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{{notability|date=June 2024}}
{{infobox museum
{{infobox Museum
|name= '''Ellis Bird Farm'''
|name= '''Ellis Nature Centre'''
|image=
|image=
|established =
|established =
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|curator =
|curator =
|visitors =
|visitors =
|website = [http://www.ellisbirdfarm.ca/ Ellis Bird Farm]
|website = [http://www.ellisnaturecentre.ca]
}}
}}


Ellis Nature Centre is an education & research facility at the heart of a sustainable farm. We demonstrate and promote best practices to conserve and protect wildlife and nature through our workshops, educational programs, and events. Located on the original 1906 farmstead of the Ellis Family, Ellis Nature Centre is a non-profit organization established to continue Charlie Ellis’s conservation farming vision. Our wildlife research focuses on Mountain Bluebirds, Tree Swallows, and other native cavity-nesting birds.
== History ==
<gallery>

File:Bat House Project at Ellis Bird Farm.jpg|Bat House Project
=== Origin ===
File:Ellis Bird Farm bluebird nestboxes.jpg|Bluebird nests
The Ellis Bird Farm began with Charlie Ellis (1901-1990) and Winnie Ellis (1905-2004),<ref>{{Cite web|title=History|url=https://www.ellisbirdfarm.ca/history.html|access-date=2021-09-27|website=Ellis Bird Farm|language=en}}</ref> who inherited the family farm from their parents, John and Agnes. The farm Charlie and Winnie inherited was situated on land which ultimately became the Ellis Bird Farm.
Ellis Bird Farm naturescaping by Myrna Pearman.jpg|Landscapes

</gallery>
Shortly after their parents' passing, Charlie began building a nesting box for a Mountain Bluebird. This small hobby grew into Charlie and Winnie’s life work. The two siblings rimmed the fields of their farm with more than 300 nest boxes for native birds (e.g., [[Mountain bluebird|Mountain Bluebirds]], [[Tree swallow|Tree Swallows]], [[Chickadee|Chickadees]], [[Purple martin|Purple Martins]]).
==See also==

Charlie and Winnie’s conservation efforts saw the Mountain Bluebird population on their farm grow from just a signal pair in 1956 to over 60 pairs in the 1970s.

As both Charlie and Winnie aged, Charlie feared that he would be unable to tend to “his” bluebirds. Around this time, an energy company, Union Carbide, was seeking a site on which to build a new [[ethylene glycol]] plant. A parcel of Charlie and Winnie’s land met Union Carbide’s particular requirements, and the company wanted to purchase it.

Union Carbide was willing to be legally bound to make provisions for the care of Charlie’s bluebirds at that time and into the future. Ellis Bird Farm was formed, a non-profit charitable company, which is, to this day, supported by industry.

=== Notable Naturalists ===

==== Myrna Pearman ====
The most influential person associated with Ellis Bird Farm is Myrna Pearman, a nature photographer, conservationist, environmental educator, and author. Myrna was the Biologist and Site Services Manager at Ellis Bird Farm (1987 to 2020). Ellis Bird Farm became a world-class conservation, education, and research centre under her leadership.

== Role ==
The role of Ellis Bird Farm is to spearhead bird conservation, winter bird feeding, scientific studies, and education. The facilities’ bird conservation efforts place particular focus on Mountain Bluebirds and Tree Swallows.

=== Scientific Studies ===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Ellis Bird Farm's Research Contributions
!Authors
!Year Published
!Title
!Journal
|-
|Myrna Pearman and Leo De Groot
|2020
|Earlier Spring Arrival Of The Mountain Bluebird In Central Alberta, Canada<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Pearman|first1=Myrna|last2=de Groot|first2=Leo|last3=Holroyd|first3=Geoffrey L.|last4=Thunberg|first4=Stephanie|date=2020-02-29|title=Earlier Spring Arrival of the Mountain Bluebird in Central Alberta, Canada|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.21199/wb51.1.4|journal=Western Birds|volume=51|issue=1|pages=47–58|doi=10.21199/wb51.1.4|s2cid=216392043|issn=0045-3897}}</ref>
|Western Birds
|-
|Alisha Ritchie and Myrna Pearman
|2019
|Radio Tracking Mountain Bluebirds Visiting Neighbors’ Nests<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Ritchie|first1=Alisha|last2=Pearman|first2=Myrna|date=2019-06-03|title=Radio Tracking Mountain Bluebirds Visiting Neighbors' Nests|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.21199/wb50.2.3|journal=Western Birds|volume=50|issue=2|pages=92–97|doi=10.21199/wb50.2.3|issn=0045-3897}}</ref>
|Western Birds
|-
|Auriel Fournier, Amanda Shave, Jason Fischer, Joe Siegrist, James Ray, Edward Cheskey, Megan MacIntosh, Alisha Ritchie, Myrna Pearman, Kelly Applegate, and Kevin Fraser
|2019
|Precise Direct Tracking And Remote Sensing Reveal The Use Of Forest Islands As Roost Sites By Purple Martins During Migration<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Fournier|first1=Auriel M. V.|last2=Shave|first2=Amanda|last3=Fischer|first3=Jason|last4=Siegrist|first4=Joe|last5=Ray|first5=James|last6=Cheskey|first6=Edward|last7=MacIntosh|first7=Megan|last8=Ritchie|first8=Alisha|last9=Pearman|first9=Myrna|last10=Applegate|first10=Kelly|last11=Fraser|first11=Kevin|date=2019-07-31|title=Precise direct tracking and remote sensing reveal the use of forest islands as roost sites by Purple Martins during migration|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jofo.12298|journal=Journal of Field Ornithology|volume=90|issue=3|pages=258–265|doi=10.1111/jofo.12298|s2cid=201208405|issn=0273-8570}}</ref>
|Journal of Field Ornithology
|-
|Kevin Fraser, Amanda Shave, Evelien De Greef, Joe Siegrist
|2019
|Individual Variability in Migration Timing Can Explain Long-Term, Population-Level Advances in a Songbird<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Fraser|first1=Kevin C.|last2=Shave|first2=Amanda|last3=de Greef|first3=Evelien|last4=Siegrist|first4=Joseph|last5=Garroway|first5=Colin J.|date=2019-09-06|title=Individual Variability in Migration Timing Can Explain Long-Term, Population-Level Advances in a Songbird|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2019.00324|journal=Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution|volume=7|doi=10.3389/fevo.2019.00324|issn=2296-701X|doi-access=free}}</ref>
|Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution
|-
|Glen Hvenegaard & Robyn Perkins
|2019
|Motivations, Commitment, And Turnover Of Bluebird Trail Managers<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Hvenegaard|first1=Glen T.|last2=Perkins|first2=Robyn|date=April 2019|title=Motivations, commitment, and turnover of bluebird trail managers|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10871209.2019.1598521|journal=Human Dimensions of Wildlife|volume=24|issue=3|pages=250–266|doi=10.1080/10871209.2019.1598521|s2cid=150955546|issn=1087-1209}}</ref>
|Human Dimensions of Wildlife
|-
|Kevin Fraser, Amanda Shave, A. Savage, Alisha Ritchie, K. Bell, Joe Siegrist, James Ray, Kelly Applegate, Myrna Pearman
|2017
|Determining Fine-Scale Migratory Connectivity And Habitat Selection For A Migratory Songbird By Using New Gps Technology<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Fraser|first1=K. C.|last2=Shave|first2=A.|last3=Savage|first3=A.|last4=Ritchie|first4=A.|last5=Bell|first5=K.|last6=Siegrist|first6=J.|last7=Ray|first7=J. D.|last8=Applegate|first8=K.|last9=Pearman|first9=M.|date=2017-01-23|title=Determining fine-scale migratory connectivity and habitat selection for a migratory songbird by using new GPS technology|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jav.01091|journal=Journal of Avian Biology|volume=48|issue=3|pages=339–345|doi=10.1111/jav.01091|issn=0908-8857}}</ref>
|Journal of Avian Biology
|-
|Bridget Stutchbury, Raafia Siddiqui, Kelly Applegate, Glen Hvenegaard, Paul Mammenga, Nanette Mickle, Myrna Pearman, James Ray, Anne Savage, Tim Shaheen, Kevin Fraser
|2016
|Ecological Causes And Consequences Of Intratropical Migration In Temperate-Breeding Migratory Birds<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Stutchbury|first1=Bridget J. M.|last2=Siddiqui|first2=Raafia|last3=Applegate|first3=Kelly|last4=Hvenegaard|first4=Glen T.|last5=Mammenga|first5=Paul|last6=Mickle|first6=Nanette|last7=Pearman|first7=Myrna|last8=Ray|first8=James D.|last9=Savage|first9=Anne|last10=Shaheen|first10=Tim|last11=Fraser|first11=Kevin C.|date=September 2016|title=Ecological Causes and Consequences of Intratropical Migration in Temperate-Breeding Migratory Birds|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/687531|journal=The American Naturalist|volume=188|issue=S1|pages=S28–S40|doi=10.1086/687531|pmid=27513909|s2cid=3932310|issn=0003-0147}}</ref>
|The American Naturalist
|}

== Facility ==
The Ellis Bird Farm facility offers amenities to visitors, including a guest centre, tea house, trail systems, demonstration wildlife gardens, a picnic area, play areas, as well as tours and activities. The facility also lays claim to the oldest standing "seed elevator" in [[Alberta]] (a [[grain elevator]] built in 1937) and the "World's Largest" collection of functional bluebird nestboxes.

=== Guest Center ===
Currently, the guest centre offers visitors a venue in which they can listen to talks, purchase gifts, interact with exhibits, and visit the Fred Schutz Memorial Library.

==== Fred Schutz Memorial Library ====
The Fred Schutz Memorial Library at Ellis Bird Farm honours local scholar, writer, historian and naturalist, Fred Schutz (October 14, 1920 – March 27, 2019). The project was led by Myrna Pearman and was completed after Fred's death.

Now the Fred Schutz Memorial Library offers resources to those interested in conservation and local history. Ellis Bird Farm pays tribute to Fred by showcasing his work on their website and selling his book (''West Of The Blindman: Observations Of A Half Century).''

=== Trail Systems ===
The Ellis Bird Farm offers visitors a collection of self-guided trails. The surfaces of trail paths are mulch or recycled tires, making them accessible to seniors (who may or may not have bad knees) and those with mobility challenges. The trail systems have play areas, seating, and butterfly gardens along its perimeter providing a family-friendly activity.

=== Picnic Areas ===
The picnic area at Ellis Bird Farm allows visitors to stay for longer durations; such spaces were designed to meet the need of visitors traveling from the surrounding area to visit Ellis Bird Farm. Many visitors pack their own picnics, but some purchase food from the Ellis Bird Farm Tea House (also called Ellis Cafe).

=== Play Areas ===
Ellis Bird Farm provides children (ages two to twelve) a popular play area. It is situated close to the guest centre and is well within eyesight. Myrna led the project and designed it to encourage exploration, imagination, and practical play, aligning closely with Waldorf education principles.

== Tours and Activities ==
Ellis Bird Farm offers a range of tours and activities, provided through different programs, that cater to participants of different ages.

== Ecology ==
The Ellis Bird Farm is located in Lacombe, Alberta. The terrain is prairie grassland, with some natural water on the land (e.g., a natural pond). Given the presence of water, many visitors see beavers and muskrats, in addition to seeing various birds.

== See Also ==


* [[List of museums in Alberta]]
* [[List of museums in Alberta]]
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==External links==
==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20091124083033/http://www.ellisbirdfarm.ab.ca/ Ellis Bird Farm]
{{commons category|Ellis Bird Farm}}
[https://web.archive.org/web/20091124083033/http://www.ellisbirdfarm.ab.ca/ Ellis Bird Farm]


{{Alberta parks}}
{{Alberta parks}}




[[Category:Rural history museums in Canada]]
[[Category:Rural history museums in Canada]]
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[[Category:Grain elevators in Alberta]]
[[Category:Grain elevators in Alberta]]


{{Alberta-struct-stub}}

{{Canada-struct-stub}}

Latest revision as of 16:34, 8 June 2024

Ellis Nature Centre
Map
LocationLacombe, Alberta, Canada
Coordinates52°23′25″N 113°36′15″W / 52.390163°N 113.604298°W / 52.390163; -113.604298
Typeopen-air, agriculture
Website[1]

Ellis Nature Centre is an education & research facility at the heart of a sustainable farm. We demonstrate and promote best practices to conserve and protect wildlife and nature through our workshops, educational programs, and events. Located on the original 1906 farmstead of the Ellis Family, Ellis Nature Centre is a non-profit organization established to continue Charlie Ellis’s conservation farming vision. Our wildlife research focuses on Mountain Bluebirds, Tree Swallows, and other native cavity-nesting birds.

  • Bat House Project
    Bat House Project
  • Bluebird nests
    Bluebird nests
  • Landscapes
    Landscapes

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
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Ellis Bird Farm

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