There is a moment of panic that comes when you sink through a soft spot in a cattail marsh. Your first thought is, “how deep am I sinking this time?” followed by, “hopefully this water doesn’t go over my waders.” Your next thoughts are focused on getting out: “I’m only in up to my belly-button, [...]
Have you ever wondered what Alberta’s landscape will look like in the future? Like many Albertans, Bill Newton is hopeful for the future of his family ranch near the Porcupine Hills, despite increasing pressure to convert it to residential properties, other developments, or even cultivated crops. The challenge for land owners like Bill is the [...]
Did you know that, by the end of the century, Alberta’s climate is projected to become warmer, by an average of 2-4°C, as well as drier and more variable? In response to this change, Alberta’s ecosystems are predicted to shift northward and upslope. These are big changes and will affect our landscapes, species and communities. [...]
If you missed it, catch up on Part 1 of Cody Pytlak’s series here! Part 2 Spring shifts for ABMI field technicians are a time to wake up early, stumble through forests and bogs, and enjoy the sunrise as we listen to birds and record data. While birding feels like the focus of the spring [...]
“I’m Cody Pytlak, bringing you this morning’s bird calls for June 1st, 2014. It’s sunrise here in Peace River and the time is 5:08 am. Enjoy the birds!” I shout into the microphone, ten feet away, and for the next ten minutes I sit still in a small woodlot, headphones pressed to my ears, listening to [...]
It’s June in Alberta. In response to the shift from spring to summer, Trembling Aspens in the Parkland have flowered and unfurled their leaves, migratory songbirds have returned to the expansive boreal forest, and Great Plains Toads in southern Alberta are searching for temporary wetlands in which to lay their eggs. But on top of [...]
We hear a lot about Alberta’s oil sands(1); in fact, the bitumen deposits in the province’s northeast are rarely far from the news. Most readers will have heard that oil sands production is expected to double in the next ten years(2), placing pressure on government to manage this industrial activity and its potential environmental effects. [...]
by Alex MacPhail It’s early March and a fresh blanket of snow reveals the scurry of rodents and the trudge of moose in the forest. The moment is serene and tranquil—nearby sounds are of the sway of aspen trees and the flaps of intermittent flocks of Snow Buntings flying overhead. A closer listen, however, reveals [...]