BT Edmonton Blogs

OK Kids - let's GO!

When Robert sent this in, I wrote him back and warned him that the “awww factor” would be pretty high!    A family of 6 under the watchful eye of father and mother goose.    Robert and his wife went out for a drive hoping to take some pictures of wildlife.    They were at Elk Island earlier this month at about 7pm.    He adds:  “I hope everyone enjoys the picture as much as I do!”.    DO you?    Let us know!

DID YOU KNOW?    Elk Island National Park is a GREAT place for star gazing.    It was recently designated as part of a dark sky preserve.    The Beaver Hills Preserve is a 300 square kilometres, including Elk Island National Park and the Cooking Lake-Blackfoot Provincial Recreation Area.    If you would like to find out more about sky watching groups, head to this website:    http://www.edmontonoutdoorclub.com

WHERE WAS YOUR LAST ROAD TRIP?    WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW.    ON OUR MAIN WEBPAGE CLICK ON “CONNECT WITH BT” – UPLOAD YOUR PHOTO AND BAM!    FRESH AIR PHOTO HISTORY IS MADE!

Terrific - Tofield

So I says to myself:  “Self, I have to get to Tofield soon”.    Above is just one of the reasons why!    Tammy – a Tofieldian, or would it be a Tofielder (???) – is proud of her town and writes:  “This is the sunset from our deck”.    Must be nice – I ask.    “It is”, she answers.        Not sure if you know or not but Tofield is close to the awe inspiring Beaverhill Lake.    It is a federally recognized bird sanctuary and provides feeding and resting habitat for more than 50,000 shorebirds each year.

DID YOU KNOW?    The Tofield area was originally home to our First Nations People.    In fact, in 1860 Chief Ketchamoot helped the local Crees against their traditional Blackfoot enemies.    He is buried on the bank of the Ketchamoot Creek.    In 1880, fur traders with the Hudson’s Bay started to move into the area.    The outpost became a town in 1909, named for its first physician, Dr. J. H. Tofield.

YOU ARE INVITED TO TOFIELD — HERE IS SOME STUFF YOU COULD DO!
August:
2nd –  Heritage Day — Lion’s Club Heritage Classic Show & Shine
13th-  Farmer’s Market (Foundation Supper)
21st -  Solo Club Dance Joyce
21st & 22nd – Tofield Miniature Aircraft Display and Funfly (FREE)
27th – Farmer’s Market
30th - First day of School  (((eeeek )))

PROUD OF YOUR TOWN?    PROVE IT!    SEND US A PICTURE IN THE BEST LIGHT …. OR LOW LIGHT.    JOIN THE FRESH AIR PHOTO NATION.    UPLOAD YOUR PICTURE OF MOTHER NATURE OR HER CREATURES – TODAY!

Dolberg Lake, ahhhh

Paul loves to fish.    Lucky for us he is also passionate about sharing his Fresh Air Photos!    He writes:  “I guess you could call me a fishaholic.   I have been a mobile weather watcher since the tornado of ‘87″ — The storm was just starting to move in.    Great to have you with your eyes to the sky Paul.    Next time – send us a fish photo or 2!

DID YOU KNOW?    Dolberg Lake has a quick drop off which is great for float tubers.    To get there, head 17.5k  west of Barrhead on highway 18, then 3km north and about 24 km west.    In 2008, it was stocked with 18 thousand Rainbow Trout.

WE ARE NOT FISHING FOR COMPLIMENTS – BUT WE ARE THROWING OUT A LINE OR TWO.    THE FIRST LINE IS ABOUT YOU BECOMING OUR FRESH AIR PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE DAY.    TAKE THE BAIT WOULDYA — AND UPLOAD YOUR PHOTO TODAY!

Alright LADIES listen up!

… Somebody is getting an earful!   That somebody is Murray, a licensed bander of birds:  “We were banding all raptors south east of Hanna.   These are female ferruginous hawks and are very large nestlings(birds not yet ready to leave their nest).    It is really different that this species nestlings will not RUN AWAY when placed on the ground.   We knew these nestlings were all females as their feet were humungous.   We had larger bands for them.

DID YOU KNOW?    According to an Alberta Wildlife Status Report in 2006, ferruginous hawks were listed as a Species of Special Concern in Canada and considered a Threatened Species under Alberta’s Wildlife Act.    Their survival depends on the preservation of large tracts of natural grasslands.    Hurting their chances of survival are:  cultivation and fire suppression, food availability, and human disturbance.    The common name of the Ferruginous Hawk means “rusty colour” and refers to the colour of the feathers on their wings and legs.

TAKE ONLY PICTURES — LEAVE ONLY FOOTPRINTS.    THAT’S THE MOTTO OF THE FRESH AIR PHOTO NATION … A NATION THAT IS WAITING FOR YOUR PICTURE OF MOTHER NATURE ‘OR‘ HER CREATURES.

Squaks from the Hawks

Fall in love with fall

Terri Lynn is showing us, and in a way reminding us, how beautiful Edmonton is all year round!    Of course honourable mention goes to Mill Creek in the fall.    You can’t deny the golden glow of the leaves.    Kodak-Kudos to Terri-Lynn for her perfect framing!    In her words:  “My favorite view when we lived in the Mill Creek neighbourhood”.

DID YOU KNOW?    The Mill Creek Ravine is part of a trail system tht is 97 kilometres long.    You can hike, walk, snowshoe, OR do none of the above.    There are also many spots for you to watch rabbits, squirrels, …. the birds & the bees  – the flowers and the trees ….

PICK A SEASON – PICK A PICTURE AND WATCH IT BECOME PIC OF THE DAY.    FRESH AIR PHOTOS AIR EVERY MORNING ON BT AND ARE FEATURED ON THIS VERY BLOG.    OPERATORS ARE STANDING BY – UPLOAD YOUR PHOTO TODAY.

See her?

SHE sees YOU!

A warm afternoon on the banks of the Beaver River just east of Fork Lake.    Keven notices movement in the tall grass and sees a deer.    He stops.    The deer stops.    ”The deer and I had a nice staring contest which I took advantage of by raising my camera — hope you enjoy!”    I think I can speak for everyone when I say — we certainly do.

DID YOU KNOW?    The Beaver River is 491 kilametres long and fed by many lakes including:  Beaver Lake, Lac La Biche, Cold Lake, and Primrose Lake.    It flows into Saskatchewan, turns north and hooks up to a lake in the Churchill Lake system.    Eventually its waters are carried to the Hudson Bay by the Churchill River!

THIS CREATURE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY MOTHER NATURE.    NOW IT’S UP TO YOU TO - ”BRING IT!”    ON OUR MAIN WEBPAGE LOOK FOR ‘CONNECT WITH BT’.    UPLOAD YOUR MASTERPIECE TODAY – SEE IT ON BT TOMORROW!!!!

Beaver Lake in balance

Wow.    Thanks to Bernd, I now have a new ”happy place” in Lakeland County.    Welcome to Beaver Lake.    Bernd shares what he saw at about 5 in the afternoon in the middle of June.    His quote:  “It was a beautiful sunny day, 26c.    I love to go camping at northern Alberta lakes”.    Ditto!

DID YOU KNOW?    You too can camp at Beaver Lake.    In fact there are  140 campsites, docks, boat launches, and a day-use area with a picnic shelter, tables and fireplaces.    And a personal favorite activity of mine:  jigging off the dock using leeches and a weighted jig head  — maybe even a knuckle ball.

MEMBERSHIP TO THE FRESH AIR PHOTO NATION IS FREE.    BENEFITS INCLUDE A PLACE IN BT HISTORY AND OWNERSHIP ON THIS VERY BLOG.    UPLOAD YOUR PIC TODAY!

Meet Marlow and Frances Cowan.    They have been married more than 60 years and have discovered the secret to staying young: “Tickling — the IVORIES that is”.

Butterfly Effect

Shyla went on a road trip to the Calgary Zoo and spent some serenity time in the Butterfly Garden.    And like any responsible Fresh Air Photographer – took her camera along for the ride!    This beautiful creature is native to South East Asia.    She is a She,…and is a Great Eggfly ALSO CALLED a Blue Moon.    I confirmed her identity on this website.    If you are curious – here is the link:  http://www.wingsofparadise.com/

DID YOU KNOW?    Butterflies taste with their feet!    Their taste sensors are located in the feet, and by standing on their food, they can taste it.    All butterflies have six legs and feet.    And don’t get me started on their wings!    Butterfly and Moth wings are transparent.    The scales are iridescent and they overlap like shingles on a roof.    That gives the wings the colors that we see.

COME OUT OF YOUR COCOON!    WE OF THE FRESH AIR PHOTO NATION NEED YOU.    UPLOAD YOUR PHOTO TODAY – SEE IT ON BT (AND THIS HERE BLOG) TOMORROW!

Moment of Zen

Let’s visit Faye this weekend!    I am sure with a yard like this, she is used to having people stop by and stay and stay and stay ….    The rock garden is complimented by a few natural waterfalls and beautiful healthy trees.    This would be a perfect place for a “Staycation“.

DID YOU KNOW?    Some believe that limestone and sandstone are the best rocks to use.    Size is important too!    Use the “Goldilocks “Principle” as a rule of thumb,…sizes thare are j-u-s-t right.    Plus, experts tell us not to use concrete or bricks because these materials attract and make nice homes for slugs and snails.

USE YOUR IMAGINATION – USE YOUR OWN YARD – BUT FOR PETE’S SAKE (AND FOR OURS) – USE YOUR CAMERA.    MEMBERSHIP TO THE FRESH AIR PHOTO NATION IS FREE AND THE BENEFITS ARE ENDLESS.    UPLOAD YOUR PHOTO TODAY, SEE IT ON BT TOMORROW!