North American educators unite for birds

(TC Media) — Leading environmental educators are migrating to Saskatchewan in June.

From June 5 to 9, experts of birds that migrate between Saskatchewan, Utah and Mexico will study the Saskatchewan Lakes that are temporary homes to over 25 to 30 species.

“We are trying to work together across borders to help protect habitat for our migratory birds,” said Lacey Weekes, Nature Saskatchewan conservation and education manager. “We need to work with other countries as well and make sure that we are all working together for the same cause, because our birds move. They don’t stay in one area.”

The educators will be visiting Reed Lake, Old Wives Lake and Chaplin Lake, which are of great importance to shorebird and water bird species, including the endangered piping plover and Sanderlings. These two species are the most common bird on the West Chaplain Lake, which is seven times saltier than the ocean.

Attracting birds to the lake are brine shrimp, explained Terry Mattern, education outreach facilitator, interpreter at the Chaplin Nature Centre.

“Because they are in there by the millions these shorebirds come and they feast away on these shrimp,” Mattern explained. “That’s the same in Salt Lake in Utah. You find the same variety of shrimp.”

Educators from the three countries will also attend the Chaplin Shorebird Festival & Fundraiser on June 7. The two-day event will give the public a chance to visit Chaplain Lake and tour the area. Also, the day will feature a live auction and a beef supper.

The Chaplin Nature Centre has been running for 17 years and aims to bring at- tention to the 200 breeding pairs of shorebirds that frequent the lake annually.

The centre operates seven days a week, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., from May long weekend until Labour Day.

“We take 10 passengers or so and go out for a couple hours to view plovers and all the other showbirds on the lake,” said Mattern before adding that there is also a ton to see at the nature centre, including dioramas of birds, videos and displays.

For more information on the festival or to book a tour visit www.chaplintourism.com or call 306 3952770.