Latest news with #NatureAlberta
CTV News
2 hours ago
- General
- CTV News
Pelican population in Alberta growing, but still ‘sensitive'
The American white pelican is quite a sight to behold, and they're getting increasingly popular in Albertans' own backyards. The species itself has a growing population in parts of Canada, and residents here can see up to dozens of the big-billed birds in storm ponds and other shallow bodies of water. Nick Carter, the Nature Kids coordinator with Nature Alberta, confirmed anecdotally that their population has increased throughout the province. In a report for Nature Alberta, Carter noted that waterfowl populations have increased by 46 per cent in Canada between 2012 and 2022. Still, he said 'they're a sensitive species that needs to be treated carefully in order to keep them around.' 'These colonies are really susceptible to diseases and other kinds of environmental impacts, habitat loss, that kind of thing,' Carter said. Pelicans feed by getting close to shallower bodies of water for fish, either by swimming or swooping low across the water. Carter notes that they're a social bird. He also added that pelicans during breeding season are motivated by the large amount of space and food available to them between May and September in Canada. American white pelicans will gather in large colonies on bigger lakes, lay their eggs, then stay in one place for up to six weeks while providing for their young. 'The colony sizes are definitely increasing from just a few scattered individuals nesting together that we had several decades ago,' he said. David Laffra and his daughter try to make it out fishing in Hermitage park as much as they can when the weather allows for it. He said he was surprised at first by how many pelicans made it to Edmonton. Now, he said he's come to expect and enjoy them. In fact, he jokingly blames a pelican who swooped low over his fishing line last year for stealing his catch. 'It's so cool … you always see them on TV and stuff like that, but you never actually get to witness one,' he said. Carter said if Edmontonians want to keep enjoying the 'almost prehistoric-looking birds,' their habitats need to be kept 'clean and safe and secure for them.'
CTV News
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Beat the boredom without breaking the bank with these free summer activities in and around Edmonton
An aerial view of the downtown skyline in Edmonton in the summer 2025. (Sean McClune/CTV News Edmonton) CTV News Edmonton has rounded up a list of affordable – mostly free – ways to beat boredom and get your kids out of the house this summer. Explore Edmonton's extensive trails, take a nature tour, start a reading challenge, enjoy city programs, festivals and more. There are fun activities to fit your family's budget. Here is a list of free, and nearly free, things to do in and around Edmonton before the new school year. Explore the scenic route at parks, trails and footbridges Edmonton has an extensive network of trails for walking, running or biking. The City of Edmonton website has a full map divided by area and graded for their steepness. Edmonton River Valley in summer An undated photo of a trail in the Edmonton River Valley in the summer. (File) There are several parks and spots that have benches to enjoy the view of Edmonton's River Valley, including: Constable Ezio Faraone Park; Legislature grounds; Louise McKinney Park; Queen Elizabeth Hill; and Rowland Park lookout. Or cross some of Edmonton's footbridges, which make for a great family photo spot and include: Capilano; Fort Edmonton; Terwillegar Park; and Tawatinâ. Take a nature tour with experts or self-guided From bugs to wildlife and from rivers to forests, learn more about nature with enthusiasts and experts at Family Nature Nights. Nature Alberta and its partners are holding two-hour interactive events on Wednesday evenings in July and August at various parks, including three in Edmonton. Families can register for free on site at the event, but everyone is encouraged to arrive early as space is limited. Learn more on the Nature Alberta website. Edmonton river valley summer An aerial image of walking trails in the North Saskatchewan River valley in central Edmonton, with the Low Level and Walterdale bridges visible in the background, taken on May 24, 2024. (Cam Wiebe / CTV News Edmonton) For families wanting to explore natural area parks in Edmonton at their own pace, the city offers a free colourful workbook that can be downloaded, printed and used as a guide on your next urban adventure. The BioKit is filled with nature facts and kids can have fun spotting and matching plants and animals with the pictures on the pages. Visit Elk Island National Park with free admission and shuttle from downtown Edmonton Elk Island National Park is less than an hour's drive east of Edmonton. Herds of elk and bison roam on the grassy hills and more than 250 bird species call the natural oasis home. Visitors can learn about the history of the land and conservation efforts with free admission until Sept. 2 as part of the perks offered with the Canada Strong Pass. Elk Island The entrance to Elk Island National Park is seen on June 29, 2025. (CTV News Edmonton) A convenient free shuttle service is also available for booking this summer. Take the complimentary bus from downtown Edmonton — at Mountain Equipment Co-Op or the Royal Alberta Museum — directly to the park's visitor centre or Astotin Lake on select Saturdays and Sundays. Seats must be reserved online and a $15 deposit fee per person will apply, but the fee will be refunded to guests who arrive on time for their scheduled departure. A one-hour guided tour with Parks Canada staff is also included on select dates. Learn more on the Park Bus website. Hit the open road with the Alberta Strong Pass Venture a little further from home, with free admissions using the Alberta Strong Pass this summer. There are several parks and tourist spots in the province which are offering free or discounted admissions until Sept. 2, including: Royal Tyrrell Museum, Drumheller; Reynolds Museum, Cardston; Oil Sands Discovery Centre, Fort McMurray; Stephansson House, Red Deer County; Frank Slide Interpretive Centre, Crowsnest Pass; Fort George and Buckingham House, St. Paul; Historic Dunvegan, Fairview; Victoria Settlement, County of Smoky Lake; Turner Valley Gas Plant, Diamond Valley; and Head-Smashed-In-Buffalo-Jump, Fort Macleod. The Green Shack program returns with an added summer concert series Edmonton's Green Shack program is back and will run until Aug. 21. The free drop-in program is geared towards children ages six-12, but kids of all ages are invited to have fun through organized games, sports, crafts and more. Kids younger than six years old can join with a parent or guardian present. A list of activities and scheduled events can be found posted on the side of the Green Shack each week. Find your nearest location and its hours online. The Brasstactics perform at a Green Shack show in Edmonton (Evan Klippenstein/CTV News Edmonton) The Brasstactics perform at a Green Shack show in Edmonton on July 2, 2025. The Green Shack program provides summer fun and activities for kids of all ages. (Evan Klippenstein/CTV News Edmonton) Families can also enjoy the newly added concert series this year. The full schedule of shows can be found on the Edmonton Arts Council (EAC) website, which has partnered with the city for the events. Cool off at Edmonton spray parks, pools and rinks Make a splash and let the kids cool off for free at one of Edmonton's 78 spray parks, which are open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. each day. The city also has five outdoor pools, with Borden pool expected to open later in July. Admission is free for members and swim times can be reserved online. Drop-in prices for non-members range from $6.25 — for children under 12 — to $9.25 for adults. Edmonton spray park There is also a summer child and youth pass available for purchase. Children and youth between two years old and 17 can get unlimited access to city gyms and pools for $25 or $35 per month until Aug. 31. For those wanting to beat the heat with some ice-time, there are free drop-in times at Edmonton arenas. A full schedule is listed on the City of Edmonton website. Check out a new playground The City of Edmonton operates more than 400 playgrounds. They are free and accessible for kids of all ages, and range from skateparks to fitness features. Some may house the Green Shack program or have a spray park on site. There is even a website dedicated to finding the best playground in the city and surrounding communities. Listing ones with cool slides like in Glengarry to an inclusive playground in Clareview, there are hundreds to explore and find a new family favourite. Library summers programs encourage reading and more There are more than just books at the public library. Edmonton Public Library (EPL) and St. Albert Public Library (SAPL) are both offering fun reading challenges for children this summer. Kids can pick up a book and track their reading time to win prizes at SAPL until Aug. 17 and at EPL until Aug. 23. St. Albert Public Library Kids are encouraged to read through summer programs at the St. Albert Public Library. (Nahreman Issa/CTV News Edmonton) For more interactive fun, the downtown library in St. Albert has set up a 'mad scientist laboratory' for kids to explore science themed rooms, play reading games, and earn prizes. Devon Public Library, southwest of Edmonton, has a unique item to borrow. 'Bird backpacks' are bags filled with all the necessary gear to start bird watching. The library has three adult packs and one for youth available for loan, which staff believe will be flying off their shelves this summer. Isabel Gibbons, Devon Library Isabel Gibbons got her hands on a backpack complete with binoculars and a bird guide on July 10, 2025. (Marek Tkach/CTV News Edmonton) Explore the city for unique finds The city is dotted with unique gems, including a public art project that is nominated for an international award. The interactive art display, Play it by Ear, was designed by Calgary artists and installed in Butler Memorial Park in 2023. Sitting off Stony Plain road in Edmonton's west end, visitors can pick up one of the brightly coloured phones and make a call to another matching coloured phone in the park. The "Play it by Ear" art installation is seen in Butler Memorial Park in Edmonton on Friday, July 4, 2025. Each pair of telephones is connected by looping landlines. Park visitors can pick up any telephone, and a matching phone will ring elsewhere in... The "Play it by Ear" art installation is seen in Butler Memorial Park in Edmonton on Friday, July 4, 2025. Each pair of telephones is connected by looping landlines. Park visitors can pick up any telephone, and a matching phone will ring elsewhere in the park. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson Spark a conversation with someone new or listen in on one of the phones. And if this art project doesn't get your family talking, there are about 300 other pieces of public art to explore in Edmonton. Find the full list on the EAC website. Free museum visits The Art Gallery of Alberta in downtown Edmonton offers free admission on the last Thursday of each month from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. All ages are welcome, but children under 12 years old must be accompanied by an adult. See the schedule of exhibits online, including one comparing notable artists William Kentridge and Pablo Picasso. Art Gallery of Alberta Art Gallery of Alberta. (CTV News Edmonton) Before there were smart phones, there were just good old-fashioned telephones. See how people used to communicate with an extensive display of antique phones at the Telephone Historical Centre at the Prince of Wales Armouries in Edmonton. Admission is by donation and the centre is open Tuesdays to Fridays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The John Walter Museum is open for free from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday afternoons. Located in Edmonton's River Valley next to Kinsmen Park, learn about the life of John Walter and the Strathcona community of Walterdale by visiting the three historic homes on site. Summer festivals KDays is kicking off with a free pancake breakfast at 9 a.m. at Klondike Park at the Edmonton Expo Centre on Friday. The first 5,000 people can get their fill of complimentary flapjacks and gain free admission to KDays at 11 a.m. when the festival opens. There is also free general admission to KDays for Arc transit card holders on July 22. As part of 'Transit Tuesday', transit riders who show their Arc card at the gate will get into KDays for free. More information can be found on the Edmonton Transit Service website. KDays grounds A group enjoying KDays' offerings in an undated file photo. (Courtesy: Explore Edmonton) OEG Sports & Entertainment is holding a series of events in Ice District for their Summer SoltstIce festival. Some events are free to attend like movie night on July 26 and Aug. 9 in Ice District Plaza. Find the full schedule of events online. Here is a list of more festivals offering free admission or entertainment, or accepting donations for admission, this summer: St. Albert Botanic Park Take a walk and admire the flowers for free at the St. Albert Botanic Garden, which is open all year from sunrise to sunset. The five acre garden is run by a non-profit organization and it is maintained by volunteers with a green thumb. St. Albert Botanic Park A picture of the St. Albert Botanic Park. (Source: Facebook/St. Albert Botanic Park) Celebrate Garden Day and the park's 35th anniversary on July 27 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. The afternoon will have family-friendly entertainment including face painting, a scavenger hunt, live music and more. There will be food, drinks and raffle tickets available for purchase. Donations are also welcome at the garden, and the money goes directly back into the green space and its operation.
Global News
09-07-2025
- General
- Global News
‘Everyone's neighbour is a magpie in Edmonton': Magpies' special place in Alberta's capital
Nita Jalkanen says she checks on the avian neighbours that fly into her Edmonton backyard to drink from her bird bath nearly every day with her dog Ariel. 'I talk to them. I say, 'Good morning or good afternoon, Mr. Magpie' and they feel safe so there's no squawking,' said the 59-year-old in an interview. 'They'll come and approach (Ariel) and play. They'll chase each other around the tree … like they are playing tag. 'They've obviously formed a friendship with my dog and with me.' Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "They've obviously formed a friendship with my dog and with me." She said despite many locals being divided on their opinions of magpies, Jalkanen said the ones that visit her from their nest sitting on a tree down the boulevard brighten up her days. 'They make me happy because they're so happy,' she said. Story continues below advertisement Black-billed magpies can be seen walking, soaring and chirping in nearly every neighbourhood in Edmonton. The bird is seen in murals around town and locals sometimes wear magpie costumes for Halloween. Elly Knight, an avian ecologist with the Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute, says that's why it makes sense the city declared the conspicuous, clever and chatty corvidae with striking black, blue, green and white stripes its official bird this May. 'Everyone's neighbour is a magpie in Edmonton,' said Knight, also a professor of biological science at the University of Alberta. Nature Alberta says more than 40,000 people cast their vote to choose the city's official bird. '(Magpies) won 16,018 votes in total, meaning nearly 40 per cent of Edmonton-area residents who voted chose this bird to represent their city,' it said in a post on social media. Knight said magpies aren't her first choice of bird species to represent the city. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'I find magpies a little bit brash relative to the average Edmontonian,' she said. 'They're so noisy. They are also, as corvids, sometimes a little bit mean.' Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "They're so noisy. They are also, as corvids, sometimes a little bit mean." Knight said they are often embroiled in turf wars with their sister species, the crow. 'They will attack each other's nests and attack each other's babies. They will also eat baby squirrels. And it's that element that I know of Edmonton is not as representative.' Story continues below advertisement Knight said their loud chirping also what makes them stand out, sometimes becoming a nuisance to locals. The high-pitched tweets are often of teen magpies looking for attention. 'They've got their full feathers but they're still kind of idiots. And so they are following their parents around basically going, 'Mom, mom, mom,' asking for food. They're learning how to be magpies in the world,' Knight said. Their low-pitched chirp is often magpies warning their relatives of a nearby predator. 'Magpies really don't like outdoor cats because they're a threat. Other than that, they don't have a lot of natural predators in the city. And so they're not really afraid of anything.' Their population has also grown in urban areas in recent decades as humans also migrate to Edmonton, Knight said. 'Part of why they're so strongly associated with urban and suburban areas is they're eating garbage,' she said, adding they also eat worms and berries. But their recognition does also make sense because magpies are more Albertan than people might think, she said. 'It's a bird Edmonton strongly identifies with,' she said. 'They're plucky, they're tenacious, they're smart. They're resilient. They're very family oriented. They stand up for each other,' she said. Story continues below advertisement She said they are monogamous creatures with a low divorce rate and elder offspring often take care of their newborn siblings. Although most magpies only live a couple of years and can produce up to nine babies, Knight added that magpies can live for 20 years in captivity. Unlike other birds, she said, magpies also tend to live in the same nest for years at a time. 'The male and the female will come back to the same location every year, which is unusual in birds to reuse nests.' They also renovate their homes, bringing in new sticks and twigs to maintain them. Some magpie nests have been found with domes above them. Magpies are also not scared of the winter seasons, Knight said, similar to the Albertans who live in the province's north. 'We don't have a lot of bird species that stick it out here year-round and I think people identify with that resilience.' Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "We don't have a lot of bird species that stick it out here year-round and I think people identify with that resilience." It's tough to say whether Edmonton is 'magpie capital' as some have called the city, Knight said. There are other places in Western Canada and in western American states with large magpie populations. Jalkanen said magpies were the first things she noticed when she moved to Alberta nearly four decades ago. Story continues below advertisement 'When I saw my first magpie here in Edmonton, I said, 'Oh, what a beautiful bird.' And the person I was with said, 'We don't like those.' I still disagree with that. They're a beautiful bird, and they're given a really hard time for no real reason,' she said. 'It just makes sense to treat them nicely and respectfully. And they will do the same to you.'
Edmonton Journal
09-07-2025
- General
- Edmonton Journal
'Everyone's neighbour is a magpie': Edmonton reckons with its official city bird
Article content Nita Jalkanen checks on the avian neighbours that fly into her Edmonton backyard to drink from her bird bath nearly every day with her dog Ariel. Article content 'I talk to them. I say, 'Good morning or good afternoon, Mr. Magpie,' and they feel safe so there's no squawking,' said the 59-year-old in an interview. Article content Article content 'They'll come and approach (Ariel) and play. They'll chase each other around the tree … like they are playing tag. Article content 'They've obviously formed a friendship with my dog and with me.' Article content Article content Black-billed magpies can be seen walking, soaring and chirping in nearly every neighbourhood in Edmonton. Article content The bird is seen in murals around town, and locals sometimes wear magpie costumes for Halloween. Article content Elly Knight, an avian ecologist with the Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute, says that's why it makes sense the city declared the conspicuous, clever and chatty corvidae with striking black, blue, green and white stripes its official bird this May. Article content 'Everyone's neighbour is a magpie in Edmonton,' said Knight, also a professor of biological science at the University of Alberta. Article content Article content Nature Alberta says more than 40,000 people cast their vote to choose the city's official bird. Article content Article content '(Magpies) won 16,018 votes in total, meaning nearly 40 per cent of Edmonton-area residents who voted chose this bird to represent their city,' it said in a post on social media. Article content 'I find magpies a little bit brash relative to the average Edmontonian,' she said. 'They're so noisy. They are also, as corvids, sometimes a little bit mean.' Article content Knight said they are often embroiled in turf wars with their sister species, the crow. 'They will attack each other's nests and attack each other's babies. They will also eat baby squirrels. And it's that element that I know of Edmonton is not as representative.' Article content Knight said their loud chirping is also what makes them stand out, sometimes becoming a nuisance to locals. The high-pitched tweets are often of teen magpies looking for attention.
CBC
09-07-2025
- General
- CBC
A screeching mascot takes wing: Magpie unveiled as Edmonton's official bird
Social Sharing Nita Jalkanen checks on the avian neighbours that fly into her Edmonton backyard to drink from her bird bath nearly every day with her dog Ariel. "I talk to them. I say, 'Good morning or good afternoon, Mr. Magpie' and they feel safe so there's no squawking," said the 59-year-old in an interview. "They'll come and approach [Ariel] and play. They'll chase each other around the tree ... like they are playing tag. "They've obviously formed a friendship with my dog and with me." She said despite many locals being divided on their opinions of magpies, Jalkanen said the ones that visit her from their nest sitting on a tree down the boulevard brighten up her days. "They make me happy because they're so happy," she said. It's official: Edmonton's bird is the magpie 2 months ago Duration 1:32 Black-billed magpies can be seen walking, soaring and chirping in nearly every neighbourhood in Edmonton. The bird is seen in murals around town and locals sometimes wear magpie costumes for Halloween. Clever corvids Elly Knight, an avian ecologist with the Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute, said that's why it makes sense the city declared the conspicuous, clever and chatty corvids with striking black, blue, green and white stripes its official bird this May. "Everyone's neighbour is a magpie in Edmonton," said Knight, also a professor of biological science at the University of Alberta. Nature Alberta says more than 40,000 people cast their vote to choose the city's official bird. "[Magpies] won 16,018 votes in total, meaning nearly 40 per cent of Edmonton-area residents who voted chose this bird to represent their city," it said in a post on social media. Knight said magpies aren't her first choice of bird species to represent the city. I find magpies a little bit brash relative to the average Edmontonian. - Elly Knight "I find magpies a little bit brash relative to the average Edmontonian," she said. "They're so noisy. They are also, as corvids, sometimes a little bit mean." Knight said they are often embroiled in turf wars with their sister species, the crow. "They will attack each other's nests and attack each other's babies. They will also eat baby squirrels. And it's that element that I know of Edmonton is not as representative." Knight said their loud chirping also what makes them stand out, sometimes becoming a nuisance to locals. The high-pitched tweets are often of teen magpies looking for attention. "They've got their full feathers but they're still kind of idiots. And so they are following their parents around basically going, 'Mom, mom, mom,' asking for food. They're learning how to be magpies in the world," Knight said. Their low-pitched chirp is often magpies warning their relatives of a nearby predator. "Magpies really don't like outdoor cats because they're a threat. Other than that, they don't have a lot of natural predators in the city. And so they're not really afraid of anything." Their population has also grown in urban areas in recent decades as humans also migrate to Edmonton, Knight said. "Part of why they're so strongly associated with urban and suburban areas is they're eating garbage," she said, adding they also eat worms and berries. But their recognition does also make sense because magpies are more Albertan than people might think, she said. "It's a bird Edmonton strongly identifies with," she said. "They're plucky, they're tenacious, they're smart. They're resilient. They're very family oriented. They stand up for each other," she said. She said they are monogamous creatures with a low divorce rate and elder offspring often take care of their newborn siblings. Although most magpies only live a couple of years and can produce up to nine babies, Knight added that magpies can live for 20 years in captivity. Unlike other birds, she said, magpies also tend to live in the same nest for years at a time. "The male and the female will come back to the same location every year, which is unusual in birds to reuse nests." They also renovate their homes, bringing in new sticks and twigs to maintain them. Some magpie nests have been found with domes above them. 'A beautiful bird' Magpies are also not scared of the winter season, Knight said, similar to the Albertans who live in the province's north. "We don't have a lot of bird species that stick it out here year-round and I think people identify with that resilience." It's tough to say whether Edmonton is "magpie capital" as some have called the city, Knight said. There are other places in Western Canada and in western American states with large magpie populations. Jalkanen said magpies were the first things she noticed when she moved to Alberta nearly four decades ago. "When I saw my first magpie here in Edmonton, I said, 'Oh, what a beautiful bird.' And the person I was with said, 'We don't like those.' I still disagree with that. "They're a beautiful bird, and they're given a really hard time for no real reason," she said."It just makes sense to treat them nicely and respectfully. And they will do the same to you."
