Edmonton Nature Club

04/27/2026

Bird Studies: Conservation Needs of Burrowing Owls in Prairie Canada
Presented by Geoff Holroyd

Wednesday, April 29th, 7:00 – 8:30pm via Zoom

In Canada, the Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia) is listed as endangered under the Species at Risk Act.

The number of breeding pairs declined 90% during the 1990’s despite voluntary protection of over 37,000 hectares of the species habitat on private grasslands. Low recruitment exacerbates the Burrowing Owl’s decline in response to habitat loss; typically, only 3-4 young fledge from the average clutch size of 9 eggs.

This talk will summarize 30 years of research into the population dynamics, breeding biology, migration and dispersal of this species in Canada, Texas and Mexico and recommendations to be incorporated in recovery action plans and further research.

Register for this Zoom presentation through the ENC calendar at:

https://www.edmontonnatureclub.org/calendar.html

Bird study groups are free and open to everyone!

04/24/2026

2026 Tofield Snow Goose Festival

Event cancelled due to weather conditions.

Thanks to all those who volunteered.
We will look forward to next year.

04/10/2026

ENC Indoor Program Speaker Series

Protecting Pollinators
Presented by Ciara Fraser,
Conservation Coordinator, Edmonton and Area Land Trust (EALT)
Monday, April 13, 2016; 7:00 pm

Learn all about native pollinators. This presentation includes an overview of EALT as an organization, and then goes into the different kinds of bees you can find in the Edmonton region. The EALT natural areas in the countryside around Edmonton are homes to pollinators for the surrounding agricultural lands. However, we can all do our part to help urban pollinators.

In-person:
6:00 pm refreshments and socializing.
7:00 pm presentation.
Edmonton Public Library Whitemud Crossing branch theatre (106 St south of Whitemud Drive). There's plenty of on-site parking.
Registration is NOT required for ENC members.
Limited seats are available for the general public who must register through the EPL.

Unable to attend in-person? Watch live on-line via Zoom.
Register through the ENC Calendar:
Edmontonnatureclub.org

04/06/2026

Annual Tofield Snow Goose Festival
April 25t - 26, 2026!

Celebrate spring migration with the Snow Goose Festival!

This spectacular annual event in the town of Tofield and Beaverhill Lake area has events and opportunities for everyone!

Choose a nature hike to the Beaverhill Bird Observatory or a guided bus tour to see the flocks of snow geese and other migratory birds. Different times are available so you can enjoy both tours!

The Tofield arena will be hosting a trade show throughout the weekend with exhibits, kids’ activities and scheduled speaker sessions.

Join us on Saturday evening for a banquet with a silent auction and keynote speaker.

Free shuttle bus service from Sherwood Park to the event available.

For schedules, tickets and further information go to:
https://www.snowgoosefestival.ca/

Volunteer opportunities still available! Join us!

03/23/2026

Bird Studies: Bird-shaped Forests: Interpreting Woodpecker Tracks & Signs

Monday, March 23rd, 7:00 – 8:30 pm via Zoom

Speaker: Rob Rich

Description: All across North America, woodpeckers are improving forest health as they forage andnest. Please join us to explore the tracks and signs these birds leave behind, including the nuanced ways they hack out holes, tap for sap, flake off bark, poke at galls, or probe in dirt.

We'll consider the anatomical adaptations that allow woodpeckers to hammer out their sign-making feats without concussions, and we'll highlight how the work of woodpeckers benefits boreal owls, fishers, and many more species throughout the web of life.

Register for this Zoom presentation at:

https://www.edmontonnatureclub.org/calendar.html

Everyone welcome!

03/17/2026

ENC Bird Studies
Spring Birding in Scotland
Presented by Ted Hogg
Wednesday, March 18, 7:00 – 8:30 pm

In April-May 2025 Ted took a trip to Scotland that included a 7-day tour around the Scottish Highlands with Heatherlea Birding and Wildlife Holidays. He also spent 9 days of birding while exploring his family history with his daughter in the Scottish borders region south of Edinburgh.

Ted will share his experience of seeing and photographing the wealth of Eurasian bird species for the first time while savouring the wonder and beauty of Scotland’s diverse landscapes and ancient history.

Presentations are free and everyone is welcome!

Register in advance for this Zoom meeting through the ENC calendar:

https://www.edmontonnatureclub.org/calendar.html

03/08/2026

ENC Indoor Program Speaker Series
Monday, March 9th (in-person event!)

Tracks, Cams, & Cats
Presented by Gerald Romanchuk

6:00 pm-Social hour (refreshments provided).
Reconnect with friends and acquaintances. Meet new people.
7:00 pm-The presentation begins.

Edmonton Public Library
Whitemud Crossing Theatre
(106 St south of Whitemud Drive)
There's plenty of on-site parking.

Gerald Romanchuk will tell the story of how a chance encounter with the tracks of a big cat in a nearby Natural Area led to an addiction to trail cams and a peek into the numbers and lives of cougars thriving near Edmonton.

How to participate:

Join us in-person:
Registration is NOT required for ENC members.
(Limited seats are available for the general public who must register through the EPL.)

Unable to attend in-person?
You can watch live on-line via Zoom.
Register through the ENC calendar:

https://www.edmontonnatureclub.org/calendar.html

02/24/2026

Bird Studies: Canoeing Alone Across the Northwest Territories
Wednesday, February 25th,
7:00 – 8:30pm via Zoom
Speaker: Calem Watson

Wilderness adventurer, fly-in fishing guide and public speaker Calem Watson (from Regina) spent 2 summers on a multi-month solo canoe adventure in Canada’s north in 2023 where he completed an amazing 3000 km solo canoe expedition across the NWT!

Calem will share his stories of his wilderness adventure, the phenomenal fishing, spectacular scenery, wildlife encounters, and incredible people he met along the way and more!! Such as following your dreams, overcoming challenges and lessons he learned from each stage of his journey. Calem’s presentation will also include exciting self–filmed videos such as catching a giant pike and lake trout from his canoe!!

Everyone welcome!

Register in advance for this Zoom meeting through the ENC calendar:

https://www.edmontonnatureclub.org/calendar.html

02/08/2026

The ENC Indoor Program Speaker Series is BACK!!

Tomorrow
Monday, February 9th

New location
Edmonton Public Library
Whitemud Crossing Theatre
106 St south of the Whitemud Freeway
(There's plenty of on-site parking)

6:00 pm Social hour (refreshments provided)
Reconnect with friends and acquaintances. Meet new people.

The talk starts at 7:00 pm.

Our first speaker is Melissa Penney
on
Photographing Wildlife in Your Garden

Author of A Playground for Birds:
How to turn your yard into an avian oasis.

She will teach you how to capture beautiful photos of wildlife in your yard, like tiny insects, beautiful birds, and other critter visitors, providing tips and tricks to help you set the scene, improve the quality of your photos, and learn more about the equipment options available to make it all happen.

How to participate:

Join us in-person!
ENC members do not need to register. The general public must register through the EPL

Unable to attend in-person?
Register for the on-line presentation through the ENC calendar:
https://www.edmontonnatureclub.org/calendar.html

01/21/2026

Exciting club news!

Indoor Program talks are starting up again!!

First up...

Photography of Wildlife in Your Garden

Monday, February 9th
Speaker: Melissa Penney
Time: 6:00 pm for refreshments and socializing.
The talk starts at 7:00 pm

Location: Edmonton Public Library Whitemud Crossing branch (106 St south of Whitemud Drive) in the theatre. There's plenty of on-site parking.

In-person: Registration is NOT required for ENC members. (Limited seats are available for the general public who must register through the EPL.)
Live-stream: TBD, more information to come

Description:
Melissa Penney is the author of A Playground for Birds: How to turn your yard into an avian oasis.
She will teach you how to capture beautiful photos of wildlife in your yard, like tiny insects, beautiful birds, and other critter visitors. She will provide tips and tricks to help you set the scene, improve the quality of your photos, and learn more about about the equipment options available to make it all happen.

We look forward to seeing you!

01/18/2026

ENC Bird Study

Hawaii Birding
Wednesday, January 21st, 7:00 - 8:30
Presented by Doug Faulder

Doug has been seriously birding for over 2 decades, and he likes to bird with friends or family. Since retiring he has taken some dedicated birding tours, including to the Hawaiian Islands.

In March 2025 Doug did a nine day tour of Hawaii with Hawaii Bird Tours. He visited birding sites on 3 islands: Oahu, Hawaii, and Kauai. Doug found birding in Hawaii brings the thrill of seeing endemic and unusual species, especially the exotic Honeyeaters, but also the sad realization that so many species have been already lost.

Doug will share his experiences at the good birding spots and pelagic trips available to the casual birder on holidays, and at the special areas that are only accessible with a licensed guide.

Everyone welcome!

Register in advance for this Zoom presentation through the ENC event calendar:
https://www.edmontonnatureclub.org/calendar.html

12/04/2025

Save the date and participate!
The annual Edmonton Christmas Bird Count is on Sunday,
December 14, 2025

Join fellow Edmontonian’s in this global citizen science project.

Go to the ECBC website to find out more:

The Edmonton Nature Club is pleased to sponsor the Edmonton count. This traditional citizen-science project contributes data to an immense database managed and analyzed by Birds Canada ...