Welcome to Prairie Birder — birding from the Alberta prairies
Prairie Birder
Wide prairie landscape with tall grasses and a distant slough under a big open sky, muted golds and soft blues
// Welcome

A personal birding blog by Charlotte, documenting sightings across the Alberta prairies — from annual species lists to conservation updates and resources for young birders.

Posts

A beginner's guide to prairie bird habitatsPrairie bird habitats are broad, open landscapes rather than a single type of country. Across the Canadian prairies, they include short-grass and mixed-grass…
Five Alberta birding destinations worth the flightAlberta offers an unusually broad birding journey, from prairie potholes and alkaline lakes to mountain valleys and cottonwood-lined coulees. A single trip can…
Best binoculars for birding in wide open fieldsChoosing binoculars for birding in wide open fields is a different exercise from choosing a pair for a shaded woodland trail. The challenge is not simply…
Identifying Common Sparrows Across the Canadian PrairiesAcross Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, grassland sparrows can be surprisingly difficult to separate. A brown bird slips behind a fence post, shows a…
First steps to birding on a prairie farmA prairie farm rewards patience. Barn swallows dip along field edges, songbirds call from shelterbelts, and geese track the horizon beyond the stubble. The…
Prairie birds in a changing climateGrassland birds live in the open, where changes in soil, snow or insect timing can alter a breeding season. The future of prairie birds in a changing climate…
How to identify shorebirds in non-breeding plumageAustralian waders can look remarkably plain outside the breeding season. Northern visitors such as godwits, knots and sandpipers replace crisp breeding colours…
Prairie Birding Etiquette: Respect the Land and NestsBirdwatching is at its best when the observer leaves a place as calm and healthy as they found it. On a Canadian prairie farm, that may mean keeping to a mown…
Franklin's Gull plumage variations through an Australian lensOn a misty morning at a wetland beside my southern Alberta farm, a small gull perched on a fence post. Its black hood, red-and-black bill and compact shape…
The Ducks That Overwinter in Southern ManitobaMost waterfowl on Manitoba’s prairies are migrants in autumn, but a small assemblage stays through the deep cold. Mallards anchor the scene, while hardy divers…

// Latest Posts

Small bird perched on a bare branch against a pale sky

Birding News #95 — Holiday Edition

December 2014
Close-up of a bird nest atop a bare tree against blue sky

Great Canadian Birdathon 2016 Results

May 2016
Two storks standing on a twig nest on a wooden platform under grey sky

Tofield Snow Goose Chase

April 2016
Dried sunflower head on a stalk in snow beneath evergreen branches

Giveaway Winner — Best Places to Bird in the Prairies

April 2018
View all posts →

Alberta Bird Lists →

Annual species lists from 2011 through 2018, tracking every bird spotted across the province.

Bird Conservation →

Citizen science projects, the Great Canadian Birdathon, and the WildResearch Alberta Nightjar Survey.

Birding Events →

Coverage of the Tofield Snow Goose Chase, Young Naturalists' Corner, and community gatherings.

Young Birder Resources →

Christmas Bird Count guides, CBC4Kids materials, and resources for new birders of all ages.

Explore the site

Whether you're looking for detailed Alberta species records, tips on bird identification, or news from the birding community, there's something here for every prairie bird enthusiast.

The Alberta Birds section archives year-by-year species counts — from 131 species in 2011 to a high of 175 in 2015. The Conservation category covers volunteer surveys and citizen science opportunities. Events highlights community involvement, and the Resources section is built especially for young birders getting started.

Check out the Birding News series for curated links and stories, or browse book reviews covering field guides and prairie birding literature from publishers like Greystone Books.