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.

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 - leaders please note that the form has been updated.

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.

Lead a field trip! To share your knowledge of a favourite location call Gus at 403-243-2248.

Archived field trips for 2009 may be seen here.

Current Field Trips:

...January 2010

Fri Jan 1, 10am: Birding Bowmont Park. Meet Maranatha Church, 2111 52 St NW (N end of Home Rd). Leader, Horst Grothman, 403-286-3048.
Fri Jan 1, 1pm: Meet at Tim Horton's, on Bow Bottom Tr, just S of Canyon Meadows Dr, to search for rare and unusual birds just sighted on FCPP count. Leader, Howard Heffler, 403-284-2961.
Sun Jan 3, 8:30am: Elbow River Birding Survey. Meet Stanley Park, 42 Av SW, just W of Macleod Tr. Walk to Glenmore Reservoir, ride back. (3.5hrs). Call leaders, A Pelzer/G Yaki, 243-2248 to ensure vehicle space for return.
Sun Jan 3, 9am: Bird Hull's Woods, FCPP, off Bow Bottom Trail. Leader, Grant Brydle, 403-720-4957.
Sat Jan 9, 9am: Bird Sikome Lake area, FCPP. Meet at Sikome Lake Parking Lot, at S end of Bow Bottom Tr SE. Leader, Wayne Hewitt, 403-256-7609.
Sun Jan 10, 9:30am: Bird Beaverdam Flats Park. Meet Beaverdam Flats Park S parking lot (Lynnview Rd & Lynnview Way, S of 62 Av SE). N from Glenmore Tr at 18 St SE, then left. Leader, Gus Yaki, 403-243-2248.
Sat Jan 16, 9am: Bird Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, E end of 9 Av SE. Leader, Penny Smith, 403-283-9260.
Sat Jan 16, 9:30am: Mid-winter prairie birding round up, weather permitting, at various locations east of Calgary. Meet at boat launch parking lot, Hull's Wood FCPP, S end of Bow Bottom Trail SE. Leader Terry Korolyk, 403-254-1878
Sun Jan 24, 9:30am: Bird Weaselhead Natural Area. Meet parking lot, 37 St & 66 Av SW. Leader, Andrew Hart, 403-279-5209.
Sun Jan 24, 10am: Visit the tropics. Meet in the new ENMAX Conservatory, Calgary Zoo. Regular admission applies. Obtain map at entrance. Leader, Gus Yaki, 403-243-2248.
Sun Jan 24, 2pm: Bird Carburn Park. Meet in parking lot off Riverview Drive. If you have them, wear ice-grippers on your footwear, or bring along a walking stick. Please email or call leader Gus Yaki, 403-243-2248 or .
Fri Jan 29, 7pm: See the overnight concentration of up to 5000 Common Goldeneyes S of Eric Harvie Bridge. Meet at Southland Park parking lot, off Southland Dr SE, just E of Deerfoot Tr. Leader, Gus Yaki, 403-243-2248.
Sat Jan 30, 9am: Bird the Bow River in FCPP. Meet at Bankside Parking Lot, off Bow Bottom Tr SE, turning left just before entering the park. Leader, Wayne Hewitt, 403-256-7609.
Sun Jan 31, 7:30am: Several hundred Black-billed Magpies roost in the Weaselhead Area each night. Watch their dawn dispersal and then see other winter birds. Meet parking lot, 66 Av & 37 St SW. Leader, Bernie Diebolt, 403-210-2446.

...February 2010

Mon Feb 1, 8:15am: 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, 243-2248, to ensure vehicle space for return.
Sat Feb 6, 9am: Bird Mallard Point area of FCPP, accessed from the E end of Canyon Meadows Dr SE. Leader, Chris Lefebvre, 403-238-9847.
Sat Feb 6, 9:30am: Bird Reader Rock Garden and environs, looking for White-winged Crossbills, Wood Ducks, etc. Meet in parking lot, S off 25 Av SE, just E of Macleod Tr, S of Stampede Grounds. Leader, Ken Havard, 403-242-0664.
Sun Feb 7, 8:15am: 18th Annual Duck Waddle, (4-5 hours). Meet Beaverdam Flats Park S parking lot (Lynnview Rd & Lynnview Way, S of 62 Av SE). N from Glenmore Tr at 18 St SE, then left. Carpool to Carburn Park; walk back. See varied waterfowl on Bow River. Bring lunch, hot drink. Leader, Tony Timmons, 256-0754.
Sat Feb 13, 9am: Bird Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, E end of 9 Av SE. Leader Penny Smith, 403-283-9260.
Sun Feb 14, 9am: Bird Marshall Springs, FCPP. Access is from the S side of the Park, off Fish Creek Blvd, formerly 146 Av SW. From N side of the park, take Anderson Rd W to 37 St SW. Leader, Grant Brydle, 403-720-4957.
Mon Feb 15, Family Day, 8:30am: Bird Bowness Park, 48 Av, W of 85 St NW. Meet first parking lot. Leader, Howard Heffler, 284-2961.
Sat Feb 20, 9:30 am: Snowy Owl Prowl. The annual February trek east of Calgary to find snowy owls and other birds. Meet at west end of Deerfoot Mall parking lot (Deerfoot Trail & 64th Ave. NE at Deerfoot Trail end). Leader: Terry Korolyk 403-254-1878.
Sat Feb 20, 2pm: Animal tracks, birds, trees and shrubs, S. Glenmore Park. Meet parking W end of 90 Av SW. Leader, Gus Yaki, 403-243-2248.
Sun Feb 21, 9am: Bird Edworthy Park. Meet S side of Boothman Pedestrian Bridge accessed from Shaganappi Tr & Bowness Rd if N of river, or from W end of Spruce Dr if S of river. Leaders, Russ/Sue Costello, 403-271-6858.
Mon Feb 22, 10 am: Family Day of Birding: Meet Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, E end of 9 Av SE. Leader, Gus Yaki, 403-243-2248.
Sat Feb 27, 9am: Bird Sikome Lake area of FCPP, accessed from the S end of Bow Bottom Tr SE. Leader Wayne Hewitt, 403-256-7609.
Sun Feb 28, 8:30am: Bird Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, E end of 9 Av SE. Leader, Chris Lefebvre, 403-239-9847.

...March 2010 (note Daylight Saving Time begins March 14)

Mon Mar 1, 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 leader Gus Yaki, 243-2248, to ensure vehicle space for return.
Sat Mar 6, 9am: Bird Ingleword Bird Sanctuary, E end of 9Av SE. Leader Penny Smith, 403-283-9260.
Sun Mar 7, 8:30am: Birding Bow River, Burnsmead to Hwy 22X. Meet parking lot FCPP HQ, off Bow Bottom Tr SE. Leader, Tony Timmons, 403-256-0754.
Sun Mar 14, 1:30pm: Woody plants of Reader Rock Garden. Meet parking lot S off 25 Av SE, just E of Macleod Tr, S of Stampede Grounds. Leader, Gus Yaki, 403-243-2248. ** NOTE: Daylight Saving Time begins Mar 14 **
Fri Mar 19, 8:30pm: Watch for Northern Flying Squirrels and other nocturnal life. Bring flashlight. Meet Weaselhead parking lot, 37 St & 66 Av SW. Leader, Gus Yaki, 403-243-2248.
Sun Mar 21, 9:30am: Peak of Golden Eagle Migration, Mt. Lorette, Kananaskis Country. Bring Lunch, Warm Clothing. Meet Assumption School, 34th Av NW (NW corner of Sarcee Tr, at Hwy 1). Leader, Andrew Hart, 279-5209.
Fri Mar 26, 9pm: Listen for Northern Saw-whet Owls, Sandy Beach Park. For the past two years, these owls have been heard calling here. Meet at parking lot at W end of Riverdale Av SW, W off Elbow Dr. Bring flashlight. Leader, Gus Yaki, 403-243-2248.
Sat Mar 27, 9am: Bird Glennfield area, FCPP, E of Macleod Tr, just S of Fish Creek. From N, go S on Macleod Tr, turn right onto Bannister Rd, go under Macleod Tr, then 1st left into FCPP. Meet at N end of 1st parking lot. Leader, Wayne Hewitt, 403-256-7609.

...April 2010

Thu Apr 1, 8:30am: 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, 243-2248, to ensure vehicle space for return.