While most everyone, their best friends, and then even more people head to the Banff / Lake Louise area in the mountains west of Calgary, some birding locals clued me in to Kananaskis. While certainly the Banff area is gorgeous, Kananaskis which is only a short drive from my motel in High River has fantastic vistas, super wildlife, and almost no people. Guess where I spent two days this week?! Before I get to my birding, here are a few images from my drive up through the foothills into the mountains. Please note I was on gravel roads, some of which do not even open till June 30th due to snowpack.

Random Foothills Roadside View

Sheep River Falls (Google Maps Link)

Okay … birds. I will admit I was hoping to see Golden Eagles, and my route is known for same, but I came up empty, but this little Mountain Bluebird delighted the eyes

A much more unique bird is the American Dipper, which is a diminutive songbird which actually swims underwater in fast flowing streams to catch insects. This individual was just downstream from Sheep River Falls.

At one meadow the Western Kingbird made an appearance, followed by an old faithful from northern Minnesota, the Ruffed Grouse.

Earlier this week I mentioned that I was on my first “long distance” birding excursion (i.e. a trip w/o Molly for the sole purpose of birding). Over the winter months I researched locations to my north and one spot kept coming back to the forefront of my investigations, Frank Lake, Alberta. This shallow lake / wetlands was created starting in 1952 through flooding mitigation and diking efforts by Ducks Unlimited. 70 years later this gem is the crown jewel of the Rocky Mountain Flyway in Canada. The number of birds that use Frank Lake as either a migration stopover or for nesting is remarkable. My interest grew because the habitat is dramatically different than my own local boreal forest, and in addition to Frank Lake I could easily escape up into the Rocky Mountains (Kananaskis Region).

I was extremely lucky to have two local birders agree to show me around Frank Lake (Dave Sasha and Greg Wagner). Little did I know both gentleman were local wealth’s of knowledge. During our first birding outing Monday evening I learned from Greg Wagner (a retired college professor who has made Frank Lake his passion) about the unique habitat, and external pressures that are threatening the lake.

After our Monday birding, our plan was to head out again early Wednesday morning. While reading the morning news prior to the start of our morning birding, I learned that the Alberta Utilities Commission had just turned down the first energy project in its history … a 1,500 acre solar array power farm proposed for an area only one kilometer from Frank Lake! Once again, the province’s energy commision had NEVER turned down a new power development in its history! However, Frank Lake is recognized as a unique environmental gem which demands protection. In reading about the decision, I discovered one of the leading individuals in the fight against the solar array farm was Greg Wagner … the same humble person who was taking me birding later in the day. The birds thank you Greg!!!! Read about this successful effort to combat a new energy plant via Birds Canada.

I hope you have enjoyed learning a bit about Frank Lake. It is worth adding to birding locations worth a visit. Here are a few images from Monday and Tuesday.

American Avocet

Black-Necked Stilt

Great Horned Owl (hanging out in an abandoned one room schoolhouse)

An Arctic Phase Great Horned Owl … and its owlet!!!! My oh my, was I ever excited yesterday evening when these two birds appeared, and I was not even looking for owls.
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An almost white Great Horned Owl is a rare color variation known as an “Arctic Phase”. Generally this color of GHO’s are found well north of Minnesota as one gets closer to the tundra line. Yesterday evening I was near Frank Lake in Alberta, Canada when Wowie, Zowie, UffDah … these two owls appeared.
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Frank Lake is a gem of a location both for nesting shore and water birds, and as a stop on the Rocky Mountain Bird Migration Route for many other birds. I am birding this region till Friday, including some excursions up into the mountains. Molly, my wonderful wife has been pressing me to go on a birding expedition, and this is the region I chose. Better yet, yesterday I was privileged to bird with two very knowledgeable local birders, one of whom is a retired college professor who made this region and its birds his research specialties. He was a wealth of knowledge as we birded till 10 pm last night. Wednesday the same two guys are taking me up into the mountains!

Time to go back out birding. I had a great time with both waterbirds and shore birds this morning … now a first quick jaunt up into the mountains.

Arctic Phase Great Horned Owl