A Summer in the Boreal Forest...
Photo by Simon Pollard
Share Some Glimpses into the Daily Diary at our Boreal Forest Research Station
Biologists and participants were encouraged to log, every evening their impressions and highlights of the day in the research station journal. These journal entries ranged from daily species lists and ecological observations to emotional and philosophical insights toward indigenous peoples and boreal ecosystems. The journal entries provide unique insight into the feelings of our research scientists at the station. They provide a personal and philosophical glimpse of science, far from the usual scientific papers and reports which summarize and analyze reams of data. Join us now for a few glimpses into the journal and log of our boreal research station and the minds and hearts of those who worked there.
May 23, 1993: The Research station is placed on an Eskimo Curlew alerts due to the large flocks of Golden Plovers in the vicinity. A drive around ploughed fields near the Research Station showed 6 flocks of plovers with a total of 188 individuals. Only one flock contained three Buff-Breasted Sandpipers. Visits to fields and wetlands were highly productive today - ninety (90) bird species seen.
"The day ended
with wolves heard
howling upstream..."
Late Night Entomology Photo by Chris Fisher
Highlights of the Day
1. Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea) A Eurasian species very rare in North America. I saw it well, discerned bill, reddish, white rump. Have seen one previously. Knew it immediately. Probably one of the rarest records for Alberta.
2. One thousand Red-necked Phalarope filled the open water of same marsh en route from ocean to Arctic. What a sight!
3. Twenty species of shorebirds were seen including Long and Short-billed Dowitcher, Baird's, White-rumped, Stilt sandpipers, Killdeer, Semi-palmated plover, both yellowdogs, Solitary, Spotted, Wilson's phalarope, Western, Least, Semi-palmated and Pectoral Sandpipers.
4. Greater Scaup in pond near bridge. Probably will nest. (2nd record for Alberta?)
5. Also seen...Harris Sparrow, Lecontes Sparrow, Virginia Rail (same marsh).
Morning opened with a Rose-Breasted Grosbeak song from a mile across the river. Day ended with
wolves heard howling upstream whiel we cooked on a backyard grill. Wow!
Jim Butler
"I looked into the woods to my right, and there was the biggest black bear I had ever seen!"
June 11-12, 1993...Now comes the exciting part. I was Point 7, sitting down on a fallen
log to write something down. I heard some movement in the woods and thought it was the deer
again. I got up to walk to the next station, and when I looked into the woods to my right,
there was the largest black bear I have even seen. He looked at me and I at him. I continued
moving slowly down the trail and kept looking back at him. He followed me for 200 m and then
slowly sauntered into the woods and out of sight. Boy, did that ever make me happy. So, my
adrenaline is pumping like crazy and at the next point I hear the mystery bird, a call that
sounded like nothing I've ever heard. Well, I decided to track him (or her) down. Forty-five
minutes later, after I've give up 3 times, I'm frustrated. I'm about to walk out of the woods
when it calls again. I looked up at the sky and asked God, " please let me find it." Well, I
found it. I was within 8 feet of a beautiful creature: a winter wren, so tiny and beautiful,
calling at the top of its tiny lings; it brought tears to my eyes. I thanked God right there
for making such a wonderful creature.
Lisa Takats
"Thousands of rose petals arranged on the forest floor in none other than exquisite natural order."
June 21 1993: The summer solstice began today, just as it concluded, on a special note.
I began the day with a birding trip to Big Cove and Little Cove. It was a glorious cool morning
with a fine misty layer of fog on the surface of the Peace and stringers of dense fog cascading
down the river valley. Big Cover is quite different from the others - uniform and open, almost
parklike with occasional pockets of old growth. There are black-throated green warblers here,
still many more species than at on upland site. Little Cove, however, is a real beauty,
especially this morning with the abundant birdlife, fog, mist, Saskatoon dew and thousands
or rose petals arranged on the forest floor in none other than exquisite natural order. The
stand is very diverse with beautiful big trees on the benches and tons and tons of rose. The
air was thick with roses!
Andy Miller
