​Media/ Press Kit

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BACKYARD BIRD FEEDING: AN ALBERTA GUIDE BY MYRNA PEARMAN

"This beautiful bird feeding guide will help you attract more species to your yard and help you learn about our remarkable avian neighbours!” ​
Whether you are just getting started or have been feeding backyard birds for manyyears, this book will teach, entertain and delight!

Launched: November 2015
Publisher:  ©2015 Ellis Bird Farm Ltd.​

This book is an updated and revised version of Myrna’s very 
popular Winter Bird Feeding: An Alberta Guide. Expanded
to include all four seasons, it contains a wealth of 
information about how to attract and enjoy backyard
birds throughout the year. It is beautifully illustrated with
line drawings by Alberta artist, Gary Ross, as well as photographs
that have been generously contributed by photographers from
across the Canadian Prairies. 

Stores where you can purchase this book:
​Right here on our website  ( You can request a signed copy) 
Ellis Bird Farm Visitor Centre - Gift Shop
Kerry Wood Nature Centre - Red Deer 
The Wild Bird Store - Calgary 
The Wildbird General Store - Edmonton
Country Living & Garden Centre - Okotoks
Spruce It Up Garden Centre - Calgary
​Peavey Marts - All stores in Alberta
Westview Co-op -  Eagle Hill Grocery & Farm Store
Rona - Sylvan Lake 
Nowco Home Hardware - Lacombe
Hanna's Seeds - Lacombe
Second Glance Books - Lacombe
Central Alberta Coop Flower Shop -  Lacombe
Meats and Sausage - Bashaw
Alix Home Hardware - Alix
South Side Greenhouse -  Barrhead 
Chapters - Red Deer 
Co-op, Red Deer Home Centre -  Riverside Drive
Ponoka Bookstore - Ponoka​

​All proceeds from the sales of this book support the education, conservation, and research programs of Ellis Bird Farm

Image files approx 400 KB.  Larger files upon request.

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ELLIS BIRD FARM

Ellis Bird Farm is both a non-profit company and a working farm. It was established in 1982 to carry on the legacy of Lacombe-area conservationists, Charlie and Winnie Ellis, when their farm was purchased by Union Carbide Canada Ltd. At the time, Charlie and Winnie operated one of the largest bluebird trails in Canada and had established their farmstead as a haven for wildlife.

Objectives:

1. To operate and maintain a selective bird conservation program designed primarily to encourage the nesting and propagation of Mountain Bluebirds and Tree Swallows.
2. To operate and maintain a bird farm including a winter bird feeding program.
3. To sponsor and/or conduct scientific studies relative to the ecology of these two principle bird species. These studies are to include investigation of the long term effects of the operation of a petrochemical plant and related human activities.
4. To develop materials for educational programs (including visual aids, lectures, and other items deemed appropriate by the Company) relating to bird conservation, the preservation and development of both natural and man-made habitats, and the benefits accruing to mankind from such activities, and to carry these programs forward to young people and adults.

To accomplish these objectives, The Company would enter into contractual arrangements with individuals, land owners and others as deemed desirable by the Board of directors, and would finance operations from donations, gifts, grants, legacies and bequests.

Mandate:

​The mandate of Ellis Bird Farm is fourfold: to carry out a summer nesting program; to carry out a winter bird feeding program; to conduct and support scientific research; and to develop and deliver public education programs. Ellis Bird Farm has been internationally recognized for its education programs, and they have published several popular books (Winter Bird Feeding – An Alberta Guide; Nestboxes for Prairie Birds; Water Gardening – A Prairie Guide).
Today, Ellis Bird Farm continues to operate as a viable working farm. A long-term conservation farming program which emulates and expands the techniques practiced by Charlie Ellis is being implemented, with wildlife habitat enhancement as a top priority.
The Prentiss plant (now owned  by MEGLobal) sits on one corner of the original Ellis homestead. The rest of the Ellis farm continues to raise cattle, crops and bluebirds.
In an effort to educate, inspire and encourage both city and rural dwellers to make their backyards more environmentally friendly, the farm yard is becoming established as a demonstration backyard wildlife habitat area. Water gardens, butterfly and hummingbird gardens, bat boxes and bird nest boxes now complement the orchards and natural areas. Walking trails link points of interest around the farm, and a delightful Tea House is open to serve visitors during the summer.
Henry David Thoreau once said that the bluebirds “carry the sky on their back.” Undoubtedly one of the best loved birds on the continent, bluebirds have long symbolized peace and hope. And since they will readily accept nest boxes, they have become the focus of one of the most widespread and successful conservation efforts in North America.
Charlie and Winnie retired from active farming in 1980, selling the farm to Union Carbide. The sale agreement included provision for continuation and enhancement of Charlie’s pioneer work with the Mountain Bluebird. To this end, Union Carbide, working closely with the Red Deer River Naturalist Society, established and funded a non-profit charitable company titled Ellis Bird Farm Ltd. MEGlobal Canada, which currently operates the Prentiss site, is now the major funding partner of Ellis Bird Farm. We are pleased to announce that new, 20-year funding agreement was signed in August, 2007.
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Images approx  400 KB.  Larger files upon request.

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MYRNA PEARMAN

Myrna is a biologist, author and nature photographer. She lives on the south shore of Sylvan Lake, Alberta.

She operates Ellis Bird Farm (www.ellisbirdfarm.ca) and has authored/co-authored several books (Winter Bird Feeding: An Alberta Guide; Nestboxes for Prairie Birds; NatureScape Alberta; Creating and caring for wildlife habitat at home; Water Gardening: A Prairie Guide; Mountain Bluebird Trail Monitoring Guide; Children’s Bluebird Activity Booklet; Charlie, Winnie and the Bluebirds.)

She has been honoured with the Nature Educator of the Year Award by the Roger Tory Peterson Bluebird Society for her work with Mountain Bluebirds. She has also received an award from the North American Bluebird Society as well as the Owl Award from the Red Deer River Naturalists.

Myrna is the editor of the Red Deer River Naturalist, writes a magazine column (The Gardener ) and a newspaper column (Red Deer Advocate).

Image approx  400 KB.  Larger file upon request.