The evening of May 17, was cool, windy and rainy, but that did not deter the Buffalo Lake Nature Club from taking part in their annual Shuckburgh Slough bird count. The count was scheduled for 6 p.m. Participants viewed the wetlands mostly from inside their vehicles, with a few brave souls venturing out to use spotting scopes. Twenty-three species of birds were counted. One camera was able to capture a view of a Sora, and an American Bittern was heard as well.
The club reconvened in the warmth of St. George’s Anglican Church’s lower hall at 7:30 p.m. The guest speaker for the evening was Susanna Bruneau, Research and stewardship coordinator from the Battle River Watershed Alliance. She presented an interactive video titled ‘Finding Common Ground,” which documented the 186-km bike ride through the Battle River countryside. The focus of these travels was discussion and demonstrations of progressive energy options which were showcased throughout the area.
A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the OTIS Award to the Buffalo Lake Nature Club. Marie Payne and Chris Pfeifle accepted the award from Susanna Bruneau. This annual award is presented to groups or individuals being recognized for being Outstanding In Stewardship. The Buffalo Lake Nature Club monitors some conservation properties near Stettler, organizes field trips, conducts wildlife surveys and offers educational meetings and outings to educate members and the public on our natural history. Everyone is welcome.
- Contributed