Heard it from a Scout: Lessons learned while tree planting in Fort McMurray
St. Albert and Fort McMurray Scouts planting a symbolic tree (Photo by Shayne Kawalilak)
In early 2017, my mom presented an idea to our St. Albert, Alberta, Scout troop — an idea that I didn’t realize would result in our small group doing something really big. My mom is a leader with Scouts Canada and she planted a seed...
The elusive wolverine: Beyond the X-Men character
The elusive wolverine. This individual was caught on camera making off from the bait station with a large piece of beaver carcass. (Photo by InnoTech Alberta and Alberta Environment & Parks)
When you think of a wolverine, do you think of an elusive, almost mythical creature with superpowers, or do you think of the comic book character? Most people have heard of X-Men, either through the movies or the comic book series, but few people...
Coyote Lake: A conservation destination
Coyote Lake, Hopkins, AB (Photo by NCC)
The Hopkins property is located within an hour of the city of Edmonton, Alberta, but it doesn’t feel like it once you arrive at this beautiful place. The property consists of two quarter-sections along the north edge of shallow Coyote Lake....
The value of volunteers
Conservation Volunteers selfie (Photo by NCC)
How do you measure the value of a volunteer? At the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC), volunteers contribute their time, skills and passion toward our mission of conserving natural landscapes. They help us save money and achieve more with less....
Can you hear me now? Using remote technology to record birds and other wildlife
Black bear captured by camera trap (Photo by NCC)
In various Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) properties across Alberta, the secret lives of wildlife are being discovered using camera traps, sound recording units and other technology. Scientists are generating new and valuable data on wildlife...
Keep them in your heart: Monitoring Bicknell's thrush
Bicknell's thrush (Photo by Serge Beaudette)
John Burroughs, an American naturalist, once said, “You must have the bird in your heart before you can find it in the bush.” While that might be true, unless you’re planning a trip to the Greater Antilles, you won’t have...
Strong and free: Releasing a red-tailed hawk at Bunchberry Meadows
Red-tailed hawk (Photo by Bill Hubick)
This fall, WILDNorth (formerly the Wildlife Rehabilitation Society of Edmonton) staff were invited by the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) to release a red-tailed hawk at NCC’s Bunchberry Meadows property in Alberta — an absolutely...
Conservation Volunteers for the bees
Honey bee (Photo from Bees Matter)
Honey bees are incredible; there’s no denying it. They help pollinate flowers, which in turn enables the production of our food. They’re also responsible for making honey, a delicious and great sugar source. However, honey bees are not...
Celebrating the father of environmentalism
Alexander von Humboldt, 1806 by Friedrich Georg Weitsch
Do you know who has more places named after themselves than anyone else in history? Can you guess the eponymous hero who has close to 300 plants and more than 100 animals with the same namesake? Maybe you have heard of a town, river, lake or...
An ode to nature-loving grandparents
Playing cards with grandma by the campfire. (Photo courtesy Falkenburger family)
Dirty hands, scraped knees, messy hair, dressing up in old dresses, daily snacks, park visits, tree climbing and endless hugs. Looking back at my childhood, this is often what my days at my grandparents’ house in Toronto looked like. I was...