Ian Toews’ Grasslands film screening in Saskatoon
Saskatoon audiences will have an opportunity to view the poetic documentary about Saskatchewan grasslands this week. The film, produced by Gemini award winning filmmaker Ian Toews, will be shown on big screen at the Frances Morrison Central Library theatre, 311 – 23rd Street East in Saskatoon on Thursday, April 16, 2015 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. There is no admission charge and everyone is invited; bring along a friend or two. Following the screening, author and naturalist Trevor Herriot will provide an update on the state of the province’s grassland, and the work of Public Pastures –...
Read MoreCanadian Bondar Challenge – a photo contest to connect youth with nature
Roberta Bondar Foundation is launching the Canadian Bondar Challenge, a weekly photo contest to encourage Canadian youth ages 13 – 18 to explore the natural environment in their communities. The contest goal is to promote a hands-on outdoor experience that inspires the sense of awe, respect and appreciation for living organisms that share our planet. I am not personally connected with the Foundation, just passing on this information because I believe we have to do something about the growing nature experience deficit in our society. The photo contest will run throughout...
Read MoreLoons of Anglin Lake
Two weeks ago I had a chance to photograph Common Loons on Anglin Lake in northern Saskatchewan. A good friend of mine, Bradley Muir has been conducting loon surveys for the last 4 years as part of the Canadian Lakes Loon Survey. Bird Studies Canada is coordinating the surveys, and also analyzes and reports on the collected data. Brad invited me to join him and try to photograph the loons in his part of the woods. There is something special about loons of Anglin Lake. Many Canadian lakes host Common Loons and you can hear their characteristic call throughout the country. However, according...
Read MoreSandhill Cranes in morning fog
I discovered this group of cranes standing in shallow, partially frozen pond south of Bradwell, Saskatchewan. We were looking for Sharp-tailed Grouse lek and drove past a frozen pond with a flock of over 200 cranes. What attracted me to this scene was a soft, almost surreal appearance of graceful birds enveloped in thick morning fog (we were there before sunrise). I selected a high ISO setting on my camera in hope to get fast enough shutter speed to prevent camera shake. Additional presence of digital noise softened the captured image even more. Sandhill cranes are fairly social birds that...
Read MoreWorld Wildife Day – March 3, 2014
March 3, 2014 has been designated the first ever World Wildlife Day by the United Nations. It is an opportunity to celebrate our planet’s incredible variety of animals and plants, and to raise awareness about the need for global conservation of all living creatures on our planet. This day was chosen as the World Wildlife Day as it was on this day the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) was adopted. The Convention plays an important role in ensuring that international trade does not threaten the species’ well being. Here is a...
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