CCS eNewsletter - Oct 2011 - Crowsnest Conservation Society

C
R
O
W
S
N
E
S
T
P
A
S
S
,
A
L
B
E
R
T
A
Valuing and
connecting people and
nature for a healthy
future in the
Crowsnest Pass
and beyond.
A Monthly eNewsletter
Issue No 46 - Oct 2011
Upcoming Events Calendar at a Glance
• Golden Eagle Migra/on Tours -­‐ To October 25
• Mountain Bluebird Trails Conserva/on Society AGM -­‐ October 29
• Crowsnest Conserva/on Society AGM -­‐ November 24
• Christmas Bird Count -­‐ December 27
• May Species Count -­‐ May 26 and 27
Pages 11
Golden Eagle Migra;on
Another successful raptor count is ongoing -­‐ Page 1 Amphibian Study
ACA and CCS get wet for conserva>on -­‐ Page 3
BearSmart Apple Round-­‐up Highlights -­‐ Page 2
Crown of the Con;nent 2nd Annual Conference
Conference Summary -­‐ Page 4
Apple Tree Swap Residents go BearSmart by switching fruit-­‐bearing trees -­‐ Page 3
Oldman Watershed Council
Sign up for OWC’s online newsleGer -­‐ Page 4
Pine Beetle Ar;cle and Response
Response from AWA’s Nigel Douglas -­‐ Page 9
Crowsnest Pass Agriculture Fall Newsle9er Highlight on healthy riparian areas and the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass’ current ini>a>ves -­‐ Page 5, 6
Columbia Mountains Ins;tute of Applied Ecology Call for presenters for upcoming conference -­‐ Page 10
Conserva;on ac;on requested in the Crown
Conserva>on groups request support for landscape and grizzlies -­‐ Page 7
Adopt-­‐a-­‐Plant Rare Plant Study Groups
Get your “plant fix” over the winter months -­‐ Page 8
CPAWS Photo Contest
This year’s contest focuses on The Interna>onal Year of Forests -­‐ Page 8
Upcoming Events Informa;on -­‐ Page 11
Conserva;on News Learn the latest conserva>on news from local media -­‐ Page 12
Membership and Support Informa;on Consider suppor>ng conserva>on opportuni>es in Crowsnest Pass and partnering with Crowsnest Conserva>on -­‐ Page 13
Support BearSmart
Vote on Shell’s Fuelling Change Site -­‐ OWLS of Northern Alberta Online Course -­‐ Page 9
Page 4
Golden Eagle Migration
This fall, Golden Eagles flying high over the Rockies are being observed again by volunteers with the Rocky Mountain Eagle Founda>on. This mul>-­‐year project monitors the conserva>on of this amazing bird and many other raptors by coun>ng birds as they migrate each spring and fall over the Rocky Mountains. Count sites are located at Mount LoreGe, Beaver Mines Area, and the Piitaistakis-­‐South Livingstone Site.
To follow this year’s count and to learn more about this important research project, visit www.eaglewatch.ca. Visit the Upcoming Events Page to learn about this month’s free weekend field trips to the Eagle Viewing Site in Crowsnest Pass with local guides!
October 2011 eNewsletter
1
C
R
O
W
S
N
E
S
T
C
O
N
S
E
R
V
A
T
I
O
N
S
O
C
I
E
T
Y
BearSmart Apple Round-up Highlights
Through cold and wet weather, brave volunteers par>cipated in this year’s Crowsnest Conserva>on BearSmart Apple Round-­‐up.
Many thanks to Isabelle Sellon School Grade 5 students, staff and parents, Fish and Wildlife, and Crowsnest Conserva>on for their par>cipa>on. Although the number of apples out there was diminished this year and some trees did not drop as desired, we s>ll managed to collect about 300 lbs. Perhaps more importantly, the event provides an opportunity to teach the kids how to be BearSmart, how to be stewards of our local wildlife popula>ons, and how they can help provide a service to community members.
Photo highlights from the day:
2
October 2011 eNewsletter
C
R
O
W
S
N
E
S
T
C
O
N
S
Crowsnest Conservation’s
BearSmart Apple Tree Swap
A new component to Crowsnest Conserva>on’s BearSmart Program is the Apple Tree Swap. This fall we completed the first swaps as part of this program. Target trees were those with previous history of bear occurrences, ogen at the periphery of the community. Residents were given their choice of replacement tree or shrub as long as it was non-­‐
fruit-­‐bearing. Grumpy's Greenhouse and Landscaping were contracted to provide the trees and do both the tree removal and plan>ng work. E
R
V
A
T
I
O
N
S
O
C
I
E
T
Y
Crowsnest Conservation
assists Alberta Conservation
Association amphibian survey
In late July and early August, a few Crowsnest Conserva>on Society volunteers carried out an amphibian survey in the Crowsnest and Castle areas. This was a pilot study in partnership with the Alberta Conserva>on Associa>on. The objec>ve was to find and document breeding sites with popula>ons of amphibian tadpoles. While boreal toads were the target species, we also found breeding areas with Columbian spoGed frog tadpoles and salamanders.
Crowsnest Conserva>on also had a "fun " day fieldtrip with the Crowsnest Boys & Girls club . Par>cipants were able to see the various stages of boreal toad tadpoles emerging into toads, and a number of other species were observed.
This year's effort was a pilot study, and we hope that the study will con>nue next summer. We will be looking for Crowsnest Conserva>on members to volunteer next year.
Response to the program was great -­‐ people were eager to have help taking trees out; the number of swaps we can do in future years will be determined by available grant funds. As bears con>nue to forage and faGen up before winter, residents with apple trees are reminded to keep their windfall cleaned up.
October 2011 eNewsletter
3
C
R
O
W
S
N
E
S
T
C
O
N
S
Crown of the Continent 2nd
Annual Conference
Crowsnest Conserva>on aGended the recent Crown of the Con>nent 2nd Annual Conference that was held late September in Polson, Montana.
E
R
V
A
T
I
O
N
S
O
C
I
E
T
Y
Vote for Crowsnest
Conservation’s BearSmart
Program
Crowsnest Conserva>on’s BearSmart Program is currently in first place on Shell’s Fuelling Change Site -­‐ and that is on the na>onal scale for $25,000! Let’s keep the momentum going! The grant vo>ng finishes October 31st. We thank-­‐you for your support in vo>ng for this project! Visit www.fuellingchange.com to enter your final project votes and to follow the project un>l vo>ng closes.
Crowsnest Pass Mayor Bruce Decoux also aGended the event and during a work group session, stated that the future industry for Crowsnest Pass is tourism. He also stated that his current focus was to clean up the Crowsnest Pass.
For more informa>on on BearSmart ac>vi>es in Crowsnest Pass, check out the Crowsnest Conserva>on Society website at www.crowsnestconserva>on.ca or call 403-­‐562-­‐8923.
Much of the first day of the conference was focused on advancing Collabora>ve Adap>ve Management in the Crown.
Oldman Watershed Council
Collabora>ve Adap>ve Management is defined as a systema>c management paradigm that assumes natural resource management policies and ac>ons are not sta>c, but are adjusted based on the combina>on of new scien>fic and socio-­‐economic informa>on. A collabora>ve adap>ve management approach incorporates and links knowledge and credible science with the experience and values of stakeholders and managers for more effec>ve management decision-­‐making. To learn more about this management approach, visit hGp://www.adap>vemanagement.net/about/define-­‐
collabora>ve-­‐adap>ve-­‐management. Stay-­‐up-­‐to date with water conserva>on issues in the Oldman Watershed Basin with the Oldman Watershed Council. Every two weeks, the Oldman Watershed Council emails an informa>ve e-­‐
NewsleGer on the current water conserva>on concerns and opportuni>es of southern Alberta. The second day’s focused on learning more about policy ini>a>ves. Mr. Evan Berger spoke represen>ng Canadian ini>a>ves. Mr. Berger highlighted the Alberta Land Use Framework.
The three goals of the conference were to:
1.
Build rela>onships, exchange informa>on, and foster a sense of regional iden>ty and purpose,
2.
Examine select issues facing the Crown of the Con>nent from the perspec>ve of culture, community, and conserva>on, and
3.
Inform and invigorate our work by learning about na>onal government ini>a>ves in the United States and Canada
To read the conference summary, stay tuned to their website at hGp://crownroundtable.org/index.html. 4
To receive their e-­‐NewsleGer, join their mailing list by visi>ng hGp://
oldmanbasin.org/index.php/get-­‐involved/join-­‐our-­‐mailing-­‐list/. October 2011 eNewsletter
C
R
O
W
S
N
E
S
T
C
O
N
S
Crowsnest Pass Agricultural
Services Fall 2011 Newsletter:
E
R
V
A
T
I
O
N
S
O
C
I
E
T
Y
Informa;on for Riparian Area Residents
Riparian Area - Lyons Creek
As a resident there are some important steps that you can take to help protect the riparian areas. The importance of protec>ng the riparian area surrounding Lyons Creek is to help slow down or prevent erosion, reduce flood damage, provide and maintain a healthy habitat, ensure con>nued water quality and enhance the current aesthe>c beauty of the creek.
What are riparian areas and why do they ma9er?
Riparian Area Plants
Riparian areas are thin strips of land beside streams, rivers, lakes and wetlands where the soil and vegeta>on are influenced by the presence of water. Although riparian areas only make up a small frac>on of the landscape, they are the most produc>ve ecosystem. When properly maintained, healthy riparian areas provide many benefits to people and wildlife.
• Trap sediment
• Reduce erosion of stream banks
• Reduce flood damage
• Promote biodiversity by providing ideal habitat
• Create compe>>on for invasive plants species
• Store and filter water for increased water quality
• Improve fish and aqua>c habitat by crea>ng cover and shade
The na>ve plants along the banks such as river birch, willow, aspen, poplar, wild rose, and na>ve grasses all help hold the soil in place. As illustrated below, the roots from grasses can also assist in maintaining the banks of the river and helping with riparian area health. These plants thrive in shaded, moist, and uncontaminated sites within the riparian area.
hGp://www.cowsandfish.org/
What are weeds?
A weed is a plant out of place (an invasive species) that is generally introduced from another country or region and has few limi>ng factors such as growing condi>ons, disease and preda>on from animals. Weeds are able to outcompete na>ve species (the opposite of a weed, it belongs here) and have the poten>al to harm the environment. Usually weeds are spread by humans but also can be transported by wind, water, wildlife and livestock.
There are two important classifica>ons of weeds in Alberta, ”Prohibited Noxious” and “Noxious”. Prohibited noxious weeds by law are required to be “destroyed” as they are highly aggressive and are uncommon in Alberta. Noxious weeds are unfortunately common in many regions and are required to be “controlled” to limit their abundance and prevent further spread.
SpoGed Knapweed -­‐ Oxeye Daisy -­‐ Common Tansy
Prohibited Noxious -­‐ Noxious -­‐ Noxious
Waste
Dumping waste like grass clippings on the banks suffocates and blocks sunlight from reaching these important plants, killing them so their roots no longer stabilize the river banks. Any other garbage, household wastes or chemicals also pollute the riparian area and make condi>ons more ideal for weeds to grow. Their weeds aren’t as effec>ve at stabilizing the soil. Short cut grass is also very invi>ng for weeds as condi>ons are sunnier with less moisture. As well, pollutants also enter the creek and decrease water quality and also harm fish.
Your Ac;ve Par;cipa;on
BeGer management of the Lyons Creek riparian area can take place by knowing which plants are weeds (invasives) or useful na>ve plants. By including na>ve plants in your garden with good root systems and plan>ng woody vegeta>on along the riparian area, riparian landowners can ac>vely par>cipate in managing this important part of Blairmore. There are some simple steps that can be taken to protect, restore and to prevent weed infesta>ons in the riparian area along Lyons Creek.
• Mowing grass no closer than 1m away from the bank to ensure
that tall grass and other vegeta>on is leg closest to the stream, • be knowledgeable of the different types of unwanted weeds (invasives) and na>ve plants, • disposing of garbage, grass clippings, toxic substances etc. at the proper facili>es (CNP Pincher Creek Landfill, Frank Burn Pit, Toxic Roundup), • keeping or plan>ng na>ve, woody vegeta>on approved by the Municipality, and • effec>vely controlling weeds along riparian areas to prevent a weed infesta>on and further spread downstream.
hGp://www.mtweed.org
October 2011 eNewsletter
5
C
R
O
W
S
N
E
S
T
C
O
N
S
Crowsnest Pass Agricultural Services Fall
2011 Newsletter:
Riparian Area - Lyons Creek Continued
What is the Municipality doing to maintain riparian area health and control weeds?
Currently the Municipality is working to eliminate prohibited noxious and noxious weeds in riparian areas by priority. This has been accomplished through hand pulling, and using a selec>ve water safe herbicide treatment. Contractors and even hard-­‐working volunteers are all part of this team. As well, we are plan>ng na>ve species in the riparian area along Lyons Creek in Blairmore and hope to con>nue this in other high risk areas in the future. The willow and other na>ve species being planted will help stabilize the banks and put disadvantage weeds by providing more shade (weeds need direct sunlight). This work has been made possible through a grant from the Alberta Conserva>on Associa>on.
Riparian Restora;on Plant Species List
River Birch (Betula occidentalis), White Spruce (Picea glauca), Mountain Maple (Acer glabru), Green Alder (Almus viridis ssp. crisp), Wild Rose (Rosa woodsii), Prickly Rose (Rosa acicularis), Shrubby Cinquefoil (Dasiphora floribunda), Creeping Juniper (Juniperus horizontalis), Aspen Poplar (Populus tremuloides), Willow (Salix species)
Palatability of Plant Species Used for Restora;on
Another considera>on that needs to be taken when selec>ng plants used for restora>on is palatability. Palatability in this instance is used as a way to describe how desirable a plant is for wildlife to eat. Plants species such as Saskatoon (berries) and Mountain Ash are well suited to our area but have frui>ng bodies or berries which are desirable for bear and deer, etc. Another plant species, Red Osier Dogwood, which also grows well in riparian areas is very desirable for deer, elk, etc as well. Both types of wildlife are problema>c when in town and create a safety risk for themselves and people. Therefore, extra thought has been taken when selec>ng the plant species used for restora>on to avoid aGrac>ng wildlife. For further informa>on look on the Crowsnest Pass Bear Smart website (Crowsnest Conserva>on Society) or the Municipal website.
Bio-­‐Engineering for Riparian Restora;on
The Municipality of the Crowsnest Pass has already been successful with a live willow staking project on the new trail system. The bio-­‐engineering project loca>on is on the community trail, close to the trail head above Fireman’s Park in Bellevue. E
R
V
A
T
I
O
N
S
O
C
I
E
T
Y
willow into a suitable loca>on with water and adequate sunlight. A unique characteris>c of willows species is the ability to grow roots from any place along its branches. Willows are well adapted to growing in riparian areas and provide valuable support for land next to water.
Municipality of Crowsnest Pass Agricultural Fieldman
The Municipality of the Crowsnest Pass now employs an Alberta Agricultural Fieldman. An Alberta Agricultural Fieldman's responsibili>es include the enforcement of the following statutes: Agricultural Service Board Act, Weed Control Act, Soil Conserva>on Act, and Agricultural Pests Act. As well, an Agricultural Fieldman is a member of a professional organiza>on and therefore must adhere to higher standards and be a life long learner. In the Crowsnest Pass area specifically, an Agricultural Fieldman will mostly be working to manage weeds and pests in the area, though there are many other valuable services this posi>on provides. In the past year, this has meant knowledgeable planning and control of weeds and pests as well as other agricultural and environmental management. There have been projects done in partnership with the Crowsnest Conserva>on Society and shared volunteer recrui>ng in the Crowsnest Pass with Trout Unlimited and the Nature Conservancy. Much of the work is done behind the scenes, though there have been more visible projects undertaken like public weed pull events. Addi>onally, a skunk trap rental program is offered to residents of the Crowsnest Pass. If you have any ques>ons regarding weeds, pests, or general environmental management, please do not hesitate to contact the Crowsnest Pass Agricultural Fieldman.
For more informa;on contact the CNP Agricultural Fieldman
Kim Lutz
P.O. Box 600
Crowsnest Pass, Alberta
T0K 0E0
Phone: 403-­‐563-­‐658
Email: agfi[email protected]
Links:
• Crowsnest Conserva>on Society hGp://www.crowsnestconserva>on.ca/
news.php
• Government of Alberta Water for Life hGp://www.waterforlife.alberta.ca/
01122.html
• Associa>on of Alberta Agricultural Fieldman hGp://www.aaaf.ab.ca/
index.php
• Cows and Fish Alberta Riparian Habitat Society hGp://
www.cowsandfish.org/riparian/riparian.html
• Bear Smart hGp://www.bearsmart.com/
• Oldman Watershed Council hGp://oldmanbasin.org/index.php/
watershed-­‐info/benefits-­‐of-­‐a-­‐healthy-­‐watershed/
• Government of Alberta Sustainable Resource Development hGp://
www.srd.alberta.ca/LandsForests/GrazingRangeManagement/
RiparianAreas.aspx
• Alberta Conserva>on Associa>on hGp://www.ab-­‐conserva>on.com/go/
default/index.cfm/programs/land/riparian-­‐conserva>on-­‐project/
Willow staking is done by taking branches of local, living willows and plan>ng them in another loca>on. Plan>ng is accomplished by pounding the 6
October 2011 eNewsletter
C
R
O
W
S
N
E
S
T
C
O
N
S
E
R
V
A
T
I
O
N
S
O
C
I
E
T
Y
Replace spin with conservation
action in International Crown
of Continent says conservation
groups
Although mapped by Alberta as a Grizzly Bear Core Conserva>on Area, research by Global Forest Watch Canada found that the 1041 square kilometer Castle is no longer secure habitat for grizzly bears due to the density of motorized access routes allowed to con>nue there by SRD; let alone adding logging and its roads on top of that. Grizzly bear deaths in the en>re Alberta management unit that the Castle and Waterton Lakes Na>onal Park are part of exceed what is sustainable; con>nuing the Castle’s reputa>on as a mortality sink for Crown of the Con>nent grizzly bears. FROM: Pincher Creek and Calgary -­‐ Sierra Club and the Castle-­‐Crown Wilderness Coal>on
For more informa>on:
Replace spin with conserva>on ac>on in interna>onal Crown of Con>nent say conserva>on groups
Pincher Creek & Calgary: Sierra Club Canada and the Castle-­‐Crown Wilderness Coali>on are maintaining that while it is important to have the Alberta Sustainable Resource Development’s Parliamentary Assistant, Evan Berger, represen>ng the government today at the interna>onal Crown of the Con>nent Round Table in Polson, Montana, the province needs to replace its spin with actual conserva>on ac>on, instead of the ac>ons thwar>ng conserva>on in Alberta’s por>on of the Crown of the Con>nent Ecosystem. “We’re calling on Alberta’s new premier come October 1st to expand the agreement signed by Premier Stelmach with Governor Schweitzer of Montana to include coopera>on to achieve grizzly bear recovery on both sides of the border,” says Dianne Pachal, Sierra Club Canada. “And we’re asking the Premier to establish an Alberta Interagency Grizzly Bear CommiGee with the mandate to recover grizzly bears and their habitat; something the US side has had for 25 years.” Sierra Club Canada, Alberta Wild Director -­‐ Dianne Pachal, 403 234-­‐7368, [email protected] Castle-­‐Crown Wilderness Coali>on, President -­‐ Gordon Petersen, 403 627-­‐3732 [email protected]
Government of Alberta media release @ hGp://alberta.ca/home/
NewsFrame.cfm?ReleaseID=/acn/201109/3128787A5705A-­‐006D-­‐
FC4D-­‐93EC5A0E520748DC.html Government of Alberta informa>on on Special Places (Castle is #41) at hGp://www.tpr.alberta.ca/parks/managing/
establishing.asp#special “Coupled with that, we’re again calling on the SRD Minister and Evan Berger to revoke the clear-­‐cut logging license they issued in the Castle Special Place and to instead support the new Premier in finally backing up the Castle’s protected area designa>on with legisla>on,” says Gordon Petersen, President of the Castle-­‐Crown Wilderness Coali>on. “ The legisla>on afforded the other 80 Special Places the government designated needs to be here in the Crown too.”
Alberta’s por>on of the Crown of the Con>nent ecosystem spans the Eastern Slopes and foothills from south of Kananaskis Country through to Montana, where there is more than triple the land area protected by law in parks and wilderness areas than on the Canadian side of the ecosystem. Alberta’s Natural Resources Conserva>on Board as early as 1993 concluded that legislated protec>on for the Castle was needed to sustain the health of the interna>onal ecosystem. It is the province that is responsible for legisla>ng protected areas and grizzly bear recovery. The federal government is limited to recovery ac>ons inside na>onal parks only. Grizzlies are listed as a threatened species in Alberta.
Located next to Waterton Lakes Na>onal Park, which it was once a part of, the Castle is Alberta’s largest designated protected area in the Crown of the Con>nent ecosystem. But, without that protec>on in law, the SRD Minister, Mel Knight gave a sawmill from outside the region a logging license inside the Castle and then expanded that license this year; pre-­‐emp>ng the outcome of regional land-­‐use planning and raising the ire of local businesses, residents and conserva>on groups alike. The license is part of the Minister’s 2010 decision to increase clear-­‐cut logging in Alberta’s por>on of the Crown ecosystem by 26% throughout the next 20 years. That despite the public indica>ng in the land-­‐use planning that they want clear-­‐cuvng phased out, and see tourism and recrea>on as more important for future economic growth.
October 2011 eNewsletter
7
C
R
O
W
S
N
E
S
T
C
O
N
S
Adopt-a-Plant Rare Plant Study
Groups: Mark your calendars
With the 2011 field season winding down, it’s >me to start thinking about Adopt-­‐a-­‐Plant Alberta’s Rare Plant Study Groups. They are a great way to get your “plant fix” through the autumn and winter months, learn something new, make some new friends and enjoy some veggie talk.
E
R
V
A
T
I
O
N
S
O
C
I
E
T
Y
CPAWS Photo Contest
It’s that >me of year again! The CPAWS Capture the Wild Photography Contest is accep>ng photo submissions with this year’s theme celebra>ng “ The Interna>onal Year of Forests.”
Study groups are held monthly in Edmonton (Central Alberta Rare Plant Study Group) and in Calgary (Southern Alberta Rare Plant Study Group). Details, including mee>ng dates for each group are listed below. Mark your calendars and contact the organizers if you are interested in par>cipa>ng.
Central Alberta Rare Plant Study Group (CARPSG)
Dates: Last Tuesday of the Month: October 25; November 29; January 31; February 28; March 27; April 24 (NB: no December mee>ng)
Time: 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Loca;on: University of Alberta Herbarium Biological Sciences Building (east end), Room B319 (3th Floor)
Saskatchewan Drive, Edmonton, AB
Parking: The parking garage located at the north end of 116 St. near the intersec>on with Saskatchewan Drive is $5 for the whole evening if you arrive ager 4:30. Parking meters on Saskatchewan drive are $3 per hour (24 hrs/day).
What to Bring: Notebook & favourite reference book if you have one (not required). Snacks or beverage if desired. RSVP: Space is limited! Please sign up by contac>ng Kristen Andersen [email protected]
Southern Alberta Rare Plant Study Group (SARPSG)
Submit pictures in five different categories, and receive great prizes from The Camera Store ($100 gig cards for each category and one grand prize $500 gig card) and Mountain Equipment Co-­‐op (prize packages to each winner).
How to enter:
Submit your photos online <hGp://www.thecamerastore.com/
photocontest/contest/cpaws-­‐capture-­‐wild-­‐photo-­‐contest-­‐2011> , or
Submit photos in person at The Camera Store (802-­‐11th Avenue SW, Calgary) on CD or DVD
$10 fee per entry (funds help support CPAWS and Alberta's wilderness conserva>on)
Photo entry deadline is October 23rd at midnight. You s>ll have plenty of >me to snap cap>va>ng images this fall! Dates: First Saturday of the Month: October 1; November 5; December 3; January 7; February 4; March 3; April 7; May 5 (tenta>ve)
The awards will be presented at the CPAWS Wild Soiree in November 2011, with a silent auc>on of the award winning photos. Stay tuned for more informa>on.
Time: noon to 4:00 PM
This photography contest is designed to raise awareness and funds in support of CPAWS and Alberta’s wilderness conserva>on. CPAWS invites photographers of all ages to capture the beauty of Canada’s wild spaces. Loca;on: University of Calgary Herbarium Biological Sciences Building (in the basement) University of Calgary, 507 Campus Drive NW, Calgary, AB
Parking: Parking lot directly south of the south side (basement) entrance to the Biological Sciences Building. There is a fee for parking.
For more informa>on, contact Sarah Pasemko, Communica>ons and Outreach Coordinator with CPAWS at (403) 232-­‐6686, ext 107 Public Transporta;on: C-­‐train access via the North bound C-­‐train. Get off at the University of Calgary stop.
What to Bring: Notebook & favourite reference book if you have one (not required). RSVP: Space is limited! Please sign up by contac>ng Leslie Monteleone ([email protected]) or Heide Blakely [email protected]
Hope to see you there... and remember to check the APA website for upcoming events at hGp://www.adoptaplantalberta.com/.
8
October 2011 eNewsletter
C
R
O
W
S
N
E
S
T
C
O
N
S
E
R
V
A
T
I
O
N
S
O
C
I
E
T
Y
Owls of Northern Alberta Pine Beetle Article and
- LIVE Online Course
Response from Nigel
Course available from Northern Lakes College
Douglas of Alberta
Descrip;on:
Wilderness Association
Discover the owls of Northern Alberta and find out some interes>ng facts such as what >me of year they nest, what they eat, which owls migrate and which owls stay and where they roost.
From the Boreal Centre for Bird Conserva;on:
The Boreal Centre for Bird Conserva>on is a Research, Environmental Educa>on and Tourism Centre on Lesser Slave Lake. At the Boreal Centre for Bird Conserva>on (BCBC) we have been opera>ng a Migra>on Monitoring program each spring for the past sixteen years.
Richard Krikun is the Bander in Charge for the Research programs hosted at the BCBC and operates an Owl Banding Program for Saw Whet Owls each fall. For more informa>on go to www.borealbirdcentre.ca Edmonton Journal Ar;cle:
Stakes in beetle invasion are enormous
Edmonton Journal -­‐ In the forest a few kilometers from the Jasper Na>onal Park town site, there’s a century-­‐old lodgepole pine that has been seriously worked over by pileated woodpeckers since it was killed two years ago by mountain pine beetles. To read more, visit hGp://www.edmontonjournal.com/travel/Stakes+beetle+invasion
+enormous/5560171/story.html. What is LIVE Online?
LIVE Online is a way to deliver training to you in the comfort of your home or office. By registering for one of our LIVE Online courses you can join a classroom through your computer via internet conferencing. Others from around the province, country and maybe even worldwide will be taking the course with you and the instructor will be delivering the course wherever they reside. The course is in real >me and you join in on the stated date and at the stated >me. This gives you the op>on of par>cipa>ng in courses that interest you without having to travel for training. What are you wai>ng for? ….Register for a LIVE online course today.
Note: You will need access to high speed internet to par>cipate in a LIVE Online course and a microphone/speakers (preferably a head-­‐
set).
All course >mes are on Mountain Standard Time (MST).
Contact WorkForce Development at 780-­‐849-­‐8623 or [email protected]. We will provide you with a quote to put this training on for your group or organiza>on.
October 2011 eNewsletter
Response from Nigel Douglas, Alberta Wilderness Associa;on, to Edmonton Journal and Calgary Herald:
I found Ed Struzik’s ar>cle about pine beetles (Beetle invasion threatens Jasper Park's forests, October 17) somewhat over-­‐
excitable. Our forests have evolved over tens of thousands of years to live with pine beetles. Pine beetles can certainly change forests. They kill some pine trees (but not deciduous trees or spruce or larch or fir), but they don’t “destroy” forests. A beGer example of “destroying” forests might be Alberta’s favoured prac>ce of clearcut logging, to cash in on trees before any future beetles might arrive. There is also not a shred of evidence that pine beetles “intensif(y) the threat of forest fires”. In fact studies from Yellowstone show exactly the opposite: forest affected by pine beetles have lower fuel loads. Reduced “ladder fuels” make it less likely that fires will transi>on into more destruc>ve canopy fires. It is >me for some logic and sense of propor>on to enter into the discussion on pine beetles. This sort of sensa>onal hyperbole doesn’t help.
9
C
R
O
W
S
N
E
S
T
C
O
N
S
Columbia Mountains
Institute of Applied
Ecology
Call for Presenta-ons, Posters, and Field Trips
R
V
A
T
I
O
N
S
O
C
I
E
T
Y
• How can land use paGerns such as wildlife corridors be managed to reduce problems? • How is managing wildlife in an urban area linked to managing wildlife in adjacent rural agricultural lands?
• And -­‐ Have you had posi>ve experiences with urban wildlife? We'd like to hear about that, too! We welcome your sugges>ons for presenta>ons and posters on related topics not listed here. Urban Wildlife: Challenges and Management Submit your presenta>on abstract before November 30, 2011
April 18-­‐19, 2012
Submission guidelines for presenta>ons, posters, and field trips are available here.
Rocky Mountain Pres;ge Inn, Cranbrook BC 1. PowerPoint presenta;ons**:
Please read our submission guidelines <hGp://www.cmiae.org/
submission-­‐guidelines.php> .
Submissions are due November 30, 2011
Conference descrip>on: Wildlife numbers are increasing within many Bri>sh Columbia municipali>es, leading to more interac>ons with humans and our infrastructure. Interac>ons can lead to property damage, public safety issues, public health concerns, impacts on biodiversity, and death or suffering of wildlife. Deer, elk, coyotes, moose, geese, raccoons, bears, and other animals can become more than a nuisance, puvng themselves and humans at risk. Through a combina>on of presenta>ons, posters, and field trips, this conference will address the environmental, social, and economic issues related to wildlife in urban sevngs. Who is this conference for?: We an>cipate a mul>disciplinary group of people: provincial, regional district, and municipal staff; biologists; resource managers; First Na>ons; academics; industry, stewardship groups; and others with an interest in human–wildlife interac>ons. We request presenta>ons, posters, and field trips on the following topics:
• Why do urban wildlife problems develop? • How can problems be avoided or mi>gated? • How can communi>es decide when to act, and how would success be defined? • What decision support tools and guidelines are available? • What species are at issue in various parts of the province? • Are there threats to biodiversity? • Are there economic impacts because of urban wildlife problems? • What are the implica>ons for human health and safety? • What is there to know about the human dimension of urban wildlife problems? • What can we learn from the success of programs such as Bear Aware? • What can we learn from the success of programs in other jurisdic>ons? • What happens when the community is in or near a protected area? • Do wildfire preven>on ac>vi>es near urban centres alter ungulate behaviours and movements? 10
E
If you would like to offer a 15 minute MS PowerPoint presenta>on, please send a >tle, an abstract, and your full contact informa>on to the Columbia Mountains Ins>tute before November 30. Longer presenta>ons may be accommodated with advanced planning. There will be >me for a few ques>ons ager your presenta>on. You are welcome to “back up” your presenta>on with a poster, i.e. if you have data or other details that people will want to examine closely.
** NOTE: If you are selected to be a presenter, you will need to provide a text summary (not PowerPoint slides) of your presenta>on for the conference proceedings, before the conference. A descrip>on of what is required is here. Presenters of PowerPoint presenta>ons can aGend with a reduced registra>on fee (one presenter per presenta>on at the reduced rate).
2. Posters and displays: Posters and displays about your projects are welcome. You are required to send a >tle, and an abstract or descrip>on of your ini>a>ve, at least one month before the conference. Your abstract will be included in the conference proceedings. 3. Field trips: Field trip sugges>ons are welcome. Please send your descrip>on by November 30. Field trips are usually held on the second agernoon of the conference, although longer field trips can be offered before or ager the conference. Your field trip descrip>on will be included in the conference proceedings. Late offers of field trips will be considered (by March 15).
Our conference partners:
CMI is pleased to work with our conference sponsors, who are providing cash or in-­‐kind support.
BC Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Opera>ons <hGp://www.gov.bc.ca/for/index.html> BC SPCA <hGp://www.spca.bc.ca/> Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area <hGp://
www.crestonwildlife.ca/> FORREX <hGp://forrex.org/> Interior Reforesta>on <hGp://www.intref.bc.ca/> Wildlife Collision Preven>on Program, BC Conserva>on Founda>on <hGp://www.wildlifeaccidents.ca> Registra>on will open in early January. Click here <hGp://
www.cmiae.org/Forms/events-­‐no>ce.php> to be no>fied.
Ques;ons? Please contact:
Jackie Morris, Execu>ve Director
Columbia Mountains Ins>tute of Applied Ecology
Box 2568, Revelstoke BC, Canada V0E 2S0
Phone and Fax: 250-­‐837-­‐9311 <tel:250-­‐837-­‐9311> offi[email protected] | www.cmiae.org
October 2011 eNewsletter
C
R
O
W
S
N
E
S
T
C
O
N
S
E
R
V
A
T
I
O
N
S
O
C
I
E
T
Y
Upcoming Events
Your guide to conservation events and opportunities in and around Crowsnest Pass.
Golden Eagle Migration Tours
Mountain Bluebird Trails Conservation Society
Crowsnest Conservation Society AGM
Now until October 25
AGM
November 24
October 29
The 2011 Annual General Mee>ng of Crowsnest Conserva>on Society will be held on Thursday, November 24th from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
SOUTHWESTERN ALBERTANS INVITED TO OBSERVE THE GOLDEN EAGLE MIGRATION
LeGers will be mailed/emailed to members in early November. Informa>on will also be posted on our website when details about loca>on and guest speaker have been finalized. The Rocky Mountain Eagle Research Founda>on invites residents of southwestern Alberta to join Peter Sherrington and other eagle experts any Saturday or Sunday this October in coun>ng migra>ng eagles, hawks, and other raptors returning from their summer breeding grounds.
The Mountain Bluebird Trails Conserva>on Society AGM will be held on October 29th. Refreshment will be served. Date: Thursday, November 24 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Date: Saturday and Sundays, October 1-­‐25 between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Special Guest Speaker Rochelle Coffey will present a slide show of her recent trip to Newfoundland and all points in between. Loca;on: TBA
Loca;on: Rendezvous is at the east end of the Frank Slide Interpre>ve Centre parking lot. A society guide will escort visitors to the viewing area.
Date: Saturday, October 29 at 2:00 p.m.
Loca;on: Fish and Game Building, 1001-­‐9 Ave S., Lethbridge
Informa;on and Registra;on: Contact Crowsnest Conserva>on at 403-­‐562-­‐8923 or email office@crowsnestconserva>on.ca or the visit Crowsnest Conserva>on Events Page www.crowsnestconserva>on.ca.
Bring: Warm clothing, hiking boots, drinking water, Informa;on and Registra;on: $10 fee to cover the folding camp chair, and binoculars are advised.
cost of food and beverages. Sea>ng is limited, so please call Gwen (403-­‐317-­‐1252) or Ken Cost: There is no charge for this excep>onal (403-­‐345-­‐5806) to confirm your aGendance. natural experience unique to our region.
Informa;on: Please contact David Thomas at 403-­‐562-­‐8032 or at [email protected]. To learn more about the Golden Eagle Watch, visit www.eaglewatch.ca.
For more informa>on, email [email protected] or visit hGp://
www.bluebirdtrails.org/. Upcoming Events
Christmas Bird Count -­‐ Tuesday, December 27, 2011
May Species Count -­‐ May 26 and 27, 2012
The Crowsnest Conserva>on Society birding commiGee is planning events for 2011 -­‐ 2012:
Look for updates on the website and in upcoming newsleGers.
October 2011 eNewsletter
11
C
R
O
W
S
N
E
S
T
C
O
N
S
E
R
V
A
T
I
O
N
S
O
C
I
E
T
Y
Conservation News
Stay up-to-date with conservation news from across the world.
Logging
Bears
Fish
Province urged to halt logging in Castle region
Grizzly groups lobby for change
Hidden Lake fish project underway
The Calgary Herald -­‐ Environmental groups and small business owners in southwestern Alberta are calling or newly elected Premier Alison Redford to revisit the issue of logging in the Castle region. To read more, visit hGp://www.calgaryherald.com/
news/alberta/Province+urged+halt+logging+Castle
+region+Business+owners+ac>vist+group+send
+leGers/5557069/story.html. CTV -­‐ Conserva>on groups are placing hope in the hands of whoever might be the next Premier of Alberta and are looking to the new leader to make changes to protect grizzlies. To read more, visit hGp://calgary.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/
20110919/
CGY_grizzly_groups_110919/20110919/?
hub=CalgaryHome.
Rocky Mountain Outlook -­‐ In an effort to return na>onal park waters to their historic ecosystems, Parks Canada has begun removing brook trout from Hidden Lake, north of Lake Louise. To read more, visit hGp://www.rmoutlook.com/ar>cle/
20110915/RMO0801/309159967/hidden-­‐lake-­‐
fish-­‐project-­‐underway. Recreation and Wildlife
Scien;fic solu;on sought to prevent bear deaths
Climate Change and Beetles
Nature walks jolt hungry predators, study says
Rocky Mountain Outlook -­‐ Science, innova>on and perseverance are the ways officials with the na>onal parks and railway hope to eliminate train-­‐
caused grizzly bear deaths in the Rocky Mountains. To read more, visit hGp://www.rmoutlook.com/
ar>cle/20111006/RMO0801/310069998/-­‐1/
rmo0801/scien>fic-­‐solu>on-­‐sought-­‐to-­‐prevent-­‐
bear-­‐deaths. With Deaths of Forests, a Loss of Key Climate Protectors
Globe and Mail -­‐ Your walks through Canada’s na>onal parks aren’t as nature-­‐friendly as you think. To read more, visit hGp://
m.theglobeandmail.com/news/na>onal/prairies/
nature-­‐walks-­‐jolt-­‐hungry-­‐predators-­‐study-­‐says/
ar>cle2178764/?service=mobile. Wildlife Corridors
Gecng a nose count -­‐ Researchers use scent to lure bears, gather DNA for popula;on study
Kootenay highway project deferred
The Spokesman-­‐Review -­‐ Next summer, grizzly Rocky Mountain Outlook -­‐ A $5 million project bears will follow their noses to census sites. To aimed at stopping wildlife from being run over and read more, visit hGp://www.spokesman.com/
killed on the highway through Kootenay Na>onal stories/2011/sep/24/gevng-­‐a-­‐nose-­‐count/.
Park as been put on hold due to the federal government’s >ghtening of its financial belt. To A vision for grizzly bears
read more, visit hGp://www.rmoutlook.com/
ar>cle/20111006/RMO0801/310069994/-­‐1/
The Canmore Leader -­‐ A former Canmore author rmo0801/kootenay-­‐highway-­‐project-­‐deferred.
came to town to shed light on what he sees as the way forward for grizzly bears in the area. To read Strategic deer warning signs reduce accidents
more, visit hGp://www.canmoreleader.com/
Ar>cleDisplay.aspx?e=3331360.
CBC News -­‐ Hivng a deer is a danger many motorists think about as they travel near wooded Land Conservation
areas, but Canadian researchers say the number of collisions could be reduced by puvng more Huge ‘tribal park’ with stunning ecosystem to thought into where warning signs are placed. To span B.C.-­‐Alberta
read more, visit hGp://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/
new-­‐brunswick/story/2011/10/12/deer-­‐vehicle-­‐
Globe and Mail -­‐ It’s not official yet but a new park collisions.html. that will straddle the border with Alberta could have a big impact in the north, especially for resource industries. To read more, visit hGp://
www.theglobeandmail.com/news/na>onal/
bri>sh-­‐columbia/mark-­‐hume/huge-­‐tribal-­‐park-­‐
with-­‐stunning-­‐ecosystem-­‐to-­‐span-­‐bc-­‐alberta/
ar>cle2188214/.
12
The New York Times -­‐ The trees spanning many of the mountainsides of western Montana glow an earthy red, like a broadleaf forest at the beginning of autumn. But these trees are not supposed to turn red. To read more, visit hGp://
www.ny>mes.com/2011/10/01/science/earth/
01forest.html?_r=1&ref=earth.
Climate change could cost Canada $43B a year by 2050: Report
Calgary Herald -­‐ Canada’s environment minister says his government is not surprised that its own advisory panel on business and environmental issues is warning that greenhouse gas emissions could cost the Canadian economy up to $43 billion each year by 2050 if it fails to come up with a domes>c plan to tackle global warming. To read more, visit hGp://www.calgaryherald.com/life/
green-­‐guide/Climate+change+could+cost+Canada
+billions+report/5476036/story.html. October 2011 eNewsletter
C
R
O
W
S
N
E
S
T
C
O
N
S
E
R
V
A
T
I
O
N
S
O
C
I
E
T
Y
Become a Lifetime Member
Name(s):
Address:
Community:
Province:
Phone: Email:
Postal Code:
Membership (select one)
Individual ($20)
Family/Joint ($25)
Group/Business ($50)
I also enclose a charitable donation of $________. (Tax receipts will be issued for donations of $20 or more)
What conservation issues are you concerned about in the Crowsnest Pass?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
If you have extra time, how would you like to become involved in the work of Crowsnest Conservation Society?
!
Volunteer for events and community projects
!
Volunteer in the office
!
Work on project development
!
Become a member of the Birding or BearSmart Committee
!
Become a member of the Board of Directors
!
Other: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Date: _________________________________________________________ Signature: ______________________________________________________
Return this form with your cheque, payable to Crowsnest Conservation Society, to:
Crowsnest Conservation Society
P.O. Box 242
Crowsnest Pass, AB T0K 0E0
Why is it important that we receive your continued support?
• We need your help to achieve our conservation and education goals.
• We rely on you for ideas, focus and energy to keep us moving forward.
• You become part of a community that shares your environmental values.
• A strong dynamic support base allows us to speak to decision-makers with credibility.
Our annual goal is to raise $10,000 from donations,
which can be used as matching funds when applying for grants.
October 2011 eNewsletter
13