Helen Schuler Nature Centre
300 Indian Battle Park Road T1J 0P6 Lethbridge, AB, Canada

Due to popular demand we have opened up an afternoon time slot (1:30pm - 3:30pm) for the April & May sessions of Junior Naturalist Club! . Ages 6 to 10 get outside & explore different nature themes every Saturday during each month-long session. . Spring Session Dates:... April: 10, 17, 24, May 1 May: 8, 15, 29 . $40/ 4 week session $30/ 3 week session . Call to Register: 403-320-3064 See more

BIRD OF THE WEEK MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD There is nothing quite as exciting as seeing a flash of Mountain Bluebird blue in March or early April as you drive down the road somewhere. Your first thought is Bluebird! as you slow down and look for someplace to pull over safely so you can turn around and go look for it. Mountain Bluebirds prefer forest edges, grasslands, and agricultural areas. They nest in abandoned woodpecker cavities or natural cavities. They have adapted well t...o nest boxes and there are quite a few bluebird trails established in rural parts of Alberta where volunteers keep track of nesting bluebirds and maintain the nest boxes. Mountain Bluebirds catch flying insects and forage on the ground for beetles, grasshoppers, and other insects. Males are bright blue. Females have blue wings, grayish back, and head with gray underparts. When you see nest boxes along a road, look for bluebirds. Good places to find them are along country roads west of Lethbridge towards the mountains. The Bison Paddocks at Waterton Lakes National Park are a sure bet between early April and mid-August. The Beaver Mines area is also a great place to find Mountain Bluebirds. Botterill Bottom, Cottonwood and Popson Parks in the Oldman River valley are good places to see them during spring migration. Have you seen a Mountain Bluebird yet this year? If so, where? When? Do have any pictures to share? #BirdOfTheWeek #HSNC

Wonder what it would be like to have Nature Centre staff run a family games night from the comfort of your own living room?? . Book your seat in Byte Sized Nature! . Cost: $10.00/family... . Contact us to book this online program! 403-320-3064 . Topic Schedule: January 30 | 1:30-2:15pm Owl Prowl February 06 | 1:30-2:15pm Who Am I? February 16 | 1:00-2:45pm Owl Prowl February 17 | 1:00-2:45pm Who Am I? February 18 | 1:00-2:45pm Rabbit’s Adventure February 19 | 1:00-2:45pm Mystery in the Coulees

BIRD OF THE WEEK WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH White-breasted Nuthatches are year-round residents of Lethbridge, though not quite as common as their cousins the Red-breasted Nuthatch. Males and females are similar in appearance, except the female’s cap is dark gray compared to the male’s black cap. Both have white faces and breasts with blue-gray backs. Sometimes they are rusty-colored towards and under the tail. They feed head-first down trees searching for insects and other fo...od in bark crevices. This gives them the advantage of finding overlooked morsels missed by other birds that work their way up a tree trunk. White-breasted Nuthatches will visit bird-feeders, especially if you have suet, nuts, or black oil sunflower seeds. They like mixed wood forests and aspen/cottonwood forests. White-breasted Nuthatches nest in natural tree cavities and abandoned woodpecker holes in deciduous trees. Good places to find them in the Lethbridge area are the Oldman River valley, Henderson Lake, Nicholas Sheran Park, Fairfield Gardens and Park Lake Provincial Park. Did you know they get their common name from their practice of wedging a sunflower seed or nut into a crevasse of tree bark, then hammer away at it until the seed is hatched from the shell? Have you been lucky enough to notice one of these feeding head-down and wondered what it was.? #BirdOfTheWeek #HSNC

Nature Notes: Waterfowl! Some waterfowl such as mallards and Canada geese overwinter in Southern Alberta. Parts of the Oldman river remain unfrozen, attracting thousands of birds. This in turn attracts hunting bald eagles that migrate here for the winter.

Enjoy the benefits of being OUTSIDE! Challenge yourself to try a "Get Outside 101" activity every week! New challenges will be posted on Facebook every Saturday.... These worksheets are also available on the Nature Centre's website if you would like to print them at home. lethbridge.ca/nature

Night Owls! . Have you ever wondered what goes on in the Nature Reserve after dark? Learn more about these amazing nocturnal predators in this special evening program. Available for a limited time only. . Tuesday or Thursday | 6-7pm... . Book online: http://ow.ly/mf4P50DcMPK See more

A #FactFriday likes to be all warm and snug, too!

Nature Notes: Fallen Antler! In January male deer start shedding their antlers. The shed antlers will be gnawed upon by animals such as mice, rabbits and porcupines. Antlers are an important source of calcium and other vital minerals.

Encore Activity: Get outside 101- Art There are so many things to do outside! Check out these Get Outside 101 activities designed to get your creative juices flowing.... Maps and materials can be found at the kiosk in front of the Nature Centre

Do you want to enjoy nature from the comfort of your home? Join Nature Centre program leaders in a brand new virtual program available for a limited time only! . Contact us to book a Byte Sized Nature program! 403-320-3064

Answer: Northern Flicker Feather Lethbridge is home to 3 kinds of Flickers: Red-shafted Flickers, Yellow-shafted Flickers & Intergrade, which is a hybridization between red & yellow-shafted flickers. PC: K. Moore

BIRD OF THE WEEK DOWNY WOODPECKER Downy Woodpeckers are year-round residents in Lethbridge and all of Alberta. They are the smallest woodpecker found here, measuring only 15-18 cm. in length, a bit smaller than a Robin. Males and females are similar in appearance, with white bellies and backs. Their black wings are barred with white. Both have black crowns and eye lines with a white stripe between. Downy Woodpeckers have short, stubby bills, shorter than the width of thei...r head. Feathered nostrils help filter out sawdust produced while pecking trees They have a mostly black tail with white outer tail feather spotted with black. Males have a red patch on the back of their heads, whereas females do not. Downy Woodpeckers are easily attracted to backyard feeders where suet, peanut butter or shelled nuts are offered. Good places to find them in Lethbridge are Henderson Lake, Mountain View Cemetery, Nicholas Sheran Park, any neighborhood with mature trees and in the Oldman River Valley’s Cottonwood forest. Downy Woodpeckers eat mainly insects and beetle larvae in wood and tree bark. They will also eat berries and grains. Downy Woodpeckers nest in dead trees or dead parts of live trees. They excavate a nest hole, which may take up to three weeks to complete. Did you know, Downy Woodpeckers don’t sing songs? They drum loudly on pieces of wood or metal to get the same effect. So, if you have one drumming on your eavestrough or vent in the spring, it may just a male Downy Woodpecker trying to impress the ladies. Do you have Downy Woodpeckers coming to your backyard feeders? Do you have any pictures or stories to share? #BirdOfTheWeek #HSNC

Join the Nature Centre team at the Play Summit 2021 on February 9! Learn about the benefits of play at this half-day virtual conference that will bring together educators, researchers, parents, students, and policy-makers. Online registration is open until January 29 at lethbridgeplays.ca/summit/... Lethbridge Plays has an amazing afternoon planned, featuring several quick presentations highlighting local PLAY! wins, opportunities, programs, and spaces. Guest speakers include: Dr. Robbin Gibb, Associate Professor in the Department of Neuroscience at the University of Lethbridge. ’Playing Through the Seasons’ - Dr. Beverlie Dietze ‘Play Through Music and Movement’ - Andrew Ichicawa #Lethbridge #yql #DiscoverItHere

Wentzscope Wednesday Answer: Goldenrod Gall Gall flies lay their eggs on goldenrod stems. As the larvae feed, the stem grows around them forming a gall providing food and shelter. Larvae produce a natural antifreeze allowing them to survive even in extreme cold! ... PC: L. Hall

Welcome to Wentzscope Wednesdays! What's under the Wentzscope? We'll reveal the answer at 1pm!

Come down to the Nature Centre to have your Crazy Christmas Photos taken! 2020 has been a crazy year, so why not have fun photos to mark the occasion?

Christmas Craft Kits will be ready for pick up this Wednesday! There are still a few kits left if you would like to get in on the festive fun! Contact the Nature Centre today: 403-320-3064

BIRD OF THE WEEK AMERICAN CROW American Crows are common in Lethbridge from mid-March to late October. Some of them spend the winter here. During the 2018 Lethbridge Christmas Bird Count, 160 American Crows were observed: the highest number in recent history of the count. Crows are intelligent, cautious birds that have adapted quite well to city life. They are inquisitive and at times can be quite mischievous. Crows are problem-solvers and good learners. They are very soci...al and sometimes will gather in the thousands to roost and migrate. Crows can be very aggressive and will mob owls, hawks, and other larger birds they consider a threat. So, if you happen to hear a crow-commotion, check it out. You might be surprised at what you find. Many consider them to be a pest, but they have a place in the scheme of things. Though they look like a Raven, they are quite a bit smaller. Their scientific name is Latin for raven with a small nose. Male and female crows look the same. Did you know a gathering of crows is called a MURDER? Do you have any exciting Crow stories to share? Pictures? Do you remember Peg-Leg? #BirdOfTheWeek #HSNC

Time to refill the #FactFriday bottle #yql

Tis' the Season for Crafting! This year the Nature Centre has prepared festive Christmas Craft Kits so you can enjoy a day of crafting from the comfort of your home! . Each kit will have enough crafts for 4-5 people. . Cost: $25/ kit... . Free Pick up at the Nature Centre or $5 shipping. . Pick-up & shipping begins November 25. . Call to Reserve your Kit Today! 403-320-3064 See more

BIRD OF THE WEEK BROWN CREEPER Brown Creepers are tiny little birds that are almost impossible to find. They blend in perfectly with the bark of trees while they are looking for food. If you see movement out of the corner of your eye when you are near older trees and then can’t find what it was when you look, there is a good chance it was a Brown Creeper. Brown Creepers have an interesting habit when feeding. They usually land at the base of a tree, then spiral their way u...p the trunk looking in bark crevices for spiders and insects. Once they have finished feeding in a tree, they will fly to the base of an adjacent tree and repeat the process. Their bills are well adapted for probing under bark and hard-to-reach places. Brown Creepers have a very high-pitched call that many people can’t hear seee sitsweeda sowit-see or trees trees pretty little trees. Brown Creepers are a permanent resident throughout most of Alberta. The best time to find them in the Lethbridge area is late fall through winter until early spring. Some of the best places to find them are Mountain View Cemetery, Henderson Lake, Fairfield Gardens at the Research Centre or Park Lake Provincial Park. A good way to find them is when you see Black-capped Chickadees feeding, stop and pay attention. Brown Creepers, Nuthatches and other birds travel with Chickadees during the cold months. Did you know the Brown Creeper is the only Creeper found in North America? Have you ever seen one? If so, were you able to take any pictures? #BirdOfTheWeek #HSNC

Beaver are still active throughout the winter. Watch for signs like tracks, slides and chewed sticks along the river bank close to open water. If you are out in the evening you may even get to watch them eating!

Wentzscope Wednesday Answer: Porcupine Foot Pad Porcupines are skilled climbers. They use a combination of long claws and suction cup-like foot pads to climb high up in trees and out to the very end of difficult to reach branches. PC: Al Daiken

DYK? The Nature Centre is offering 1 hour long guided fieldtrips! Join one of our education staff & discover the amazing plants & animals found right here in Lethbridge! Book your tour today: --> September Field Trips can be booked online at: https://leisure.lethbridge.ca//pub/Category/ClassSchedule... --> October (and beyond) Field Trips can be booked by phoning us at 403-320-3064 #DiscoverItHere #Lethbridge #yql

Good news for us, Owls cannot give side eye to #FactFridays

Great news!! There are 2 weekend spots available for our Fall Family Fieldtrips! Book your spot online for Sept 19 or 20: https://leisure.lethbridge.ca//pub/Category/ClassSchedule

The rooftop garden at the Nature Centre is the perfect place to celebrate your wedding day! . Enjoy views of the surrounding landscape & historic High Level Bridge. . Book your rooftop wedding today! ... Contact the Nature Centre for more information. . . . Photo Credit: JD Neudorf Photography See more

BIRD OF THE WEEK SWAINSONS HAWK Swainsons Hawks are the most abundant hawk found in the Lethbridge area between mid-April and September. It is not uncommon to see them sitting on street lights along Scenic Drive or the Crowsnest Highway waiting patiently for an unwary rodent to be their next meal. You will often see them soaring on thermals above the Oldman River valley. They will also eat snakes, small birds, and larger insects like grasshoppers. Some of them nest in Le...thbridge neighborhoods and can be quite aggressive in defending their nest and nestlings. Swainsons Hawks can be challenging to identify sometimes since there can be many variations in their plumage from light-phase to dark-phase, recently fledged, first, second-year and mature birds. In flight the back half of their wings are dark compared to the front half. Also when perched, the wing tips reach to the end of the tail. Swainsons Hawks will usually let you take a picture or two, whereas Red-tailed Hawks will most likely take off as soon as you stop your vehicle or get anywhere near them. A pair of nesting Swainsons Hawks will eat hundreds of gophers during the nesting season. Females are generally bigger than males. Swainsons Hawks migrate as far south as the southern tip of South America, farther than any other Alberta hawk. Did you know that a group of them is called a kettle of hawks? Have you seen any this year? Do you have any stories or pictures to share? #BirdOfTheWeek #HSNC

We are honoured to be recognized by Allied Arts Council Lethbridge with the AACE Service Organization Award at the Mayors Celebration for Business and the Arts ! Thank you to our community of artists, partners, and volunteers who share their amazing talent with visitors to the Nature Centre! Learn more about our commitment to the arts in the award ceremony available online - starting at ~44:00 ... #DiscoverItHere #Lethbridge #yql https://youtu.be/FB6dQ7OOtq0?t=2640

If you shout, we might be able to hear you over the #FactFriday #yql

Flowers that bloom late in the growing season are important food sources for native pollinators, like bumblebees. . Make sure to grow plants that bloom at different times of year, so that pollinators always have something to feed on! . Video: Nevada Bumblebee on Blazing Star.

Spider webs are fascinating! Spiders spin webs in the best places to catch their dinner. How many different types can you see on your walks? Did you find any funnel webs?? Visit the Nature Centre for more information! ... #RiverValleyReport #DiscoverItHere #yql

Ask your burning questions about snakes in Lethbridge to local snake expert Ken Moore!

Dont miss out on this amazing 3-day Watercolour Workshop with local artist Karina Mak! There are only a few spots left. . September 13, 20 & 27 | 1:30pm - 4:00pm . Cost $135.00 | Ages 16+ | All materials will be provided.... . Classes will take place inside & outdoors. . Call the Nature Centre to register: 403-320-3064 See more

There is ONLY 1 SPOT left in the September session of the Junior Naturalists Club! . Call the Nature Centre to register! 403-320-3064 .... Saturdays | 10:00AM-NOON . Session 1: Sept 12 | 19 | 26 | Oct 3 . Ages 6 to 10 | $40 per session See more

Join local artist Karina Mak & take your appreciation for nature a step further with this 3 day introduction to watercolour painting workshop. . Gain the tools you need to turn the inspiration you find outside into wonderful watercolour paintings. . September 13, 20 & 27 | 1:30pm - 4:00pm... . Cost $135.00 | Ages 16+ | All materials will be provided. . Classes will take place inside & outdoors, please dress for the weather. . Call the Nature Centre to register: 403-320-3064 See more

BIRD OF THE WEEK OSPREY Ospreys arrive in southern Alberta early to mid-April and leave by late September. They can be found along the Oldman River valley between Pavan Park and Cottonwood Park, usually patrolling the river hunting fish, or sitting in a tree above the river watching for fish. They are also spotted hunting at Henderson Lake, Nicholas Sheran and Sunridge Park. One must be somewhat lucky to observe them, but they are there. Other places more reliable are St. ...Mary Reservoir, Waterton National Park Boundary along Hwy. 5, and Beauvais Lake Prov. Park. Sometimes they are found at Park Lake Prov. Park. Both sexes are similar in appearance with brown upper-parts, white underparts, a dark eye-line and white crown. Males have an all-white throat, whereas females have a fine, dark necklace. Their nests are made of sticks and they will nest on man-made nesting platforms. Osprey feed primarily on fish and are master fishermen, averaging at least one fish for every four dives. Success rates as high as 70% have been recorded. Osprey prefer to fish in shallow water. Their feet are especially adapted for hanging on to slimy fish with two toes forward, two back and barbed pads on the soles of the feet. Osprey always position a caught fish head first when flying with it. Did you know an Osprey may live to be 15 to 20 years old? In a lifetime, they may fly more than 250,000 km in migration. Have you seen them at any of the Lethbridge parks or along the Oldman River this year? Share your story or pictures with us. #BirdOfTheWeek #HSNC

Slow down for wildlife! At this time of year baby rattlesnakes, known as neonates, are migrating towards hibernaculum (den site) where they will brumate (similar to hibernation). This poor young snake was clipped by a bicycle on a local trail. If you keep your eyes open and your speed down, you may be privileged to see one skitter across the trail in front of you. ... #RiverValleyReport #DiscoverItHere #Lethbridge #yql

If I read the schedule correctly, a #FactFriday should be arriving right about now #yql

Visit the Nature Centre & explore this brand new art exhibit by Colin Starkevich! Colin Starkevich is an Alberta artist whose muse is the Grasslands region of Canada. After a 3 day trip to in the Alberta Grasslands in 2009, he fell in love with the region and knew then that he would spend much of his life painting this place & its wild inhabitants. This exhibition shows a handful of recent work in The Grassland Series showcasing a combination of the 3 different styles Colin ...works in Fine art paintings, plein air paintings, and plein air erratic drawings. The Grassland Series is designed to raise the awareness of the beauty of this fragile ecosystem while supporting conservation efforts within this region. www.colinandthegrasslandseries.com

Explore the Cottonwood Forest on one of our guided Nature Fieldtrips. . Discover the only native tree species found in Lethbridge & learn more about the creatures that depend on this cottonwood forest. . Book your fieldtrip today!... . http://ow.ly/4qtT50B513Q See more

There are still a couple of spots left in the Junior Naturalists Club! . Get outside & explore different nature themes every Saturday during a four week session: . Saturdays | 10:00AM-NOON... . Session 1: Sept 12 | 19 | 26 | Oct 3 . Ages 6 to 10 | $40 per session . Call to Register: 403.320.3064 See more

BIRD OF THE WEEK RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD Hummingbirds are not normally found in the Lethbridge area. However, during fall migration which may start as early as mid-July, they can show up at a feeder or your flowerbeds. Ruby-throated Hummingbirds cross the Gulf of Mexico and fly up the eastern seaboard during spring migration. They enter Alberta from the SE, usually north of Red Deer and spend their summers in north-central Alberta. They can be regular visitors to feeders... in places like Lac La Biche, Edmonton and Slave Lake. Most adults reverse the trip south the way they came, so most Ruby-throated Hummingbirds seen in the Lethbridge area will be immature, first-year birds. They look like females in most cases. Generally, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have tiny, long bills; iridescent, emerald green backs, with light underparts, light buffy flanks and dark tails. Males have an iridescent, ruby red throat with a black chin. Females and immature have a white chin with fine streaking on the throat. Ruby-throated Hummingbirds weigh less than a quarter. They are capable of reaching speeds of up to 100 kmph with a wing-beat of 75 times per second. Hummingbirds primary source of food is nectar from flowers, but they will eat small insects and sap. Red seems to be a favorite color to get their attention. You can consider them to be pollinators, just like bees. In Lethbridge, mid to late July is the time to consider putting out your hummingbird feeder, if you have one. Putting them up in the spring or early summer is a waste of time. Make sure it is in the shade and you change it regularly, so it doesnt spoil. One-part table sugar to four parts water is the correct mix. Red food dye should not be added. Most hummingbirds have passed through our area by the end of August, but it wont hurt to leave your feeder up until mid-September just in case there are any late migrants passing through. Did you know a Ruby-throated Hummingbirds migration across the Gulf of Mexico is a non-stop journey of more than 1000 km? Have you seen any hummingbirds recently? Did you take any pictures you would like to share? #BirdOfTheWeek #HSNC

Looks like we found another #FactFriday splashing in the water #yql

What are you seeing outside? On your next walk keep a tally of how many different species you see. How many are familiar to you? How many are unfamiliar? Let us know! #DiscoverItHere #nature #observations #HSNC #yql

Great News! JR. NATS IS BACK! WITH A NEW FORMAT! . Get outside & explore different nature themes every Saturday during a four week session: . Saturdays | 10:00AM-NOON... . Session 1: Sept 12 | 19 | 26 | Oct 3 . Ages 6 to 10 | $40 per session . Call to Register: 403.320.3064 See more

BIRD OF THE WEEK YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD Yellow-headed Blackbirds can be found almost anywhere in southern Alberta where there are cattail marshes. They usually arrive in mid-April and stick around until September. Good places to find them in the Lethbridge area are Elizabeth Hall Wetlands, Nicholas Sheran Park, Jail Lake, Tyrrell Lake, Stirling Lake and Park Lake Prov. Park. Males have bright yellow heads (hence their name) with contrasting black bodies and white wing-bars... that are very evident in flight. Females are dark brown with subdued yellowish breast, throat and eyebrow with a bit of yellow in the face. Males have one of the most obnoxious, grating voices in the bird world that only a female of its kind can appreciate. So, if you are ever in a marshy area and hear a sound that is like a brassy Aarrrrrrchh or something like that, it is probably a male Yellow-headed Blackbird serenading the ladies. Yellow-headed Blackbirds nest in cattails or shoreline shrubs and lay anywhere from 3 to 5 eggs. They eat seeds, beetles, snails, dragonflies and other insects. Did you know Yellow-headed Blackbirds return later in spring and leave earlier in fall than many other kinds of blackbirds? Where have you seen them in your travels? Do you have any pictures to share? #BirdOfTheWeek #HSNC

Theres a full #FactFriday on the horizon #yql

Its a great day to go for a walk! The early signs of fall are on the trails. Grass is curing, leaves are beginning to change colour, and the fawns spots are fading. What changes have you noticed? #RiverValleyReport #DiscoverItHere #yql

Construction continues on the Co-Op Community Classroom today! This morning our resident long tailed weasel stopped by to inspect the progress. Likely a little confused as to what has happened to part of their hunting grounds!! Please do not follow the weasel into the construction site! Be safe and give crews lots of room as they prepare the site #yql... More update to come as the project progresses

Constructions begins today on the Co-Op Community Classroom! Please be safe and give crews lots of room as they prepare the site #yql Thanks to our amazing project supporters for making this improvement possible! ... South Country Co-op (Co-Op Community Spaces), TD Friends of the Environment Foundation, City of Lethbridge- City Hall, Community Foundation of Lethbridge and Southwestern Alberta, Friends of the Helen Schuler Nature Centre Society, Lethbridge Auto Dealers Association, Alberta Real Estate Foundation, Oldman River Chapter- Trout Unlimited Canada, and MANY more amazing donors and contributors!!! More updates to come as the project progresses

Birds, Birds, Birds! is one of the NEW fieldtrip topics being offered this summer! . Discover some of the amazing birds that can be found right here in Lethbridge. . Book your fieldtrip today!... . lethbridge.ca/nature See more

BIRD OF THE WEEK GRAY CATBIRD Have you ever been walking along a nature trail in the river bottom and thought you heard a cat meowing? Well dont worry, it is not a lost cat but most likely a Gray Catbird. They sound just like a cat, but that is just one of the many sounds they make. Catbirds are dark gray overall, with a black cap and rusty-colored undertail. Both sexes look the same. Gray Catbirds are hard to find, as they are quite secretive and prefer thick, dense thic...kets of shrubs. They can be found almost anywhere along the Oldman River Valley between mid-May and mid-September. Elizabeth Hall Wetlands, Indian Battle Park, Botterill Bottom Park, Pavan Park and Helen Schuler Nature Reserve are good places to look for them. Gray Catbirds eat berries, beetles, grasshoppers, moths, and caterpillars. Did you know Gray Catbirds do not inhabit coniferous forests? Have you seen one of these interesting birds? Tell us about it. Do you have any pictures to share? #BirdOfTheWeek #HSNC