Spring things

After noticing that one of our bats has made it back to his roost on the building (I blogged a photo of the roost last year, so check this post if you'd like to see it), I thought I'd take a quick walk out to the bird blind to see what other spring returnees we have on the West Lake.

Oddly enough, I barely had to get out the back door to see my first lake dweller. The Red-winged Blackbirds are back, and they'll often come over to the feeders to stock up on quick energy. Something to watch for.

Out on the lake itself, it's very obvious from the "complaining" that the Coots are back. There are also Canada Geese, a whole bunch of ducks (a little too far down the lake for me to have much of a go at identifying anything but the Mallards), and Red-necked Grebes.

Elsewhere, you're sure to hear the Black-capped Chickadees' "cheeseburger" calls as they set territory, and I think that I may have heard my first Tree Swallow of the season. Don't quote me on that one, though. I really look forward to the Tree Swallows' return, so it's pretty easy for me to wish myself into hearing it.

As far as plants go, my sinuses can tell you that Poplar pollen season is in full swing. On a more pleasant (for me, at any rate) note, I haven't noticed the Early Blue Violets blooming on the sides of the Sanctuary paths yet, but I have seen them in other places.

Spring's trying hard to happen, if you look for it. What's your personal favourite sign of spring in nature? Leave us a comment here, or tweet it with #reddeerspring. And if you're not already following us on Twitter, look for more of our spring sightings @NatureCentre.

Gear Sale Reminder

Just a last head's up to outdoor enthusiasts with outdoor gear to sell. Our Outdoor Gear Sale runs from 5:00 - 8:00 pm tonight. Bring your used-but-still serviceable outdoor equipment, set a price and see if it sells. If it does, we take 20%, you take the balance and the buyer has new toys to use in the great outdoors. Cash only please.

Outdoor Gear Sale

Check out what's coming up next week. I'm almost unreasonably excited about this event.

Todd

Two Positions Available at The Kerry Wood Nature Centre

Open Competition

School Programs, Public Programs  

&

Visitor Services Staff

The Waskasoo Environmental Education Society, a non-profit charitable society that operates the Waskasoo Park Interpretive Program on contract for The City of Red Deer, has a number of part-time positions available for the coming spring and summer for School Programs Interpreters and Visitor Services Attendants.

Based at Red Deer's Kerry Wood Nature Centre, the successful applicant(s) will assist with the design and delivery of our spring school-programs and provide natural history and tourist information to the general public. The position also entails operating the building when other staff are away, retail sales work, light clerical duties (word processing, poster-making etc.), assisting the Park Interpreters with their programming, and related duties such as program preparation/cleanup.

Essential Qualifications:

·         some post-secondary schooling in science, western Canadian natural history, education, or interpretation;

·         excellent public communication skills and experience / love for working with the public (including children);

·         good working knowledge of the natural history of central Alberta.

·         a neat appearance and the willingness to wear the Park uniform, and to abide by the WEES smoking and other policies;

·         the ability to work cooperatively with other staff and volunteers;

·         willingness and ability to stay the entire term of this position;

·         good health: some lifting is required;

·         good organizational skills and the ability to plan your schedule and workload;

·         current first aid / C.P.R. certificates;

·         reliable and trustworthy, punctual and conscientious;

Desirable Qualities:

·         Good working knowledge (conversational and written) of French is essential

·         experience in art or graphic design;

·         life guard certification

·         experience with computers (Windows environment) and basic word-processing, spreadsheets, database and desktop publishing; experience working on a computer network;

·         basic knowledge of the human history of central Alberta.

Wages, Term and Conditions of Employment:

 Part time for the spring and summer of 2012.

To Apply:

Apply in writing ASAP to:

Waskasoo Environmental Education Society

6300 - 45th Avenue

Red Deer, AB

T4N 3M4

Fax: 347-2550

e-mail: todd.nivens@waskasoopark.ca

Include a résumé outlining related experience and references, and
a brief letter explaining why the position is of interest to you. No phone calls, please.

One Job Available at Fort Normandeau

Open Competition:

 Living History Staff

The Waskasoo Environmental Education Society, a non-profit charitable society which operates the Waskasoo Park Interpretive Program on contract for The City of Red Deer, has three positions available for the coming summer as a Living History/Information Attendant.

Based at Red Deer's Historic Fort Normandeau, the successful applicant will provide living, cultural history and tourist information to the general public. The position also entails a small amount of retail sales work, light clerical duties (word processing, poster-making etc.), assisting the Park Interpreters with their programming, and related duties such as planning, program preparation/cleanup, research and dressing in period costume to deliver living history programs and special events.

Essential Qualifications:

·         excellent public communication/drama skills and experience with/love for working with the public (including seniors, adults and children);

·         post-secondary education in western Canadian history, education or interpretation

·         an excellent knowledge of the sights, attractions, major events, roads and parks of Red Deer, including the bike trails of Waskasoo Park;

·         current first aid/C.P.R. certificates;

·         a valid driver's permit and reliable transportation;

·         a neat appearance and the willingness to wear the Park uniform and period costumes properly, and to abide by the WEES smoking and other policies;

·         the ability to work cooperatively with other staff and volunteers;

·         willingness and ability to stay the entire term of this position;

·         willingness and ability to work most or all weekends and evenings;

·         good health: some lifting is required;

·         good organizational skills and the ability to plan your schedule and workload;

·         basic knowledge of the human history of central Alberta.

Desirable Qualities:

·         experience and training in drama;

·         experience in art, traditional crafts (e.g. poultry or other livestock husbandry, baking, quilting, candle-, ice cream-,  rope- or soap-making, sewing, spinning/weaving, animal husbandry, fence building, carpentry, wheel- or barrel-making, gardening, etc.)

·         experience with computers (Windows environment): word processing, spreadsheets, database, desktop publishing;

·         ability to cook on and bake in a wood-fired stove;

·         knowledge of the natural history of central Alberta.

·         retail sales experience;

Wages, Term and Conditions of Employment:

·         May  to September 2012, inclusive.

·         This is a full-time summer position (37.5 hours/week, for 17 weeks)

·         Accommodation is not provided.

·         Regular evening and weekend work is required.

To Apply:

Apply in writing asap to:

Waskasoo Environmental Education Society

6300-45th Avenue

Red Deer, AB

T4N 3M4

Fax: 403 347-2550

email: todd.nivens@waskasoopark.ca

Include a résumé outlining related experience and references, and
a brief letter explaining why the position is of interest to you. No phone calls, please. Applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.

Earth Hour 2012

Don't forget, everyone: Earth Hour is coming up on Saturday March 31 from 8:30 - 9:30 pm. Turn off as many of your electrical devices as you can for an hour, and let's see how much we can reduce our consumption.

For more information and suggestions on what to do with your electricity-free hour, check out the City of Red Deer's page here.

Kerry Wood Nature Centre Welcomes Traditional Storytellers

 

The Kerry Wood Nature Centre is thrilled to be welcoming Karen Gummo, Mandy Griffiths and Arelene Bastien for World Storytelling Day, to be celebrated at the Nature Centre on March 24. This event will showcase storytellers and their craft in a setting that many Red Deerians have come to cherish, the Gaetz Lakes Sanctuary.

On March 24 from 1:00 – 4:00, people are welcomed to join us as we are immersed in stories from local First Nations people and from Scandinavian countries. “The theme for this year’s World Storytelling Day is Trees and the Nature Centre and Sanctuary are the perfect setting for these artists to share their stories and their cultures.”, says Todd Nivens, Programs Coordinator for the Waskasoo Environmental Education Society. Crafts and displays round out the family-friendly event.

World Storytelling Day is being co-hosted by the Nature Centre, the Vasa Lodge and the Red Deer Native Friendship Society. Admission to the event is $3 per person or $10 per family.

For more information, please phone Todd Nivens at the Kerry Wood Nature Centre, 403-346-2010 x106.

If you haven't already heard...

...March looks to be a happenin' month here at the Kerry Wood Nature Centre! We're kicking this month off with an Owl Prowl on Saturday the 3rd (spaces are still available and you can register until 4:30 p.m. on Friday, March 2), followed quickly by a bilingual planetarium on Tuesday the 6th for Carnaval!

In fact, there are so many things happening here this month, I'm going to make it easy for you and list the rest of them below:

Sunday, March 11 Birdhouses with Bob (For kids ages 6 to 13 and a parent. Paid pre-registration is required.)

Also Sunday, March 11 Family Planetarium

Friday-Sunday, March 16-18 Rock & Gem Show (Come and learn some great things about rocks or add to your collection!)

Saturday, March 24 World Storytelling Day (Guest storytellers will be here!)

Sunday, March 25 Seedy Sunday (Learn about sustainable food production. Co-presented by ReThink Red Deer and it's affiliates.)

NEW!!!

The last Monday of the month is Monday Melodies, a musically-based social/ nature program for seniors. We have a public piano now; might as well put it to good use!

Of course, April and May are also packed with many fantastic events. If you would like more information about any of the events listed above, or what's coming up, click on the "What's New" link on our homepage, then hit the "Quarterly Programs Brochure PDF" link in the top left corner of the picture. Or, call the Kerry Wood Nature Centre at 403-346-2010 and our front desk staff and volunteers will be happy to help you.

Hope to see you this spring!

Purple Martin Homes

Friends of the Kerry Wood Nature Centre has great Purple Martin homes for sale;raising by a winch & pulley system, 8 0r 12 condo units, call 403 346 2010

Our new arrival

Here at the Nature Centre we're very happy to be able to introduce Red Deer's second public piano.

Our new (well, new to us) piano will be available for gallery openings, public events, and -- most importantly -- any of our visitors who would like to sit down and play.

If you're in our neighbourhood, why not drop by and show us what you've got? We think this should be a lot of fun, and are looking forward to seeing what you think as well!

Sustainable Commuting

We've written before, about Red Deer's amazing Waskasoo Park and its trail system. It's unique among urban parks in that the whole thing is interconnected by multi-use trails. In the summer the trails are heavily trafficked by walkers, runners, cyclists, long-boarders, and in-line skaters. In the winter the trails are taken over by cross-country skiers, early morning dog walkers and the odd (as in rare, not awkwardly different) bicycle commuter.

Winter bike commuting in Red Deer is not a difficult chore. The main arterial roads are kept reasonably free of snow and ice, side walks are wide enough to ride on when the roads are too dangerous - for example there has been lots of black ice this week - and if you're like me and lucky enough to have a North-South commute, the trails are plowed and packed to make winter riding a joy. Imagine that; while others are stuck in cold lanes of traffic, I get to have a little adventure each morning, on my bike, through the park.

On Monday this week, I attached a video camera to my bike helmet and recorded my commute in six parts. You can see them at my own personal blog - along with a running commentary here.

We are in the midst of a nearly perfect winter for bike commuting. The morning temperatures have rarely been below -12C and the afternoon temperatures have been above zero on a regular basis. While this isn't an ideal winter from nature's point of view, for those who want to try winter bicycle commuting, this is the best winter we've had for it in years. Give it a try. I've written two posts on winter bike commuting (you can find the posts under the commuting videos) that will tell you how to dress, how to prep your bike and how to survive a possible wipeout.

So, give it a try. Give yourself an extra few minutes, pack a backpack and ride your bike to work. You just may form a new habit.

efficent bird seed

No Mess
Bird seed;Tired
of cleaning up sunflowers hulls. Buy
Wild Bird Seed.It assures you of no waste, no mess,no growth and is very
efficient. Come to the Kerry Wood Nature Centre Bookstore the home of Ab's best nature books and bird seed to purchase this top quality bird seed.
6300 45 ave, Red Deer: 403 346 2010

We Need To Hear From You

How do you like to interact with Waskasoo Park? What stories do we need to be telling about the park? What natural and cultural treasures should we share with park visitors and one another?

It’s time for some fresh perspectives. A new Waskasoo Park Interpretive Master Plan is in the works.

Check out the FAQs on the project web page [www.reddeer.ca/waskasooparkplan] then let us know what you think. We want to hear your ideas.

What are some features of Waskasoo Park that are important to you? What do you want to learn more about? What do you know about the park that we can do a better job of sharing with others?

Do you have thoughts on how we can encourage stewardship of the park and our environment?

Kids! – what do you want to explore in the park, in Kerry Wood Nature Centre, at Fort Normandeau, or with our help in your school classes?

Think a bit about the interpretive trails in the park. What cues and prompts and information should we be providing along the way? What exhibits do you want to see in the various Park facilities?

The new Interpretive Master Plan will set out a framework for how the Waskasoo Park stories are told over the next 15-20 years.

Let’s hear your ideas. Watch this space for details on an online survey that will be available in January and plan on attending a preview night for the Interpretive Master Plan on Monday, February 13 (7 pm at Kerry Wood Nature Centre).

(But you don’t have to wait – contact us anytime with your comments and suggestions!)

water

brrrr! it is cold and our feathered friends need water to preen their feathers and to clean them. Clean feathers hold more heat than dirty ones. The KWNC bookstore has excellent bird bath heaters to
keep open water for our birds. Call 403 346 2010.

What's up on the Dr George

I took a moment today to take a stroll around the Dr George Trail (the 1 km trail) in the Sanctuary. It's a busy place, the Dr George, even in December. Here's a little of what I saw:

Squirrel tracks around the Sanctuary sign pillar

Deer track amongst the boot tracks

Snowshoe tracks. We rent snowshoes, if you've ever wanted to give it a try.

Like humans, when one deer makes a trail the rest tend to use it instead of making a new one. Deer aren't the only things that use deer trails -- they can be a good place to look for other tracks.

The tracks are a little melted out, but you can still see the loop this mouse or vole took around the deer tracks.

The frozen Gaetz Lakes become highways for all sorts of animals.

Click on any of the photos to see them larger.

If you have photos of any local winter animal goings-on that you'd like me to post here on the blog, feel free to e-mail them to us here at the Nature Centre (general@waskasoopark.ca). Let us know who you are so we can properly credit the photo, and tell us a little bit about where the shot was taken.

Holiday Hours

Di you know that Christmas Day is the only day all year that Kerry Wood Nature Centre closes? It's true. Here are our hours for the holiday season:

Dec 24th: 10:00 - 5:00
Dec 25th: Closed. Merry Christmas!
Dec 26th: 1:00 - 5:00
Dec 27th: 1:00 - 5:00
Dec 28th - 31st: 10:00 - 5:00
Jan 1st: 1:00 - 5:00
Jan 2nd: 1:00 - 5:00

And don't forget... if you're looking for a fun way to burn off some of those holiday calories, come down and join us for an afternoon of snowshoeing on December 31st. Call 403-346-2010 for details.

It's the Film You've Been Waiting For

 It's Here. This is the 2012 Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour trailer. Click play and turn up the volume. Then, head on down to the Nature Centre, Valhalla Pure Outfitters or Purearth Organics for your tickets. Shows run January 12 & 13, 2012. Tickets are $20 + GST each night and $36 + GST for both nights.

These tickets make amazing stocking stuffers.

See you at the show.

One last look at our light recycling bin

That's a lot of copper wire that won't be headed to the landfill, folks.

As of mid-day Saturday we gave out the last of our LED lights, so this year's Christmas light exchange is officially over. We started out with 804 light sets to exchange, and they went a lot faster than we were anticipating. Great job, Red Deer!

Thanks once again to the City of Red Deer for funding and supporting the exchange, and to London Drugs for their support.

We look forward to seeing your new energy-efficient Christmas decorations up!

Christmas Light Exchange Update

Our bin (nearly) runneth over. As of 11:30 there were only 51 sets of LED lights left for the annual light exchange. We started out with 804. Way to go, Red Deer!

There's still time to get those last few lights. Bring down two or more strands of incandescent lights and exchange them for one set of energy-efficient LEDs. And remember -- those lights you see in the bin are all headed for recycling. What a great way to keep valuable copper out of the landfill.

What's in the Woods?

I love walking through the woods - any woods - and imagining what's going on, just out of eyesight and earshot. Sure, you can hear the birds twittering and the squirrels screeching away at each other, and every once in a while you'll hear the crack of a branch telling you that a deer or moose is nearby. On special occasions you'll get to see the animals as they move through their environment, possibly unconcerned about your presence.

More often though, we're completely oblivious to the comings and goings of the larger animals with whom we share natural spaces. By virtue of their better-tuned senses of smell and hearing, animals are often more aware of us, than we are of them.

With that in mind and in an effort to record what's going on just beyond the tree-lines of the Gaetz Lakes Sanctuary, the City of Red Deer Parks Department has installed a trail cam in the woods. Over the next few months, they'll move it around throughout the 300 acres and capture daytime and nocturnal images of the animals who travel through and who make the Sanctuary their home.

Here are the first images, captured over a 24-hour period November 16 - 17, 2011.

The three deer pictures are a perfect example of what I was discussing. The images were captured over the noon hour, within 50 metres of one of the trails, and people walking on the trail would have had no idea that the deer were in such close proximity.

As we get more images, we'll upload and share them. 

Keep you eyes peeled. You never know what you'll see on your adventures.