It’s our 7th Annual Bird Count!
We are excited to be planning our 7th Annual Eagle Point Bird Count in conjunction with Global Big Day and World Migratory Bird Day!
On May 11, 2024, you can join us in counting birds! Count your backyard birds, count your neighborhood birds or join us on our Annual Guided Bird Tour (it’s free!)!
Last year, our birding volunteers counted an amazing 90 species! We know we can do even better this year!
OPTION 1: GO BIRDING ON YOUR OWN AND SEND US YOUR BIRD CHECKLISTS
- If you don’t use the e-bird app, you can send us your bird count checklist by May 13, 2024 (include number of birds/species, location of each sighting) to outreach@epbrparkscouncil.org. (We ask that you count within a 50 km radius of Drayton Valley, AB so that we can have consistency with our previous counts).
- If you have an e-bird account, you can share your checklists to Eagle Point on e-bird.
Eagle Point Bird Count Form for Non e-Bird Participants
OPTION 2: JOIN EAGLE POINT TEAM ON OUR FREE, GUIDED BIRD TOUR.
Bird Tour Itinerary (Times are Approximate) – Self Drive. No experience necessary!
BIRD TOUR MAP on GOOGLE
REGISTER TO PARTICIPATE
Please bring your own snacks, lunch, drinks and appropriate clothing. If you need to borrow binoculars, we have a few extra pairs we can lend you for the day.
- STOP 1: Hilltop Trails to Willey West Campground from 7:30 am to 9:30 am
The Bird Tour starts at 7:30 am at the trailhead of Hilltop Trails. We’ll be hiking through Hilltop Trails and down to Willey West Campground. Warblers, tanagers, vireos, sparrows on this section of the tour! This portion of the tour requires some walking! If you aren’t comfortable with a long walk, you can opt to meet us at the day use area in Willey West Campground around 8:15 am. The day use area is a good place to see peregrine falcons, who nest on the opposite bank!
- STOP 2: Blue Rapids Wetlands and River 10:00 am to 11:15 am
We head to the wetlands, then pop over to the North Saskatchewan River. We’ve spotted Northern Rough-Winged Swallows, a variety of woodpecker species and Red-Tailed Hawks here.
- From 11:15 am to 11:45 am, Drive RR71 to Buck Creek
This is a good road to see hawks, meadowlarks, kestrels and savanna sparrows. In the hamlet of Buck Creek, we visit a few bird feeders to hopefully spot finches, rose breasted grosbeaks, etc.
- From 11:45 to 12:15 pm, Drive from Buck Creek to Buck Lake Provincial Park.
Along this stretch, there are some dugouts and ponds that we’ve seen Wilson’s Phalaropes, Cinnamon and Blue-Winged Teal, Ring Necked Ducks, Buffleheads, Mallards and more.
- 12:15 pm – 2:00 pm – Buck Lake Provincial Park and Buck Lake/Alder Flats Fish & Game Camp
Take a lunch break, then enjoy the abundant waterfowl all along the north shore of Buck Lake. It’s highly likely to see swans, geese, a variety of duck species, Greater Yellowlegs, Song Sparrows, Ruby Crowned Kinglets, Osprey, Bald Eagles, warblers, flycatchers, catbirds and pee wees! Spotting scopes are handy for this section, but our guides will bring a couple and will be willing to share.
- 2:00 pm – Town of Buck Lake (optional)
If you still have energy, we can visit the town of Buck Lake for purple martins, common grackles, tree swallows, Eurasian collared doves, waterfowl, gulls and terns.
If you have any questions, you can contact Eagle Point Team Lead, Kathy Schwengler, at outreach@epbrparkscouncil.org or 780-542-1932.
Eagle Point Team Leaders:
- Kathy Schwengler, Education & Outreach Coordinator, Eagle Point-Blue Rapids Parks Council
- Rita Fowell, Nature Educator, Eagle Point-Blue Rapids Parks Council
