SPFGA Naturalist Series
Launched in 2024, the SPFGA Naturalist Series was developed to further our mission by teaching people about nature and how to advocate for its conservation.
Each month we will bring various naturalists from differing backgrounds to share their knowledge in native wildlife and ecosystems to connect participants with nature and increase our appreciation of Alberta’s natural heritage.
A naturalist is an expert in, or a student of natural history, so we can all become naturalists!
SPFGA Naturalist Series – Return of the Peregrine
Our April session is a talk about management and recovery of the Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus anatum) in Canada on Sunday, April 13, 2025 at the clubhouse.
Back by popular demand, Gordon Court, presenter of our January session Owls, Owlers, and Owling in Alberta will talk about the history of the peregrine and its problem with organochlorine pesticide pollutants. Gord will look at the decline of the peregrine in Canada and the rest of the world and review the steps that were taken to try to re-establish the bird and the challenges faced along the way. Finally, he will talk about the recovery of the species in Canada and present-day projects to manage the recovering population to ensure its vitality in Alberta.
Gord will bring Vinnie, the Ambassador Peregrine (that’s him in the photo!), always a favorite with folks interested in wildlife.
SPFGA Naturalist Series – Conservation Needs of Burrowing Owls
Our March session is a talk about the conservation needs of Burrowing Owls on the Canadian Prairies on Sunday, March 2, 2025 at the clubhouse, starting at 1:00 p.m.
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. Dr. Holroyd’s talk summarizes 30 years of research into the population dynamics, breeding biology, migration and dispersal of this species in Canada, Texas and Mexico and recommends supplemental feeding of nests to be incorporated in recovery action plans and further research, alongside with protection of critical habitat.
Dr. Holroyd will also be bringing Nina, the Beaverhill Bird Observatory’s Burrowing Owl (that’s Nina in the picture), giving session participants the opportunity to hold her.
Owls, Owlers, and Owling in Alberta
Our first SPFGA Naturalist Series session in 2025 will be on Sunday, January 19, 2025 at the clubhouse, presented by Dr. Gordon Court, Provincial Wildlife Status Biologist with Alberta Environment and Protected Areas sharing his wealth of knowledge about Owls, Owlers, and Owling in Alberta.
Gord’s presentation begins with a description of all the owl species in Alberta, touches on the conservation concerns that apply to some species and what Environment and Protected areas are doing about them. It also introduces Owlers, a small but passionate group of folks who do anything from listening for owls, photographing owls, all the way to building and installing owl nest boxes throughout the province. Gord will also point people to resources where they can contribute their observations (or survey results) to long-term monitoring studies run by Birds Studies Canada.
Funding
The 2025 SPFGA Naturalist Series has been generously funded through a grant from Beaver County and the Government of Alberta Department of Arts, Culture and Status of Women.
