NSRVCS News - September 7, 2020

Cougar a shy and occasional river valley wanderer
In Alberta, cougar sightings have been confirmed across the entire province, although they are most common in the mountain and foothill regions. In recent years, sightings in the prairie, parkland and boreal regions have become more frequent.
 
Cougars are adaptable and can survive in any location that provides them with cover and a food source, such as deer. They normally do not prefer open terrain, but cougars may use river valleys, ravines and other travel corridors that pass through open terrain
 
Though rare, cougars have been sighted in Edmonton’s river valley. A May 6 Reddit post describes seeing one on the north side of 98 Avenue as the person was driving up the big hill. “I have never seen a cougar before and I thought it was cool to see one in our river valley in Edmonton!” In October 2018, a cougar was spotted at the Terwillegar dog park and in September 2015 a cougar was killed in a back yard near 107 Avenue/151 Street.
 
A healthy cougar population is an indication of a thriving local ecosystem. They are efficient hunters that prey on deer, elk, moose, sheep, and other mammals. They may also occasionally feed on domestic pets and livestock. They can be active any time of day but most often hunt at dusk, night, and dawn. Learn more about them and what to do if you meet one at https://www.albertaparks.ca/media/4477103/preventing_conflict_with_wildlife-cougars.pdf

How our urban public spaces challenge and connect us
North Saskatchewan River Valley Conservation Society board member, Dr. Raquel Feroe was featured in a recent article in the National Post. She wrote “Now that I’m older, my days often start the same way — a walk in Edmonton’s Dawson Park with both my two-footed and four-footed housemates.”
 
“People ask if I get bored going to the same park every day. To which I answer: Does life get richer with time? Can relationships grow? People can be in good relationships with the land and learn how to be in better relationships with each other by just being in a park. I am left wondering if urban parks could become a model for how we could shift to a new view of prosperity, too.”
 
“One that: Better respects nature and people; Offers more blue and green ‘infrastructure’ such as modeled by beaver; Creates opportunities for more park attendants, park ambassadors and interpreters; Gives priority to people power (labour) instead of carbon (two-stroke engines); and Stops the war on weeds and embraces coexisting in the right relationship with nature.”
 
“I am going to keep thinking about this possibility and what it might look like. I am going to think more about the question: What is a park?” Read more at https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/a-day-in-the-park-how-our-urban-public-spaces-challenge-and-connect-us

Raspberry one of river valley’s wild resources
Raspberry is the edible fruit of a multitude of plant species in the rose family. They are perennial with woody stems. Various kinds of raspberries are cultivated around the world from hardiness zones 3 to 9 and can also be found in Edmonton’s river valley. Rubus idaeus, the wild raspberry native to Alberta, bears fewer and smaller fruits but they are of exceptional taste.
 
Raspberries propagate using extended underground shoots that develop roots and individual plants. They can sucker new canes some distance from the main plant. For this reason, raspberries spread well, and can take over gardens if left unchecked. They are often propagated using cuttings and will root readily in moist soil conditions.
 
Raspberries should not be planted where potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, or bulbs have previously been grown. These crops are hosts for the disease verticillium wilt, a fungus that can stay in the soil for many years and can infest the raspberry crop. Raspberries in Alberta fact sheet at https://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/agdex817/$file/237_20-1.pdf Share river valley event, job posting, or news
If you have a river valley event, job posting, or news that you would like to see published in this newsletter, please send the info to nsrivervalley@gmail.com
 
Sincerely yours,
Harvey Voogd
North Saskatchewan River Valley Conservation Society
780.691.1712
nsrivervalley@gmail.com
https://www.facebook.com/NSRVCS/
http://www.edmontonrivervalley.org/

NSRVCS News - August 28, 2020

Horses and our history
Local First Nations horse culture was short lived and a relatively recent development. Plains peoples had been pedestrian cultures and the horse was a late arrival and European in origin. The first horses arrived in what is now Central Alberta in the 1730s-1750s. Horses and the knowledge of horse riding had been traded up between nations from what is now California after the first few were sold by or stolen from Spanish colonialists there.
 
Horses grew in importance on the plains rapidly. They allowed First Nations to vastly expand their travelling range. As beasts of burden, horses helped First Nations carry more supplies further. The horse changed bison hunting techniques; instead of whole community affairs, skilled riders on horseback could kill choice animals. Horses also increased the pace of war.
 
Horses were a source of prestige for all people living in the west. Fort Edmonton’s Chief Factor John Rowand owned a large herd of horses, received as a dowry when he married his wife Louise Umphreville, and it is said that his wealth in horses afforded him the respect of the Cree.
 
When European fur traders first arrived in the Edmonton area and set up shop in 1795, horse culture was at its height. So was the cultural importance of horse theft. Stealing horses was a way to demonstrate one’s skill as a warrior and as a leader. The first recorded instance in Edmonton was in 1799, in which 20 horses were stolen and two were killed. Read more at https://citymuseumedmonton.ca/2016/10/18/lucier-and-the-horse-thieves/

Share your observations of the natural world
Citizen science is the practice of public participation and collaboration in scientific research to increase scientific knowledge. Through citizen science, people share and contribute to data monitoring and collection programs. Usually this participation is done as an unpaid volunteer
 
A citizen science network enables researchers to view and utilize data from myriad subjects in locations across the world, all at once. This is perhaps one of the greatest benefits of citizen science. But citizen scientists do not only provide usable data, they can analyze it, too.
 
iNaturalist is a nature app that helps identify plants and animals and is an accessible way to conduct citizen science. You can take a photo of your plant or insect of interest and it will provide possible identifications. If you take a clear picture depicting key features such as flowers and leaves, it does a good job of getting you to the genus level. By recording and sharing your observations, you create research quality data for scientists working to better understand and protect nature. Learn more at https://www.inaturalist.org/

Shakespeare and starlings
All European Starlings in North America descended from 100 birds set loose in New York's Central Park in the early 1890s. The birds were intentionally released by a group who wanted America to have all the birds that Shakespeare ever mentioned. Today, more than 200 million of these songbirds range from Alaska to Mexico and many people, especially farmers, consider them pests.
 
Starlings are stocky black birds with short tails, triangular wings, and long, pointed bills. They are great vocal mimics and individuals can learn the calls of up to 20 different species. Birds whose songs starlings often copy include the American Robin, Northern Flicker, and many others.
 
Starlings turn from spotted and white to glossy and dark each year without shedding their feathers. The new feathers they grow in fall have bold white tips, which is what gives them their spots. By spring, these tips have worn away, and the rest of the feather is dark and iridescent brown. It is an unusual changing act that scientists term “wear molt”.
 
Scientists have discovered starlings can taste salt, sugars, citric acid, and tannins. They can tell the difference between sucrose (table sugar) and other kinds of sugars – helpful since starlings lack the ability to digest sucrose. Learn more at https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/European_Starling/overview

Artist known for paintings of river valley
Lori Frank is a born and raised in Edmonton artist known for her river valley series of paintings. According to Lori, “it was my trips to New York that inspired me to bring more awareness to the river valley, which is 20 times larger than Central Park. The beauty of our valley, walking in it, living overlooking it, and painting it brings me a great sense of belonging and joy.’
 
Ms. Frank says the series began, “with various stairways in various seasons leading to our valley. At that time, I also developed my series of trails in our valley and have since continued those series, adding bridges, people, and architecture. I feel like I’ve just started painting Edmonton and its valley… I will continue it as long as clients keep asking me to paint their favourite spots.” See more at https://www.lorifrank.ca/ Share river valley event, job posting, or news
If you have a river valley event, job posting, or news that you would like to see published in this newsletter, please send the info to nsrivervalley@gmail.com
 
Sincerely yours,
Harvey Voogd
North Saskatchewan River Valley Conservation Society
780.691.1712
nsrivervalley@gmail.com
https://www.facebook.com/NSRVCS/
http://www.edmontonrivervalley.org/

NSRVCS News - August 20, 2020

Wet weather creates great environment for snakes
Edmonton’s wet weather is creating the perfect conditions for the city’s snake population to flourish, says a local reptile expert. Peter Daly, a biological technologist with the City of Edmonton, said frogs, slugs and worms all love wet environments, which in turn means more items on the menu for garter snakes.
 
“It means snakes have a lot to feed on and with it being hot, it means they have the opportunity to be more active and range a little farther since they are cold-blooded.” Daly said the garter snake is usually found near water, including the city’s river valley, and they are excellent swimmers.
 
The most common snake in Edmonton is the western red-sided garter snake which can grow to more than one metre in length. It is distinguished by red-sided markings and dark green colouring. The garter snake is not harmful to humans, but they do bite. Daly said a bite from this kind of snake feels like velcro or grabbing a thistle. And while garter snakes technically have venom, he said the amount is not dangerous to humans, only fish and frogs. Read more at https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/snakes-in-edmonton

Pine marten a natural tree climber
The pine marten is found throughout Canada in mature boreal forests of conifers, including Edmonton’s river valley. This photo was taken in Kinnaird Ravine this April. Befitting its arboreal tendency, the marten has sharp, curved, and semi-retractable claws.
 
They are long and slender animals with a broad head tapering to a sharp nose. The eyes are large and black, and the ears are large and rounded like a cat. Martens have long, shiny, silky fur. The head is grey, legs and tail are very dark brown or black, the chest has a cream-colored patch, and the back is light brown.
 
Its diet consists primarily of small mammals, including squirrels and rodents. As an opportunistic feeder, they will eat birds, fruit, nuts, insects, and carrion. However, the marten is also an aggressive predator, and can kill the much larger snowshoe hares.
 
Few predators can match the quickness and agility of the adult marten, although the young are vulnerable to carnivores like owls. Learn more at https://naturecanada.ca/news/blog/get-to-know-the-pine-marten/

What is a tree museum
Could one describe Edmonton’s river valley as a living tree museum? Should we consider a place for old or unique trees growing outside of the river valley to be securely preserved?
 
In 2010, the Enea Tree Museum in Switzerland opened to the public. It features over 50 trees, representing more than 25 varieties, some of which are over 100 years old. The tree collection consists exclusively of species from the local climate zone. More trees and plants stand in the park that surrounds the tree museum. On the entire site there are over 3000 trees and shrubs.
 
Since 2013, contemporary sculptures by renowned artists are also exhibited in the park and surroundings. The tree museum and sculpture park offer a unique experience for both garden lovers and those interested in art. More photos at https://www.enea.ch/baummuseum/?lang=en Share river valley event, job posting, or news
If you have a river valley event, job posting, or news that you would like to see published in this newsletter, please send the info to nsrivervalley@gmail.com
 
Sincerely yours,
Harvey Voogd
North Saskatchewan River Valley Conservation Society
780.691.1712
nsrivervalley@gmail.com
https://www.facebook.com/NSRVCS/
http://www.edmontonrivervalley.org/