Did you know that Alberta’s official provincial bird is the Great Horned Owl? Or that Jasper is renowned as an excellent destination to find and watch rare and beautiful birds? This summer, pull out your binoculars and your camera, and then head out into the province’s grasslands, mountains and wetlands to meet some of our fine-feathered residents.
There are some great birdwatching, or birding, areas close to major population centres: the Clifford E. Lee Nature Sanctuary, southwest of Edmonton, is usually teeming with avian visitors as is the area near Brooks/Drumheller/Newell Lake that varies in environment from forest to almost-desert. In and around the Calgary area, visit the Glenmore Reservoir for good birding opportunities or head to the Kananaskis Valley for the birds and the scenery. If you are city-bound and want to go further afield, during the late spring and summer go to Wood Buffalo National Park as it is home to the only remaining nesting site of whooping cranes in the entire world!
Alberta is host to many great species of birds. To connect with other birder organizations in the province visit birding.com/wheretobird/alberta.asp.
If you want to find someone to show you the ropes, reach enthusiastic birders through birdingpal.org/alberta.htm.
