CL Ranches, Alberta

All three photos posted this morning were taken yesterday, 17 October 2015, when I spent the day birding with 6 friends. We travelled west of the city, the direction that I don't often get to see, mostly along Highway 1, turning off in a few places to see what species we could find. Overall, it was a very quiet day as far as birding goes.

At one particular pond (seen in the previous photo), we watched several distant Swans, which are always nice to see. They were just off to the left and right of my photo. This is part of the trumpeter swan’s migratory path. You would never guess that the main Highway 1 runs from left to right through this area - the reflections of passing vehicles were seen in the water.

While my friends were checking out the few other waterfowl, I just had to turn around and take a few photos of this old orange/red barn in the distance. I wasn't sure just where we were, but last night I went on Google Earth and eventually found the exact place. I also discovered that there is a whole lot more about this barn and the ranch it belongs to. For one thing, it also has a whole movie set in Western theme (i.e. old saloon, etc.), which has been used in a long list of movies.

I'm adding a link to a detailed account of the Ranch by The Western Producer, posted on 27 August 2012 by Barbara Duckworth. It provides a lot of interesting information. This Ranch family emphasizes watershed management on 18,000 acres of land.

www.producer.com/2012/08/ranch-uses-tranquil-setting-to-d...

www.clranches.com/

clwesterntown.com/

www.country-guide.ca/2014/07/31/the-wide-view/44390/

calgaryherald.com/business/local-business/producing-a-mor...

calgaryherald.com/business/mcdonalds-undertakes-pilot-pro...