Kim

Frank Lake is nearby my house (south of Calgary, Canada) and hosts thousands of migratory birds through April/May. Alas, is it now closed to people due to COVID, but I think the birds might prefer it that way. And we do benefit from the birds that venture outside the major sloughs. I've seen flocks of 40-50 Trumpeter and Tundra Swans flying north at dawn. The small lake and slough in town are now filling with common mergansers, common goldeneyes, shovelers, mallards, American widgeons and green-winged teals (thanks to the "Where's the White" article for helping me tell them apart), a gadwall and lonely bufflehead, plus a killdeer on the irrigation canal and a beaver in the river (!). There's a great blue heron rookery, so we see those majestic birds out on the hunt in the morning, and the osprey has returned to the nesting platform by the river. Most impressive sights have been the mature bald eagle that was in a nearby three this morning and the Great Grey Owl being harassed by the crows a couple of days ago. I hate that we can't visit the mountains and Frank Lake right now, but it's given me such great perspective on the wealth and diversity that's there if you pay attention. Thanks for this course and the Cornell website for deepening our learning and enjoyment. I've been exploring with my granddaughter during our computer home-schooling, and we've loved it.