Elk Island National Park, Alberta, Canada

**Canada_Rockies** · 10-01-2018, 02:45 PM - **9 Likes**

I visited Elk Island National Park in Alberta, latitude ~53 North. It was cool, but no snow yet. 0 C, 32 F over night. All four of these photos were taken with the K-3 and DA 55-300 (non WR).

2-3 month old calf, born much later than the rest of this year's calves. I was worried s/he wouldn't survive the winter, but the naturalists are confident s/he is healthy enough and will be fine.

For comparison, an adult in the foreground.

The night of my arrival, my daughter and son-in-law brought dinner, and we went for a walk afterward along the shore of Astotin Lake. As we walked away from the campground, we weren't overly impressed with the sunsets, but on the way back ...

I've tentatively identified this bird as a Greater Yellow Legs. I am waiting for confirmation from our Birding Group.

pschlute · 10-01-2018, 03:00 PM

Lovely sunset.

**RGlasel** · 10-01-2018, 04:15 PM

Originally posted by Canada_Rockies

I was worried s/he wouldn't survive the winter, but the naturalists are confident s/he is healthy enough and will be fine.

I wonder if the herds at Elk Island N.P. are provided hay in the winter if the snow is too deep? Apparently there were problems with the bison introduced to Grasslands N.P., unlike the truly wild bison of the nineteenth century and before, they weren't accustomed to foraging under the snow, so park staff had to either provide feed or watch them starve to death. Nice pictures of the calf, by the way!

**paulh** · 10-01-2018, 04:19 PM

Beautiful set of photos!

**DDoram** · 10-01-2018, 04:49 PM

Nice set; Elk Island is a great place so close to those of us in Edmonton.

**jbinpg** · 10-01-2018, 06:08 PM

Great shots of a beautiful area, Albert. The bill on your yellowlegs looks too long for a Lesser so I would go with a Greater Yellowlegs for that one. - Jack

**Canada_Rockies** · 10-02-2018, 08:48 AM

Originally posted by pschlute

Lovely sunset.

Thank you. It was gorgeous. We had almost given up, and an hour after sunset ...

Originally posted by RGlasel

I wonder if the herds at Elk Island N.P. are provided hay in the winter if the snow is too deep? Apparently there were problems with the bison introduced to Grasslands N.P., unlike the truly wild bison of the nineteenth century and before, they weren't accustomed to foraging under the snow, so park staff had to either provide feed or watch them starve to death. Nice pictures of the calf, by the way!

Elk Island is in a heavy snow area. I strongly suspect the bison are used to it. They are 4 degrees North of here, and we have about 4 inches of snow today.

Originally posted by paulh

Beautiful set of photos!

Thanks, Paul

Originally posted by DDoram

Nice set; Elk Island is a great place so close to those of us in Edmonton.

I wish I were closer to me. It is close to 650 Km from here, a whole days drive, so out of the 3 days I could spare away from home, two were spent in a pickup truck with a 17 foot 5th wheel trailer on the back. Edmonton is 6 1/2 hours from here without the trailer. The speed with trailer is never over 100 km/h due to the parachute effect on fuel consumption.

tuggie76 · 10-02-2018, 09:14 AM

Great pictures! Having just driven from Niagara to Brandon, Manitoba I feel your pain, but the remoteness of these places is worth he visit. Here's a Bison from around there, he seems well equipped for winter though!

**Canada_Rockies** · 10-02-2018, 09:25 AM

Nice Wood bison, tuggie. I didn't get to any of the Wood bison enclosure due to upgrade work going on. The trails were closed, so I got to spend a lot of time with the Plains bison instead.

tuggie76 · 10-02-2018, 09:48 AM

Originally posted by Canada_Rockies

Nice Wood bison, tuggie. I didn't get to any of the Wood bison enclosure due to upgrade work going on. The trails were closed, so I got to spend a lot of time with the Plains bison instead.

Thanks for that, I wasn't aware there were different types, I just assumed he was a plain ole bison!

We don't get tooo many large wild animals down here, lots of squirrels though.

normhead · 10-02-2018, 09:58 AM

Daacon used to post images taken there years ago. It's nice to see something recent. Thanks for posting.

**Canada_Rockies** · 10-02-2018, 10:46 AM

Originally posted by tuggie76

Thanks for that, I wasn't aware there were different types, I just assumed he was a plain ole bison!

We don't get tooo many large wild animals down here, lots of squirrels though.

The curly hair on the head of the Wood bison is the quickest way to see it. Also when you see them side by side, the Wood is quite a bit larger. Here's a Plains with the same calf, s/he may or may not be related. I didn't see the calf nurse during any of my visits that day, so I don't know who Mommy was.

**wtlwdwgn** · 10-02-2018, 10:54 AM

Nice shooting Albert!

**Canada_Rockies** · 10-02-2018, 12:06 PM

Originally posted by wtlwdwgn

Nice shooting Albert!

Thank you; I'm building an album of the trip on PF. Watch for further posts.

Racer X 69 · 10-02-2018, 04:35 PM

Originally posted by Canada_Rockies

I visited Elk Island National Park in Alberta, latitude ~53 North. It was cool, but no snow yet. 0 C, 32 F over night. All four of these photos were taken with the K-3 and DA 55-300 (non WR).

2-3 month old calf, born much later than the rest of this year's calves. I was worried s/he wouldn't survive the winter, but the naturalists are confident s/he is healthy enough and will be fine.

For comparison, an adult in the foreground.

The night of my arrival, my daughter and son-in-law brought dinner, and we went for a walk afterward along the shore of Astotin Lake. As we walked away from the campground, we weren't overly impressed with the sunsets, but on the way back ...

I've tentatively identified this bird as a Greater Yellow Legs. I am waiting for confirmation from our Birding Group.

Nice work Albert.

The first of the calf, and the sunset especially.

How are the mosquitoes?

10-01-2018, 02:45 PM - 9 Likes	#1
Canada_Rockies Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sparwood, BC, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,385	Elk Island National Park, Alberta, Canada I visited Elk Island National Park in Alberta, latitude ~53 North. It was cool, but no snow yet. 0 C, 32 F over night. All four of these photos were taken with the K-3 and DA 55-300 (non WR). 2-3 month old calf, born much later than the rest of this year's calves. I was worried s/he wouldn't survive the winter, but the naturalists are confident s/he is healthy enough and will be fine. For comparison, an adult in the foreground. The night of my arrival, my daughter and son-in-law brought dinner, and we went for a walk afterward along the shore of Astotin Lake. As we walked away from the campground, we weren't overly impressed with the sunsets, but on the way back ... I've tentatively identified this bird as a Greater Yellow Legs. I am waiting for confirmation from our Birding Group.

10-02-2018, 09:14 AM	#8
tuggie76 Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2011 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,215	Great pictures! Having just driven from Niagara to Brandon, Manitoba I feel your pain, but the remoteness of these places is worth he visit. Here's a Bison from around there, he seems well equipped for winter though! Last edited by tuggie76; 03-31-2019 at 07:56 AM.

10-02-2018, 09:58 AM	#11
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	Daacon used to post images taken there years ago. It's nice to see something recent. Thanks for posting. Last edited by normhead; 10-02-2018 at 11:22 AM.

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10-01-2018, 03:00 PM	#2
pschlute Moderator Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Surrey, UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,198	Lovely sunset.

10-01-2018, 04:15 PM	#3
RGlasel Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Saskatoon Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,228	Originally posted by Canada_Rockies I was worried s/he wouldn't survive the winter, but the naturalists are confident s/he is healthy enough and will be fine. I wonder if the herds at Elk Island N.P. are provided hay in the winter if the snow is too deep? Apparently there were problems with the bison introduced to Grasslands N.P., unlike the truly wild bison of the nineteenth century and before, they weren't accustomed to foraging under the snow, so park staff had to either provide feed or watch them starve to death. Nice pictures of the calf, by the way!

10-01-2018, 04:19 PM	#4
paulh Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: DFW Texas/Ventura County, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 33,262	Beautiful set of photos!

10-01-2018, 04:49 PM	#5
DDoram Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Edmonton, Alberta Canada Posts: 632	Nice set; Elk Island is a great place so close to those of us in Edmonton.

10-01-2018, 06:08 PM	#6
jbinpg Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Prince George, BC Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,546	Great shots of a beautiful area, Albert. The bill on your yellowlegs looks too long for a Lesser so I would go with a Greater Yellowlegs for that one. - Jack

10-02-2018, 08:48 AM	#7
Canada_Rockies Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sparwood, BC, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,385 Original Poster	Originally posted by pschlute Lovely sunset. Thank you. It was gorgeous. We had almost given up, and an hour after sunset ... Originally posted by RGlasel I wonder if the herds at Elk Island N.P. are provided hay in the winter if the snow is too deep? Apparently there were problems with the bison introduced to Grasslands N.P., unlike the truly wild bison of the nineteenth century and before, they weren't accustomed to foraging under the snow, so park staff had to either provide feed or watch them starve to death. Nice pictures of the calf, by the way! Elk Island is in a heavy snow area. I strongly suspect the bison are used to it. They are 4 degrees North of here, and we have about 4 inches of snow today. Originally posted by paulh Beautiful set of photos! Thanks, Paul Originally posted by DDoram Nice set; Elk Island is a great place so close to those of us in Edmonton. I wish I were closer to me. It is close to 650 Km from here, a whole days drive, so out of the 3 days I could spare away from home, two were spent in a pickup truck with a 17 foot 5th wheel trailer on the back. Edmonton is 6 1/2 hours from here without the trailer. The speed with trailer is never over 100 km/h due to the parachute effect on fuel consumption.

10-02-2018, 09:25 AM	#9
Canada_Rockies Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sparwood, BC, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,385 Original Poster	Nice Wood bison, tuggie. I didn't get to any of the Wood bison enclosure due to upgrade work going on. The trails were closed, so I got to spend a lot of time with the Plains bison instead.

10-02-2018, 09:48 AM	#10
tuggie76 Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2011 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,215	Originally posted by Canada_Rockies Nice Wood bison, tuggie. I didn't get to any of the Wood bison enclosure due to upgrade work going on. The trails were closed, so I got to spend a lot of time with the Plains bison instead. Thanks for that, I wasn't aware there were different types, I just assumed he was a plain ole bison! We don't get tooo many large wild animals down here, lots of squirrels though.

10-02-2018, 10:54 AM	#13
wtlwdwgn Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Billings, MT Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,838	Nice shooting Albert!

10-02-2018, 12:06 PM	#14
Canada_Rockies Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sparwood, BC, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,385 Original Poster	Originally posted by wtlwdwgn Nice shooting Albert! Thank you; I'm building an album of the trip on PF. Watch for further posts.

10-02-2018, 04:35 PM	#15
Racer X 69 Moderator Man With A Camera Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: The Great Pacific Northwet, in the Land Between Canada and Mexico Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,068	Originally posted by Canada_Rockies I visited Elk Island National Park in Alberta, latitude ~53 North. It was cool, but no snow yet. 0 C, 32 F over night. All four of these photos were taken with the K-3 and DA 55-300 (non WR). 2-3 month old calf, born much later than the rest of this year's calves. I was worried s/he wouldn't survive the winter, but the naturalists are confident s/he is healthy enough and will be fine. For comparison, an adult in the foreground. The night of my arrival, my daughter and son-in-law brought dinner, and we went for a walk afterward along the shore of Astotin Lake. As we walked away from the campground, we weren't overly impressed with the sunsets, but on the way back ... I've tentatively identified this bird as a Greater Yellow Legs. I am waiting for confirmation from our Birding Group. Nice work Albert. The first of the calf, and the sunset especially. How are the mosquitoes?