Peregrine Falcon Hunting Strategy
By Sydney Nelson, AIWC Volunteer Peregrine Falcons are some of the fiercest hunters in Canada and among the most well-known and admired birds of prey. They have several essential adaptations
AIWC Volunteer
Swainson’s Hawks
By Julia Gaume, AIWC Volunteer Identification Swainson’s hawks (Buteo swainsoni) are large birds of prey called ‘buteos’ which are essentially large hawks. These hawks are named after William Swainson, a
How to identify and differentiate Alberta’s 13 unique woodpecker species
By Georgia Bignold, AIWC Volunteer How many times have you been enjoying nature and heard a rapid tapping in the distance? Many of you likely thought to yourself that it
Dark Skies Feed our ecosystem
By Holly Hastings, AIWC Volunteer What is light pollution? It is classified as the lightening of the night sky by artificial light such as streetlamps and store signs. Why is
9 Things to Do Outside This Fall
By Cassidy Taylor, AIWC Volunteer Are you intrigued by the natural world and the creatures living within it? Here at the Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation (AIWC), we are always
Birds
Barred Owls (Strix varia)
By Francesca Retuta Winter in Alberta Wintertime in Alberta is considered a fairly quiet season, as the drop in temperature acts as sound insulation as well as a signal for
Mammals
Sleeping Giants: Seasonal Bear Behaviour
By Sydney Nelson, AIWC Volunteer The mountains, forests, and parklands of Alberta are home to two species of bear: the black bear (Ursus americanus) and the grizzly bear (Ursus arctos
Birds
Winter, Waxwings, and Window Strikes
By Georgia Bignold What is a Waxwing? Waxwings are a type of songbird found in two varieties here in Alberta: the cedar waxwing and the bohemian waxwing. The term ‘waxwing’
Animal Care
Spotlight on AIWC’s Volunteers
By Cassidy Taylor, AIWC summer staff member and volunteer “Every individual matters. Every individual has a role to play. Every individual makes a difference.” Jane Goodall As Jane said, every
Conservation
The Tradition of the Christmas Bird Count
By Jayne Carlielle The Beginning On Christmas day in 1900, with perhaps a pang of conscience due to his observation of declining bird numbers, Audubon ornithologist Frank Chapman had an
