Jane’s Walks Calgary – AWA connects Calgarians with nature in their city
May 2, 2026
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Text and photos by Sara Hereema, Cameron Hunter and Kennedy Halvorson
Carolyn Fisher and Kennedy Halvorson led a keen group of artists through a sketching adventure centred around our watersheds at St Patrick’s Island on the afternoon of May 1.
We had a full crowd join us Friday May 1 after work at Fish Creek Provincial Park. We started the evening off by wandering slowly along the river and wetlands, where we listened for birds and were lucky to spot three of our woodpecker species: the pileated, hairy, and downy, within just a few minutes of each other. We spotted other species too, like belted kingfishers, osprey, and red-winged blackbirds. Native bees buzzed around us, just waking up from their long winter sleep. Lindsey showed us where the bank swallows nest each year, and how some of these areas have been damaged from erosion over time.
As we continued along the trail, we discussed some of the native vegetation in the area and how they have been restoring some of the native grasses that were lost from the park. Lindsey highlighted the work AWA did to try to preserve Ricardo Ranch, the largest intact wetland remaining in the city, in the face of development, and the consequences we will end up facing if we keep deciding to develop on floodplains.
We took the time to connect with the land using all of our senses, reminding us how important it is to slow down and look around while we’re in nature. Luckily, the beavers showed up right on time as we crossed back over the bridge on our way back. As we watched them busying themselves with work, we learned about how essential they are for changing and creating landscapes that other species rely on.
On May 2, Alberta Wilderness Association’s Cameron Hunter, alongside the Weaselhead Preservation Society, the lead a Jane’s walk in Weaselhead Natural Area. We oriented the walk around birds, with the hope of seeing some of the early migrants that can be found in the park in early may.
We met at 8:00am and started out introductions as we waited for a few more anticipated arrivals. Land acknowledgements followed, and a bit of history of the park and recent impacts from the ring-road were briefly spoken about by Ray Hawkins, a volunteer for the Weaselhead preservation society and local naturalist who came along to share his local knowledge of the area.
As we descended into the park, we were met with some of the song of Calgary’s official bird, the black-capped chickadee, followed by a few song sparrows singing along the waters edge as we approached the bridge over the Elbow River; where we watched common goldeneyes displaying to their potential mate for the season. The morning was quite still, and there felt as if there was a rest in the migration of birds in the area. The attendees we had were all lovely and kept conversations alive as we strolled along the Elbow River’s edge, listening for new species of birds and learning more and more about Weaselhead from Ray as he told of the trends of wildlife loss he has noticed ever since the construction of the ring road. A conversation was sparked by the newly constructed homes overlooking us and the river from recent residential developments on the northern perimeter of the park.
A few early migrants did show us their feathery faces, red-wing blackbirds sang in the reeds across river and American widgeons whistled and drifted lazily further into the oxbow away from our binoculars. We were graced with some nice views of a least chipmunk while a trio of downy woodpeckers fluttered in the trees above, actively chasing each other from branch to branch. We shared stories of some of our favourite places to go birding, walk and be in nature as we walked back to the parking lot. The cliff swallows had not returned, as of today they have most likely returned and are prepping and repairing their muddy abodes under the Glenmore pathway pedestrian bridge, and Calliope hummingbirds are likely back in the park, mustering their energy to rear more young as the days are increasingly filled with warmth and light. We finished walking, and arrived at the parking lot, where some stuck around to discuss with local canvassers about ongoing petitions, and others exchanged information about places to go birding and explore in the future as birds continue to arrive.
