Dec
18
2015
From the Bird Studies Canada Christmas Bird Count website:
Started in 1900, the Christmas Bird Count is North America's longest-running Citizen Science project. Counts happen in over 2000 localities throughout the Western Hemisphere.
The information collected by thousands of volunteer participants forms one of the world's largest sets of wildlife survey data. The results are used daily by conservation biologists and naturalists to assess the population trends and distribution of birds.
Each Christmas Bird Count is conducted on a single day between December 14 and January 5. Counts are carried out within a 24-km diameter circle that stays the same from year to year. They are organized, usually as group efforts, at the local level, often by a birding club or naturalist organization.
EDMONTON – In its third annual review of government action to conserve Canada's boreal woodland caribou, the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) finds there has been spotted progress – with too few jurisdictions showing significant leadership in protecting the species that long graced our 25-cent piece.
Under the federal Species-at-Risk Act, all provinces and territories are required to have plans in place to recover their boreal caribou populations by 2017, based on the 2012 Final Recovery Strategy for Boreal Woodland Caribou.
“In Alberta, we give credit to the government for deferring the sale of oil and gas leases in caribou habitat over the last six months, however, we are deeply concerned that the situation for boreal caribou has not improved over the last year,” says Alison Ronson, Executive Director of CPAWS Northern Alberta.
(Calgary, Alberta) — A first-ever survey of Albertans' outdoor activities and values toward recreation and wilderness shows that 76% of adult Albertans regularly participate in outdoor recreation, 86% of adult Albertans would prioritize non-motorized recreation in wilderness areas (vs. motorized recreation, such as ATVs, off-highway vehicles, dirt bikes and motorboats) and88% of Albertans want government to set aside more wilderness where human activity is minimal.
With special guest lecturer Sid Marty:
Sid will offer an arrest by arrest account of the Castle logging protest action in 2012.
If time permits, he will include a few entertaining excerpts from his published works.
Wilderness Defenders Awards will be presented to Sid Marty and Gordon Petersen. Both of these gentlemen are known as naturalists, each of them working and making a difference in different corners of Alberta to help others learn and know more about wild Alberta and our natural world.
A Great Gray Owl Award will be presented to Bob Blaxley – a knowledgeable, inspiring volunteer who share his passions through excellent leadership and storytelling.
Wilderness Around the World Speaker Series
Sponsored by the Wildbird General Store & Jackson Power
with Dr. Jim Butler
Cost: Donations accepted at the door
Time: Talk starts at 7:00 PM (Doors open at 6:30pm)
Wilderness Around the World Speaker Series
Sponsored by the Wildbird General Store & Jackson Power
with Dr. Evelyn Merrill
Cost: Donations accepted at the door
Time: Talk starts at 7:00 PM (Doors open at 6:30pm)
Wilderness Around the World Speaker Series
Sponsored by the Wildbird General Store & Jackson Power
with David Hobson
Join David as he takes you on a trip to the high altitudes and Tibetan Buddhist region of Ladahk in northern India including the high salt lake of Pangong Tso on the Tibetan border, home of the wild Tibetan Ass. He will also take you on a trek along the Markha River in the Hemis High Altitude National Park where blue sheep or Bharal forage along the dry desert slopes, where Himalayan Marmots and Pikas whistle warnings and people live a life not much changed over the last thousand years. Finally a visit to Jim Corbett National Park and Tiger Reserve along the southern foothills of the Himalaya where herds of wild Asian Elephants still wander and tigers hunt Chital Deer.
Cost: Donations accepted at the door
Time: Talk starts at 7:00 PM (Doors open at 6:30pm)
