Birdwatching in Alberta Birding contacts and birdwatching information Local Birdingpal Contacts Local Birdwatchers Please note that most Birdingpals are serious birdwatchers. It is a privilege to contact them, and your message should reflect it. A local Pal does not get paid, but should he/she offer to take you out birding, using their own vehicle, it would be courteous to pay for the fuel. A lunch and/or a small gift would also be appropriate, something as simple as a souvenir of your country, or a pin from your local birding club. Initial Last Name Area Available Language D Cambell Calgary Anytime English Within two hours of Calgary we have the Rocky Mountains as well as wonderful wetland and prairie habitat. Lots of diversity. Unfortunately, there's no guidebook still in print to the great birding areas around Calgary. That's where I can help out. Another great resource is the yahoo chat group "Albertabird". Everyone is very helpful if someone is looking for a specific bird near here... As a busy working Mom with two young daughters, I can't usually go out birding with folks, but if the timing is right this is still a possibility. T McCreath Calgary Anytime J Allison Calgary Weekend English/French Centrally located in the southern Alberta foothills, Calgary is convenient to both the prarie habitats to the East of town (towards Drumheller and Brooks), and the Rocky Mountain habitats, to the West (Kananaskis Country, and Banff & Yoho National parks). That being said, southern Alberta is a very large area, and cannot be simply covered in a day. Visiting birders would be well-advised to pick the area(s) they visit, based on the specific species that they wish to see. I am an experienced (17 years) birder. Most of my experience is from within North America, but I have also birded overseas, particularly in the Republic of Korea, where I lived for 16 months. I thoroughly enjoy getting out with Birdingpals who are visiting the Calgary (or Banff) area, if my schedule permits. A list of species that you would particularly like to see (if any) would be most helpful in planning any excursion(s). A Laing Claresholm Anytime English Clear Lake, a rural area east of Claresholm/Stavely. Great for water fowl April/May and September. Avocets, stilts, pelicans. T McDonald Edmonton Anytime English Z Gambino Edmonton Anytime S Gosche Edmonton Weekend T Hindmarch Edmonton Anytime English/FrenchRussian C Keill Edmonton Weekend English/French L Ball Fort McMurray Anytime English Fort McMurray surprises many birdwatchers with the abundant bird life here particularly during migration. We have several popular bird watching sites including woodland trails, borrow pits and lakes. Best birding time is late May to end of July. Bring your bug spray. The Wood Buffalo Wild Bird Club is small but we have an active email network, where we post sightings and arrange occasional outings. We host an annual spring count and winter count and have kept records for over 20 years. I have lived in the area for 28 years and began birding, when I moved to a home on the greenbelt 9 years ago. My backyard is fully treed and has 8 feeders and a pond, so I do much birdwatching right out my kitchen window. G Popp Kramer Pond Anytime L O'Connor Medicine Hat/Empress Anytime English I live about 90 miles north of Medicine Hat along the Alberta/Sask border in a small town called Empress, so the area i can tour is Medicine Hat, Brooks, Oyen and Empress. I have been birding for about 10 years, familiar with sounds of birds as well, example grasshopper sparrows...which can be hard to see if you dont hear them 1st. I work 3 days week, but with enough notice I can tour fellow birders. Professional Guides Initial Last Name Area Available Language Local Information Name Description Federation of Alberta Naturalists Club The Calgary Field Naturalists' Society Club Edmonton Nature Club Club Weaselhead Society Club Clifford E. Lee Nature Sanctuary Club Prairie Potholes and Parks Sites Birds of the Mt. Robson Area Sites Alberta Grasslands Sites Birding Hotspots around the world Sites Lesser Slave Lake Provincial Park Songbird Festival Saskatoon Island Provincial Park Swan Festival Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Alberta Local weather Yahoo Electronic maps MapQuest Find lowest prices for field guides, books, maps etc. Field guides recommended by Birdingpals Printable bird check list Last update 23/06/2008
