Keep Cats Safe and Save Bird Lives

The contribution of "outdoor cats" to the decline of bird populations is well known.
A rough estimate is that, in Canada, in the order of 100 million bird deaths are caused  by cats per year.
Nature Canada has created the Cats and Birds initiative to combat this problem; for details see https://catsandbirds.ca
The initiative is supported by various local organizations,
including Nature Alberta, Wild North, the Edmonton Animal Care and Control Centre and your Edmonton Nature Club.
Consider taking the Pledge to Keep Cats Safe and Save Bird Lives at https://catsandbirds.ca/join-the-movement.

Objection to Stantec Tower Lighting Application

At its February 6 meeting the ENC Executive agreed to support the Alberta Dark Sky Association in its objection to the Stantec Tower Lighting proposal.
The project involves placing a 3-storey LED digital sign on top of the new 69-storey Stantec building in downtown Edmonton, along with lighting the entire building.
It is well known that artificial light at night, especially blue light, has many serious negative effects on living things, including human beings, flora and fauna.
In particular, the detrimental effects of light pollution on migrating birds and insects should be noted.
The goal of the Dark Sky Association is to reduce waste light, light trespass, glare and light pollution throughout communities with which they work, one being Edmonton.
Details of the Stantec Tower Lighting Application can be found at
 https://www.edmonton.ca/residential_neighbourhoods/PDF/LDA180675_Public_Engagement_Boards.pdf
The contact person for the Alberta Dark Sky Association is Rod E. Mc Connell at rodemcc@shaw.ca

Phenological Engagment Group

Seeking Members for an Edmonton Phenological Engagement Group

Exploring a relational approach to learning our local ecology by Nathan Binnema

Back Story

From October 2016 to October 2017, I took a 13-lunar cycle online course in Blackfoot Phenology with Ryan Heavy Head of the Kainai, using a small area in Forest Heights Park just south of the Dawson Bridge for my field study.  Visiting that site for five hours a week throughout the year and posting my field notes on the course web page, I was able to learn to recognize over 100 hundred species at my site by sight, sound or track.  I witnessed for myself many of the ways these species relate to one another – who feeds on whom, who provides shelter for whom, and so on - as well as significant life cycle events in the lives of some of them, such as the mallard hen raising her young.  I found there were several species of edible plants at my site, and harvested for myself from some of these.  I formed closer relationships with some of the more common species, such as the red squirrels – learning the boundaries of their territories and where their middens, nests and tunnels are, and becoming familiar enough with them that they don't raise the alarm when I come by anymore.  I learned a little of how to learn from birds by paying attention to what they are paying attention to, which sometimes led me witness significant events such as a hawk kill.  All in all, I was transformed, becoming aware of a whole world that I hadn't previously paid attention to, right here in the city!  And now I am inviting you to join me in this journey of discovery.

What is Phenological Engagement?

In the western knowledge tradition, the term Phenology comes from the Greek root phaeno, which means to appear, and from which we also derive our term phenomenon. The western field of Phenology studies the timing of the appearance of natural, or ecological phenomena, as compared to the Gregorian calendar. We draw upon the approach to Phenology that I learned from Ryan Heavy Head, involving three key principles for learning:

1.    Our study is intentionally place based, spending a significant amount of time at a small local site, aspiring to learn about the participants and relationships in the ecology at that site.

2.    We pay attention to both solar and lunar time.

3.    We ask how human beings fit in to the ecology, and participate in the give and take as possible.

What will I do?

1.    Select a local study site of your own choosing

2.    Spend time each week being present and learning at your site

3.    Share your observations, insights, and questions with the online Edmonton Phenological Engagement community.

Why should I participate?

Benefits include a reason to spend time outdoors, the opportunity to learn our local ecology with the support of a learning community, and to cultivate a sense of groundedness in this place where we live.

How do I get involved?

For more information, please contact Nathan Binnema at ernienathan@protonmail.com, or Miriam Mahaffy at miriam.mahaffy@gmail.com.

A potluck gathering will take place on Wednesday, March 13^th, 6 – 8 pm, at Rocky Feroe’s house in Riverdale (10144 – 87 Street, Edmonton). For the potluck event see:

FB event: https://www.facebook.com/events/2789015764657543/

Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/edmonton-phenology-introductory-potluck-tickets-56546224279