Category Archives: Grasslands Birds

Sharp-tailed Dancers

Posted on May 21, 2013 by Pat Bumstead

Outstanding video from the Alberta Conservation Association! The sharp-tailed grouse is a native game bird that makes its home in the prairies, parklands and forest openings of Alberta. For much of the year the sharp-tailed grouse is a quiet, well-camouflaged … Continue reading →

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What is Digiscoping?

Posted on May 9, 2013 by Charlotte Wasylik

Posted by Charlotte Wasylik, aka Prairie Birder Now that Spring is underway through most of Canada, there are more birds to see, especially with the help of our cameras and scopes. If you have a camera — or even an … Continue reading →

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1.7 Million Acres of Prairie Grassland Under Threat

Posted on April 20, 2013 by Pat Bumstead

In April of 2012 the federal government announced it was divesting itself of 2.3 million acres of PFRA community pastures, 1.78 million of which are located in Saskatchewan. The control for these pastures has now reverted back to the prairie … Continue reading →

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Showcase: Short-eared Owl With Dinner

Posted on April 11, 2013 by Pat Bumstead

Calgary photographer Rob English takes outstanding bird photos, and has been kind enough to allow us to showcase them on Bird Canada.   

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Grassland Birds In Saskatchewan Need Help

Posted on April 10, 2013 by Pat Bumstead

After more than 75 years of managing fragile grasslands as productive rangelands for livestock grazing, the federal government announced in the spring of 2012 that it was transferring control of the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration (PFRA) pastures back to the … Continue reading →

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Canada’s Grassland Birds Face Declining Populations

Posted on July 18, 2012 by Pat Bumstead

Guest Post by Ted Cheskey,  Nature Canada Manager of Bird Conservation The Greater Sage-grouse is on the brink of extinction in Canada. This iconic prairie bird, known for its spectacular mating dance, will likely vanish if emergency measures are not put in … Continue reading →

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2012 Sage Grouse Population Survey

Posted on June 25, 2012 by Pat Bumstead

Every spring anxious eyes turn towards the sage-grouse mating grounds (known as “leks”) of southern Alberta to see whether or not Canada’s sage-grouse made it through the winter. This year’s spring population counts observed only 13 males at Alberta leks, … Continue reading →

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Wednesday Wings: Swainson’s BIF

Posted on May 16, 2012 by Pat Bumstead

Posted By Bob Lefebvre Last week I was in one of our large Calgary parks, and there was a pair of Swainson’s Hawks. There was a stiff wind from the south, so I was able to get pictures as they … Continue reading →

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Whoopers in Flight

Posted on November 23, 2011 by Pat Bumstead

Another guest post, this time from Ken Bushman in Saskatchewan, who had the amazing luck to photograph a group of wild whooping cranes in flight. This is not something you see everyday. I showed this photo to the head of … Continue reading →

Posted in Bird Identification, Boreal Forest Birds, Grasslands Birds, Waterfowl | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Hmmm. Uhh. Wha?

Posted on October 26, 2011 by Pat Bumstead

Rarely – if ever – do I find myself speechless. Last weekend, I had purposely worked things out so that I had the whole of Sunday to write up a proposal. A proposal that should be done sooner than later. … Continue reading →

Posted in Birding Trips, Grasslands Birds, Migration, Waterfowl | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments