You are all invited to the Red Deer River Naturalists Bird Focus Group Walk

Location: River Bend Golf & Recreation Area – Upper Trail

Meet: In the main parking lot

When: June 6, 2026 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Maybe longer.

Host: Guest Host Ron Bjorge

All are welcome, you do not have to be a RDRN member to attend. We’re an inclusive group that learns from each other, and birders of all skill levels are welcome!

Bring your binoculars*, camera/phone, bug spray and sunscreen. Carry water and an energy snack. Wear sturdy hiking footwear, some trails are on rough terrain. Distances vary, but may be up to 5 kms. Wear layers and carry rain gear and a hat as required by conditions. Let Chris know if you have any potential medical issues.

*RDRN have two birding binoculars that can be borrowed (first come, first serve) by new participants. Binoculars courtesy of a City of Red Deer Community Better ParticipACTION grant.

Bird Focus People with an urge to travel are also welcome to join the Vermilion Provincial Park annual Spring Species Count today. You can camp in Vermilion Provincial Park, and join all or any of several walks throughout the day. We start at 5:00 a.m., meeting at the Trout Pond parking lot, and shuttling from there to do a 5-6 km walk along the riparian shore trails of Vermilion Park Lake. We’ll see literally hundreds of warblers, orioles, catbirds, woodpeckers, waterfowl and raptors on that one, but there are also shorter woodland and shore walks through the mid-day and afternoon, and even an evening night heron/nighthawk/owl prowl outing. Anyone interested can contact Chris Olsen directly for details.