Why the magpie should be Edmonton’s official bird
In 2023, the Pileated Woodpecker became the official bird of Strathcona County. In 2022, the Black-capped Chickadee was adopted as Calgary’s official bird. Edmonton does not have an official bird, but Dustin Bajer has 11 reasons why the Magpie should be YEG’s official bird. Here are three of his reasons.
Magpies are industrious. It is one of the only birds in North America that makes an elaborate domed nest that takes up to 40 days to construct, way longer than most birds require. What’s more Edmonton than taking forever on a construction project?
Magpies are community minded. They live in loose communities, pairs mate for life, construct their nests together and share responsibility caring for the young. Magpies know they’re better off working in cooperation than alone. Edmonton has a history of community building and was one of the first cities in Canada to adopt the community league model.
It is the bird we love to hate for the city we love to hate. Despite the redeeming qualities mentioned above, we still complain about Magpies. Magpies are polarizing and like Edmonton, they are underrated, under appreciated, and underestimated. It’s the underdog of the birds for the underdog of cities.
The Magpie is the bird we’re hesitant to embrace because it feels like there should be a better bird out there for us. But this is home. Edmonton is the Magpie of cities. https://dustinbajer.com/edmonton-magpie-should-be-edmontons-offical-bird/
Effects of the 2023 wildfires in Alberta
Last year’s fire season was historic. While fire is a natural part of Alberta’s forest ecosystems, the 2023 wildfires burned nearly 3.3 million hectares, or 6.6% of the province’s forested area. This was equivalent to the area burned in the previous 11 fire years combined. 7,468 km2 or 20.6% of Wood Buffalo National Park burned, an area larger than Banff National Park.
All forest types and ages were affected, with the greatest area burned in northern and west-central parts of Alberta. Average forest age declined across the province and dropped substantially in the most affected regions. Many older-forest species lost moderate amounts of habitat in localize areas, while a few fire-specialists will thrive in the newly burned areas.
For burn specialists, recent fires are helping to restore habitat that was reduced for decades by effective fire suppression. The Black-backed Woodpecker is a burn specialist. The highest densities of this woodpecker are in young burned stands where it feeds on insects that live in fire-killed trees. Bicknell’s Geranium is a pretty, purple-flowered plant that thrives in burned areas. Its seeds can remain in the soil for decades, germinating when a fire clears away competing plants.
Species associated with old forest lose habitat. Boreal Chickadees live year-round in Alberta forests. These resilient birds were predicted to have lost 4.3% of their Alberta habitat due to the 2023 fires. Clasping Twisted Stalk, a plant that produces its distinctive red berries in productive old forests, was predicted to have lost 5.8% of its habitat across Alberta.
The Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute has produced a science letter, where you will find an analysis of the ecological changes resulting from the fires, including metrics on the extent of area burned, the percentage burned by habitat type, the shifts in average forest age, and the impacts on various wildlife species.
https://abmi.ca/home/publications/601-650/642?mc_cid=24971c61e7&mc_eid=b02c6f60ed
Researcher found and studied 120 coyote dens across Edmonton
Coyote Watch Edmonton is a Facebook page created to educate, inform and keep Edmontonians aware of coyote movements within the city limits. It does not condone harming wildlife and asks people to contact the city if they have a problematic coyote in their area. It is an interesting place to see photos and comments posted from residents from all over the city. https://www.facebook.com/groups/700356163928797/
With prairie grasslands to the south and boreal forest to the north, and a river valley cutting across the city, Edmonton has long been home to a large population of urban coyotes. Between 500 and 1,000 are believed to roam the city.
Sage Raymond, a graduate student researcher at the University of Alberta and the Edmonton Urban Coyote Project, used her tracking skills to locate 120 coyote dens in Edmonton. Raymond tracked the dens exclusively in winter when they were vacant.
As spring's pup-rearing season begins, her research demonstrated that, in urban landscapes, coyote dens are closer than expected. The animals are hiding in plain sight, rearing their pups surprisingly close to homes and other buildings, but under dense cover on steep slopes to conceal their young from people and their dogs.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/edmonton-coyote-den-selection-research-conflict-1.6803397
Should the City reconsider the use of river valley land for golf courses
Ron wrote “Golf courses are used more intensively than the piece suggests. That is not a huge number of people, given the size of the courses, though the city operated courses are relatively busy by Canadian golf standards. How many people per hectare typically occupy other city parks or the river valley?
Yes, golf is predominantly white and mostly male. But does that make it socially divisive? If cricket in Edmonton is mostly played by non-whites, I don't see that as socially divisive.
Mayfair certainly is exclusive; it costs a lot to play at that private club. Although the City requires it to admit non-members, in practice Mayfair makes it difficult for non-members to get decent tee times. I do believe that the 60-year leases given to the private clubs are outrageous, and their effect may be that the City will first demolish the more financially accessible city operated courses, while leaving the privately-operated ones alone.
This issue invites simplistic ideology but it begs for dispassionate analysis: What is the City's current profit or loss in owning each golf course? What would it cost to convert a course to other uses? What would be the usage of the new facility? Would the new facility particularly benefit people who cannot afford the luxury of playing golf? What profit or loss would the city incur in operating the new facility.”
Lucie commented “I absolutely agree with Kaur and Janz on their stance toward city golf courses. Golf courses are an ecological nightmare requiring watering, fertilizing and herbicides. In addition, there are the greenhouse gasses generated by constant mowing and upkeep of the huge expanses of lawn. Extensive plantings of tree and native shrub beds would help absorb more carbon, slow runoff from heavy downpours while at the same time providing habitat for wildlife as well as a place for humans to connect with nature. Golf courses have no place in the city, especially along our river valley!”
New Valley Line West LRT bridge crosses Groat ravine and road
Jennifer emailed “Someone inadvertently dissed the High Level Bridge when they wrote: ‘This new LRT line [will have] a new bridge that will carry pedestrians, cars and the LRT, the first of its kind in Edmonton.’ The High Level Bridge was built to carry cars, pedestrians, streetcars (the LRT of the day), as well as trains. You can see a streetcar and train on the top deck in this old photo. It was quite a feat in its day. Happy we will soon have a new link in our transit chain!”
Untitled by Lloyd Pinay, Dr. Anne Anderson Park
https://www.edmontonarts.ca/public-art/untitled-2
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