Adventures for Wilderness, Milk River Ridge: Botany and Birding – Jun. 9, 2023
June 9, 2023
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Text and photos by Lindsey Wallis
Led by Cliff Wallis and Cleve Wershler
As with last year’s trip to the ridge, the weather forecast was looking…spotty at best. But Cliff’s boundless optimism (something that must be required to work in conservation in Alberta for a lifetime) gave the rest of us hope that we might find a few patches of sunshine.
Our “Sunshine Superman” came through, and we were treated to a spectacular day with dramatic prairie skies above and carpets of lush fescue and multi-coloured wildflowers underfoot. The birdsong buoyed the soul as we tramped through meadows to an overlook of Miami Lake, where we found an array of waterfowl and shorebirds. We were also treated to a close up view of White-Winged Scoters, a rarity here and a real treat!
The group was fortunate to run into Audrey, the owner and leaseholder of the lands we adventured on. She has a firecracker personality and for years has been a staunch advocate for conservation of these lands, and a longtime friend of the AWA. It was wonderful to hear her insight on how the land is doing this year. Her enthusiasm for all the creatures that share the prairie with her is infectious. We need more folk like her in the world!
As an extra treat, we had an insect expert along on the adventure. Bette helped us identify the many beetles, bumblebees and grasshoppers we came across. It’s always amazing what we learn from the participants on our adventures!
After a leisurely lunch, we headed back to the vehicles, still dry and with our proverbial buckets overflowing with memories made.
Everyone who knows Cliff is aware they are in the presence of someone special when they have the chance to go out with him on the land. But we just found out that his dedication and hard work in the conservation field have been nationally recognized, with the recent bestowal of the Order of Canada. Congratulations!
