Events of interest

Call for Volunteers

The Saskatoon Nature Society has agreed to host the spring meet of Nature Saskatchewan next year, June 4–6. In order to ensure a well-run and successful meeting, we will need volunteers to help prepare for and run the meeting. Thank you to everyone who has already stepped forward; we will contact you nearer to the meeting date. To put your name on the volunteer list, please contact Robert Johanson at 653-2610 (evenings) or by email at robert.johanson[at] usask.ca

Call for Nominations to the Board of Directors

The board of directors of the Saskatoon Nature Society is elected at the March Annual General Meeting. We anticipate that several vacancies will need to be filled. If you would like to serve on the board, please contact the past-president Branimir Gjetvaj (382-2642) to put your name forward.

Earth Day Canada Environmental Scholarship

Earth Day Canada has launched the 2010 Toyota Earth Day Scholarship Program. Twenty $5,000 scholarships will be awarded to students across Canada who have distinguished themselves through environmental community service, extracurricular and volunteer activities, and academic excellence. One exceptional student will also be presented with the Toyota Earth Day Scholarship National Award and a Panasonic notebook computer. The deadline to apply is February 28, 2010. Application material and information is available online at http://www.earthday.ca/scholarship

Learn to do Breeding Bird Surveys

I am one of eighteen people who conducted breeding bird surveys in Saskatchewan last year. For those of you who may not be familiar with it, doing a BBS involves driving a set route of 25 miles, stopping at each half mile to identify and record all birds heard or observed in a 3-minute period. The results from our efforts are gathered with those from all across the continent, providing an amazing database that, having accumulated since 1966, provides useful information about bird populations and trends.

Depending on your own point of view, the fact that the survey must start approximately a half-hour before sunrise (in June) may or may not be a "selling feature". But nobody can deny that once you get out there, the pure pleasure of relatively undisturbed morning bird song and sight is quite lovely.

At the moment I am doing three survey routes. And I have to admit, that is feeling like a lot. As well, there are many more routes in Saskatchewan that could be done, if only we had the volunteers. So I’d like to encourage you to consider the possibility that you could get involved.

The exciting news is that Nature Saskatchewan is offering a training program on conducting Breeding Bird Surveys. It will take place on Friday evening, May 14 and Saturday, May 15 at Last Mountain Bird Observatory. We really need people who know their birds by sight and sound to be observers, but if you are still in learning mode, helpers are also welcome.

To sign up for the workshop or get more information, please contact Karen McIver at Nature Saskatchewan (306-780-9481 or kmciver [at] naturesask. ca) Think about it please. We sure could use the help!

Donna Bruce

Meewasin Pelican Watch Contest

Each year Meewasin conducts a contest to see who can guess the date and time the pelicans return to Saskatoon. Our society acts as the official observer to determine exactly when the first pelican is seen landing in the splashdown zone on the river between the CPR Bridge and the weir.

Entries for Pelican Watch 2010 will be collected from March 1 to 31 with the pelicans returning in early April (we hope). We need for members to watch the river for that first pelican. If you live in the City Park area or just like to spend time at the weir, be a bit more vigilant in April. If you do see a Pelican enter the splashdown zone, phone in to the Pelican hotline 975-3042 and leave a message with your name, phone number, and the time and date of the sighting.

New Book on Saskatchewan Wildlife

Go wild with a new book by writers and photographers Robin and Arlene Karpan. Saskatchewan Wild - A Wildlife Photographic Journey takes you on an exciting visual discovery of our amazing birds, fascinating critters, dazzling wildflowers, and the splendour of fall. With over 180 stunning photographs, this hardcover coffee-table book gets you up close and personal with Saskatchewan’s wild creatures, many with magnificent colours, or strange and elaborate mating rituals.

Saskatchewan Wild is a taste of the many wildlife adventures possible in Saskatchewan. It is both a celebration of our wildlife and a reminder of what we might lose if we aren’t careful.

Saskatchewan Wild will be available in April, 2010 at better bookstores and gift shops, or directly from Parkland Publishing by calling 306-242-7731 (www.parklandpublishing.com). There is a 10% discount to Saskatoon Nature Society members who buy the book directly from the publisher.

Nature Canada Scholarship and Award

Nature Canada announces a scholarship and an award to honour the life and legacy of Charles Labatiuk. Charles Labatiuk was an avid nature conservationist, mountaineer, world traveller who enjoyed and excelled as a photographer, writer, gardener, and pianist. His deeply rooted love of nature was evident throughout his lifetime in so many different ways, from his cherished family time, his prize winning photography, his writings, his world travels, his numerous awards and accolades to his career as a Senior Environmental Engineer for the City of Edmonton.

The Charles Labatiuk Scholarship Award in the amount of $2000 (one award is presented annually)

The scholarship is awarded to a student enrolled in an entrance level course or program at an accredited college or university in Canada, in the interdisciplinary study of natural environmental systems (ecosystems), how they operate, how they interact with people, and how people interact with them.

All applications must include a completed application form which will be evaluated on the basis of an essay submission. The deadline is for submitting the essay is March 31st. All applicants will be notified of the Selection Committee’s decision by May 1st.

The Charles Labatiuk Volunteer Award - a certificate of recognition and a camera

The award is given to a resident of Canada, under the age of 18, who has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to volunteerism or mentorship, in an individual role, working toward the promotion or protection of Canadian natural spaces and the species that live within these natural spaces.

All applications must include a completed application form which will be evaluated on the basis of an essay submission. For more information about either award, visit the website www.naturecanada.ca/about_awards.asp

Environmental Film Festival

Friday, March 5, 7 p.m.: Presentation of the Environmental Activist Awards, followed by the Film 'No Impact Man' and Green Un-Gala at Timlin Neatby Theatre, Room 241, Arts Building U of S.

Saturday, March 6, noon-9 p.m.: Film screenings of 'In Transition', 'Taking Root' and 'Black Gold' with workshops and international shorts at the Roxy Theatre, 320 20th St West.

Sunday, March 7, noon-6 p.m.: Film screenings of 'End of the Line' and 'H2Oil', and Saskatchewan Film Makers' Panel at the Roxy Theatre, 320 20th St West.

Suggested Donation $10 waged, $5 students/low income. Call 652-1275 for more programme information or visit http://econet.sk.ca/filmfest/films2010.html

A Talk on Native Plants of Saskatchewan

March 10, 7:00 p.m., J.S. Wood Library in Saskatoon
Chet Neufeld, Executive Director of the Native Plant Society of Saskatchewan, will talk about gardening with native plants. Gardening with native plants requires no pesticides or fertilizer and many of the plants require very little water. Learn what plants are adapted to our climate and attract birds, butterflies and bees. For more information phone 665-1915.

Seedy Saturday

March 13, noon-4:30 p.m., Princess Alexandra School, 210 Avenue H South

Join us for Saskatoon's 12th Seedy Saturday; admission is $2.00. Seedy Saturday is a family-friendly eco-fair promoting open pollinated and heirloom seed saving, biodiversity and sustainable living. It is the perfect time to celebrate spring with garden speakers, like-minded exhibitors, a children’s area and refreshments. More information can be found at www.chep.org

Important Bird Area Caretakers Needed

Nature Saskatchewan is currently setting up an Important Bird Areas Caretakers Network in Saskatchewan. The Important Bird Areas program is an international effort to identify, conserve, and monitor a network of sites that provide essential habitat for bird populations. The goal for the Caretakers Network is to have a volunteer caretaker assigned to each Important Bird Area to watch for changes in bird populations or conservation threats, conduct outreach and raise awareness about their site, and undertake on-the-ground stewardship if needed.

We are seeking volunteer caretakers to be the eyes, ears and hands on the ground for the 53 Important Bird Areas (IBAs) in Saskatchewan. For more information about Important Bird Areas visit www.ibacanada.ca This site lists the names of the 53 Important Bird Areas we are seeking caretakers for (look under 'Explore IBAs' and 'IBA site directory'). Please contact Karen McIver, Conservation and Education Manager, for more details or to express interest in becoming a caretaker: 306-780-9481 or email to kmciver [at] naturesask.ca.

SNS Members' Discount

SNS members can now receive a discount at Don's Photo Shop, 1902 8th St. E. Show your membership card to get a discount on photo-finishing and certain other items in the store.

Members can also get a 10% discount at Early's Farm and Garden Centre on all regularly priced wild bird feeding products, bird houses, books, etc.

Canadian Tire Money

Our Society collects Canadian Tire money to purchase equipment for the Young Naturalists' program. You can donate Canadian Tire money at any monthly meeting. Look for the collection box in the coffee room.

The Other Nature Society

If you look at the membership form on the back page of our newsletter, you will see that it actually invites membership in two different organizations - the Saskatoon Nature Society and Nature Saskatchewan. As one of Nature Saskatchewan’s newer board members, I was pleased to learn that about two thirds of the membership of Saskatoon Nature Society are also members of Nature Saskatchewan. For those of you who are not members and may be less familiar with Nature Saskatchewan, permit me to tell you why I think it is important to be a member of that organization as well.

Nature Saskatchewan is the organization that speaks to government on behalf of nature and nature- lovers, working for the conservation of natural habitat and species across the province. In recent months, you may have heard media reports about the province's decision to pay a bounty on coyotes; Nature Saskatchewan spoke up to oppose it. Preventing the sale of crown lands that include critical wildlife habitat, discouraging new (destructive) development in Cypress Hills Provincial Park, encouraging the establishment of new provincial parks, and protecting grassland and grassland species - Nature Saskatchewan is working on all of these issues and more.

We also do a lot of work on stewardship, working with landowners and citizen scientists to conserve habitat for burrowing owls, shrikes, piping plovers and rare plants. We operate the Last Mountain Lake Bird Sanctuary, and are developing a caretaker program for the 53 designated Important Bird Areas in the province. Combined with education programs such as Nature Quest, Plant Watch and Living by Water, Nature Saskatchewan is working to create more opportunities for Saskatchewan people to actively engage with nature - something that is missing from the lives of more and more people.

In addition to some marvelous publications, an excellent newsletter and a unique quarterly publication, Nature Saskatchewan works with local groups to stage meets each spring and fall. These are a great way to learn more about different parts of the province and to meet kindred spirits.

I encourage you to seriously consider membership in Nature Saskatchewan, or perhaps a financial contribution to support the good work being done on behalf of all of us. If you want to know more, you can check out the web site (www.naturesask.ca), keep an eye out for an extra copy of the Nature Views newsletter at one of the Saskatoon society's general meetings, or give me a call at 956-3437. And by all means, take advantage of the opportunity to attend the next Nature Saskatchewan meet, which just happens to be in the Pike Lake area, June 4 to 6, hosted by Saskatoon Nature Society. I hope to see you there!

Donna Bruce

Birds of Resetown - Biggar District, a new publication from Nature Sask.

The latest publication from Nature Saskatchwan, the "Birds of Rosetown-Biggar District" (R. Wapple and W. Renaud 2008) does not contain an index to the bird species. SNS member Frank Roy has prepared an index to the list of species covered in the book. You can download a copy of the one-page Index he has created, trim it to fit the page size of the book, and attach it to the inside front cover or the facing page. It should help you find the desired bird species a little more quickly. Thank you Frank for preparing the index

Saskatoon Area Birds - A Seasonal Checklist

New and updated Seasonal Checklist for the Saskatoon area birds is now available for download (Adobe PDF, 180 KB).

This checklist contains 320 avian species reported in the Saskatoon, Saskatchewan district to January 2007 (3 species are extirpated) and an additional 27 hypothetical species. The area covered extends from 51° 30’ to 52° 30’ in latitude and 106° 00’ to 107° 30’ in longitude. The checklist was primarily compiled from records published in Birds of the Saskatoon Area (2002) and is maintained by the records committee of the Saskatoon Nature Society.

Among the best birding areas in the city are Cosmopolitan Park, Meewasin Valley Trail, Forestry Farm Park, and the old Sanatorium grounds. Beyond the city are Beaver Creek Conservation Area, Blackstrap Reservoir, Pike Lake, Radisson Lake and Brightwater Marsh. A Guide to Nature Viewing Sites in and around Saskatoon (Jonker & Gollop, 122 pp., revised edition 2000) describes the natural history of these and other nature areas in the district.

Understory and Bog Plants of the Southern Nisbet Forest - a Checklist

A useful list of the plants of the southern Nisbet forest is now available for download (Adobe PDF, 36 KB)

This list does not pretend to be a complete one, but will give you a good cross section of the plants you can find in that area.

Membership Card Discounts

Do not forget to present your membership card to receive discounts from:

• Earyl's Farm & Garden Centre: a 10% discount on all regularly priced wild bird feeding products, bird houses, books, etc.