Beginner Birding Carburn Park -Calgary

We will meet in the main parking lot to embark together on 3 hours of outdoor learning fun enjoying the spectacle of spring migration along the Bow River.  Did you know there have been 251 species of birds recorded in Carburn Park? We will identify as many as we can in this deciduous riverine habitat along the Bow River . We will be looking for returning migratory waterfowl and learning the difference between dabblers and divers. We will learn how to tell a Barrow’s Goldeneye from a Common Goldeneye, and the difference between a Common Merganser and a Red-Breasted Merganser and practice our ID skills on many different ducks that summer here who will be displaying their unique breeding displaying including Buffleheads and Ruddy Ducks. Four different kinds of Swallows have been spotted here in the last week including Violet-green Swallows and Bank Swallows and we will learn how to ID all of them. Did you know there have been 8 different species of Woodpeckers recorded in Carburn Park? We will be on the lookout for our favourite Pileated Woodpeckers and we will detect which Woodpeckers are around based on size and shape of tree cavities and other signs of Woodpeckers. We will discuss the easy way to tell the difference between Downy Woodpeckers and Hairy Woodpeckers. 

We will provide a pair of quality Nikon Binoculars and a comfy binocular harness to use on this walk, a light snack and 3 and a half hours of outdoor learning fun. We will learn the keys to becoming a better beginner birder together, including where to look for what types of birds in the tree canopy, the ethics of birding, how your birding can positively affect birds, field marks, habitat, and migratory species we may see on the forest edges , on the river and flying over head at this time of year. We will slow down together to get up close to nature and take the time to get to know the birds around us. We will tune into the sounds of the forest on the river’s edge and connect with the land in this special place.  We will demo community science apps in the field to ID birds using sound. We will discuss how to use a field guide and how community science apps help birds.  Please dress for the weather, Carburn Park trail is fairly flat but there are a few sloped sections that may require proper footwear, even though mostly paved trails some sections might be muddy. Please bring water , there are public washrooms available at the trailhead. We are proud to be members of Indigenous Tourism Alberta. 

Info: We will meet in the main parking lot at 8:30 AM. Do our land acknowledgement. Time for introductions, hand out binoculars and harnesses. Fit harnesses , adjust binoculars and go for the walk returning back to the parking lot by 11:30 AM. We will have a light snack on the trail.

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