Sunday, 21 March 2021: our temperature is -2C (windchill -8C) just before 10:00 am. Sunrise is at 7:37 am, and sunset is at 7:50 pm. Overcast.
Yesterday morning, 20 March 2021, I joined a handful of friends, all wearing masks, for a birding walk at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary. I think the last time I was there was on 4 October 2020, more than five months ago.
Perhaps not as many birds as we would have liked, but spring migration will be here soon. An adult Bald Eagle was seen from the parking lot at the start of our morning, flying high towards the Bow River. Plenty of Black-billed Magpies, Northern Flickers and European Starlings as we followed the paths.
An unseen porcupine had been nibbling away at some slender tree trunks. Amazing how neatly the bark was peeled back, revealing all the teeth marks on the tree.
Everyone enjoyed seeing a distant male American Robin hopping over the rocks at the edge of the river. Most of the birds were distant and often in a tangle of fine branches, so my camera lens tended to be turned towards a variety of other odds and ends. Thanks to the two leaders who planned and led this enjoyable outing.
"The Inglewood Bird Sanctuary and Nature Centre have been providing migratory birds with a place to rest their wings since 1929. That's more than 80 years of conservation!
To date, 270 species of birds, 21 species of mammals and 347 species of plants have been recorded at the Sanctuary and Nature Centre by members of the public, volunteers and staff.
In 1883, Colonel James Walker settled the land that is now occupied by the sanctuary. In 1910, the current brick house - then named Inglewood - was built, and the surrounding area was named for the most prominent property in the area.
From 1929 to 1952, several Chinese families leased land from Colonel Walker and established market gardens to serve the needs of a growing city. These highly productive gardens were used to grow vegetables and bedding plants, and represent an early example of urban agriculture and horticulture in the city. As part of the engagement process for Bend in Bow, it was discovered the descendants of one of the families, the Koo family, still reside in Calgary.
Colonel Walker's son, Selby, applied to the Federal government in 1929 to have 59 acres on the west side of the Bow River be designated as a Federal Migratory Bird Sanctuary. His request was granted and the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary was born.
When Selby died in 1953, Ed Jefferies acquired the property and leased it to the Alberta Fish & Game Association. In 1970, The City of Calgary purchased the property and has been managing it as a natural reserve ever since.
The sanctuary's Nature Centre was built in 1996 and grassland restoration projects began in that same year.
The Colonel Walker House is currently used by Parks staff and volunteers as a classroom and office."
www.calgary.ca/CSPS/Parks/Pages/Locations/SE-parks/Inglew...
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Sunday, 21 March 2021: our temperature is -2C (windchill -8C) just before 10:00 am. Sunrise is at 7:37 am, and sunset is at 7:50 pm. Overcast.
Yesterday morning, 20 March 2021, I joined a handful of friends, all wearing masks, for a birding walk at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary. I think the last time I was there was on 4 October 2020, more than five months ago.
Perhaps not as many birds as we would have liked, but spring migration will be here soon. An adult Bald Eagle was seen from the parking lot at the start of our morning, flying high towards the Bow River. Plenty of Black-billed Magpies, Northern Flickers and European Starlings as we followed the paths.
An unseen porcupine had been nibbling away at some slender tree trunks. Amazing how neatly the bark was peeled back, revealing all the teeth marks on the tree.
Everyone enjoyed seeing a distant male American Robin hopping over the rocks at the edge of the river. Most of the birds were distant and often in a tangle of fine branches, so my camera lens tended to be turned towards a variety of other odds and ends. Thanks to the two leaders who planned and led this enjoyable outing.
"Porcupines are generalists, eating a wide range of plant material. Their diet changes seasonally. In the winter, they primarily eat evergreen needles and the inner bark of trees, often feeding heavily on a single tree causing damage or death to the tree. In the spring and summer, porcupines shift to eating berries, seeds, grasses, leaves, roots and stems." From the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.
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Sunday, 21 March 2021: our temperature is -2C (windchill -8C) just before 10:00 am. Sunrise is at 7:37 am, and sunset is at 7:50 pm. Overcast.
This rabbit was hanging out at the Inglwood Bird Sanctuary, Calgary. I'm not sure if it is one of the Wild European Rabbits that we do get in the city, or something else. The colouring reminds me of a Nuttall's Cottontail.
Yesterday morning, 20 March 2021, I joined a handful of friends, all wearing masks, for a birding walk at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary. I think the last time I was there was on 4 October 2020, more than five months ago.
Perhaps not as many birds as we would have liked, but spring migration will be here soon. An adult Bald Eagle was seen from the parking lot at the start of our morning, flying high towards the Bow River. Plenty of Black-billed Magpies, Northern Flickers and European Starlings as we followed the paths.
An unseen porcupine had been nibbling away at some slender tree trunks. Amazing how neatly the bark was peeled back, revealing all the teeth marks on the tree.
Everyone enjoyed seeing a distant male American Robin hopping over the rocks at the edge of the river. Most of the birds were distant and often in a tangle of fine branches, so my camera lens tended to be turned towards a variety of other odds and ends. Thanks to the two leaders who planned and led this enjoyable outing.
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This was taken from one of the small bridges over the lagoon, looking down to the water. A lot of the detail was not seen until I downloaded my photos later.
Sunday, 21 March 2021: our temperature is -2C (windchill -8C) just before 10:00 am. Sunrise is at 7:37 am, and sunset is at 7:50 pm. Overcast.
This rabbit was hanging out at the Inglwood Bird Sanctuary, Calgary. I'm not sure if it is one of the Wild European Rabbits that we do get in the city, or something else. The colouring reminds me of a Nuttall's Cottontail.
Yesterday morning, 20 March 2021, I joined a handful of friends, all wearing masks, for a birding walk at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary. I think the last time I was there was on 4 October 2020, more than five months ago.
Perhaps not as many birds as we would have liked, but spring migration will be here soon. An adult Bald Eagle was seen from the parking lot at the start of our morning, flying high towards the Bow River. Plenty of Black-billed Magpies, Northern Flickers and European Starlings as we followed the paths.
An unseen porcupine had been nibbling away at some slender tree trunks. Amazing how neatly the bark was peeled back, revealing all the teeth marks on the tree.
Everyone enjoyed seeing a distant male American Robin hopping over the rocks at the edge of the river. Most of the birds were distant and often in a tangle of fine branches, so my camera lens tended to be turned towards a variety of other odds and ends. Thanks to the two leaders who planned and led this enjoyable outing.
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Sunday, 21 March 2021: our temperature is -2C (windchill -8C) just before 10:00 am. Sunrise is at 7:37 am, and sunset is at 7:50 pm. Overcast. Ha, two minutes after I typed 'overcast', out comes the sun!
This rabbit was hanging out at the Inglwood Bird Sanctuary, Calgary. I'm not sure if it is one of the Wild European Rabbits that we do get in the city, or something else. The colouring reminds me of a Nuttall's Cottontail.
Yesterday morning, 20 March 2021, I joined a handful of friends, all wearing masks, for a birding walk at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary. I think the last time I was there was on 4 October 2020, more than five months ago.
Perhaps not as many birds as we would have liked, but spring migration will be here soon. An adult Bald Eagle was seen from the parking lot at the start of our morning, flying high towards the Bow River. Plenty of Black-billed Magpies, Northern Flickers and European Starlings as we followed the paths.
An unseen porcupine had been nibbling away at some slender tree trunks. Amazing how neatly the bark was peeled back, revealing all the teeth marks on the tree.
Everyone enjoyed seeing a distant male American Robin hopping over the rocks at the edge of the river. Most of the birds were distant and often in a tangle of fine branches, so my camera lens tended to be turned towards a variety of other odds and ends. Thanks to the two leaders who planned and led this enjoyable outing.
Tags: Calgary Alberta Canada Inglewood Bird Sanctuary nature wildlife rabbit bunny mammal family Leporidae ID needed back/side view grass outdoor winter 20 March 2021 Canon SX60 Canon SX60 Powershot annkelliott Anne Elliott
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