A donation of $50,000 from Alberta electrical transmission provider AltaLink is earmarked to build a trail at the Alberta Birds of Prey Centre in Coaldale, Alta.
The donation was announced Aug. 13 at the centre, which rehabilitates injured birds and operates an interpretive site where people can see native birds and learn more about them.
Colin Weir, managing director and founder of the Alberta Birds of Prey Foundation, said AltaLink personnel often find injured birds while they are inspecting and maintaining electrical lines and are responsible for bringing many of those birds to the centre for rehabilitation.
Read Also
Alberta Crop Report: Rains in the south, dryness in the north
Rain fell onto the southern half of Alberta last week, while hot and dry conditions persisted in the northern half, according to the province’s crop report released on July 18.
The trail built using AltaLink funds is under construction now. It is a 650-foot stretch along part of the centre’s 30 acres of wetlands and ponds. It will be the first trail on the entire 70-acre site to run close to the waters’ edge.
Visitors can then get closer to shore birds, ducks, pelicans and cormorants and see the artificial nesting structures built for wetland birds.
Nikki Heck, AltaLink’s environmental adviser, said the company considers the centre’s work to be essential in public education and in providing care to injured wild birds so they can again be released into the wild.
The trail is expected to be open later this fall.
