May 2019

NatureCity Festival is a chance for various nature and environmental groups and organizations throughout Saskatoon to come together to educate, celebrate, and enjoy the nature we have access to in and around Saskatoon. This year’s theme is “I spy with my wild eye…”.
The Saskatoon Nature Society is involved in this important event through volunteering, organizing field trips, and funding a portion of the education programming. This year, SNS field trips include the warbler walk in Factoria, the firefly hike, the Spring Bird Count, and one of our May MVA trail bird walks. After many members have sharpened their bird identifying skills at our beginner and intermediate birding workshops, and/or the birding by ear workshop, you can head to Factoria on May 21 for the evening warbler walk, led by Michael Williams and Stan Shadick, to see and hear birds such as the Tennessee, Orange-Crowned, and Yellow warbler, as well as the American Redstart.
On the Friday night of NatureCity Festival, join Marten Stoffel and Renny Grilz for a glance at the nightlife in the NE Swale. We will hike the area and gain some understanding of this biodiverse ecosystem, until dark, when we will hopefully be graced with a mini light show of fireflies! There will also be telescopes set up by local members of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada to explore our night sky. Get a good sleep, as the Spring Bird Count starts bright and early on Saturday morning. Register on our website: saskatoonnature.org/scheduled-trips. Every level of birder is welcome. Finally, on the last day of the festival, enjoy an early morning birding walk by the river with Audrey and Bill MacKenzie.
Between our field trips, make sure to attend the keynote speaker event on Wednesday, May 22 at 7:00 pm for Saskatoon: Where the Wild Things Are, “a gala evening of inspiration, insights and surprises as we go wild with special guest Dr. Maureen Murray”. Additional Nature City Festival information and events can be found at wildaboutsaskatoon.org.
The theme of this year’s festival is especially significant as our city is currently undergoing various development and growth plans. It is becoming increasingly important for local environmental and nature organizations to work together and have our opinions heard and considered by the City and other stakeholders. I would like to encourage our members to write to, speak with, and engage with their local representatives and community regarding issues concerning the conservation and education of nature in and around Saskatoon.
On a separate note, but keeping education in mind, I would like to extend a sincere thank you to Peter Flood, who has organized our speakers for the past twelve years. Peter has provided us with a wide range of topics and speakers, keeping us engaged and always trying to find new and relevant presentations. Thank you Peter.
Sara Bryson