Adventures for Wilderness, City Nature Challenge at Big Hill Spring — April 27, 2024

April 27, 2024

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• Adventures for Wilderness
• Events
• Wildwater

Photos and text by Lindsey Wallis

We were thrilled to have approximately 20 folks, including a gaggle of children out to collect data at Big Hill Springs Provincial Park as part of the 2024 City Nature Challenge. We got an early start and were lucky to see swans, as well as a number of other waterfowl in the small pond that also is home to a new beaver castle!

The kids were excited to begin the “scavenger hunt”! City Nature Challenge had provided checklists to give the kids (and adults) some ideas of things to look for. During the hike, participants could record observations on iNaturalist with their phones, which could be used for future research by scientists around the world. There weren’t any flowers out along the creek yet, but we did find spiders, pussy willows, lichen, and an incredible rock with a plethora of marine fossils embedded in it. We didn’t see any moose or coyote but we did find evidence of their passing in the form of scat.

Gerry Bietz, from Big Hill Creek Preservations Society joined us to talk about their work to protect the creek and springs from a number of gravel mines set to be developed just outside the park boundary. The concern is that the mining will disturb the groundwater and impact the springs, which are recognized as nationally significant. You can read more about their work here: Gravel Mines Pose Risks | Bighill Creek Preservation Society

We were also thrilled that Helen Pike from CBC Calgary came along to talk with Gerry and myself about the event. You can watch her story on the CBC website (at the 11 minute mark). It is so important to raise awareness about the threats to some of our favourite places, that most folks who come and enjoy this park don’t even know about.

We returned to the picnic area where the springs flow year-round and green grass can be seen, even in the winter time. Many families were enjoying the area on a sunny spring day. We hadn’t seen any flowers yet, and it just doesn’t feel like spring until you have seen the first prairie blossoms, so we headed up to the sunny, south facing slope where the earliest flowers often show up. And there they were, joyous purple crocuses dotting the hillside along with sunny cinqfoils, asters and phlox. A perfect ending to the morning, and some great observations to add to the City Nature Challenge.