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X-WR-CALNAME:Red Deer River Naturalists
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X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Red Deer River Naturalists
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Edmonton:20260425T040000
DTEND;TZID=America/Edmonton:20260425T080000
DTSTAMP:20260521T063506
CREATED:20260322T220040Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260423T192643Z
UID:14551-1777089600-1777104000@rdrn.ca
SUMMARY:CANCELLED Bird Focus Group Walk Sharp-tailed Grouse Tour
DESCRIPTION:THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER EVENT.\n\nOur RDRN Host Chris Olsen has booked the Red Deer River Naturalists Bird Focus Group Walk to join the Wainwright Wildlife Society (WWS) in their annual Sharp-tailed Grouse Tour on April 25\, 2026. WWS set comfortable blinds on a lek site. The birds come in the pre-dawn to display to potential mates\, and it is truly amazing to witness the strutting\, posturing\, rattling and even aggression in the dawn light. Dancing at this very site was filmed and shown on the Nature of Things. Go to CBC GEM and search the Nature of Things; look for a 3-part documentary titled the ‘Secret World of Sound’. The segment that includes Sharp-tailed Grouse on this lek is in part 2\, ‘Love and Rivals’.\n\n\n\n\n\nPre-registration is required for $35 adults\, $15 students (cash) to support the WWS – bring exact change. This outing will meet at a parking lot (tba) in Wainwright and depart for the lek at 4:00 a.m. sharp. Plan to be in the blinds until about 8:00 a.m.\, dress in warm layers\, and bring a hot thermos and a snack. If you are unfamiliar with this spectacle\, you will be amazed! If you wish to attend contact the WWS for this Sharp-tailed Grouse Watch from mid April to mid May.  See www.facebook.com/WainwrightWildlifeSociety for details and more information about the tour.\n\n\n\n\n\nThe Tofield Snow Goose Festival also runs the weekend of April 25-26\, 2026\, based on offerings of years’ past\, there is a ‘bird festival’ site in the Town and guided bus excursions with a biologist or interpreter to area wetlands. You can expect to see very large aggregations of Snow Geese and other migrating waterfowl and shore birds. Two or three hour bus tour options\, tickets go on sale March 5\, 2026. You can pre-register to reserve your seat! Visit www.snowgoosefestival.ca for more information. It may be something you may want to do after the Sharp-tailed Grouse watch\, or the next day\, depending on travel logistics. Book Snow Goose festival activities for the late morning or afternoon if travelling from the Sharp-tailed Grouse watch on Saturday to Tofield.\n\n\n\n\n\nPhoto by Chris Olsen
URL:https://rdrn.ca/event/bird-focus-group-walk-sharp-tailed-grouse-tour/
CATEGORIES:Bird Focus Group,Field Trip,Saturday Birding
ORGANIZER;CN="Chris Olsen":MAILTO:olsencdel@gmail.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Edmonton:20260509T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/Edmonton:20260509T160000
DTSTAMP:20260521T063506
CREATED:20260425T011653Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260426T012423Z
UID:14681-1778317200-1778342400@rdrn.ca
SUMMARY:Bird Focus Group Field Trip
DESCRIPTION:You are all invited to the Red Deer River Naturalists Bird Focus Group Walk & Paddle \nLocation: Raven Brood Trout Station – walk 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. from the picnic shelter; Beaver Lake – paddling 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. \nDirections: Raven Brood Trout Station: 54034 Twp Rd 36-0. From Hwy 54\, go south on Hwy 22 approximately 5 km\, turn west onto Twp Rd 36-0. Turn right at the first fork. Meet at the picnic shelter. Beaver Lake: Those also going to Raven in the morning\, can exit from Raven and go 2 mi South on Hwy 22\, west 5 mi on Twp Rd 35-4\, and then 1.5mi south on Rge Rd 6-3 (the Burnstick Lake Road). Else\, a straight run south on Rge Rd 6-3 is simpler. This lake is approximately 10 km SW of Caroline. Facilities include a maintained parking area\, outhouse and gravel boat launch. \nWhen: May 9\, 2026 bird walk 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. paddling from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. \nHost: Chris Olsen \nAll are welcome\, you do not have to be a RDRN member to attend. \nBring your binoculars*\, camera/phone\, bug spray\, bear spray and sunscreen. Some trails are on rough terrain. Distances vary\, but may be up to 5 kms. Carry water and an energy snack. Wear sturdy hiking footwear\, dress in layers and carry rain gear and a hat as required by conditions. Bring your own paddling equipment with safety gear. Let Chris know if you have any potential medical issues. \n*RDRN have two birding binoculars that can be borrowed (first come\, first served) by new participants. Binoculars courtesy of a City of Red Deer Community Better ParticipACTION grant.
URL:https://rdrn.ca/event/bird-focus-group-field-trip-10/
CATEGORIES:Bird Focus Group,Field Trip,Saturday Birding
ORGANIZER;CN="Chris Olsen":MAILTO:olsencdel@gmail.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Edmonton:20260524T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Edmonton:20260524T130000
DTSTAMP:20260521T063506
CREATED:20260516T223448Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260516T223448Z
UID:14714-1779616800-1779627600@rdrn.ca
SUMMARY:RDRN/Nature Central Guided Nature Hike
DESCRIPTION:Join RDRN/Nature Central on Sunday\, May 24\, 2026 for a Nature Hike as part of the annual May Species Count\, a long-standing citizen science effort to monitor local biodiversity. The hike will take place at Raven’s Ridge\, a 300-acre natural area southwest of Spruce View. The site features mature forests\, and borders on the Raven River.\nSunday\, May 24\, 2026\n10:00 a.m.\nRaven’s Ridge – Travel 5 km west on Highway 54 from Spruce View\, then turn south onto Highway 766. The site will be 6 km ahead on the right.\nWhat to Bring: Please bring weather-appropriate clothing\, sturdy footwear\, insect repellent\, sunscreen\, hat\, bear spray\, your own snacks and water\, as well as any gear you’d like for birding\, plant identification\, note-taking\, photography\, and your own field guides.\nNo RDRN Membership Required: Everyone is welcome! To help us plan\, please confirm your attendance by emailing nir.rdrn.nature@gmail.com. Spots are limited\, don’t miss out!\nNote: This event is weather-dependent and may be canceled due to rainy weather and poor trail conditions. Please check www.naturecentral.org and social media regularly for updates before heading out. We hope to see you there!
URL:https://rdrn.ca/event/rdrn-nature-central-guided-nature-hike/
CATEGORIES:Field Trip,Species Count
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Edmonton:20260613T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Edmonton:20260613T170000
DTSTAMP:20260521T063506
CREATED:20260426T012001Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260426T012621Z
UID:14697-1781344800-1781370000@rdrn.ca
SUMMARY:Bird Focus Group Walk Field Trip
DESCRIPTION:You are all invited to the Red Deer River Naturalists Bird Focus Group Field Trip \nLocation: Medicine Lake Provincial Recreation Area (north of Rocky Mountain House on Hwy 22) see map\, best to use a mapping app on your phone as a guide if you have one. Cell phone service is poor at the campground\, but probably text msgs. will get through. \nHost: Chris Olsen \nWhen: June 13\, 2026 bird walk from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and paddling from 3:00 p.m. onward. \nMeet: Day use area/boat launch for both the birding walk and paddling. We may shuttle from there for the walk\, or simply hike back to the trail head. We’ll paddle the lake counter-clockwise\, and so people that want a short outing can see ‘water lily bay’ and do a short loop (about 2 kms) back to the launch. Those that are up for a longer paddle can continue along the far shore for as long as they like\, and eventually we’ll explore the mouth of the Medicine River and loop back to the boat launch (about 4 hrs). Bring your own paddling equipment with safety gear. \nWhile Medicine Lake Rec. Area can be booked\, there are two non-reservable sites in each loop\, and those are usually available to access on-site if you are interested in camping\, first come first served. Chris will be camping at site A-08 June 11th to 15th\, and anyone arriving early can find him there. \nAll are welcome\, you do not have to be a RDRN member to attend. We’re an inclusive group that learn from each other\, and birders of all skill levels are welcome! \nBring your binoculars* and camera/phone. Carry water\, energy snack\, sunscreen\, bug spray and bear spray. Wear sturdy hiking footwear\, dress in layers and carry rain gear and a hat as required by conditions. Some trails are on rough terrain. Distances vary\, but may be up to 5 kms. Let Chris know if you have any potential medical issues. RDRN has purchased a spotting scope and tripod. This will be a real asset for long distance observations. \n*RDRN have two birding binoculars that can be borrowed (first come\, first served) by new participants. Binoculars courtesy of a City of Red Deer Community Better ParticipACTION grant.
URL:https://rdrn.ca/event/bird-focus-group-walk-field-trip-27/
CATEGORIES:Bird Focus Group,Field Trip,Saturday Birding
ORGANIZER;CN="Chris Olsen":MAILTO:olsencdel@gmail.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Edmonton:20260614T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Edmonton:20260614T140000
DTSTAMP:20260521T063506
CREATED:20260425T013253Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260426T012300Z
UID:14688-1781431200-1781445600@rdrn.ca
SUMMARY:Bird Focus Group Walk Field Trip
DESCRIPTION:You are all invited to the Red Deer River Naturalists Bird Focus Group Field Trip \nLocation: Crimson Lake Provincial Park – Amerada trail follows the lake perimeter for about 11 km. Bring your own lunch for a break at about the mid-point\, and plan for about 4 hours of walking.  \nMeet: At the main parking lot \nWhen: June 14\, 2026 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  \nHost: Chris Olsen \nAll 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! \nBring your binoculars\,* camera/phone\, bug spray\, bear spray and sunscreen. Wear sturdy hiking footwear. Some trails are on rough terrain. Carry water and an energy snack. Wear layers and carry rain gear and a hat as required by conditions. Let Chris know if you have any potential medical issues. RDRN has purchased a spotting scope and tripod. This will be a real asset for long distance observations. \n*RDRN have two birding binoculars that can be borrowed (first come\, first served) by new participants. Binoculars courtesy of a City of Red Deer Community Better ParticipACTION grant. \nCrimson Lake Provincial Park \nCrimson Lake Provincial Park
URL:https://rdrn.ca/event/bird-focus-group-walk-field-trip-26/
CATEGORIES:Bird Focus Group,Field Trip
ORGANIZER;CN="Chris Olsen":MAILTO:olsencdel@gmail.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Edmonton:20260620T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Edmonton:20260621T133000
DTSTAMP:20260521T063506
CREATED:20260424T213916Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260504T210804Z
UID:14672-1781949600-1782048600@rdrn.ca
SUMMARY:Ferry Point Community Camp-out/Birding Field Trip
DESCRIPTION:You are all invited to the Ferry Point Community Camp-out/Birding Field Trip \nExplore the beautiful Battle River Valley June 20 and 21\, 2026. \nLocation: Meet at the Ferry Point Campground near Meeting Creek @ 10:00 a.m. Range Rd 184 north of Twp Rd 434\, Rosalind\, AB T0B 3Y0 \nDuring the weekend\, we will visit several sites\, within the Battle River valley and surrounding uplands and wetlands to observe birds as well as flowers and other plants. Some years we observe more than 70 bird species; many are located close to the campground and Battle River. Some of the highlights of the trip might be Brown Thrasher\, Great Horned Owl\, Mountain Bluebird\, Cliff Swallow\, White-faced Ibis. Judy Boyd and others from the Red Deer River Naturalists will be joining us to share their knowledge and enthusiasm. Dale Leckie\, adjunct professor of Earth\, Energy\, and Environment at the University of Calgary\, will also be joining us to share his expertise throughout the day and into the evening.  \nCome out for a day or the weekend. You have two ways to participate in this trip: \n\nGo out on Saturday and meet at 10:00 a.m. and spend the day\, bring your own lunch and drinks. Judy Boyd will be on hand to help identify species. Following an afternoon of birding\, burgers will be provided by the Red Deer River Naturalists and salads and deserts will be pot luck. Please bring an item to share.\n\n\nGo out on Sunday and meet at the campground at 10:00 a.m. bring your own lunch and drinks. We will travel to 1 or 2 sites to observe birds\, flowers and other wild plants. We will be wrapped up by about 1:30 or so.\n\n\nYou can camp (tents or trailers) overnight at the Ferry Point Campground\, south of the Battle River bridge on Range Road 184. $25.00/night. No electricity or water. No formal activities are planned for Friday evening\, but for those who wish to camp on Friday night\, it is a good time to enjoy the ambience of the Battle River valley and visit with others. Breakfast is provided on Sunday morning.\n\nHost: Judy Boyd 403-358-1098\, please call to confirm attendance. \nBring your binoculars\, hat\, sunscreen\, camera/phone\, insect repellent\, water and energy snack and dress for the weather. \nAll are welcome\, you do not have to be a RDRN member to attend.
URL:https://rdrn.ca/event/ferry-point-community-camp-out-birding-field-trip-3/
CATEGORIES:Bird Focus Group,Field Trip,Flower Focus
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