Trembling aspen common tree in river valley
Edmonton is in an ecoregion known as the Aspen Parkland, a transition zone between prairie grasslands to the south and boreal forest to the north. This region is characterized by open grasslands alternating with groves of trees, the most dominant tree species being the trembling aspen.
The trembling aspen gets its name from its leaves which move in even the lightest breeze. This is due to the leaf petiole, the stalk that connects the leaf to the branch, which is flattened. The flattened leaf petiole along with the trees oval and rigid leaf blades produce a sound that has been described as a soft whispering rustle.
A unique characteristic of this tree is in the way it can reproduce. While many trees rely solely on seed production and dispersal to produce offspring, the trembling aspen sends up new sprouts from its root system. This form of reproduction produces new trees that are genetically identical to the parent plant.
In Saskatchewan, a genetic mutation is believed to be the cause of the crooked growth of the trunks and stems of a trembling aspen colony. Vegetative reproduction has allowed this trait to be passed on, and much to the delight of curious visitors a grove of crooked aspens has grown. Learn more at https://natureedmonton.wordpress.com/2013/06/14/trembling-aspen/
Muskrat a cattail connoisseur
Although the muskrat builds lodges near water and is an accomplished swimmer, it is not a close relative of the beaver. Nor is it a true rat. Instead, it is basically a large field mouse that has adapted to life in and around water.
In winter, muskrats live in domes made from frozen vegetation over holes in the ice. They keep the domes open throughout winter by continually chewing away the ice and pulling up underwater vegetation to build an insulated dome. These miniature lodges are used as resting places during underwater forays and as feeding stations.
Cattails are preferred as food. However, muskrats thrive equally well on a diet of bulrushes, horsetails, or pondweeds, the last two constituting the basis of the diet in northern latitudes. They also eat a variety of other plants including sedges, wild rice and willows. When normal food is scarce, muskrats are known to be carnivorous eating fish, frogs and clams.
Muskrat’s front teeth are modified for underwater chewing. Their large incisors (or cutting teeth) protrude ahead of their cheeks and lips so they can close their mouths behind their teeth! This makes it possible for under water eating without swallowing water. Read more at https://www.hww.ca/en/wildlife/mammals/muskrat.html
Epic Films for the Great Indoors
The Banff Centre is bringing the epic adventure of its Mountain Film and Book Festival to you. It is providing a program of free festival films available online for you to watch at home. These award-winning films provide adventure and inspiration and were all finalists in the 2019 and 2018 festivals in Banff.
More films will be added on a regular basis. Stay strong, stay inspired and enjoy the films at https://www.banffcentre.ca/film-fest-at-home
Townend’s Solitaire a juniper berry aficionado
Solitaires are slim, long-tailed thrushes and as the name suggests, they are usually seen alone. The Townsend’s Solitaire is an elegant, wide-eyed songbird of western-mountain forests. Though considered a migratory bird in our neck of the woods, they are regularly observed in Edmonton’s Christmas bird count.
Their drab gray plumage gets a lift from subtly beautiful buffy wing patches and a white eyering. Though they're thrushes, they perch upright atop trees and shrubs to advertise their territories all year long and can easily be mistaken for flycatchers. In winter they switch from eating primarily insects to eating fruit, particularly juniper berries.
If you ever thought that you liked berries, check out a Townsend's Solitaire's appetite. One study suggested they would need to eat between 42,000 and 84,000 juniper berries to survive the winter. If you want to entice a Townsend Solitaire to visit during the winter, plant a couple juniper trees in your yard. Learn more at
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Townsends_Solitaire/overview
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/