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Here is the second set of pictures that accompany Aaron's history of the LSLBO. See if you can recognize some of these folks! Thank you Aaron for sharing them with us. ![]()
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Lesser Slave Lake Bird Observatory![]()
(LSLBO)![]()
Early History![]()
Aaron A. Lehman![]()
Installment 2 pictures![]()
History is with installment 1
A long-time (and very special) LSLBO member, Aaron Lehman, has been publishing a series of Slave Lake hIstory articles on our local community Facebook page. This week, we were thrilled that he shared some of his experiences and photos from the early days of the Lesser Slave Lake Bird Observatory. ![]()
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Thank you Aaron for being such an intregal part of our society over the past 30 years! Also thank you to Nanci Langford for collecting some of our early society history. ![]()
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Another 3M morning. March, Monday Morning. Another SL history lesson![]()
Lesser Slave Lake Bird Observatory![]()
(LSLBO)![]()
Early History![]()
Aaron A. Lehman![]()
March 22, 2021![]()
In 1991, Frank Fraser, then employed as Park Naturalist/Interpreter at Lesser Slave Lake Provincial Park, was interested in developing programs to engage residents in appreciation of the park’s wildlife. He observed the abundance of migratory land birds visiting the park and became aware that no one was observing and recording this phenomenon. As a local bird enthusiast, I was invited to a meeting at Frank’s apartment with Frank, representing Provincial Parks and Stefan Jungkind and Steven Lane, bird banders from the Beaver Hills Bird Observatory east of Edmonton. Stefan was enthusiastic about the bird research potential of the Slave Lake area as he had already conducted some breeding bird surveys and collected migratory bird data in the area. In September 1992 Stefan sent a letter to Grant Kihn, Ranger in Charge of Lesser Slave Lake Provincial Park, to indicate an interest in setting up a bird banding station. A research application was submitted. In the late spring and summer of 1993, with Stefan as chief bird bander, Frank, Stefan, and Steven Lane set up a ten-day pilot project in the Provincial Park on the eastern shore of Lesser Slave Lake to band land birds and determine the feasibility of setting up a bird observatory in the area. The results were very encouraging, and it was decided that the Lily Creek campsite area in Lesser Slave Lake Provincial Park would be an ideal location for a migratory bird banding station. Migratory birds, especially songbirds tend to travel this corridor, avoiding the lake and Marten Mountain. ![]()
It was 1993 and the start of bird banding history in the Lesser Slave Lake Region. Under the direction and fund-raising efforts of Frank Fraser and the leadership of President Marian Whitby and other volunteers, the group organized and registered the Lesser Slave Lake Bird Observatory. At that time, it was the most northern Bird Observatory in Canada. Bird banding started under the licence of Stefan Jungkind and the Beaver Hill Bird Observatory. Volunteers (I don’t remember them all, so won’t name any) helped clear and set up the net lanes that are still in use.![]()
By the spring of 1994 a certified bander, Jason Duxbury, and an assistant, Lisa Zuberbier, were hired to collect seasonal data on the land bird population. I recall dropping in frequently to watch and help with the banding activities of Jason, and later Steven Lane, a certified bander. At this point, they operated from the tailgate of a station wagon or truck, parked on the old Northshore road near the present banding lab. A picnic table was added to hold the ledger and a spring balance, with a toilet tissue roll was added to weigh the birds. Later, Parks donated a building, and it was moved onto the present site. Today a new, modern building is solar powered, and an electronic balance weighs the birds. ![]()
In 1997 the Lesser Slave Lake group decided to create their own organization and the Lesser Slave Lake Bird Observatory was officially incorporated as an independent society. The founding board was Marian Whitby (Chair), Frank Fraser, Steve Lane, and Stefan Jungkind. Steve Lane became the second chair of the Society, and Bob Deacon was elected to the chair at the Annual General meeting in December 1999.![]()
The organization was founded on two major goals, research, and interpretation/education. Stefan Jungkind stressed the importance of the partnership with Parks and the leadership of June Markwart, in creating a part-time parks position dedicated to the Observatory, and the team building that took place between parks personnel and Observatory volunteers. This created the solid base for the newly independent organization.![]()
The Society has received financial support from forest products companies, corporations, banks, foundations, conservation organizations, families, school clubs, and individuals. Government grants are sought each summer to support student employment. Frank Fraser was the fundraiser for the first seven years and Ronda Groom took over this responsibility in 2001. The fundraiser activities I have been involved with are the Birdathon, the Songbird Festival banquet and the Christmas Bird Count. I think I was the first person to do the Bailie Birdathon. I don’t like asking people for money and at that time my bird identification was limited. Donors could give me whatever they wanted for each bird I recorded. Bailie got a percentage and the LSLBO got their share. I don’t remember, but I think most of my donors were family members and the total amount raised was under $50.![]()
Today, Wayne Bowles and the banders bring in the big bucks on the Great Canadian Birdathon held every spring. Wayne and I have been doing the Christmas Bird Count forever and enjoy the chance to see the backcountry. Wayne and I are involved in the Project Feederwatch program, and we were both volunteer researchers in the Birds of Forested Landscape project, using recordings to attract and observe the activity of the Swainson’s and the Hermit Thrush. I assisted Stefan Jungkind with his spring breeding bird surveys contributing to the Alberta Bird Atlas project and I worked with Jul Wojunowski on the Western Grebe study in Joussard. One time a forestry company asked us to have input on their harvest plan. Steve Lane and I spent a day walking the area and putting up ribbons to mark out the songbird nesting sites. We were happy to help. Later we came back to see the result, only to find the whole area clear cut. A communication problem? ![]()
Another time, the LSLBO was contracted to re-do a previous bird study done in the Slave Lake Forest. Another local volunteer and I accompanied the official birder to find the markers on the old trail and repeat the survey. I was given a forestry jacket with all the bells and whistles and away we went into the bush. The bird expert listened for and identified the birds. I recorded them. At one point in the Marten Hills area, the trail disappeared into a big beaver pond. We had to go around the pond and find the trail on the other side. Basically, we got lost. The Leader said “Where are we? You’re the guide.” I had a compass in the jacket but hadn’t used one for years! I knew the direction we had come from, so I just reversed directions. We blazed a new trail and eventually found the old trail and our cars. Another time we had to blaze a trail straight up the Grizzly Mountain area by the Ski Hill. I often wondered why I had volunteered. I hope the LSLBO made lots of money on the contract.![]()
When the club started the Songbird Festival, I helped organize the fundraising banquets that accompanied the festival. We usually rented the banquet room at the Northwest Inn, invited a guest speaker and Steve Lane provided the piano music. One time Frank tricked me into being the MC. Not my idea of a good time. Eventually the banquet cost more than the money raised so it was discontinued. At first, I helped conduct some of the bird walk tours at the banding lab. but I was more the go-for guy and the one who put up the sign boards around town and took them down again. In the early years this meant navigating the muddy road into Lily Creek where the festival was held. One time a visitor with a truck camper, took a wrong turn and ended up stuck at a well site. Poor sign placement? A tent was used to protect the bird and wildlife displays and promote bird conservation. I also volunteered to help with the pancake breakfast. Now the festival is held at the BCBC (Boreal Centre for Bird Conservation, my next article) and you take a shuttle bus to the banding station. ![]()
I never became an official bird bander, but under the direction of Steve Lane, I learned how to extract birds from the nets. One morning, when I was assisting Steve with the banding operation, we were hit with a migration “fallout”. Hundreds of birds flew into all twelve nets in a short time. All we could do was extract the birds and let them fly, because we were unable to safely band that many birds. I got a lot of extraction practice that day. I still enjoy visiting with the banders and watching them look after the birds.![]()
The current LSLBO Chair is Bob Deacon, Fundraising Director is Ronda Groom, Executive Director is Patti Campsall, and the Bander in Charge is Robyn Perkins. For current information during the banding season, read Robyn’s articles in the Lakeside Leader.![]()
Please report any errors or omissions to me. For a more complete history, e-mail me: ![]()
aaronwl@telus.net or info@lslbo.org![]()
Resource: Nanci Lang![]()
LSLBO Picture installment #1
In honour of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we would like to thank all of the amazing women who have worked at our station, and inspired so many young girls (and boys) to pursue a love of science through their love of birds! Here are just a few of these special people. Thank you from everyone at the LSLBO!