What's happening at ellis bird farm?
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Sandy Van Dijk is our new Site Manager and Biologist! She is a local raised on a farm north of Tees. When she was a child, she came to Ellis Bird Farm on a school trip, and she has returned to visit more recently. Sandy has work experience as a wildlife biologist/technician and fisheries technician in consulting, private companies and non-profit organizations. She brings to Ellis Bird Farm a love for birds and passion for education, research and conservation.
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Nominations for the Blue Feather Award are open until April 30! This award is given to a bluebird trail operator who has made significant contributions to bluebird conservation in Alberta.
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Scientific paper produced by ellis bird farm
Thanks to careful record keeping by Winnie Ellis and EBF Biologists, EBF has been able to publish a scientific paper showing that Mountain Bluebirds have advanced their arrival dates in Central Alberta by about 19 days over a 58-year period.
ABSTRACT: Much attention has been given to the topic of bird phenology in response to climate change. While strong evidence supports a general pattern of advancement in spring migrants’ arrival dates with warming temperatures, the mechanisms underlying these changes are not clearly understood. We summarize the spring arrival of the Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoides) in central Alberta from 58 years of data and examine the influence of temperature and snow cover on the patterns of arrival. We hypothesized that a significant advance in the Mountain Bluebird’s first arrival date was related to weather variables. In central Alberta, March temperatures increased, and first arrival dates for the Mountain Bluebird advanced 0.33 days per year from 1961 to 2018 or 19 days over the 58 years. However, temperatures on the date of arrival have cooled slightly (2.8 °C) over the study period, and snow depth on the date of arrival decreased slightly (1.5 cm) over the study period, which may influence early migrants’ opportunities for foraging. Although Mountain Bluebirds have arrived at our central Alberta study area considerably earlier over the past decades, temperatures and snow depth have been highly variable, suggesting that the species is likely responding to multiple cues that influence its arrival dates. Given the Mountain Bluebird’s migratory nature, environmental and behavioral stimuli en route to breeding areas likely exert considerable influence on arrival dates. - Myrna Pearman 
Online learning space
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150+ Things to Do in Nature: Nature Alberta launches brand new online story mapCheck Alberta's new app that shares all kinds of information about natural wonders in our beautiful province. These are interactive maps where you can learn about Alberta's Nature, Clubs, Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Wetlands, Heritage Trees, Biospheres and the stories of Albertans. Did you know there are heritage trees right in Lacombe? out Nature Alberta's new app that shares all kinds of information about natural wonders in our beautiful province. These are interactive maps where you can learn about Alberta's Nature, Clubs, Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Wetlands, Heritage Trees, Biospheres and the stories of Albertans. Did you know there are heritage trees right in Lacombe? Check it out here
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Ellis Bird BooksFarm Store
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NatureScape Alberta: Creating and Caring for Wildlife Habitat at Home
This book is an Alberta-specific, go-to reference for transforming your yard into a haven for wildlife. Learn how to create backyard habitat--what to plant, how to build simple bird houses, bumble bee abodes, bat houses (even toad homes!) and how to install water features. Bring nature closer to you by following the easy-to-follow steps outlined in this book. More info here. |
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Beauty Everywhere: Nature Photo Essays by Myrna Pearman
Learn about Alberta’s amazing wildlife. This book is a compilation of short nature photo essays by EBF Biologist, Myrna Pearman. A perfect book for families to read together at home. Or mail to Grandma or Grandma if they are shut in. Be inspired by the beauty that can be found everywhere around us! More info here. |
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Charlie, Winnie and the Bluebirds is the full history of Ellis Bird Farm alongside bright photographs detailing our journey. They book is now available for purchase in our gift shop, or you can purchase it online HERE for $ 19.95
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NatureScape Alberta: Creating and Caring for Wildlife Habitat at Home
This book is an Alberta-specific, go-to reference for transforming your yard into a haven for wildlife. Learn how to create backyard habitat--what to plant, how to build simple bird houses, bumble bee abodes, bat houses (even toad homes!) and how to install water features. Bring nature closer to you by following the easy-to-follow steps outlined in this book. More info here. |