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

Whooping cranes returning to the Canadian prairiesThe first time I watched a pair of whooping cranes lift from a frozen slough near the Saskatchewan border, the air itself seemed to thin. Two white shapes…
Five rare birds worth chasing across the Canadian prairiesThe wide-open grasslands stretching from Alberta through Saskatchewan to Manitoba hold some of North America's most sought-after specialties. For birders used…
A field guide to the sparrows of the prairiesStep out of a hire car on a back road near Brooks or Regina and the silence at first seems absolute. Then, somewhere in a tangle of bluestem and needle grass,…
Turn your land into a bird haven with native treesAcross the country, hobby birdos and seasoned twitchers alike are rediscovering the simple power of planting natives. A single mature eucalyptus can host more…
What owl pellets reveal on a working farmA small grey lump sat on the bag of oats in the back of the ute, and a neighbour laughed when I picked it up. It was a perfect owl pellet. Owls cough up the…
Best birding trails in Manitoba’s Pembina ValleyThe Pembina Valley is one of southern Manitoba’s most rewarding birding areas, where prairie grassland drops into wooded ravines and small creeks. This mixture…
My First Time Seeing a Sprague’s PipitThe prairie looked almost empty that morning. A low wind moved through the grass, bending the seed heads in silver-green waves, while the broad Alberta sky…
How to Tell Plovers and Sandpipers Apart in the FieldShorebirds can look deceptively alike when they are running along a beach, feeding beside a prairie slough, or gathering on a tidal mudflat. Plovers and…
The Sharp-tailed Grouse: A Prairie BalletOn a cool spring morning across Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, the prairie can seem almost empty. Then a group of male Sharp-tailed Grouse gathers on a…
Prairie birding by canoe through rivers and wetlandsA canoe changes the way a birding day unfolds. From the water, reed beds, muddy banks and quiet backwaters become part of the route rather than scenery beside…

// 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.