LATEST NEWS
Conservation agreement to protect 1,600-acre ranch along Castle River
A 1,600-hectare ranch along the Castle River, that has been in the Zoratti family for more than a century, will be protected under a conservation agreement announced by the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC).
calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/conservation-agreement-to-protect-1600-hectare-ranch-along-castle-river
A 1,600-hectare ranch along the Castle River, that has been in the Zoratti family for more than a century, will be protected under a conservation agreement announced by the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC).
calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/conservation-agreement-to-protect-1600-hectare-ranch-along-castle-river
13th Annual Crowsnest Pass Christmas Bird Count a Success
On January 2, 2019 Crowsnest Conservation Society held its 13thannual Christmas Bird Count. Despite powerful winds, volunteers turned out in good numbers and were able to cover all count areas. The birds also turned out. We found the second highest number of species in the 13-year history of our count.
The table below notes the species we counted this year, the number of each species found, and the number of years in the 13 years of the count that we have observed that species on count day, giving an idea about how likely that bird will be found in Crowsnest Pass at this time of year.
Birds common in winter months that we did find were Wild Turkey, Rock Pigeon, Golden Eagle, Bald Eagle, Woodpecker (Downy, Hairy, Northern Flicker & Pileated), Merlin, Jay (Canada, Steller’s & Blue), Magpie, Clark’s Nutcracker, Crow, Raven, Chickadee (Mountain & Black-capped), Nuthatch (Red-breasted & White-breasted) and Waxwing. Also found were Townsend’s Solitaire, Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch, House Finch, Redpoll, Pine Siskin, Junco and House Sparrow.
Of special note are Wild Turkeys, which seem to be spread very generously around the Pass. We rarely find Killdeer, but this year spotted a whopping five of them. We also have very high numbers of Waxwings and Juncos. And the intriguing American Dipper totalled 51 this year, not our highest total but still a very generous number and most likely the highest in Alberta. In the winter they seem to concentrate on the unfrozen sections of the Crowsnest River when the smaller tributaries upstream are frozen.
Winter waterfowl are minimal in the Pass. We find Mallards every year and maybe a few birds of another species, but this year there were no others.
Common winter birds that we did not find this year are Common Goldeneye, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Starling, and Evening and Pine Grosbeak.
Brand new for this year is White-winged Crossbill.
In count week, three days before and after the January 2ndcount day, we also found Northern Pygmy-Owl, Northern Shrike, Pine Grosbeak and Rough-legged Hawk. (Report compiled by Pat Lucas)
christmas_bird_count_table.pdf
On January 2, 2019 Crowsnest Conservation Society held its 13thannual Christmas Bird Count. Despite powerful winds, volunteers turned out in good numbers and were able to cover all count areas. The birds also turned out. We found the second highest number of species in the 13-year history of our count.
The table below notes the species we counted this year, the number of each species found, and the number of years in the 13 years of the count that we have observed that species on count day, giving an idea about how likely that bird will be found in Crowsnest Pass at this time of year.
Birds common in winter months that we did find were Wild Turkey, Rock Pigeon, Golden Eagle, Bald Eagle, Woodpecker (Downy, Hairy, Northern Flicker & Pileated), Merlin, Jay (Canada, Steller’s & Blue), Magpie, Clark’s Nutcracker, Crow, Raven, Chickadee (Mountain & Black-capped), Nuthatch (Red-breasted & White-breasted) and Waxwing. Also found were Townsend’s Solitaire, Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch, House Finch, Redpoll, Pine Siskin, Junco and House Sparrow.
Of special note are Wild Turkeys, which seem to be spread very generously around the Pass. We rarely find Killdeer, but this year spotted a whopping five of them. We also have very high numbers of Waxwings and Juncos. And the intriguing American Dipper totalled 51 this year, not our highest total but still a very generous number and most likely the highest in Alberta. In the winter they seem to concentrate on the unfrozen sections of the Crowsnest River when the smaller tributaries upstream are frozen.
Winter waterfowl are minimal in the Pass. We find Mallards every year and maybe a few birds of another species, but this year there were no others.
Common winter birds that we did not find this year are Common Goldeneye, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Starling, and Evening and Pine Grosbeak.
Brand new for this year is White-winged Crossbill.
In count week, three days before and after the January 2ndcount day, we also found Northern Pygmy-Owl, Northern Shrike, Pine Grosbeak and Rough-legged Hawk. (Report compiled by Pat Lucas)
christmas_bird_count_table.pdf
AltaLink unveils route for Chapel Rock
AltaLink unveiled the proposed routes and substation locations for the Chapel Rock to Pincher Creek Area Transmission Development at recent open houses.
passherald.ca/archives/181031/index1.htm
AltaLink unveiled the proposed routes and substation locations for the Chapel Rock to Pincher Creek Area Transmission Development at recent open houses.
passherald.ca/archives/181031/index1.htm
Southwest Alberta wildlife corridor named after former premiere Jim Prentice
Nature Conservancy of Canada announced a swatch of land roughly five kilometers wide from east to west will connect Crown forest reserve land in the north to Castle Park as well as Waterton Lakes National Park in the south. The province contributed $1M to help leverage further fundraising toward the campaign.
globalnews.ca/news/4599435/alberta-premier-jim-prentice-land/
Nature Conservancy of Canada announced a swatch of land roughly five kilometers wide from east to west will connect Crown forest reserve land in the north to Castle Park as well as Waterton Lakes National Park in the south. The province contributed $1M to help leverage further fundraising toward the campaign.
globalnews.ca/news/4599435/alberta-premier-jim-prentice-land/
Crowsnest Pass bear numbers decrease by half
Each year between spring and fall, Crowsnest Pass sees on average 30 black bears and three to five grizzlies enter the community. In 2018, however, the Crowsnest Pass Bearsmart Association observed a significant drop in bear occurrences, recording only 12 black bears and no grizzly bears.
passherald.ca/archives/181212/index1.htm
Each year between spring and fall, Crowsnest Pass sees on average 30 black bears and three to five grizzlies enter the community. In 2018, however, the Crowsnest Pass Bearsmart Association observed a significant drop in bear occurrences, recording only 12 black bears and no grizzly bears.
passherald.ca/archives/181212/index1.htm
