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Dr. David Bird
Ellis Bird Farm joined forces with Kerry Wood Nature Centre (Todd Nivens, left) and the Red Deer River Naturalists (Judy Boyd) to host Dr David Bird at Kerry Wood Nature Centre last evening. Over 100 people showed up for his delightful presentation, which was all about bird nests. He also shared the story of the renaming of the Canada Jay (from Gray Jay) and his efforts to have the Canada Jay named as Canada's National Bird. Ellis Bird. Ellis Bird Farm presented him with a special Canada Jay T shirt.
We were also honoured to be able to give Dr Bird a quick tour of Ellis Bird Farm and show him the Canada Jay nest that we were able to have a webcam on last year. Royal Alberta Museum Appreciation Evening
The lucky raffle winners this year
The lucky raffle winners this year were Diane Adkins, who won the bluebird canvas print and Eleanor Hansen, who won the quilt.
Ellis Bird Farm/Prentiss Site oral historyThanks to a generous donation from Dow, Ellis Bird Farm has been working on an oral history project, interviewing several of the key players who established Ellis Bird Farm as well as the Prentiss Site. We are in the process of creating vignettes of these interviews. Here are two of the newest ones.
THE HISTORY OF THE ELLIS BIRD FARM - FRED SCHUTZ - NEW VIDEO ADDED THE HISTORY OF THE ELLIS BIRD FARM - DEAN CHESSOR - NEW VIDEO ADDED THE OTHERS CAN BE FOUND HERE. Amazing footage of an adult leaf-cutter bee emergingEllis Bird Farm is looking for a new café operator. Download guidelines below.
Cleaning Purple Martin houses
Marie (left) and Thomasina Payne helped Claudia Lipski clean out all the Purple Martin houses. It was a messy job, but the compartments are all ready for the martins when they return in April. Sept 11, 2018
Beautiful images submitted by Suzan YaworskiThese images were sent to us recently - Mountain Bluebirds bathing in the water collected in old tractor seats. Near Delburne, AB.
Submitted by Suzan Yaworski. Click on image to enlarge. EBF staff clean-up
EBF staff worked hard (before the snow) to clean out the Purple Martin nests and put away the outdoor furniture.
Thanks to Celia Hayton
| Closing day at EBFEBF enjoyed a grand Closing Day, with entertainment being provided by the Golden Music Makers of Red Deer. Marilyn Jones, who brings her goats to EBF each summer for visitors to enjoy, took them back home.
The lucky winners of the raffle prizes were Diane Adkins (bluebird print) and Eleanor Hansen (quilt). We thank everyone who supported this fund-raising effort by buying tickets. Bees and Flowers Knee High Nature program very well received - AUG 15th 2018
Martin watching - August 4th
We were pleased that about 20 people braved a chilly morning to come to EBF today to enjoy the Purple Martins. We were grateful to have both Alisha Ritchie, our Research Coordinator, and Del McKinnon of the Purple Martin Conservancy (who has mentored us on our large colony) on hand to share their knowledge and experience with these beloved backyard birds.
The martins are departing earlier than usual this year, but we still have many pairs on the site for visitors to watch and enjoy. This event will also be held tomorrow and Monday mornings 9 AM - 10 AM. We hope you will join us for coffee, muffins and martin song! Look what showed up at Ellis Bird Farm!
2018 Blue Feather Award to Ron Reist of Olds
Ron is shown here with Myrna Pearman (far right ) and (from left) EBF board members, Maureen Carey, Bob Winchell and Colleen McPhee. Congratulations, Ron, and thank you for helping Alberta's native cavity-nesting birds.
EBF welcomes new gardener
Baby bunnies at EBF
Ellis Bird Farm continues Purple Martin researchEllis Bird Farm continues to conduct Purple Martin research. On the evening of July 12, EBF staff joined Dr Glen Hvenegaard of the Camrose Wildlife and Stewardship Society and team members from the Beaverhill Bird Observatory to mass trap all the adult martins. This project, which entailed banding and recording all returned banded adult birds, was executed quickly and efficiently, with minimum stress to the birds. Results of the trapping will be posted soon.
First Knee High Nature program this year
Ellis Bird Farm held its first Knee High Nature program on Wednesday. The morning and afternoon programs were well received, with our educator extraordinaire, Claudia Lipski, wowing both the children and their parents about owls. Check out our website about upcoming programs.
Canada Day at EBF
Ellis Bird Farm hosted a very successful Canada Day celebration on July 1. Summer student Payden Johnson even decorated our stuffed eagle as part of the celebrations.
We were very honoured to have elder Roy Louis (in blue shirt) from Maskwacis participate in the completion of our Circle Deck by conducting a smudge ceremony.
Dr Jane Ross gave a brief update about the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta's Art Award and described upcoming plans to celebrate next year's Year of the Grouse.
Joseph Fromhold of the First Nations Research Centre in Mirror, AB, assisted EBF with the design of the Circle Deck. He spoke about the significance of this structure in honoring Indigenous teachings.
New bird bath installed near the Visitor Centre
Dale Mannix supplies beautiful log house bird feeders to EBF
EBF Speaker SeriesDr. Geoff Holroyd was the first presenter at EBF’s 2018 Adult Speaker Series. The very informative evening was spent hearing about the long term research on Tree Swallow reproduction documented at the Beaverhill Bird Observatory, Canada’s second oldest bird banding station, where Dr. Holroyd was a founding member and continues his commitment as the current Chair. Beaverhill Bird Observatory offers the Geoff Holroyd Young Ornithologists’ week-long natural history camp for youth aged 15-18 who are keen to delve into experiencing life as a biologist.
We are pleased to post new oral history videos of EBF This one is with JY Vanier, Dow Site Leader. Dow provided funding for us to collect and share our oral history. HERE
Video by David Miller, Site Leader for MEGlobal- HERE Video and article by Morris Flewwelling- HERE First Family Nature Night a SuccessEllis Bird Farm hosted its first-ever Family Nature Night on June 9th. The event, which featured owls, was enjoyed by over 40 people. Thanks to Tim Showalter, Claudia Lipski and Mateya Bluett for leading the program.
We will have more Family Nature Nights coming up - check here for details! Judy Reeds delivered a well-received Hummingbird Planter workshop
Parkland Garden Centre's Judy Reeds delivered a well-received Hummingbird Planter workshop on Saturday June 9th. Participants learned about which plants attract hummingbirds and were given guidance about how to design and plant an attractive container. Participants left with their own beautiful planters.
Our thanks to retired school teacher Denise Chiles
Bluebird numbers are up this year!
EBF team at work - June 4 2018The Ellis Bird Farm team are busy delivering programs to school children.
EBF featured in interview about a new book: 125 Nature Hot Spots in Alberta!
Thanks to Parkland Nursery & Landscape Services
Thanks Alix Home Hardware!
Thanks to a grant from DowThanks to a grant from Dow, Ellis Bird Farm has embarked on a very important project documenting the history of both Ellis Bird Farm and the Prentiss site. Many early EBF board members, Prentiss site team leaders, and neighbours of Charlie and Winnie have been interviewed. Todayville of Red Deer has been retained to produce a series of short interview vignettes. The first of many interviews -- with EBF founding chair, Morris Flewwelling -- has now been posted. Stay tuned for future postings!
EBF Annual General Meeting
Ellis Bird Farm held their AGM on March 13th. The highlights of the meeting included two donation cheque presentations. EBF Treasurer, Barb Shepherd, accepted cheques from the Kiwanis Club of Red Deer (from left, Joe Yamniuk, Larry Pimm, Alec Robertson, Gerry Stelmaschuk) as well as the Twilight Homes Foundation ( Alec Robertson, Marvin Bruce, Vic Willoughby). We are very grateful to both organizations for their ongoing support of Ellis Bird Farm.
Ellis Bird Farm Board of Directors Standing from left: Gordon Johnson, Brian Biggs. Leo de Groot, Tony Blake, Colleen McPhee, Darcy Gabert, Bob Winchell
Sitting from left: Joanne Susut, Bonnie Mullin, Barb Shepherd
Ellis Bird Farm is overseen by a volunteer board of up to ten directors. It is both a governance and working board, represented by an appointee from each of Lacombe County, Red Deer River Naturalists, Nature Alberta and MEGlobal Canada, as well as members-of-large.
The present board is made up of: Bob Winchell, Chairman and member-at-large; Darcy Gabert as secretary, representing MEGlobal; Barb Shepard as treasurer, representing Lacombe County (she has just been re-appointed to the board following the recent municipal election); Brian Biggs as vice-chairman, member-at-large; Joanne Susut, member-at-large; Gordon Johnson, member-at-large; Tony Blake, representing Nature Alberta; Colleen McPhee, member-at-large; and Leo de Groot, member-at-large. Recently retiring from the board was Bonnie Mullin, representing Red Deer River Naturalists. Bonnie is moving to British Columbia to be closer to family. Several additional board members will be retiring at the next EBF AGM, which will be held in March, 2018. To this end, EBF is seeking additional members to serve on the board. Since the board relies on the expertise of board members to help oversee the operation, it is hoped that community members with some experience or expertise in the legal, agriculture, ecology, wildlife conservation, horticulture and financial fields will be interested in applying. A note of interest can be sent to info@ellisbirdfarm.ca. BEAUTY EVERYWHERE: PHOTO ESSAYS BY MYRNA PEARMAN 
Myrna Pearman's exciting book, Beauty Everywhere: Photo Essays by Myrna Pearman is a compilation of five years of her Red Deer Advocate monthly photo essays (2010-2015).
Purchase it here in our EBF bookstore. It is also available through Myrna Pearman's official website here. Also at the following retailers: Kerry Wood Nature Centre, Red Deer Hannas Seeds, Lacombe Alix Home Hardware, Alix Parkland Garden Centre, Red Deer Peavey Mart stores Wildbird General Store, Edmonton Wild Bird Store, Calgary Rimbey Review, Rimbey Ponoka Bookstore, Ponoka BACKYARD BIRD FEEDING: An Alberta Guide BY MYRNA PEARMAN
Ellis Bird Farm’s Backyard Bird Feeding: AN ALBERTA GUIDE is available in our new online bookstore here.
When purchasing from our online bookstore, Myrna will be happy to "sign" this book for you. The proceeds from the sale of this book support the conservation, education and research programs of Ellis Bird Farm. Media/ Press Kit for this book
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