The Wildbird General Store

Title: Breeding Bird Survey Session
Location: In the Store
Description: Come and meet Edmonton region Breeding Bird Surveyors and their coordinator, Jack Park. The session is for those people who want to take their bird ID skills to the next level. We are looking to recruit new surveyors for the 2011 season and beyond. Spots are limited so please RSVP by calling the store.
Start Time: 19:00
Date: 2010-05-26

Title: Wagner Clean up
Location: Wagner Natural Area
Link out: Click here
Description: Join the friends of Wagner Natural Area for a day of spring cleaning.

The Wagner Natural Area (also known as the Wagner Bog) is a rich calcareous peatland and is a prime example of a rich spring fen. Although it is often called the “Wagner Bog”, this name is technically incorrect as a bog refers to specific acidic soil types, but the name has stuck, even with people who should know better.

Its rich diversity of flora and fauna make it an important area for amateur naturalists as well as students and professional biologists. It has held the interest of Edmonton area naturalists since the late 1940′s.

Wagner is located approximately 6.5 km west of the Edmonton city limits and directly to the south of Highway 16 and east of Atim road (Range Road 270).

Contact:
Pat Clayton
pjc@connect.ca
or
wagner@fanweb.ca
780-427-8124

Date: 2010-05-22

Title: Save the Frogs Day (Field Trip)
Location: Wagner Natural Area
Link out: Click here
Description: Wayne Roberts of the University of Alberta Museum of Zoology will lead this yearly trip to Wagner Natural area. You can listen to the frogs and toads found in this ground water fed rich fen. This natural area is home to nearly all the orchids found in Alberta and is a very special place due to its unique assemblage of species.

Contact:
Wayne @ 780-492-4622
Kevin @ 780-421-7335
Date: 2010-05-13

Survey Date: April 18, 2010                    Survey #3
# Participants: 10
Duration: 10:00 – 2:00 PM
Weather: AM: partly cloudy, +6C, winds SE 15km/h increasing to 30km/h
                       PM: variable  cloud, +21C, winds SE 25-30 km/h
Species Total: 32

Redtail Hawk – 12
American Kestrel – 2
Merlin – 1
Great Horned Owl – 1 adult on nest & 1 young visible briefly
Canada Geese- 20
White-fronted Geese- 21
Tundra Swans – 9
Mallard – 15
American Wigeon – 2
Wilson’s Snipe – 2
Lesser Yellowlegs – 2
Killdeer – 4
Ring-billed Gull – 15
California Gull – 1
Crow – 21
Black-billed Magpie – 14
Raven – 8
Red-winged Blackbird – 46
Common Grackle – 7
Western Meadowlark – 2
Starling – 3
Robins – 10
Mountain Bluebird – 4
Northern Flicker – 3
Tree Swallow – 1
Black-cap Chickadee – 2
Purple Finch – 2
Song Sparrow – 5
American Tree Sparrow – 1
Snow Buntings – small groups totaling approx.150 birds
Rock Pigeon – 8
House Sparrow – 5

* Also observed were small flocks of what we thought may have been Lapland Longspurs
however they never stopped for ID.

*NOTE : a raptor was observed by myself through 10X binoculars flap flying in from the south
                towards our location.  It then stopped very briefly to soar revealing a falcon profile
                suggesting either Peregrine or Prairie.  Unfortunately due to a passing vehiclyI had to
                lower the glasses and could not find the bird again so a positive ID was not made.

Title: Talk on climate change and human rights
Location: Westin Hotel
Description:
Talk by Sheila-Cloutier, Nobel Peace Prize nominee, world leader on climate change and human rights. Lunch at Westin Hotel. Time not available at this posting (March 22, 2010)
For tickets call TIX on the square at 780-420-1757 or visit www.tixonthewquare.com
Date: 2010-09-15