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Ellis Bird Farm

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Location

Ellis Bird Farm
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
WebsiteEllis Bird Farm

Ellis Bird Farm is located outside of Red Deer[1], just west of the city[2], at 39502 Range Road 260[3].

Site

The Ellis Bird Farm offers attractions to visitors.

The site offers:

  • A tea house[4],
  • Walking paths and self-guided trails[4],
  • hummingbird and butterfly gardens[5],
  • A water garden and Wetland Centre and pier[4],
  • An indigenous circle deck[4],
  • Benches and picnic site[4],
  • Children’s nature play area[4],
  • Viewing tower, bridge and gazebo[4].
  • Naturescaped gardens, designed for biodiversity, without use of pesticides or chemicals[1].

The Red Deer Advocate highlights the words of Theresa Campbell, a visitor to Ellis Bird Farm:

"You can’t help but feel happy when you’re here."[1]

The Ellis Bird Farm facility also has the "World's Largest" collection of functional bluebird nestboxes[6][7], and the oldest standing "seed elevator" in Alberta, a grain elevator built in 1937[7].

History

The origin of Ellis Bird Farm rests with two farmers, Charlie and Winnie Ellis. They erected so many bluebird nest boxes from 1955 until the late 1970s[8] that they significantly increased local bluebird populations. At the time, Charlie and Winnie operated one of the largest bluebird trails in Canada and established their farmstead as a wildlife haven[9].

“[Charlie and Winnie Ellis] had the highest nesting density in the mountain bluebird range in North America.”[8]

Eventually, Charlie and Winnie Ellis sold their land to Union Carbide, a company looking to set up an ethylene glycol plant in the area[2]. The conditions of the sale was such that Union Carbide was bound to maintain the bird conservation efforts which Charlie and Winnie Ellis devoted themselves to. The sale of land occurred to the satisfaction of both parties, and The Ellis Bird Farm site was established under Myrna Pearman’s leadership[4].

Notable Naturists

Myrna Pearman
Myrna Pearman

Myrna Pearman was the leading biologist at the Ellis Bird Farm for 33 years[10]; she was a professional renowned[11] in her field.

Pearman has gained recognition as author and nature photographer[12]. Pearman has used her reputation to benefit Ellis Bird Farm by donating proceeds from her book sales to the Ellis Bird Farm to support conservation, education and research programs[13]. She received honours and awards throughout her career at Ellis Bird Farm[14], such as being made an honorary Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society[15].

She was also the only member of the Ellis Bird Farm staff to have known the place and organization since the time of Charlie and Winnie Ellis[16]. While at Ellis Bird Farm, she researched and collected amazing amount of data on blue birds, purple martins and bats[17]. She was instrumental in Ellis Bird Farm gaining the first Motus tower in Alberta[17], a tool used for bird migration tracking.

Tourism

Ellis Bird Farm is distinguished as one of eight family friendly tourist destinations in Alberta[18][19].

Children can participate in a range of actives such as[18]:

  • Interact with baby goats,
  • Catch pond creatures at the pier,
  • Engage with interactive games in the visitor centre, and
  • Build their own bluebird or chickadee box

Visitors can learn about the conservation of Mountain Bluebirds, Tree Swallows and other birds[6]. Ellis Bird Farm actively celebrates people who work toward bluebird conservation with awards (e.g., Blue Feather Award)[20].

"The Ellis Bird Farm is a pretty lowkey spot, so you don't need to worry about being surrounded by tourists."[21]

Ellis Bird Farm offers seasonal events for children and adults, such as the Bluebird Festival[20] and Bug Jamboree[16], and offers a range of tours (e.g., bird banding tours).

“The annual Bug Jamboree is our family day here, where people can come and be inspired and become better informed about insects and spiders"[16]

Many visitors travel to Ellis Bird Farm from Red Deer[1] and nearby Lacombe[3]; others drive from Calgary or Edmonton.

Publications (e.g. Narcity) have highlighted that Ellis Bird Farm is a short, sweet and worthwhile road trip to make from from Calgary (time from Calgary: ~1 hour and 45 minutes[22] to 2 hours[21]), even during the winter[21]. Other media outlets have singled Ellis Bird Farm out as one of the top five day trips from Edmonton[5][23].

Wildlife

Today, Ellis Bird Farm is one of the best birding sites[24][25], and visitors can also see a purple martin colony[3] at Ellis Bird Farm.

The site boasts the largest mountain bluebird data set in the world[8], and visitors are likely to see bluebirds if they visit at the right time of year.

  • Purple Martins
    Purple Martins
  • Mountain Bluebird
    Mountain Bluebird
  • Chickadee
    Chickadee
  • Baby Goats
    Baby Goats

Media

Ellis Bird Farm has a.media presence. They have been featured in news outlets and produced some research.

News Outlets

Ellis Bird Farm is noted in the media:

  • National outlets (e.g., To Do Canada[19][23])
  • Urban news outlets (e.g., Calgary Herald[8], Red Deer Advocate[26], Sylvan Lake News[16])
  • Local news outlets (e.g., Lacombe Online[3][27], Todayville[2], Stettler Independent[20])

Research

The Ellis Bird Farm received some local grants for to further their Mountain Bluebird research[28][3]. The site coordinates North America’s longest-running citizen science project, the Christmas Bird Count[27].

“The Christmas Bird Count is a great example of how everyday Albertans can play an important role in wildlife conservation.”[27]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d "WATCH: Ellis Bird Farm open for summer". Red Deer Advocate. 2018-05-21. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
  2. ^ a b c Farm, Ellis Bird (2018-01-09). "Ellis Bird Farm… A place where nature and industry need each other". Todayville. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
  3. ^ a b c d e MacInnis, Amie. "Ellis Bird Farm to open for the season on May 24". LacombeOnline.com. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h "Myrna Pearman Retires After 33 Years At Ellis Bird Farm – ECA Review". ecareview.com. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
  5. ^ a b Galat, Joan Marie (30 July 2020). "5 fun-filled day trips from Edmonton". Tech Life Today.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. ^ a b "Discover Central Alberta This Summer!". Todayville. 2017-07-04. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
  7. ^ a b News (2013-08-08). "Ellis Bird Farm home to thousands". Red Deer Express. Retrieved 2021-11-23. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  8. ^ a b c d "A new generation finds the bluebird of happiness". calgaryherald. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
  9. ^ Lewis, Lloyd (2018-12-29). "Thanks to these amazing businesses and organizations that support Todayville throughout the year". Todayville. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
  10. ^ "Ellis Bird Farm manager retires after three decades". Red Deer Advocate. 2020-10-31. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
  11. ^ "Beyond Local: Let a chickadee cheer you up this winter!". AirdrieToday.com. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
  12. ^ "Central Alberta naturalist to speak about nurturing nature". Red Deer Advocate. 2021-11-10. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
  13. ^ Radio Active (December 7, 2015). "Brian Keating reviews 'Backyard Bird Feeding: An Alberta Guide'". CBC News.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  14. ^ "Myrna presented with award! - March 5th, 2016". Ellis Bird Farm. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
  15. ^ Rolheiser, Duane (2019-11-25). "Myrna Pearman and Morris Flewwelling honoured by the Royal Canadian Geographical Society". Todayville. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
  16. ^ a b c d "Family fun at the Ellis Bird Farm's annual Bug Jamboree". Sylvan Lake News. 2019-08-12. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
  17. ^ a b staff, rdnewsNOW. "Ellis Bird Farm site manager retires after 33 years". rdnewsnow.com. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
  18. ^ a b "Enjoy summer with the kids at these 8 Alberta attractions". calgaryherald. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
  19. ^ a b "50 Things to Do in Alberta This Labour Day Weekend - 2021". To Do Canada. 2021-08-20. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
  20. ^ a b c "Ellis Bird Farm celebrates 20 years of the Blue Feather Award". Stettler Independent. 2019-07-30. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
  21. ^ a b c "24 Spontaneous Day Trips From Calgary You Need To Go On This Winter". Narcity. 2019-01-25. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
  22. ^ "Short And Sweet Road Trips From Calgary That Aren't To Banff". Narcity. 2018-10-12. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
  23. ^ a b "A Road trip from Edmonton - Sun, Sand and the Mountains". To Do Canada. 2017-05-12. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
  24. ^ Galat, Joan Marie (14 Nov 2019). "How to bring birds to your backyard". Tech Life Today.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  25. ^ Travel (2020-05-09). "Discover Eckville, Alberta". Eckville Echo. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
  26. ^ "These birds have something to sing about". Red Deer Advocate. 2019-05-25. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
  27. ^ a b c Davidson, Jordan. "Volunteer to help count Alberta birds this Christmas". LacombeOnline.com. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
  28. ^ MacInnis, Amie. "Red Deer and District Community Foundation hands out $84,000 to local organizations". LacombeOnline.com. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
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