Nature Calgary | Field Trips

Field Trips

Field trips are listed in Nature News which is available in pdf format. The trips are also posted on the discussion list AlbertaBird - subscription is free.

Please see the Botany Study page for additional specialty field trips in spring and summer months.

Additional trips may be added or trips rescheduled after publication of the newsletter; check here for updates.

All Nature Calgary field trips are free.

Please note that trips that are highlighted like this require pre-registration with the leader.

Participants must sign a waiver and release for each trip.

Unless the description of the field trip includes "Bring a lunch", the majority of trips will be 2 to 3 hours in length. Of course, trips may be extended if the leader and at least some of the participants are willing to continue. Similarly, if the weather is miserable, the trip may be cut short.

…JUNE

Tue Jun 15, 6:30pm: Birding Edworthy Park, accessed from Shaganappi Tr & Bowness Rd over the Boothman Pedestrian Bridge if N of river, or from W end of Spruce Dr via Edworthy St SW if S of river. Meet in large parking lot, S of RR tracks, Leader, John McFaul, 403-289-9517.
Sat Jun 19, 9am: Bird Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, E end of 9 Av SE. Leader, Penny Smith, 403-283-9260.
Sat Jun 19, 9am: Interested in LICHENS, MOSSES & LIVERWORTS. Join leaders, Peter Whitehead, Doug Waylett and Sandra Davis for a day trip to West Bragg Creek. Meet S. side Canadian Tire, N of Richmond Rd SW, just E of Sarcee Trail. Info? 403-984-3981 (Doug) or 403-475-9347 (Sandy).
** Cancelled** Sun Jun 20, 8am: All day Plateau Mountain trip may be rescheduled later.
Tue Jun 22, 6:30pm: Tour of Don Stiles’ Bluebird Trail in foothills, SW of Calgary. Meet Anderson LRT station, next to Macleod Tr, S of pedestrian overpass. See young bluebirds in nest, and other locally nesting species. Leader, Don Stiles, 403-271-4689.
Tue June 22, 7:30 pm: Summer Solstice Orchid Walk. Bow Valley Provincial Park. Leader: Jim Posey. Meet Bow Valley Provincial Park at the Many Springs Fen trailhead parking lot. Participants must register with trip leader at or 403-949-4926 before noon the day of the walk.
Sat June 26, 10 am: Weekend Orchid Exploration in Seebe/Yamnuska area. Meet in parking lot for Yamnuska Natural Area. Please register with leader Linda Vaxvick 403-239-9434 to discuss locations for wildflowers, and arrange carpooling.
Sun Jun 27, 8:30am: Bird LaFarge Meadows, FCPP, home of Western Kingbirds. Meet at boat launch, S end of Bow Bottom Tr SE. Leader, Nimali Seneviratne, 403-265-8750.
** New trip**Sun Jun 27, 9am: Bird/Botanize Purple Springs Dunes (Taber) area for rare grassland birds (Brewers/Baird's/Grasshopper Sparrows, Longspurs, etc. - and rare dune wildflowers). Local leader, Lloyd Bennett, Taber, 403-223-0456. Four motels in Taber. Directions to Lloyd's place: From Taber, go 4 miles E on Hwy 3. Turn N at the big green Viterra (formerly Agricore) building for 3.5 miles (exactly 1/2 mile past the second intersection). Lloyd’s house is on the E, over 200 m from the road. There is a round slough on the W side of the road & a blue sign - 104043, Range Road 160. For possible car-pooling from Calgary, call 403-243-2248.
Tue Jun 29, 6:30pm: Bird Weaselhead Natural Area. Meet parking lot 37 St & 66 Av SW. Leaders, Dick and Lenora Flynn 403-271-1269.

…JULY

Thu Jul 1, 6:30am: Monthly Elbow River Birding Survey. Meet Stanley Park, 42 Av SW, just W of Macleod Tr. Walk to Glenmore Reservoir, ride back (3.5 hours). Call leaders, Aileen Pelzer/Gus Yaki, 403-243-2248, to ensure vehicle space for return.
Sat Jul 3, 8:30am: Bird Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, E end of 9 Av SE. Leader, Penny Smith, 403-283-9260.
Sat July 10, 8:00 am: Ptarmigan Cirque for alpine flowers. Meet Assumption School parking lot 7311 34 Av NW. Bring lunch. Register with Robin/Cedric Hitchon 403-271-8789.
Tue Jul 20, 6:30pm: Bird Beaverdam Flats Park. Meet S parking lot at Lynnview Rd & Lynnview Way S of 62 Av SE. Go N from Glenmore Tr at 18 St SE, then left. Leader, Andrew Hart, 403-279-5209.
Sat Jul 31, 8:30am: Birding Brown-Lowery Prov. Park. Meet Anderson LRT (Macleod Tr) just S of pedestrian overpass. Bring lunch. Leader, Andrew Hart, 403-279-5209.

…AUGUST

Sun Aug 1, 7am: Monthly Elbow River Birding Survey. Meet Stanley Park, 42 Av SW, just W of Macleod Tr. Walk to Glenmore Reservoir, ride back (3.5 hours). Call leaders, Aileen Pelzer/Gus Yaki, 403-243-2248, to ensure vehicle space for return.
Sat Aug 7, 8:30am: Bird Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, E end of 9 Av SE. Leader, Penny Smith, 403-283-9260.
Thu Aug 12, 6:30 pm: Griffith Woods botany trip. Register with Heide Blakely, 403-281-4227.
Sat Aug 14, 8:30am: Bird East of Calgary. Meet Carburn Park, S from Glenmore Tr at 18 St SE to second stoplight, then right & follow signs, for car-pooling. Bring lunch. Leader, Andrew Hart, 403-279-5209.
Sat Aug 14, 9am: Interested in learning the LICHENS, MOSSES & LIVERWORTS. Rain date, Aug 21. Join leaders, Doug Waylett and Sandra Davis at Brown-Lowery Provincial Park. Meet Fish Creek Public Library, Bonaventure Dr just N of Anderson Rd. Info? 403-984-3981 (Doug) or 403-475-9347 (Sandy).
Thu Aug 19, 7.30am: Early morning birding for autumn migrants at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, E end of 9 Av SE. Leader, Peter Roxburgh, 403-271-7033.
Sun Aug 22, 8am: Birding Mallard Point. Meet in parking lot, E end of Canyon Meadows Dr SE Leader, Tony Timmons, 403-256-0754.
Tue Aug 24, 7.30am: Early morning birding for autumn migrants at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, E end of 9 Av SE. Leader, Peter Roxburgh, 403-271-7033.
Tues Aug 24, 6:30pm: Birding Carburn Park. S from Glenmore Tr at 18 St SE to second stoplight, then right & follow signs. Meet parking lot. Leader, Andrew Hart, 403-279-5209.
Thu Aug 26, 7.30am: Early morning birding for autumn migrants at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, E end of 9 Av SE. Leader, Peter Roxburgh, 403-271-7033.
Sat Aug 28, 8am: Bird Bow Valley Prov. Park. Bring lunch. Meet Assumption School, 34th Av NW (NW corner of Sarcee Tr, at Hwy 1). Leader, Andrew Hart,279-5209.
Sat Aug 28, 9am: Bird Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, E end of 9 Av SE. Leader, Penny Smith, 403-283-9260.
Sun Aug 29, 8am: Bird Hull's Woods. Meet at FCPP HQ parking lot off Bow Bottom Tr SE. Leader, Tony Timmons, 403-256-0754.
Tue Aug 31, 6:30pm: Final Tues. Evening Bird Walk at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, E end of 9 Av SE. Leader, Al Borgardt, 403-281-4306.

…SEPTEMBER

Wed Sep 1, 7:30am: Monthly Elbow River Birding Survey. Meet Stanley Park, 42 Av SW, just W of Macleod Tr. Walk to Glenmore Reservoir, ride back (3.5 hours). Call leaders, Aileen Pelzer/Gus Yaki, 403-243-2248, to ensure vehicle space for return.
Sun Sep 5, 9am: A nature walk on Nose Hill: flora and fauna. Meet 14 St and 64 Av NW entrance. Leader, Gus Yaki, 403-243-2248.
Sat Sep 11, 8:30am: Bird Bebo Grove, FCPP, S end of 24 St SW. Leader, Al Borgardt, 403-281-4306.
Sat Sep 11, 9am. Bird Bowmont Park. Meet Maranatha Church, 2111 52 St NW (N end of Home Rd). Leader, Horst Grothman, 403-286--3048.
Sun Sep 12, 8am: Bird Lafarge Meadows. Meet at FCPP boat launch at S end of Bow Bottom Tr SE. Leader, Tony Timmons, 403-256-0754.
Sun Sep 12, 8am: Bird Griffith Woods Park, 2.5 km W from Sarcee Tr on Hwy 8, then left on 69 St SW into Discovery Ridge, past the traffic circle. At the bottom of hill, turn left on Discovery Ridge Link, into parking lot. Leader, Grant Brydle, 403-720-4957.
Sun Sep 19, 9am: See the largest specimens of 30 species of trees, many unusual, in SW Calgary. Meet at Stanley Park, on 42 Av SW, 2 blocks W of Macleod Trail. Leader, Gus Yaki, 403-243-2248.
Sat Sep 25, 9am: Bird Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, E end of 9 Av SE. Leader, Penny Smith, 403-283-9260.
Sat Sep 25, 1:30pm: See captive Whooping Cranes at the Zoo Ranch. Limit 25 participants. Call 403-243-2248 to register. Meet Anderson LRT Station (Macleod Tr), S of pedestrian bridge to carpool. Guide, Crane Keeper Dwight Knapik. Rain date, Sun Sep 26.
Sun Sep 26, 8:30am. Birding Carburn Park. S from Glenmore Tr at 18 St SE to 2nd stoplight, then right & follow signs. Meet parking lot. Leader, Andrew Hart, 403-279-5209.

…OCTOBER

Fri Oct 01, 8am: Monthly Elbow River Birding Survey. Meet Stanley Park, 42 Av SW, just W of Macleod Tr. Walk to Glenmore Reservoir, ride back (3.5 hours). Call leaders, Aileen Pelzer/Gus Yaki, 403-243-2248, to ensure vehicle space for return.