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Nature Alberta's 5th newsletter of 2012
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O C T O B E R / N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 2
the
Nature Alberta
Page 2: Living By Water Summer 2012 Review Page 3: Young Naturalists Club Fall Program Update Club Spotlight: Buffalo Lake Naturalists Page 4: Contact Us
From the Executive Directors Desk By Petra Rowell
"Let me ride through the open country that I love, don't fence me in." -Bing Crosby That old tune runs through my mind as I look back on summer 2012. With Senior Project Manager, Vid Bijelic taking over the duties of Executive Director for the summer I had a wonderful opportunity to explore the province and visit a number of Alberta's Important Bird Areas (IBA). I began this project review in my own backyard at Big Lake IBA near St. Albert. From there I traveled north. 14 of Alberta's 48 IBAs are associated with northern lakes and each one is a naturalists delight. Sightings of deer, moose, coyote and even a bear were equally exciting as the countless bird sitings. Now that fall has arrived and we review 2012 and plan for 2013 we take note that it will be an extra special year for Alberta's IBA Program. Next year marks 15 years of IBA in the province and we would love to get some feedback from you! How can we encourage more Albertans to visit and learn about the Important Bird Areas program? Send your IBA ideas to: [email protected] From all of us at Nature Alberta, have a great fall!
Newsletter
www.naturealberta.ca
In This Issue
“Promoting conservation through education and appreciation.”
Est. 1970
IBA Canada Committee 2012: P. Rowell top row, 2nd from right
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OCTOBER/ NOVEMBER 2012 NATURE ALBERTA NEWSLETTER
Living by Water Summer 2012 Review
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Living by Water in the News
Much of this growing interest may be related to the excellent media opportunities the program gained. LbyW was featured on TV in "Let's Go Outdoors", Shaw TV and in the Sylvan Lake News. Thanks to our sponsors, we were also able to produce some important training videos in house which will assist the growing success of the program next year. Looking Forward: LbyW 2013
Currently, we have a waiting list of residents for next season. It was a year to remember and we can't wait to implement the program in 2013! Our focus this fall is to raise funds for next season, please consider supporting the Living by Water program by visiting www.naturealberta.ca Contact Us
If you are interested in having a Homesite Consultation, or would like to have the program offered at your lake, please e-mail Brianne Lovstrom, Program Coordinator, at [email protected]
Nature Alberta Welcomes New Living by Water Coordinator
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This year the Living by Water Project was able to reach out to 11 lakes throughout central Alberta. A Growing Program This was an increase of more than 100% in the number of lakes that accessed the Homesite Consultation Program. The lakes that received programming include; Clear Lake, Dilberry Lake, Crimson Lake, Ghost Lake, Island Lake, Pine Lake, Pigeon Lake, Sandy Lake, Sylvan Lake, Vincent Lake and Wizard Lake. Adding 6 new lakes to the program meant a lot more work. Thankfully, the Living by Water Project was able to employ 4 dedicated shoreline advisors for the summer season. We would like to thank this group for their commitment to reaching out to shoreline residents. Together, the team worked at creating awareness around Alberta's delicate water ecosystems and provided feasible recommendations on shoreline living. In total our shoreline advisors were able to complete 135 Homesite Consultations between the months of June and August.
About Brianne Lovstrom:
• Returning staff • Worked with LbyW in 2009 & 2010 • Studied in Germany • Involved in research on urban agriculture • In final year at UofA • Studying Environmental Conservation Sciences & Native Studies • In fall 2012 will begin Masters in Environmental Governance &
Planning
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OCTOBER/ NOVEMBER 2012 NATURE ALBERTA NEWSLETTER
Young Naturalists Club Fall Program Update
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Big Knife Provincial Park is one of the gems of the Alberta Park system. The weather couldn't have been nicer for a hike over a September weekend. Fall colors were appearing everywhere! Some hike highlights included sightings of a Horntail Wasp and a number of Turkey Vultures. An impressive array of butterflies were seen including Mourning Cloaks, Satyr Anglewings, a Crescent, a Ringlet, Cabbage Whites and Clouded Sulphurs. Mary Roy discovered a large Canada Darner dragonfly and the group was able to photograph a grasshopper (Trimerotropis verruculata). The trip also included discussion about Powdery Mildew on Red Osier Dogwood, Baneberry, Nostoc commune, fragile prickly pear cactus, cattails and Nodding Beggar-ticks. We encourage you to learn more about all Big Knife Provincial Park has to offer by visiting: www.albertaparks.ca/big-knife
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The Young Naturalist Club gathered at Edmonton's Walterdale Park recently. We were pleased to participate in the Great Canadian Shoreline Clean Up for the second year in a row. Together, we removed close to 5 kgs of garbage! Once the park was tidied we were able to spend time testing samples of water from the North Saskatchewan river. Our thanks goes out to Arin from Alberta Lake Management Society for hosting our group, a great time was had by all! Coming Events YNC's next event will be on October 31, 2012 from 4 pm - 6 pm. We will gather at Dunluce Natural Area in northwest Edmonton (meet at the west entrance of the forest on 158 ave and 121 st). Kids can wear their spookiest costume; tour Creepy Creatures and the Haunted Forest! This event is free and open to all families. We are looking forward to this spooktacular event, we hope you can join us! YNC released its latest edition of NatureWild, its members only magazine this past September. Sign up for YNC or a Nature Alberta Family Membership to receive your copy and a Bronze level nature kit complete with activities and materials. Contact Us
Know a nature champion who would be a great host for Explorer Days? Would you like to see YNC in your area? Email: [email protected] or To register as a participant or volunteer for an event phone: 780-427-8124
Club Spotlight: Buffalo Lake Naturalists
Horntail Wasp discovered by Janice Cullen
Group Photo on Page 4
11759 Groat Road Edmonton, AB T5M 3K6 Phone: 780.427.8124 Email: [email protected] For more information, membership or donation please visit www.naturealberta.ca
Submit your photos and stories to NA’s Newsletter! Email: [email protected]
Buffalo Lake Naturalists 2012
Nature Alberta
NATURE ALBERTA NEWSLETTER OCTOBER/ NOVEMBER 2012
September 9th 2012 participants included Ann and Charley Bird, Claudia Cameron, Janice Cullen, Fay Davidson, Mark & Jennifer & Jill Higgins, Rebeccah Hood, Brian Kelly, Wayne Kinsella, Grace Lowther, Sandra Mailer, Ashley Patterson (Parks Officer), Marie Payne, Chris & Donna Pfeifle, Mary Roy, Beth Schnell, Irma Simons, Bruce & Glenys Smith, and Karen & Adam Smith.
