Happenings at the Park
Migratory Bird Day 2024 was a big success
Over 260 visitors came to Lois Hole Centennial Provincial Park to help celebrate our environment through bird watching, walks and talks about nature photography, catching and identifying insects, pond dipping, and listening to presentations by Nature Nick, Melissa Penney and John Acorn. The ever popular Vinny the Falcon brought his Alberta Environment handler Gordon Court. Booths were set up by BLESS, Nature Alberta, St. Albert Photography Club, the Wagner Natural Area, the North Saskatchewan Watershed Alliance, Ducks Unlimited, the Edmonton River Valley Conservation Coalition, the Edmonton Area Land Trust, the Entomological Society of Alberta, and the Lepidopterists Guild of Alberta.
Many birds were spotted, including: mallards, coots, ruddy ducks, shovellers, blue-winged teal, red-winged blackbirds, chickadees, downy woodpeckers, osprey, and Canada geese (they were upset at our use of the shelter). A young moose in the marsh was very popular.
Melissa Penney talking about attracting insects and hence birds to your backyard.
Dr. John Acorn gave an entertaining presentation on changes in bird presence in Alberta. Are they really to do with climate change, or are there other factors as well?
This young moose was in the marsh looking for lunch, the goose was making sure it didn’t tromp on her nest.
This goose was not happy about Migratory Bird Day, and told us so!
New online Stewardship Reporting form helps cleanup the Park
On May 4 the BLESS Board received a Stewardship Report using our new online form. It concerned a large amount of garbage along and underneath the boardwalk. BLESS Director Dan Stoker and his wife Mary went out with hip waders and a large container to remove the trash. They removed a lot, including a traffic cone (see photos below). Proof that our new reporting system works, and so do Dan and Mary. A big thank you to the two of them.
The St. Albert Photography Club reached out to BLESS to help them organize a “walk about” photographing nature along the boardwalk and the platform. Directors Linda Brain and Lyn Druett attended as did member Lasiru Wajisuriya. A good time was had by all on September 22, 2023.
Being fall in Alberta the young birds have grown and are practicing migration techniques, other birds have flocked off to warmer climes, beavers, muskrats and moose are all intent on eating as much as possible for winter fat. But, there are always chickadees and a wonderful sunset!
Photo credits:
Group Dale Rodwell
Chickadee and sunset Lasiru Wajisuriya
Guardians of Nature
Nature Alberta's Family Nature Nights wrap-up celebration — a festival-style event.
Join us and 9 partners to engage in hands-on nature learning. Participants will receive a passport to collect stamps at each exciting station. Fill up your passport to receive your very own Nature Kids binoculars (while supplies last)! Event information is available on our website at naturealberta.ca/fnn-guardians-of-nature