Heated bird bath from Wild Birds Unlimited

Just over a year ago we bought a heated (150 watt) bird bath & stand from Wild Birds Unlimited. We used it through the entire winter of 2013-14 and it performed well. We regularly experience temps below -20 C through the winter so I make a habit of bringing it (just the dish) in each evening and redeploying it with fresh water each morning. I reasoned that this would save us on electricity, lower the risk it getting knocked over by easily spooked nocturnal deer and perhaps lessen the wear on the heating element.

It performed well enough and while some have complained about the flimsy metal stand, this wasn't an issue for us as the feet of our stand were frozen fast in snow and ice for the entire winter. Others have lamented that their bird baths didn't attract birds. Ours sure did. Pretty much all of our regular feeder visitors drank and some of those also bathed. I've read some fretful comments that tempting birds to bathe in subzero temps will lead them to icy premature deaths. That's just hokum.

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Alas, the heating element in our unit failed after a few weeks of sub-zero weather this fall. I took it back to the WBU franchise in Edmonton last week and they gave me a replacement with no hassles. Thanks WBU! [I've since learned that the product's warranty lasts four years.]

Nesting Broad-winged Hawks at Elk Island National Park

Tucked away in a Trembling Aspen along the Elk Island Parkway is this Broad-winged Hawk nest, which we first noticed in early June.

Today, July 25th, the young are perched on branches adjacent to their nest and appear poised to fledge.

I post these photos with mixed feelings as nest photography is fraught with ethical issues. These shots were captured out the window of my car along a busy roadway. Obviously the birds were aware of my presence but I didn't observe an signs of distress during my short stops.

Mid-summer paddle on Astotin Lake - Red-necked Phalaropes!

We enjoyed a nice after dinner paddle on Astotin Lake, in Elk Island National Park. Not surprisingly, a flock of ~50 adult Red-necked Phalaropes were part of the expected leading edge of southbound shorebirds.

Good paddling mates!

Red-necked Phalaropes on Astotin Lake

Some random owls near Fort Saskatchewan

After running a few errands in nearby Fort Saskatchewan late this afternoon, I was happily surprised to encounter a few Snowy Owls and a Northern Hawk-Owl along the roadside during my drive home. I took a few quick photos to convey the first and last impressions of the two species.

Love in a slough, near Vegreville, Alberta

American Avocets making more American Avocets, very sweetly.

Marmot Day?

Mount Edith Cavell. Jasper N.P. 13.09.2013.

Golden Eagle over Elk Island National Park

Martha and I took the dog out for some exercise on January 13th in Elk Island National Park and were thrilled to come upon a well-scavenged bison carcass attended by three Coyotes, five Common Ravens and a dozen or so Black-billed Magpies. Perched about one hundred yards away was this juvenile Golden Eagle, our first sighting of this species in the park where it's considered to be a rare spring-fall migrant.

The eagle took flight and passed slowly overhead. Awesome!