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

How to use your smartphone for bird identification appsSmartphones have become useful field companions for birdwatchers. With the right bird identification apps, a phone can suggest a species, compare calls, save a…
Exploring the Milk River Valley for unique speciesAlong the Alberta–Saskatchewan border, the Milk River Valley combines shortgrass prairie, sagebrush, coulees and river-bottom habitat. These open landscapes…
The Cheshire Cat of Birds: The Western Meadowlark’s SongA Western Meadowlark can be present long before it is visible. Its rich, flutelike whistle rolls across a prairie, rises above the grass, and seems to come…
How to plan a winter camping trip for birdingWinter turns the Canadian prairie into a quiet birding landscape. Snowy owls become easier to find near roads, northern shrikes patrol fence lines, and winter…
Life Bird Moments Across The PrairiesSome bird sightings stay in the notebook, while others become part of the way I remember a landscape. My Top Five Life Bird Moments on the Prairies belong to…
The black-crowned night heron in prairie wetlandsThe Black-crowned Night Heron is one of the prairie wetland’s most secretive residents. During daylight, it often appears stocky and inactive, standing among…
How to Deal With Wind When Birding the PlainsWind is part of the plains experience. Across Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, a calm-looking morning can turn into a stiff crosswind by late morning,…
A Guide To Birding The Assiniboine River CorridorThe Assiniboine River winds through a broad prairie landscape before meeting the Red River in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Along its course, floodplain forest, cattail…
The great gray owl at the prairie edgeA great gray owl can seem almost too large and quiet to be real. Its broad wings, layered facial disc and steady, thoughtful gaze make it one of the most…
How to Create a Water Feature for Birds in Dry AreasA reliable water source can transform a bare yard, farm boundary or bush block into a busy birdwatching site. In dry parts of Australia, even a shallow bird…

// 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.