Education is the focus of new project soon to be undertaken at the Alberta Birds of Prey Centre in Coaldale.
Under picture perfect skies, including a spontaneous pelican aerial show, Lethbridge MP Rick Casson announced $100,000 for the centre and another $44,500 for the Alberta Riparian Habitat Management Society, commonly known as Cows and Fish. The funding comes from Environment Canada’s EcoAction Community Funding Program.
“What Colin has done here is incredible,” said Casson in his opening remarks last Thursday morning in praise of the centre’s managing director Colin Weir. “He’s a credit to our community and southern Alberta.”
On the lawn of the centre, framed by the wetlands in the background, Casson outlined how the new project will have a measurable impact on the environment as it aims to preserve the wetlands in the area of the wildlife rescue and environmental learning facility.
The funds will be used to protect and enlarge wildlife habitat while preserving and enhancing the wetlands.
Weir said it’s hard to image 20 to 25 years ago that the area now occupied by the centre and the wetlands was a cultivated field. He added it just goes to show what can be accomplished when everyone works together on a project that benefits the environment, birds of prey and the local municipality.
Not only does the centre provide species conservation it also fosters environmental learning. He said even though water is a precious resources there are not a lot of opportunities for people to learn about ways to protect this resource.
In addition to stabilizing portions of the eroded wetland shoreline, planting native trees and shrubs, the project will also see the installation of nest structures and interpretive signs.
“This is really a multi-use site.”
Weir said hopefully when people visit the centre and walk the trails they will learn about water management and will take the ideas they see put into practise back to their own property.
“Without this funding our islands might be eroded away completely.”
The centre’s site was hard hit this spring and summer by Mother Nature and was actually delayed in its seasonal opening.
“It’s been slowly coming back to normal.”
The centre is open seven days a week from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. until about Sept. 10 but it may extend an additional week if the fall weather cooperates.
Cows and Fish will also be using their funding for education. Under the heading Building Riparian Stewardship, Program Manager Norine Ambrose said the focus will be on engaging the public through community and watershed-wide meetings, presentations, field days, youth events and workshops.
She said obviously wetlands are important and educational opportunities will help foster an understanding of why they are important and what can be done to maintain them.
Her group works with landowners and community groups in a proactive manner.
“We work by invitation.”
Their focus is on education and they are eager to work with anyone who is interested in riparian education and action plans.
“We want people to call us.”
Cows and Fish have been around as an organization for close to 20 years and have been focused on helping people to understand the impact their actions have on the landscape. It’s an issue that is not really talked about in school or given much attention but in a general sense people know it is important.
“That’s what stewardship is all about, caring for the landscape.”