Ellis Bird Farm, 2018 - a photo on Flickriver

Ellis Bird Farm, 2018

Still not able to get out for new photos, so I am adding another five photos from my archives. If I wrote a description under a previously posted photo taken on the same outing, I will add it to this evening's uploads.

I had hoped over the Easter weekend to be able to go and see how I managed with driving my car. Also, yesterday, I had to call the AMA to come and boost my car battery, as I couldn't start my car. I knew it would be very painful (sciatic nerve or maybe bursitis, I think). So, this afternoon, after not leaving home at all in the last four weeks (!), I drove just as far as my local grocery store to pick up a few items that the delivery service is unable to bring. Thankful to be able to hang on to the shopping cart for stability. Such a relief to know that I now have all that I need for the next week, as I won't be leaving home at all, especially thanks to the weather forecast. However, we desperately need every bit of moisture we can get.

"Alberta’s wildfire season typically runs from March 1st to October 31st, but on February 20th, Alberta’s forestry minister declared an early start to the wildfire season, The Weather Network reports (4-1-24).

Alberta currently has 57 wildfires burning, 50 of which have been burning underground since 2023. All but one of these 57 fires are either being held or are under control. One fire north of Slave Lake is listed as “out of control” and has burned an estimated 54 hectares so far." From the FEA website, posted on 2 April 2024.

"On 4 June 2016, I had the chance to visit somewhere that I had longed to go to for years - the Ellis Bird Farm. This was thanks to the annual Nature Calgary Bus Trip, which goes to a different location each year. Then, yesterday, 7 July 2018, I got the chance to visit this unique place again, thanks to Jackie and Brenda, who organized a trip for a group of about 13 (?) friends/birders/photographers.

The drive from Calgary to the Ellis Bird Farm took us about two hours. When we arrived, we were greeted by a long line of bird nest boxes along the fence line. Within the farm area, there were even more nest boxes - everywhere! People send them from all over the province, even from overseas. I believe the Farm has the largest collection of outdoor boxes in the world - 300+!

Myrna Pearman, who has been "at the helm of Ellis Bird Farm for the past 30 years", knew we were coming and we were treated to a very special viewing of Purple Martins at various stages, from eggs to adult, To do this, she lowered some of the Purple Martin condominiums and let us peer inside. After a short talk about the Farm, we explored every corner, taking a break for lunch, sitting outside, at the Cafe. A few of us had reserved a table, which is a good idea, as the Farm can get very busy with visitors.

The main attraction at the Farm are the beautiful Purple Martins, uncommon in Alberta, though there are so many other things to see, as well. Purple Martins are very social birds, who apparently like people too, and nest in condominium-style nest boxes. They spend "most of the year in the Amazon rainforest in Brazil and come up to Alberta just long enough to raise a family."

"Ellis Bird Farm made science history on Tuesday May 31 2016 (?) when University of Manitoba Grad Student, Alisha Ritchie, and her EBF team (Cheyenne Knight, Claudia Lipski and Myrna Pearman) retrapped a very special yearling Purple Martin. This bird had been retrofitted with a light level geolocator last season, as a nestling, and is the first songbird EVER(!) to be tracked on its first migration. The bird had evaded several attempts to trap it, so it has been named Houdini."

Information about their Purple Martin Geolocator Program:

www.ellisbirdfarm.ca/purple-martin-geolocators.html

""Ellis Bird Farm is both a non-profit company and a working farm. It was established in 1982 to carry on the legacy of Lacombe-area conservationists, Charlie and Winnie Ellis, when their farm was purchased by Union Carbide Canada Ltd. At the time, Charlie and Winnie operated one of the largest bluebird trails in Canada and had established their farmstead as a haven for wildlife.

The Ellis family of Parkenham, Ontario, came west in 1886 to settle on a ranch near Calgary. Their son John, then a teenager, was married in 1894 to Agnes Clark who had come west from Ontario in 1888 to teach school. They lived near Calgary until 1906 when they moved with their family of four children to a quarter section homestead in the Joffre district. In 1907 they built a two-storey frame house and subsequently enlarged the farm by the purchase of an additional five quarters.

After John and Agnes passed away in the early 1950s, two of their children, Charlie and Winnie, took over the farm operations. And about this same time, Charlie began a project that was to dominate the rest of his life; he set out his first nesting box for the Mountain Bluebirds." From Ellis Bird Farm website.

www.ellisbirdfarm.ca/

Many thanks to Shirley, for driving the four of us to and from the Farm. Thank you for picking me up, Pam, to get me over to the meeting place. Beautiful weather and great company made for a super day. Have to say, too, that it was great to get away from the city, where the Calgary Stampede is in full swing."

Taken on: July 7, 2018

Tags:

Alberta

Canada

N of Red Deer

farm

pond

hut

shed

blue

attractive

lake

water

flowers

outdoor

summer

7 July 2018

Panasonic

Lumix

FZ200

FZ200#4

annkelliott

Anne Elliott

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Sets appears in: • Trip to Ellis Bird Farm, 7 July 2018 • Ellis Bird Farm

Groups appears in: • Panasonic FZ series • PHOTOGRAPHERS OF CANADA more » • Just me and my camera ! • Panasonic Lumix Lovers • Panasonic LUMIX FZ28/FZ38/FZ40/FZ47/FZ100/FZ150/FZ200/FZ70 • Panasonic FZ 200 - Successor to the FZ 150 « less

Camera: Panasonic DMC-FZ200, f/4.0, 1/1000 sec, 9.9mm, ISO 100 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Panasonic DMC-FZ200
Aperture:	f/4.0
Exposure Time:	0.001 sec (1/1000)
Focal Length:	9.9mm
ISO:	100
Exposure Bias:	+0.33 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Program AE
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Adobe Photoshop Elements 12.0 Windows
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