Birds I photographed in Central Alberta

Top:  Yellow-headed blackbird, Clay-coloured sparrow, Yellow warbler, Hairy woodpecker.
Middle:  Bonaparte's gull, American goldfinch, Song sparrow, Double-crested courmarant.
Bottom:  Red-winged blackbird, Foster's tern, Franklin's gull, Spotted sandpiper.

There are about 270 species of bird regularly present in Alberta at some point during the year, and another 150 or so that are accidental, and another 30 or so that are migratory but not present for breeding or are residents.  There are a few more species not included in the above shot that I have photographed or just seen (including corvids, hawks, grebes, and gulls).  If I go back into my files from previous years, I am sure I could come up with about 100 species or so.

The great thing about birding in Alberta is that there is such diverse habitat.  Mountains, large lakes, small lakes, ponds, potholes, prairie, woodlands, and more.  There are also very large parks dedicated as habitat for wildlife, in the city (Calgary has at least 3), the country, and the national parks.  An impressive site to visit is the Edmonton and Area Land Trust  that has over 3000 acres of protected lands for wildlife around Edmonton.  

Other land trusts include Southern Alberta, Western Sky, Legacy Land, and Foothills Land Trusts.  These land trusts give wildlife a chance to thrive in areas where habitat has been converted to man's purposes.  Some of the places are easy to find while others, such as Sunnyside Natural Area, were impossible to find.  However, if you happen to be near one of the sites, it may be worth your while to visit there.

I am here in Alberta for a few more days; tomorrow I hope to visit Slack Slough near Red Deer.

Thanks for reading.

Eric Svendsen     www.ericspix.com



 

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