Conservation Magazine - 2011 Spring/Summer

From the Editor

Spring-cleaning reveals a lot of things, like too much dust that’s collected over the winter and, sometimes if you’re lucky, forgotten gems. That’s how I came across Old Pal, my first tackle box. Beat up both inside and out, it tells a story of eager fingers poked by hooks, successful and failed casts, rigorous attempts to master the clinch and palomar knots, time with family, and of course, the pride and exhilaration of catching dinner.

The contents of that tackle box are long gone – the barbless red devil and five of diamonds spoons, Rapala and a frog lure that had enough hooks on it to catch an entire school of fish…but there is something about having had those experiences that outlasts any lure.     

From trips to the old hardware store where the season’s new hooks lined the wall to my old standbys – at the seasoned age of six, I was as dazzled as a magpie by the shiny bling. Today, the choices are mind-boggling and, as Ariana Tourneur writes, the marketing hype deployed to tempt you is worthy of P.T. Barnum (Tradition or Technology: What Really Lands a Fish?).    

While you’re scoping out your next fishing spot or great Conservation Site getaway, watch for the onslaught of feathered travellers arriving in our province. Some of these visitors, like the peregrine falcon, fly from as far as Brazil to Edmonton, Alberta and other parts of western and northern Canada to nest and rear their young. Their presence is impressive to witness – one that could have been lost to us almost 40 years ago. Internationally recognized peregrine expert, Dr. Gordon Court, tells us how the fastest species in the world, flying up to 300 km/h, is making a comeback to reign the skies once again (The Last Peregrine: Why Surveys Matter).      

But not all travellers are as fascinating. In fact, some can be downright destructive. Be wary of those beautiful wild flowers you’re preparing to plant: you just might be in love with a noxious weed. The impacts are costly to our economy, and at ACA we are particularly concerned about the effects on native vegetation at our Conservation Sites. Noxious weeds transport easily on footwear, vehicle tires and the wind. Writer Nicole Nickel-Lane will help you keep Alberta and Conservation Sites wild by getting you weed wise (Choked Out: Losing Ground Against Invasive Plants).

Tap into more of your wild Alberta with the 2011-2012 Outdoor Adventure Guide or download the iPhone app. If you’ve never gone fishing, maybe it’s time to try. Tonight, eat local from a stream or try out our stocked lakes in the Guide. Imagine the taste of fresh pan-fried fish with homemade bannock cooked on a stick over the fire. Now that’s gourmet cooking!

Editor-in-Chief, Lisa Monsees
lisa.monsees@ab-conservation.com