COALDALE – On Saturday, August 13, 2016, the Alberta Birds of Prey Foundation and AltaLink announced a donation that will open up new areas of the Centre to visitors. AltaLink’s $50,000 donation is facilitating the development of a walking trail around the Centre’s wetland, home to many species of wildlife.
“The greatest asset we have on site is the water and the wetlands,” said Colin Weir, managing director and founder of the Alberta Birds of Prey Foundation. “We have 30 acres of wetlands and ponds on our 70-acre site, but we haven’t had pathways close to the water’s edge, and the wetlands have been inaccessible to visitors, until now.”
The goal of the 650-foot AltaLink trail is to connect the many species of wildlife found near the water with the tens of thousands of visitors who make a trip to the Centre every year. Visitors will now be able see shore birds, ducks, pelicans and cormorants up close, as well as the artificial nesting structures Weir and his team have built for them. The Foundation hopes that visitors will take away ideas and inspiration to build nests on their own properties.
“As a company that owns and operates power lines across Alberta, it’s important to us to support the Alberta Birds of Prey Foundation and the essential work it is doing,” said Nikki Heck, AltaLink environmental advisor. “Protecting Alberta’s natural landscapes and the hundreds of species of wildlife that make it their home is a critical part of how we run our business.”
The walking trail will be open in August or September 2016.
About the Alberta Birds of Prey Foundation
Since 1982, the Alberta Birds of Prey Foundation has been rehabilitating thousands of injured birds from across southern Alberta every year. Founder Colin Weir also provides educational programs in schools and provincial and national parks featuring injured and non-releasable birds. The Alberta Birds of Prey Centre in Coaldale features a bird sanctuary, visitor centre, gift shop, wetland and more.
About AltaLink
Headquartered in Calgary, with offices in Edmonton, Red Deer and Lethbridge, AltaLink is Alberta’s largest electricity transmission provider. We are committed to meeting the province’s demand for electricity, providing innovative solutions, and partnering with our stakeholders and communities in doing so. AltaLink’s community investment program, Linked to our Communities, supports youth across Alberta every year.
– 30 –
For more information please contact:
Robin Boschman
Manager, Corporate Communications
AltaLink Management Ltd.
Phone: 403.828.1525
Email: Robin.Boschman@AltaLink.ca