. 22 THE PRAIRIE CONSERVATION AWARDS ........................................................................ 24 HISTORY OF THE CONFERENCE ................................................................................... 28 Published Proceedings ............................................................................................................................ 28 PLENARY SPEAKERS’ PAPERS and ABSTRACTS .............................................................................. 30 Farm Environmental Stewardship Isn’t Free! An Agricultural Economic Perspective on the Wedge between Farmers and Conservationists Jim Unterschultz ............................................................................................................................... 30 Regulatory Hammer or Voluntary Conservation? Win-win Solutions for the 21st Century Dave Naugle ..................................................................................................................................... 38 Connecting Story and Science Chris Fisher ....................................................................................................................................... 39 Grassland Songbird Research and Conservation in the Working Canadian Prairie Landscape Stephen Davis ................................................................................................................................... 40 Wintering Grassland Birds as Bio-Indicators in the Chihuahuan Desert of Mexico and Southwest USA Arvind Panjabi .................................................................................................................................. 41 Current and Future Natural Capital Valuation in the Upper Bow Basin Harvey Buckley ................................................................................................................................. 43 Environmental Consumerism: Are People Really Willing to Pay? Keith Everts ...................................................................................................................................... 44 Rapporteur’s Closing Notes: 2013 Prairie Conservation and Endangered Species Conference Kevin Van Tighem ............................................................................................................................. 45 SESSION SPEAKERS’ and POSTER ABSTRACTS AND PAPERS Session 1: Socio-economics of Prairie Conservation The Economics of BMP Adoption in the Canadian Prairie Region D. Trautman, K. Barnes, S. Koeckhoven, S. Xie, J. Unterschultz, S. Jeffrey, C. Ross ...................... 50 Proceedings of the 10th Prairie Conservation and Endangered Species Conference 3 Assessing the Effectiveness of an Alberta-based Agri-environmental Extension Service Stephanie Simpson, Curtis Rollins and Peter Boxall ..................................................................... 51 Habitat Conservation for Grassland Species-at-Risk: A Multi-Species Benefit-Cost Analysis A. Entem, W.L. Adamowicz, P.C. Boxall ....................................................................................... 52 Environmental and Socio-economic Implications of Growing Bioenergy Production Crops on Marginal Land in Saskatchewan Branimir Gjetvaj, Murray J. Bentham .......................................................................................... 57 Session 2: Educators Tackle Nature Deficit Disorder Connections Between People and Nature: Trends and Challenges Glen Hvenegaard ......................................................................................................................... 58 Engaging the Next Generation of Conservationists in Alberta Myrna Pearman ........................................................................................................................... 64 Engaging the Next Generation of Conservationists in Saskatchewan Lacey Weekes, Rebecca Magnus ................................................................................................. 69 Advancing Environmental Education in Alberta: An Overview of the Program of Alberta Council for Environmental Education Christina Pickles. .......................................................................................................................... 72 From Asphalt to Agroecology: Redesigning Schoolyards for Ecological Encounters Michelle Drissler ........................................................................................................................... 75 Best Practices for Connecting Youth with Nature through the Arts M. Krupa-Clark, Gordon Court ..................................................................................................... 80 Community Engagement in Biodiversity Monitoring and Habitat Enhancement Projects in central Alberta - Partnering Business and Conservation C.E. Pristley, D.L. Takats Priestley. ............................................................................................... 81 The Importance of Connecting Children to Nature Jim Robertson ............................................................................................................................... 86 Wildlife Rehabilitation and Environmental Education Colin Weir ..................................................................................................................................... 87 Outreach Activities Occurring in Southern Alberta T. Kupchenko ................................................................................................................................ 88 Session 3: Mitigating Industry Effects on Prairie Raptors Tools to Reduce Avian Electrocution and Collision Mortality on Distribution Power Lines in Sensitive Prairie Ecosystems Cindy M. Kemper .......................................................................................................................... 89 Proceedings of the 10th Prairie Conservation and Endangered Species Conference 4 Use of Avian Protection Plans during Transmission Power Line Construction and Operation in Alberta Nikki S. Heck ................................................................................................................................. 90 The Influence of Land Cover and Industrial Development on Ferruginous Hawk Reproductive Success Janet W. Ng, Erin M. Bayne, Troy I. Wellicome ............................................................................ 91 Industrial and Agricultural Influences on Survival of Post-fledging Ferruginous Hawk M.A. Johnson, Erin M. Bayne, Troy I. Wellicome ......................................................................... 92 Session 4: Prairie Biodiversity Monitoring Status of Biodiversity in Alberta’s Grassland Natural Region Jim Herbers .................................................................................................................................. 93 Assessing the Vulnerability of Alberta’s Native Species to Climate Change A. Nixon, C. Shank, D. Farr ........................................................................................................... 94 Ecosystem Services Assessment for Environmental Innovation and Competitiveness T. Habib, D. Farr ........................................................................................................................... 95 Session 5: Advances in Wetland Conservation Alberta’s Water Act – Avoid, Minimize…. What About the Landscape? Dave L. Scobie .............................................................................................................................. 96 Wetland Soils of Alberta; Using Site and Soil Information to Improve Management Ron McNeil ................................................................................................................................... 97 Alberta’s Wetland Mitigation System – A Wetland Conservation Organization’s Perspective Tracy Scott ..................................................................................................................................