Tag Archives: Canada: Alberta

Great Horned Owl Plumage Phases or Morphs

Year 11, ,

In my post published earlier this morning I wrote about Great Horned Owl variations in plumage color … often called “phases” or “morphs”. While I’m sure most birders understand the concept, it can be helpful to see the different variations next to each other.

First in this post you have the “Desert or Southwest Phase” Great Horned Owl which I saw yesterday afternoon in the Sonoran Desert a bit north of Tucson. Here is that bird and its grayish / white feather colorations which tends to match its habitat found in the desert

Second I present the “Arctic Phase” Great Horned Owl which tends to be found in the northern Canadian Boreal Forest I saw this owl and its youngster during the June of 2023 in Alberta. This owl’s feathers are more white which helps for winter camouflage during that long season of the year.

In closing here is my own “Boreal Forest Phase” Great Horned Owl which tends to be the most common in North America, and helps the owl blend in with its forest habitat.  This bird is the female Great Horned Owl that has nested six years straight near my home in northern Minnesota. You will note this owl’s feather coloration is much more brown and gray. Note how the coloration blends with the white pine tree in which it is perched.

If you wish to reach more about the Great Horned Owl, browse to Cornell’s All About Birds web service. This link will take you to the identification page for Great Horned Owls. Regional Differences including plumage color or phases is discussed towards the bottom of the web page.

Kananaskis Foothills and Mountains Birding

Year 10

While most everyone, their best friends, and then even more people head to the Banff / Lake Louise area in the mountains west of Calgary, some birding locals clued me in to Kananaskis. While certainly the Banff area is gorgeous, Kananaskis which is only a short drive from my motel in High River has fantastic vistas, super wildlife, and almost no people. Guess where I spent two days this week?! Before I get to my birding, here are a few images from my drive up through the foothills into the mountains. Please note I was on gravel roads, some of which do not even open till June 30th due to snowpack.

Random Foothills Roadside View

Sheep River Falls (Google Maps Link)

Okay … birds. I will admit I was hoping to see Golden Eagles, and my route is known for same, but I came up empty, but this little Mountain Bluebird delighted the eyes

A much more unique bird is the American Dipper, which is a diminutive songbird which actually swims underwater in fast flowing streams to catch insects. This individual was just downstream from Sheep River Falls.

At one meadow the Western Kingbird made an appearance, followed by an old faithful from northern Minnesota, the Ruffed Grouse.

When Birds Win! Frank Lake, Alberta

Year 10

Earlier this week I mentioned that I was on my first “long distance” birding excursion (i.e. a trip w/o Molly for the sole purpose of birding). Over the winter months I researched locations to my north and one spot kept coming back to the forefront of my investigations, Frank Lake, Alberta. This shallow lake / wetlands was created starting in 1952 through flooding mitigation and diking efforts by Ducks Unlimited. 70 years later this gem is the crown jewel of the Rocky Mountain Flyway in Canada. The number of birds that use Frank Lake as either a migration stopover or for nesting is remarkable. My interest grew because the habitat is dramatically different than my own local boreal forest, and in addition to Frank Lake I could easily escape up into the Rocky Mountains (Kananaskis Region).

I was extremely lucky to have two local birders agree to show me around Frank Lake (Dave Sasha and Greg Wagner). Little did I know both gentleman were local wealth’s of knowledge. During our first birding outing Monday evening I learned from Greg Wagner (a retired college professor who has made Frank Lake his passion) about the unique habitat, and external pressures that are threatening the lake.

After our Monday birding, our plan was to head out again early Wednesday morning. While reading the morning news prior to the start of our morning birding, I learned that the Alberta Utilities Commission had just turned down the first energy project in its history … a 1,500 acre solar array power farm proposed for an area only one kilometer from Frank Lake! Once again, the province’s energy commision had NEVER turned down a new power development in its history! However, Frank Lake is recognized as a unique environmental gem which demands protection. In reading about the decision, I discovered one of the leading individuals in the fight against the solar array farm was Greg Wagner … the same humble person who was taking me birding later in the day. The birds thank you Greg!!!! Read about this successful effort to combat a new energy plant via Birds Canada.

I hope you have enjoyed learning a bit about Frank Lake. It is worth adding to birding locations worth a visit. Here are a few images from Monday and Tuesday.

American Avocet

Black-Necked Stilt

Great Horned Owl (hanging out in an abandoned one room schoolhouse)