Autumn colours at JJ Collett Natural Area

Yesterday, 6 October 2013, I spent a very enjoyable day with three friends and a group of interesting, knowledgeable people from Calgary and further afield. After a long drive N of Calgary, we explored the JJ Collett Natural Area, looking for mosses, lichens and absolutely anything else of interest. This was the first time I had ever been lucky enough to go there, thanks to friend Sandy, who drove two of us there and back. A very interesting and beautiful natural area, with good trails. This photo captures just a few of the beautiful fall colours that surrounded us.

I was so happy to get the chance to meet Dr. Charles (Charley) Bird, a man from the academic world who became a cattle farmer, from Erskine, Alberta, an absolutely delightful man who, I discovered, knows everything about everything and has received numerous awards for his contributions! Not only that, but he takes pure delight in passing on his knowledge to others. What a treasure he is! "His current projects include Biodiversity studies of the macro- and micro-moths of a number of areas in Alberta, the purposes being to document the present fauna of these areas as a baseline for future change; and to add distributional knowledge for future ALG (Alberta Lepidopterists' Guild) projects. Areas studied include a quarter of mixedwoods 8 km NW of Winfield, Erskine, an area of aspen woods 12 km SSE of Erskine, McKenzie Crossing, Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial Park, Big Knife Provincial Park, Rochon Sands Provincial Park, Tolman Bridge, the Buffalo Lake Conservation Area, the Lowden Springs Natural Area, an area of aspen parkland 3 km south of Nevis, and the J.J. Collett Natural Area. He became a major contributor to the beautiful and encyclopaedic book, Alberta Butterflies, published in 1995. He is also working on a guide to the moths of south-central Alberta. His personal BIRD collection currently includes about 30,000 specimens of Lepidoptera - this will eventually go to the Strickland and/or Forestry collections." Taken from the Alberta Lepidopterists' Guild information. The following YouTube link lets Dr. Bird briefly describe what it is that he does.

youtu.be/FZOOemLAE5Q

www.ofnc.ca/awards/2005/charles-bird.php

Totally tired out by the time yesterday evening arrived, partly from the long walk and also from barely any sleep the previous three nights (and I had been on a full-day birding trip E of Calgary the previous day)! Have to add that the final treat of the day was when I was invited to stay for supper with Sandy and her husband (which I declined), but was sent home with some of their roast pork meal! Delicious, needless to say, and so much enjoyed and appreciated. Thanks for sharing your great cooking, Ted!