Alberta
Alberta is the fourth largest of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada, with an area of about 662,000 square kilometres (255,000 square miles). the fourth most populous, being home to almost five million. It extends c.1,200 kilometres (750 miles) north to south and c. 660 kilometres (410 miles) east to west at its maximum width. It is a part of Western Canada and is one of the three prairie provinces. Alberta borders British Columbia to the west, Saskatchewan to the east, the Northwest Territories to the north, and the US state of Montana to the south. It is one of the only two landlocked provinces in Canada.
The eastern part of the province is part of the Great Plains, while the western part borders the Rocky Mountains. There are numerous rivers and lakes in Alberta; three large lakes, Lake Claire (over 1,400 km2 [550 square miles]) in Wood Buffalo National Park, closely followed by Lesser Slave Lake and the huige Lake Athabasca (almost 7,900 km2), which lies in both Alberta and Saskatchewan. The longest river in the province is the Athabasca River, which travels 1,500 km (950 miles) from the Columbia Icefield in the Rocky Mountains to Lake Athabasca. The Peace River carries even more water and originates in the Rocky Mountains of northern British Columbia and flows through northern Alberta and into the Slave River, a tributary of the Mackenzie River.
The capital is Edmonton, more or less in the centre of the province, while Calgary is its largest city; more than half the population live in one or the other. Most of the northern half of the province is boreal forest, while the Rocky Mountains along the southwestern boundary are largely temperate coniferous forests of the Alberta Mountain forests and Alberta–British Columbia foothills forests. The southern quarter of the province is prairie, ranging from shortgrass prairie in the southeastern corner to mixed grass prairie in an arc to the west and north of it. The central aspen parkland region extending in a broad arc between the prairies and the forests, from Calgary, north to Edmonton, and then east to Lloydminster, contains the most fertile soil in the province and most of the population.
Much of the un-forested part of Alberta is given over either to grain or to dairy farming, with mixed farming more common in the north and centre, while ranching and irrigated agriculture predominate in the south. The Alberta badlands are located in southeastern Alberta, where the Red Deer River crosses the flat prairie and farmland, and features deep canyons and striking landforms. Dinosaur Provincial Park, near Brooks, showcases the badlands terrain, desert flora, and remnants from Alberta’s past when dinosaurs roamed the then lush landscape.
The province has a predominantly continental climate but experiences quick temperature changes due to air aridity. Seasonal temperature swings are less pronounced in western Alberta due to occasional Chinook winds. Northern Alberta is mostly covered by boreal forest and has a subarctic climate. The agricultural area of southern Alberta has a semi-arid steppe climate because the annual precipitation is less than the water that evaporates or is used by plants.
Alberta’s economy is based on hydrocarbons, petrochemical industries, livestock and agriculture. The oil and gas industry is a pillar of Alberta’s economy and has become a part of the province’s identity. it produces 70% of the oil and natural gas produced on Canadian soil.
Alberta is renowned for its natural beauty, richness in fossils and for its important nature reserves. There are six UNESCO designated World Heritage Sites: the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks, Dinosaur Provincial Park, Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, Wood Buffalo National Park and Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park.
Banff National Park © Sergey Pesterev via Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
Other popular sites include Banff National Park, Elk Island National Park, Jasper National Park, Waterton Lakes National Park, and Drumheller.
The four climatic regions (alpine, boreal forest, parkland, and prairie) of Alberta are home to many different species of animals. The south and central prairie was the homeland of the American bison, also known as buffalo, with its grasses providing pasture and breeding ground for millions of buffalo. The buffalo population was decimated during early settlement, but since then, buffalo have made a comeback, living on farms and in parks all over Alberta.
Herbivores are found throughout the province. Moose, mule deer, elk, and white-tailed deer are found in the wooded regions, and pronghorn can be found in the prairies of southern Alberta. Bighorn sheep and mountain goats live in the Rocky Mountains. Rabbits, porcupines, skunks, squirrels, and many species of rodents and reptiles live in every corner of the province. Alberta is home to only one venomous snake species, the prairie rattlesnake.
Alberta is home to many large carnivores such as wolves, grizzly bears, black bears, and mountain lions, which are found in the mountains and wooded regions. Smaller carnivores of the canine and feline families include coyotes, red foxes, Canada lynx, and bobcats. Wolverines can also be found in the northwestern areas of the province.
Birding Alberta
Central and northern Alberta and the region farther north are the nesting grounds of many migratory birds. Vast numbers of ducks, geese, swans and pelicans arrive in Alberta every spring and nest on or near one of the hundreds of small lakes that dot northern Alberta. Eagles, hawks, owls, and crows are plentiful, and a huge variety of smaller seed and insect-eating birds can be found.
From alpine meadows to prairie potholes, from the northern forests to the southern badlands, Alberta’s range of habitats, with a bird list of 385 species, offers a wide variety of places to explore for both serious and amateur birder alike. For our most rare species, Alberta contains the breeding grounds of the endangered Whooping Crane, in Wood Buffalo National Park, on the northern border of the province. This is the only migratory flock of these beautiful cranes, and they annually migrate to Aransas National Wildlife Reserve on the Texas Coast each year. From a low of only 20+ birds in the mid 1900s, the population has rebounded to just under 200 migratory birds that arrive in Aransas each fall.
Beaverhills Lake, just east of Edmonton, is possibly the best birding location in Alberta. Located at the intersection of the North American Central and Mississippi flyways, the lake comes alive in the spring with several hundred thousand Snow Geese, Tundra Swans, Sandhill Cranes, American White Pelicans and innumerable waders heading for their northern breeding grounds. Extensive Mountain Bluebird trails around the lake are responsible for re-introducing this species into northern Alberta. Vagrants that have shown up at Beaverhills.
During the last ice age, the prairie landscape was scoured by glaciers, leaving thousands of shallow potholes which fill with water as the winter snows melt. This area, stretching from Alberta through Southern Saskatchewan and into North Dakota, is often referred to as the Duck Factory of North America. Through this range, the farming landscape is bisected by Township roads every two miles north and south, and Range roads every mile east and west. A few hours touring around these back roads in the spring will find that every pothole contains waterfowl busily getting about the business of courting, breeding and raising young. Ducks, grebes, geese, loons (divers); gulls, terns, coots and teal are everywhere you look, all dressed in their courting clothes!
Alberta’s mountain National Parks of Banff and Jasper, and the eastern slope foothills offer an entirely different set of birds, in the midst of some of the most incredible scenery on earth. Birds such as breeding Harlequin and Wood Ducks, Common and Barrow’s Goldeneye, American Dippers and other waterfowl haunt the mountain streams and lakes, while White-tailed Ptarmigan, Townsend’s Solitaires, Grey-cheeked Rosy-finches, and a wide variety of sparrows make their home in the alpine meadows above the tree line. Swainson’s, Red-tailed and Ferruginous Hawks, Golden and Bald eagles, Red-tailed Hawks, Great Grey and Great Horned Owls and other raptors share these protected areas.
Southern Alberta offers some desert species like Burrowing Owls in the Badlands area of Drumheller through to Medicine Hat, and extensive populations of partridge, grouse and pheasant species in the Lake Newell area in the southeast corner of the province.
Edmonton, is the Peregrine Falcon capital of Canada, with birds returning year after year to nest on the downtown high-rises. Edmonton also has the highest concentration of Merlin in North America, according to the Christmas Bird Count – possibly because it also has an extremely high population of Bohemian Waxwings that over winter in the area. Common and Hoary Redpolls, Snow Buntings and an annual infusion of Snowy Owls join these winter specialties. Woodpecker aficionados can find Downy, Hairy, Pileated, Three-toed, Black-backed, and Lewis’s Woodpeckers, along with Yellow-bellied and Red-breasted and Red-naped Sapsuckers throughout the province.
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Number of bird species: 425
(As at April 2024)Provincial Bird - Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus
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Avibase
PDF ChecklistThis checklist includes all bird species found in Alberta , based on the best information available at this time. It is based on a wide variety of sources that I collated over many years. I am pleased to offer these checklists as a service to birdwatchers. -
Natural Alberta
ChecklistBird species that frequent this area include Moun- tain Chickadees, Clark's Nutcrackers, and Golden Eagles. -
Official List of the Birds of Alberta
PDF ChecklistThis is the Official List of birds known to occur, or to have occurred historically, in the province of Alberta as compiled by the Alberta Bird Record Committee. The list includes most species accepted by Salt and Salt (1976), Godfrey (1986) and Pinel et al. (1991, 1993), as well as those that have since been accepted by the Alberta Bird Record Committee, up to, and including, its fourteenth report (Slater 1997, 1999, 2001; Slater and Hudon 2002, 2004; Hudon et al. 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2014, 2017, 2021, 2023). -
eBird Canada
Illustrated ChecklisteBird Canada is a collaborative project managed by Birds Canada.
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Alberta Birds 1971-1980, Volume 1: Non-Passerines
| By HW Pinel, WW Smith & CR Wershler | Alberta Museum | 1991 | Paperback | Out of Print | ISBN: 9780773205383 Buy this book from NHBS.com -
Birds of Alberta
| By Chris Fisher & John Acorn | Lone Pine Publishing | 1998 | Paperback | 384 pages, colour illustrations | ISBN: 9781551051734 Buy this book from NHBS.com -
Field Guide to Alberta Birds
| By W Bruce McGillivray & Glen Semenchuk | Federation of Alberta Naturalists | 1998 | Paperback | 350 pages, colour photos, distribution maps | Out of Print | ISBN: 9780969613428 Buy this book from NHBS.com -
Quick Reference to Alberta Birds
| By John Acorn, Chris Fisher & Andy Bezener | Lone Pine Publishing | 2013 | Unbound | 12 pages, colour illustrations | ISBN: 9781551058948 Buy this book from NHBS.com -
The Atlas of Breeding Birds of Alberta
| (A Second Look) | Edited by The Federation of Alberta Naturalists | Federation of Alberta Naturalists | 2007 | Hardback | 626 pages, 300 Colour photos | ISBN: 9780969613497 Buy this book from NHBS.com
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Lesser Slave Lake Bird Observatory’s Songbird Festival
WebpageThe Lesser Slave Lake Bird Observatory’s Songbird Festival is an annual celebration of spring migration happening in May. The Festival is a fun and educational weekend for both families and birders alike. Every year the festival kicks off bright and early on Saturday with our early bird pancake breakfast. After breakfast there are a variety of guided birding hikes, nature workshops and tours of our migration monitoring station to take part in. There’s also lots of hands on activities for the entire family including facing painting, birdhouse building and crafts. -
Camrose Purple Martin Festival
Facebook PageThis wildlife festival is held on a Saturday in June at the Stoney Creek Centre (5320 - 39 Ave., Camrose). A day for everyone to come out and have some fun with speakers, kids activities, tours, and more!
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Beaverhill Bird Observatory
Observatory WebsiteSatellite ViewIn 1997 Beaverhill Lake was identified as an Important Bird Area of Global Significance because of the large numbers of shorebirds and waterfowl that use the area as a stop-over site during migrations… -
Lesser Slave Lake Bird Observatory
Observatory WebsiteSatellite ViewDedicated to Bird Conservation through Research and Education...
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Royal Alberta Museum
WebsiteOur primary focus is to document and interpret the distribution, diversity, individual and geographic variation, systematics, and secondarily, the ecology and behaviour of the birds of Alberta. We also acquire material from outside the province to be able to tell the Alberta story well.
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Royal Alberta Museum
InformationThis is a provisional list of species of birds known to occur, or to have occurred recently, in Alberta as compiled by the Alberta Bird Record Committee, the body presently responsible for the evaluation of reports of rare birds for the province -
Alberta Birds of Prey Foundation
WebsiteActive since 1982 and more recently a registered charity, the Alberta Birds of Prey Foundation is Alberta's first privately licensed raptor rescue and conservation organization. We are located two hours south of Calgary in the heart of Canada's wild prairies... -
Big Lake Environment Support Society
WebsiteThe Big Lake Environment Support Society (BLESS) is in its ninth year as a registered non-profit organization. Its objectives are related to the conservation of the Big Lake wetlands, through advocacy, public education and data collection programs. It is a regional organization, with Board members from each of the four municipalities bordering the wetlands. -
Birds Calgary
WebsiteThe sixth annual Calgary City Nature Challenge is coming up soon. This four-day bioblitz is an effort to try to record as much of the Calgary and area biodiversity as possible... -
Calgary Bird Banding Society
WebsiteBird banding is an integral aid to the study and protection of wild birds. It is typically facilitated by using a fine net (known as a mist net). Birds that fly into the mist net are gently removed and a permanent aluminum or alternate light-weight band is placed around the lower leg. Often the birds are measured, weighed, sexed and aged before release back into the wild -
Calgary Bird Banding Society
WebsiteSince 1995, the Calgary Bird Banding Society (CBBS) has promoted the conservation of Neotropical migratory birds through research, bird banding, and fostering awareness. -
Crowsnest Conservation Society
WebsiteAt Crowsnest Conservation Society, we believe in the power of collective action to protect our natural world. We are a dedicated charitable organization committed to preserving the beauty and biodiversity of the Crowsnest Pass and its surrounding areas. Our mission is to inspire and engage individuals, businesses, and communities to take meaningful steps towards environmental conservation. -
Edmonton Natural History Club (Edmonton Bird Club)
Facebook PageOctober 2004 after the Edmonton Natural History Club and the Edmonton Bird Club Merged. The Club offers a program of speakers, third Friday of each month, from October to April. In addition to these monthly meetings we also have active study groups that study Plants, and Birds. Nature Walks and Field Trips occur year-round. -
Grasslands Naturalists
WebsiteOur society is based in Medicine Hat, Alberta and attracts a wide variety of naturalists from our beautiful grasslands. -
Lac La Biche Birding Society
Facebook PageThe Lac La Biche Birding Society was incorporated in the spring of 1998. Prior to that an unofficial club had been active since its first Christmas Bird Count in 1992. The club is also a corporate member of the Federation of Alberta Naturalists. The club participates in the Christmas Bird Count, the May Species Count and public education on the value of wild birds in the Lac La Biche region and their conservation/environmental importance -
Lethbridge Naturalists Society
Facebook PageLNS is dedicated to the development and appreciation of natural history and the understanding of the environment in Lethbridge and surrounding areas. -
Nature Alberta
WebsiteNature Alberta is a federation of natural history organizations operating in Alberta. Alberta is fortunate to have a wide diversity of wildlife and wild spaces! All native plants and animals have a right to co-exist with Albertans, who in turn benefit by having access to a healthy, natural environment. Increasing our understanding of nature will lead to increased enjoyment of it. Today, more than 40 natural history clubs are engaging Albertans across the province in the conservation and appreciation of our natural heritage -
Nature Calgary
WebsiteEncouraging the appreciation, observation, study, conservation and protection of all components of the natural world…. -
Red Deer River Naturalists
WebsiteThe Red Deer River Naturalists Society, established in 1906, is the oldest continuously operating natural history organization in Alberta. Each year, The Red Deer River Naturalists Society presents the Owl Award to a deserving member of the organization. RDRN has been recognized by many other organizations for the work we do. -
The Edmonton Nature Club
WebsiteThe ENC has an active group of birders who are keen to share knowledge and experiences during our scheduled events. We welcome the participation of bird enthusiasts of all skill levels -
Vermilion River Naturalist Society
WebsiteWelcome to the Vermilion River Naturalist Society blog! This is the place for meeting updates, field trip information, and also for Albertan and Canadian conservation news. We’d also like to cover some of the natural history of the area. This is meant to be a group blog, so if you’re interested in posting, please let me know and we’ll add you to the list. -
Wagner Natural Area
WebsiteLocated between Edmonton and Spruce Grove, in the middle of agricultural fields and industrial development, Wagner Natural Area stands out as a microcosm of boreal forest . Its varied habitats include calcareous fens and marl ponds, willow swamps, drier coniferous and deciduous forests, creeks, and hay fields... -
Weaslehead Society
WebsiteThe Weaselhead/Glenmore Park Preservation Society works to protect the flora and fauna of the Weaselhead and Glenmore Parks and to preserve the integrity of the Elbow River.
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Alberta's Provincial Parks & Protected Areas
WebsiteSatellite ViewNearly 500 sites in Alberta’s provincial parks protect sensitive habitats and wildlife. It’s all about keeping the wilderness wild, while letting humans experience it. Seeing it means appreciating it and ensuring it survives way beyond our own timelines. -
BS Inglewood
WebpageSatellite ViewInglewood Bird Sanctuary is a 34-hectare (80 acre) site located in a federal migratory bird sanctuary along the Bow River in Calgary… -
IBA Big Lake (Lois Hole Centennial PP)
WebpageSatellite ViewBig Lake is located on the western edge of the city of St. Albert in central Alberta. The city of Edmonton is situated directly to the east. This freshwater lake is a large body of water that supports extensive stands of emergent vegetation. During low water years mudflats are also present along the north shore. The south shore supports large stands of mature aspen, birch and White Spruce. -
IPP Cypress Hills
WebsiteSatellite ViewThe Park spans the South East corner of Alberta and the South West corner of Saskatchewan. You will also find the National Heritage Site of Fort Walsh on the South side of the park. It is a great place to relax, discover the outdoors or have an adventure. -
MBS Gaetz Lakes
WebpageSatellite ViewSince 1924, the Gaetz Lakes have been protected as a federal migratory bird sanctuary. Now part of Waskasoo Park, the Sanctuary's 118 hectares (almost 300 acres) are set aside as a home for plants, mammals and birds… -
NA Wagner
WebsiteSatellite ViewNatural Areas are Government protected lands with a dual purpose: To allow some recreation but also to preserve aspects of the province's biological and physical diversity. Though not strictly protected as parks and ecological reserves, they are not highly developed for recreational use either… -
NC Beaverhill Lake
InformationSatellite ViewBeaverhill Lake, an internationally renowned and recognized staging area for 270 species of birds, is perhaps the town's largest attraction, and the Beaverhill Lake Nature Centre provides a doorway to this fascinating natural world… -
NP Banff
WebsiteSatellite ViewBanff National Park is Canada's oldest national park and was established in 1885. Located in the Rocky Mountains, 110–180 kilometres (68–112 mi) west of Calgary in the province of Alberta, Banff encompasses 6,641 square kilometres (2,564 sq mi) of mountainous terrain, with numerous glaciers and ice fields, dense coniferous forest, and alpine landscapes. -
NP Elk Island
WebpageSatellite ViewLocated less than an hour away from Edmonton, Elk Island National Park of Canada protects the wilderness of the aspen parkland, one of the most endangered habitats in Canada. This beautiful oasis is home to herds of free roaming plains bison, wood bison, moose, deer, and elk. Also boasting over 250 species of birds, the park is a bird watcher's paradise… -
NP Jasper
WebsiteSatellite ViewJasper is the largest and most northerly Canadian rocky mountain national park, part of a spectacular World Heritage Site. Comprised of delicate and carefully protected ecosystems, Jasper's scenery is non-the-less rugged and mountainous. In this special corner of Canada you can thrill to the thunder of Sunwapta Falls, enjoy the serene beauty of Mount Edith Cavell, connect with nature along 1,000-plus kilometres of trails, experience Athabasca Glacier up close or just resign yourself to a relaxing soak in Miette Hotsprings. -
NP Waterton Lakes
InformationSatellite ViewRugged, windswept mountains rise abruptly out of gentle prairie grassland in spectacular Waterton Lakes National Park. Here, several different ecological regions meet and interact in a landscape shaped by wind, fire, flooding, and abundant plants and wildlife… -
NP Wood Buffalo
InformationSatellite ViewWood Buffalo National Park is the largest National Park of Canada at 44,807 km2 (17,300 sq mi). It is located in northeastern Alberta and the southern Northwest Territories. Larger in area than Switzerland. A total of 227 bird species have been recorded (including species characteristic of all boreal forest habitats) which include great grey owl Strix nebulosa and snowy owl Nyctea scandiaca, willow ptarmigan Lagopus lagopus, redpoll Acanthis spp., crossbill Lorix spp. and boreal chickadee Parus hudsonicus… -
NS Clifford E Lee
WebsiteSatellite ViewLocated 33 km southwest of Edmonton’s city centre, the Clifford E. Lee Nature Sanctuary protects 348 acres of marshland, open meadow, aspen parkland and pine forest. The varied habitats of the Sanctuary attract a diversity of animals, including more than one hundred bird species, and provide excellent opportunities for wildlife viewing. The boardwalk and connected upland trails are easily navigated in summer by all skill levels, but they are not considered wheelchair accessible. -
PP Hilliard's Bay
InformationSatellite View -
PP Lakeland
WebpageSatellite View...beavers, otters, caribou, lynx, moose or waterfowl... -
PP Lesser Slave Lake
WebpageSatellite ViewYou’ve already been dreaming about the white sand beaches of Central Alberta, haven't you? Lesser Slave Lake is that and then some. The lake is a 2.5-hour drive north from Edmonton and the largest in Alberta you can get to by car travel alone. Swing by the Lesser Slave Lake Bird Observatory for a lesson on the winged locals. -
PP Lesser Slave Lake Wildland
InformationSatellite ViewLesser Slave Lake Wildland Park is located on the north shore of Lesser Slave Lake, one of Alberta's largest water bodies. The park contains important fish spawning and rearing habitat, key waterfowl staging and production areas, moose habitat and critical moose winter range, as well as bald eagle and osprey nesting areas. -
PP William A Switzer
WebpageSatellite ViewThe lake-filled park tends to be less busy than mountain parks, yet with its foothills location, you still get the mountain views and occasional elk or bear sighting.
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Alberta Birds
News, Forum etcThe purpose of this group is to provide a forum in which Alberta birders/birdwatchers can post information, photos latest sightings, ask for advice on bird identification, equipment, let others know about bird-related events in our province, and share a general love of birds. Members of all levels of avian knowledge are welcome — no question is too basic. -
Alberta Rare Birds
SightingsA project to collect all rare bird sightings in Alberta that are on iNaturalist... -
Central Alberta Birding Trails
SightingsA log of our bird sightings around Central Alberta -
Rare Bird Alert Calgary
Birding newsRare Bird Alert -
eBird
SightingsAlberta Rare Bird Alert
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Birding Ecotours
Tour OperatorBirding Ecotours, a leader in small group and custom-made birding adventures worldwide, offers an amazing tour to the Canadian Rockies in May to see the diverse bird species and spectacular North American mammals! -
Bow Valley Tours
Tour OperatorSpecializing in personalized tours in Southern Alberta -
Eagle-Eye Tours
Tour OperatorAmazing landscapes, great birds, and one of the richest dinosaur fossil sites in the world- join us on an amazing birding tour to the badlands of Alberta! -
Fieldguides
Tour OperatorCanada is a country with more than its share of spectacular scenery, but certainly no other part of Canada holds as many breathtaking vistas as the Rocky Mountains of Alberta. On this birding tour, we will visit such famed spots as Jasper National Park... -
Meadowlark Birding Tours
Tour OperatorAt Meadowlark Birding Tours we strive to offer a high-quality and enjoyable experience on our tours while providing unmatched value to our customers. If you have any questions about upcoming departures, scheduling a private day trip out of Calgary or Banff or you would like us to design a custom tour to any destination, please do not hesitate to contact us!
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2017 [02 February] - Jay VanderGaast & Chris Benesh
Report...we had tallied 15 owls of 6 different species, a respectable total, especially when you factor in the "Big Three" of Great Gray, Snowy, and Northern Hawk owls. These are generally the three most sought-after northern owls on a trip like this, and we did very well with all of them. The Northern Hawk Owl was the icebreaker that first afternoon, and our views of it perched nearby in plain sight, then flying, hawk-like, across the road, raised our spirits after our trying morning.... -
2019 [02 February] - Jay VanderGaast
Report...Obviously the main goal of this tour is to see some winter owls, and we definitely did that, though results were a little different than on previous tours. Despite lots of effort and a real promising lead this year, we were unable to find a hawk-owl on the tour for the first time. And Great Gray Owl was also more difficult than usual, though we did ultimately find one bird hunting at dusk on a snowy evening west of Calgary. On the plus side, this was a bumper year for Snowy Owls, and we saw far more than usual, without even a fraction of the effort we usually have to put in. Short-eared Owls were also in good supply, though, as usual, they were all concentrated in a single area. That makes it fun though, as who doesn't enjoy seeing close to a dozen owls all in one spot! A handsome subarcticus Great Horned Owl and a Northern Pygmy-Owl glaring at us from the apex of a nearby spruce rounded out our owl sightings on the tour... -
2019 [06 June] - Måns Grundsten
PDF Report...When planning the trip I had tremendously good use of ebird when finding specific locations for some harder species (e.g. McCown's Longspur, Nelson's and Baird's Sparrow). Weather was somewhat unpredictable, with lots of afternoon rain showers. It was never hot and never really cold. A bit (too) windy at Waterton Lakes, especially in the afternoons. Since it was June many birds were vocally active and hence easier to find. The trip provided a superb variety of nature sceneries and fantastic hiking. From badlands and prairies to vast grassy hills, mountainous landscapes around Waterton Lakes to exquisite boreal settings around Kootenay and Banff... -
2022 [05 May] - Jody Allair
ReportAfter a long two year hiatus, it seemed fitting that my first tour since 2019 was the Birds and Dinos tour set it my own backyard of the moody and wonderful Alberta Badlands. I came up with the idea of this tour a few years ago not only to show off the amazing birds and scenery of the Canadian Badlands, but to also highlight world class palaeontological history of the region. -
2022 [06 June] - Lev Frid
PDF Report...As luck would have it, a mega-rarity had arrived in Edmonton a few days prior – a Garganey! This is a very rare (“ABA Code 4”) visitor to North America, and it was right on our way to Cold Lake! However, the rich roadside pothole wetlands it chose were teeming with other birds. Flocks of strikingly pink Franklin’s Gulls wheeled about the wetlands, Yellow-headed Blackbirds sang from the reed beds, and a myriad waterfowl foraged beside the vehicles at close range – Northern Shoveler, Redhead, Ruddy Duck, Blue-winged, Green-winged and Cinnamon Teal, Eared Grebes, and large amounts of Black-necked Stilts and American Avocets... -
2023 [05 May] - Garet Thomson
ReportOur four-day tour of Alberta birds and dinosaurs was an unmitigated success! We enjoyed a behind-the-scenes tour at the Royal Tyrrell Museum and beautiful, consistent sunny days at just the right temperature – and no wind, the better to hear the spring songs of hundreds of brightly coloured birds, singing their heart out for all to hear…
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Alpenglow Inn B&B
AccommodationLocated amidst the scenic splendor of the Canadian Rocky Mountains, Canmore`s Alpenglow Inn Bed and Breakfast is an ideal staging point for your Rocky Mountain vacation. Situated in the Bow Valley beneath the Three Sisters mountains, the Alpenglow Inn is only an hour`s drive west of Calgary (1.5 hours from the Calgary International Airport) and a mere five minutes from the east gates ofBanff National Park. -
Red Deer Lodge
AccommodationEnjoy the comforts of home while on the road when you stay at our Baymont Inn & Suites Red Deer hotel. Just five miles from Red Deer Regional Airport (YQF), our hotel offers easy access to the city’s financial and industrial districts, and businesses like Shaw Communications and Tervita. The Alberta Sports Hall of Fame is nearby. -
Wild Rose Guesthouse
WebsiteWith a gorgeous backdrop of the Peace River and Valley surrounding this home, guests will find all the amenities and luxuries found in a modern, high quality hotel in a metropolitan city.
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Operation Grassland Community - Alberta
WebsiteThe Western Loggerhead Shrike Recovery Team meets once a year and is made up of scientists, researchers and invited guests from across western Canada. The Recovery Team is the working arm of Recovery of Nationally Endangered Wildlife (RENEW) which responds to status reports commissioned by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Operation Grassland Community is an invited guest at the meetings and provides input as to our activities during the previous year.
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Photographer - Ann Sherba
GalleryPhotographs from NW Alberta -
Photographer - Eddy Matuod - Wild Birds of Alberta
GallerySome of my recent photos (some are videos) of wild birds taken in Alberta Canada -
Photographer - Peter Stahl
GalleryPeter Stahl's Photoblog of birds seen locally (Alberta) or in travel