Album Medicine River Wildlife Centre from Anne Elliott

Night-flowering Catchfly / Silene noctiflora

nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) — Fri, 17 Apr 2015 12:43:08 +0000

This (poor quality) photo was taken at the Medicine River Wildlife Centre, a long drive NW of Calgary, when we spent the day botanizing the forest and meadows there on 4th July 2010. Posting it as a reminder to check if this flower goes by another name. I can't remember if Night-flowering Catchfly is the same as Campion. No, it is a different Silene species.

www.agriculture.gov.sk.ca/Default.aspx?DN=210c55d8-7f5a-4...

Love their deep, dark eyes

nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) — Thu, 24 Oct 2013 05:10:26 +0000

Anne Elliott has posted:

I happened to come across this old photo from my archives recently, and decided to post it tonight. It was taken on 4 July 2010, when a few of us spent the day botanizing at the Medicine River Wildlife Centre, a long drive N of Calgary. The reason I thought I would post it now is that I was out this evening at a really excellent talk on Owls, given by Dr. Gordon Court, Provincial Wildlife Status Biologist for the Fish and Wildlife Division. He brought along a little injured Barred Owl - a bird Ambassador - for us to see. I think this is the same bird that I saw a few years ago, when I went to a talk at the University of Calgary. The cutest thing, who just sat the whole time, looking adorable. I always think it's such a shame that owls have so little intelligence, disproving the old saying 'wise as an owl", lol. I tried to take two or three photos, but the light in the room was awful and I didn't want to use flash.

Drummond's Thistle / Cirsium drummondii

nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 15:45:26 +0000

Anne Elliott has posted:

The Drummond's Thistle is a spectacular thistle species, with a low-to-the-ground rosette of leaves and large flowerheads. It was a delight to find several of these growing on the land surrounding the Medicine River Wildlife Centre, when we spent the day botanizing the forest and meadows there on 4th July 2010. In Calgary, this species is rare - the only place where these native Thistles have been found is Weaselhead. Often, you find that the plant has a central flower surrounded by several others. The largest flower is always the one in the center of the group, and it has always finished blooming when the surrounding flower heads bloom. Usually, you see the flower head completely covered in purple, without the pale coloured part.

Textured and frilled

nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 17:22:40 +0000

Anne Elliott has posted:

We found this cluster of fungi on a day of botanizing at the Medicine River Wildlife Centre, near Raven, Alberta (a long drive north of Calgary). Loved their textured caps with the dainty frill around the edges. Taken on 27 July 2012.

Beauty on a rotting log

nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 15:14:22 +0000

Anne Elliott has posted:

Just a small fungus that we spotted when several of us spent the day botanizing at the Medicine River Wildlife Centre, near Raven, Alberta (a long drive north of Calgary). There's nothing like a damp, rotten log for finding some interesting things, lol!

I don't have a name yet, other than "beautiful"

nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) — Sat, 01 Sep 2012 12:31:22 +0000

Anne Elliott has posted:

A photo from my archives, taken on 24 July 2011, when a few of us went NW of Calgary to spend a day of botanizing at the Medicine River Wildlife Centre.

Naked Mitrewort / Mitella nuda

nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 15:46:28 +0000

Anne Elliott has posted:

This macro photo of the very tiny seeds of Naked Mitrewort was taken on a day of botanizing at the Medicine River Wildlife Centre, on 27 July 2012. The flowers of this plant are exquisite and extremely delicate and tiny. Like so many other wildflowers, this species is now at the seed stage. This plant is also called Bare-stemmed Mitrewort, Bishop's Cap, Common Mitrewort, Miterwort, and Northern Bishop's Cap. There are 5-8 tiny flowers on the upper half of the slender, flowering stems, 7-20cm high. Each exquisite flower has 5 greenish-yellow or white, snow-flake design petals, with ten stamens, 6mm (just under quarter of an inch) across.

Police Car Moth / Gnophaela vermiculata

nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 16:34:31 +0000

Anne Elliott has posted:

Photographed on a great day of botanizing (plus a bit of canoeing!) at the Medicine River Wildlife Centre, Spruce View, Alberta (NW of Calgary). Funny how it works sometimes - the best of a bunch of photos of this moth, and it happens to be on a most unphotogenic Fleabane flower, ha. There seem to have been a lot of these Police Car Moths this year.

"This is a fairly large moth with a wingspan of up to 50 mm. The wings are jet black with large white patches between the black scaled veins. As well, there are two orange patches of hairs on either side of the thorax, right behind the head. It is this colour combination, that of an old style police car, that gives it its name. Larvae are hairy and black with yellow and blue markings. The Police Car Moth is found throughout the province in or near forested areas. Adults fly throughout July and early August."

From www.royalalbertamuseum.ca

"A common western North American species found from southern British Columbia across to western Manitoba and south to northern New Mexico. Adults are diurnal and are found nectaring on flowers. There are four other species in this genus, however this is the only one that occurs in Alberta. Wingspan is 46 - 50 mm; various habitats, but not on the prairies; caterpillar's diet is Lungwort."

www.insectsofalberta.com/policecarmoth.htm

Injured Rough-legged Hawk

nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 15:10:31 +0000

Anne Elliott has posted:

A zoomed-in shot of this beautiful Rough-legged Hawk, taken at the Medicine River Wildlife Centre on 27 July 2012. They have two enormous, outdoor "cages", one for Owls and the other for various species of Hawks and Eagles that have been injured. We were taken inside both cages - quite a feeling to be in the same space as several Great Horned Owls and Hawks and Eagles. Hopefully, they will all recover from their injuries and can be eventually released. Vehicles are responsible for so many injuries to wildlife, including all these wonderful birds of prey.

"Founded in 1984, the Medicine River Wildlife Centre is a nonprofit organization operating under federal and provincial permits to care for injured and orphaned wildlife. MRWC now treats close to 1200 wildlife patients annually. MRWC's education programs encourage people to respect our environment and do their part in keeping wildlife safe. MRWC presents to almost 200 groups annually from schools to youth groups, to seniors to service clubs." From the MRWC website.

The Centre also does an amazing job of placing orphaned wildlife with foster families of the same species and this, along with all the other endless tasks, keeps them busy non-stop. Their dedication is something to witness - their respect for wildlife (shown through wildlife rehabilitation, education and research), awe-inspiring. Busy, busy, busy, day after day.

They have a new dream - unfortunately, a very necessary dream - to replace the old building with a brand new one. Grants help with this, but there is also a lot of public fund-raising that goes on. They welcome every bit of help.

If you would like to assist injured wildlife so that they can receive proper medical treatment, be rehabilitated and then re-introduced into the wild, please contact Carol at (403) 728–3467 or email her at info@mrwc.ca.

Their new website is:
www.medicineriverwildlifecentre.ca/

www.facebook.com/pages/Medicine-River-Wildlife-Centre/754...

culture.alberta.ca/communityspirit/profile/medicineriver....

www.medicineriverwildlifecentre.ca/

24 Hour Emergency Line (403) 728-3467

Dragonfly on Yellow Pond Lily pad

nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 15:10:31 +0000

Anne Elliott has posted:

Not sure what kind of Dragonfly this is, but I managed to get a shot of it while canoeing on Sandhill Slough at the Medicine River Wildlife Centre, Spruce View (a long drive NW of Calgary), on 27 July 2012.

A white Red Clover / Trifolium pratense

nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) — Sat, 11 Aug 2012 18:01:37 +0000

Anne Elliott has posted:

When we were on a botanizing day trip to Medicine River Wildlife Centre, Spruce View, NW of Calgary on 27 July 2012, we came across this Red Clover that had a white flower instead of the usual dark pink. One of those rather uninspiring shots that I needed to add to my set for that location : )

Atlantis Fritillary / Speyeria atlantis

nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) — Sat, 04 Aug 2012 13:28:22 +0000

Anne Elliott has posted:

Photographed on our botanizing day at the Medicine River Wildlife Centre, Spruce View, Alberta, on 27 July 2012.

Sandhill Slough

nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) — Sat, 04 Aug 2012 13:28:22 +0000

Anne Elliott has posted:

This is the large slough that is at the Medicine River Wildlife Centre, Spruce View, Alberta (NW of Calgary), on which five of us were lucky enough to go canoeing on 27 July 2012. Earlier in the day, we heard Sandhill Cranes in the area, but we couldn't see them.

Common Gaillardia

nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 15:54:49 +0000

Anne Elliott has posted:

Though this wildflower tends to be seen everywhere, I love seeing it. This flower head is still at the "tubular" stage, which I think is my favourite time to see them. Eventually, the tubes will split open. Photographed this one on our wonderful day of botanizing at the Medicine River Wildlife Centre, Spruce View, Alberta.

A Comma, I believe

nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 15:54:49 +0000

Anne Elliott has posted:

The Anglewing butterflies are one of my favourites species. I'm never sure, but I think this one is probably a Comma. Seen at the Medicine River Wildlife Centre, Spruce View, Alberta (a long drive NW of Calgary), on 27 July 2012.

Is this Tremella aurantia jelly fungus with host?

nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 12:44:17 +0000

Anne Elliott has posted:

Photographed this jelly fungus when a few of us visited the Medicine River Wildlife Centre, Spruce View, near Raven, Alberta, on 27 July 2012. Somehow, it doesn't quite look like Witch's Butter (Witches' Butter). Or could it be Yellow Brain Fungus (Tremella mesenterica)?

Little treasure on a Lilypad

nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 16:05:45 +0000

Anne Elliott has posted:

This was such a pretty sight, seen from the canoe that two of us were paddling on the huge pond at the Medicine River Wildlife Centre, near Raven, Alberta. This old snail shell was resting on a Yellow Pond Lily leaf. I was so thrilled to see Yellow Pond Lilies again - I think I've only ever seen them in two locations - and we paddled past several that were growing in this pond/lake. This telemacro shot was taken on 27 July 2012.

Took my breath away

nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 15:37:28 +0000

Anne Elliott has posted:

This was such a perfect mushroom, growing not far from the edge of the trail, and the light was shining on it so beautifully : ) When four of us spent the day botanizing at the Medicine River Wildlife Centre on 27 July 2012, we came across this mushroom and several other species. Such a treat, even more so as I was beginning to think that this year was going to be another very poor year for fungi, like last year. I don't seem to be getting out to places where fungi grow, unfortunately, but hopefully I will still get a chance to go to at least a couple of locations before winter arrives.

www.facebook.com/pages/Medicine-River-Wildlife-Centre/754...

culture.alberta.ca/communityspirit/profile/medicineriver....

24 Hour Emergency Line for injured or orphaned wildlife: (403) 728-3467

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH for Calgary at the moment.

Milbert's Tortoiseshell

nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 15:37:27 +0000

Anne Elliott has posted:

Photographed on 27 July 2012, when four of us spent the day botanizing (searching for and recording all species of plants found, plus birds, animals, insects, fungi) at the Medicine River Wildlife Centre, NW of Calgary, near Raven. This colourful butterfly happened to land on the tire of a friend's car in the parking lot.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aglais_milberti

Tranquility

nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 15:37:27 +0000

Anne Elliott has posted:

On July 27th, four of us met across the city at 7:30 a.m. and made the long drive NW of the city to the Medicine River Wildlife Centre, near Raven, Alberta - about 70 kilometers west of Innisfail. (Location on map is very approximate location of Spruce View, just to give a very rough idea of where we were in Alberta and as a reminder for myself.)

"Founded in 1984, the Medicine River Wildlife Centre is a nonprofit organization operating under federal and provincial permits to care for injured and orphaned wildlife. MRWC now treats close to 1200 wildlife patients annually. MRWC's education programs encourage people to respect our environment and do their part in keeping wildlife safe. MRWC presents to almost 200 groups annually from schools to youth groups, to seniors to service clubs." From the MRWC website.

Carol Kelly, executive director of Medicine River Wildlife Centre, and staff member Judy Boyd, made us feel most welcome, just as they have done on the other two (or is it three?) times that I have been there before. Judy very generously came with us for the day, taking us on a very interesting botanizing walk in the morning - we even found some fungi : ) After lunch, she asked us if we would be interested in travelling by canoe to check out the enormous pond/lagoon that lies near the Centre, with a great watch tower from which one can gaze over the peaceful scene and listen to various bird songs that break the silence. We heard Sandhill Cranes, but were unable to spot them. Judy wanted to cut a few stalks of fresh green leaves (cattails?) to feed to the baby Beavers that were back inside the building, calling the Centre "home" temporarily. What an absolute thrill this was for us, to paddle our way through the reeds and open water, passing a few glorious Yellow Pond Lilies and skimming over masses of submerged Bladderpod on our journey. The arrival of dark clouds and distant thunder brought us back to the safety of shore! As always on our botanizing outings, all species of plant, bird, insect, fungi, animal, were listed, helping to create a more complete list for any area we explore.

The Centre also does an amazing job of placing orphaned wildlife with foster families of the same species and this, along with all the other endless tasks, keeps them busy non-stop. Their dedication is something to witness - their respect for wildlife (shown through wildlife rehabilitation, education and research), awe-inspiring. Busy, busy, busy, day after day.

They have a new dream - unfortunately, a very necessary dream - to replace the old building with a brand new one. Grants help with this, but there is also a lot of public fund-raising that goes on. They welcome every bit of help.

This day would not have been possible if our friend, Stephen, had not offered to come and pick two of us up at the end of the day. When we met at the meeting place early morning, we discovered that the two people who were going to be the drivers were not coming back to the city, but instead were going to stay overnight for a very different event this weekend. It looked like the remaining two of us were not going to be able to go after all. Then Stephen, who was not coming, but was only dropping off his wife, offered to drive the long, long way to the Centre late afternoon, to pick us up. This was an incredibly generous offer, one that the two of us appreciated tremendously! Thank you so much, Stephen, for being your usual, generous self, and enabling us to spend such an enjoyable, interesting day of botanizing!!

If you would like to assist injured wildlife so that they can receive proper medical treatment, be rehabilitated and then re-introduced into the wild, please contact Carol at (403) 728–3467 or email her at info@mrwc.ca. They are just in the middle of creating a new website and hope to have it completed soon. Meanwhile, check them out on Facebook.

www.facebook.com/pages/Medicine-River-Wildlife-Centre/754...

culture.alberta.ca/communityspirit/profile/medicineriver....

24 Hour Emergency Line (403) 728-3467