Participants in LNS outings (except species counts) will be asked to sign a waiver and release form before taking part in the scheduled event(s). One signed form will cover the whole 2021 field trip season. Please contact the trip leader by 8:00 pm of the day before so the leader will know you are coming. Always wear suitable footwear and clothing. For day trips, bring your own lunch and adequate fluids to prevent dehydration, sunscreen, insect repellent, and rain gear. COVID regulations will be followed carefully, and we have planned multiple leaders for each outing in case outdoor group size remains limited to 10. Social distancing of two meters should be maintained except between members of the same household, and only members of the same household should carpool together.

http://www.naturelethbridge.ca/nature-walks

 Meet at Northwest parking lot by the swimming pool.

The nature walk will be led by Graeme and Pat Greenlee

Are you interested in participating?

This year Lethbridge Christmas Bird Count will take place on December 14.

More information can be found on the Audubon or Bird Studies Canada websites or you can contact the Lethbridge CBC Compiler Ken Orich at korich@telusplanet.net or call him at (403) 381-2351.

Please note, other Bird Counts in Southern Alberta:

• Waterton - December 15, 2019 - Contact: Dianne Pachal 403-859-5133

• Milk River - January 1, 2020 - contact: Ken Orich 403-381-2351

• Crowsnest Pass - January 2, 2020, contact: Merilyn Liddell cnpbirds@outlook.com, 403-563-7545

• Taber - TBD - contact Lloyd Bennett 403-223-0456 

• Pincher Creek - TBD

The LNS potluck picnic is held annually, usually the second Sunday of September commencing at 5:00 pm! 

The picnic will be at Popson Park and the gate to picnic facility will be open Sunday September 8 shortly before 5:00 pm.

We will have boiled water so people can make coffee or tea. People are invited to bring a casserole, salad or dessert to share with everyone; people are also instructed to bring their own plates and cutlery.

We enjoy a social meal together, them usually go for a short hike along the edge of the river before sundown.

Are you interested in participating?

This year Lethbridge Christmas Bird Count will take place on December 16.

More information can be found on the Audubon or Bird Studies Canada websites or you can contact the Lethbridge CBC Compiler Ken Orich at korich@telusplanet.net or call him at (403) 381-2351.

Please note, other Bird Counts in Southern Alberta:

• Waterton - December 15, 2018 - Contact: Dianne Pachal 403-859-5133

• Crowsnest Pass - January 2, 2019, contact Merilyn Liddell, birds@crowsnestconservation.ca

• Milk River - January 5, 2019 - contact: Ken Orich 403-381-2351

• Taber - TBD - contact Lloyd Bennett 403-223-0456 

• Pincher Creek - TBD

Join members of the Lethbridge Naturalists' Society for a drop-in Coulee Clean-Up at Cottonwood Park! Help us remove garbage and debris from this natural area while we scramble through one of Lethbridge's nicest parks.

This is a great opportunity to connect with other naturalists, explore a beautiful park, and enjoy the wildflowers and wildlife sightings! Cottonwood Park is already well-maintained with little garbage so this will be more of a leisurely stroll with intent.

Wear sturdy footwear, dress for the weather, bring a water bottle, and bring a friend! Meet at the parking lot for supplies (bags and gloves) and orientation at 7pm on Thursday May 24 at 7pm. Hope to see everyone there! 

Are you interested in participating?

This year Lethbridge Christmas Bird Count will take place on Sunday, December 17, 2017.

More information can be found on the Audubon or Bird Studies Canada websites or you can contact the Lethbridge CBC Compiler Ken Orich at korich@telusplanet.net or call him at (403) 381-2351.

Please note, other Bird Counts in Southern Alberta:

• Waterton - December 15, 2017 - Contact: Dianne Pachal 403-859-5133
• Milk River - December 30, 2017 - contact: Ken Orich 403-381-2351
• Taber - TBA - contact Lloyd Bennett 403-223-0456 
• Pincher Creek - TBA
• Crowsnest Pass - TBA 

Easy to moderate walking. Focus will be flowers and birds. This evening walk will take us down (and back up) the open grassy coulees to the cottonwood forest and river.

Directions to meeting place – turn south at traffic light on Scenic Drive & 20th Street South, proceed south on Tudor Crescent 2 blocks to Tudor Blvd, turn right (west). The road angles back north and dead ends at a turn-around parking area. Meet here 7:00 pm. Duration – 2.5 hours.

Participants in LNS outings (except Species Counts) will be asked to sign a Waiver and Release Form before taking part in the scheduled event(s). One signed form will cover the whole 2017 field trip season. Please contact the trip leader by 8:00 p.m. of the day before day trips so the leader will know you are coming. Always wear suitable footwear and clothing. For day trips, bring your own lunch and adequate liquids to prevent dehydration, sunscreen, insect repellent and rain gear. Car pooling will be encouraged for out-of-town trips.

Leader – Graeme Greenlee 403-328-8977.

See a Great Blue Heron nesting colony, and other wetland birds at the farm of Ron & Lorrraine Russell.

Participants in LNS outings (except Species Counts) will be asked to sign a Waiver and Release Form before taking part in the scheduled event(s). One signed form will cover the whole 2017 field trip season. Please contact the trip leader by 8:00 p.m. of the day before day trips so the leader will know you are coming. Always wear suitable footwear and clothing. For day trips, bring your own lunch and adequate liquids to prevent dehydration, sunscreen, insect repellent and rain gear. Car pooling will be encouraged for out-of-town trips.

Meet in northwest corner of south side Fairway Plaza Safeway parking lot 6:30 pm on Thursday April 20

For more information, contact:

Leader Graeme Greenlee (Ph 403-328-8977).

Christmas Bird Count History

“Prior to the turn of the 20th century, people engaged in a holiday tradition known as the Christmas “Side Hunt”:  They would choose sides and go afield with their guns; whoever brought in the biggest pile of feathered (and furred) quarry won.

Conservation was in its beginning stages around that era, and many observers and scientists were becoming concerned about declining bird populations.  Beginning on Christmas Day 1900, ornithologist Frank M. Chapman, an early officer in the then nascent Audubon Society, proposed a new holiday tradition – a “Christmas Bird Census” – that would count birds during the holidays rather than hunt them.

So began the Christmas Bird Count.”

Source: https://www.audubon.org/conservation/science/christmas-bird-count

Did you know?

• This year is the 117th annual Christmas Bird Count.
• Christmas Bird Counts are conducted between December 14th and January 5, inclusive dates, each season.
• Each count takes place in the same established 15-mile (24km) wide diameter circle every year.
• Every CBC is done by willing and dedicated volunteers.
• CBCs are a critical part of Citizen Science.
• Data provided helps researchers, biologists and wildlife agencies to study the long-term health and status of bird populations across North America.
• Lethbridge CBC averages 42 different species per count with 49 species counted in 2015.
• 20,882 Canada Geese were counted in 2015.
• Mallards, Pigeons, Magpies, Chickadees, Starlings, Bohemian Waxwings, House Finches and House Sparrows are some of the most frequent birds counted.

Are you interested in participating?

This year Lethbridge Christmas Bird Count will take place on Sunday, December 18th.

More information can be found on the Audubon or Bird Studies Canada websites or you can contact the Lethbridge CBC Compiler Ken Orich at korich@telusplanet.net or call him at (403) 381-2351.