Snags are nature’s apartment complexes
A snag is a standing, dead or dying tree. It is often missing a top or most of the smaller branches. They provide critical habitat for many species. Their decomposing wood is soft enough for excavating species to make entrance holes and cavities.
Primary excavators, such as woodpeckers, create the cavities for feeding. They peck away at the snag to reveal insects to eat. These insects also break down the dead wood. Secondary users utilize existing cavities for feeding, breeding, nesting, shelter, and food storage.
Pileated woodpeckers create many of the cavities used by secondary nesters. In some areas, cavities created by these woodpeckers are used by 80 other species. Due to habitat loss, there are fewer areas where cavity users can find what they need to survive. Learn more at https://static1.squarespace.com/static/569ec99b841abaccb7c7e74c/t/5e6bce8c1861a329882eb980/1584123538458/Snags+-+Updated+2020.pdf
Snags are nature’s apartment complexes
A snag is a standing, dead or dying tree. It is often missing a top or most of the smaller branches. They provide critical habitat for many species. Their decomposing wood is soft enough for excavating species to make entrance holes and cavities.
Primary excavators, such as woodpeckers, create the cavities for feeding. They peck away at the snag to reveal insects to eat. These insects also break down the dead wood. Secondary users utilize existing cavities for feeding, breeding, nesting, shelter, and food storage.
Pileated woodpeckers create many of the cavities used by secondary nesters. In some areas, cavities created by these woodpeckers are used by 80 other species. Due to habitat loss, there are fewer areas where cavity users can find what they need to survive. Learn more at https://static1.squarespace.com/static/569ec99b841abaccb7c7e74c/t/5e6bce8c1861a329882eb980/1584123538458/Snags+-+Updated+2020.pdf
Species at risk in Edmonton
The planned Edmonton Energy and Technology Park includes Horsehills creek, a minor tributary to the North Saskatchewan River, and a designated protected site because of the flora and fauna located in patches of forest and wetlands.
The northeast industrial park’s plan states that “A few of the species that may potentially be found within the general area are protected as provincially and federally-listed species. These include the Peregrine falcon, Harriot’s sagewort, and the Northern Leopard frog.”
Though historically widespread, the Northern Leopard frog is a species at risk in Alberta and designated as threatened. Protection of remnant breeding areas is essential.
For identification and information on this frog, the Peregrine falcon, and a selected list of other species at risk in Alberta, check out the Edmonton and Area Land Trust’s guide at
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/569ec99b841abaccb7c7e74c/t/5e46d49b2bcf325aff5603ea/1581700259441/Species+at+Risk+in+Alberta+2019+Final-compressed.pdf
River Valley Archaeology
Three sites recorded because of work carried out in association with the south side of the new Walterdale Bridge provide examples of river valley archaeology heritage. The most ancient site recorded is a camp site that radiocarbon dating indicates was used 1,500 years ago. Buried two metres below the surface was a hearth feature surrounded by a dense blanket of debris left by the people that stayed there.
The concentration of ancient garbage consisted of 3,956 pieces of stone tool making debris, rocks for boiling water and a wide array of bison, rabbit, duck, whitefish, and other animal bones. Found within the hearth were carbonized seeds including choke cherry, pin cherry, bunchberry, and kinnikinnick. The latter is well known as a favorite smoke either on its own or mixed with tobacco.
Another site dates to an important time in Edmonton’s history: the fur trade era. Filled with mammal and fish bones, the pit also yielded a fragment of a white clay pipe stem. Clay pipes are commonly found at fur trade sites in Alberta. Nearby, another feature was identified from which a clay pipe bowl, lead shot, trade beads and a broken glass inset trade ring were recovered.
The third site dated to the early part of the last century. A photo from 1924 shows several houses at this location in the old Walterdale neighborhood, suggesting it was likely a backyard garbage pit. The glass bottles recovered from the feature contained medical treatments common at the time including Chamberlain’s Cough Remedy, Bovril, and Dr. Eno’s Fruit Salt. Read more at https://citymuseumedmonton.ca/2015/04/28/historic-narratives-promotion-and-archaeology-in-edmonton/ Share river valley event, job posting, or news
If you have a river valley event, job posting, or news that you would like to see published in this newsletter, please send the info to nsrivervalley@gmail.com
Sincerely yours,
Harvey Voogd
North Saskatchewan River Valley Conservation Society
780.691.1712
nsrivervalley@gmail.com
https://www.facebook.com/NSRVCS/
http://www.edmontonrivervalley.org/