Show Notes
About an hour’s drive west of Calgary, Alberta in the foothills and front ranges of the Canadian Rocky Mountains is an area known as Kananaskis Country. Within this nearly 1 million acres of land are towering mountains, alpine meadows, glaciers, forests, lakes, wetlands, grasslands, and thickets. Over 130 species of birds nest in Kananaskis Country, including many songbirds. I’ve felt a draw to return to this place ever since I first camped here when I was 13. The imagery of the mountains, sky, and forests have never left me. But I didn’t remember much about how it sounded. Now, 30 years after I first visited Kananaskis Country, I’m back once again, this time with some field recorders and the skills and knowledge to help me identify the birdsongs I hear. Credits
Songbirding: Kananaskis Country is a Songbirding Studios production. Recorded, engineered, narrated and created by Rob Porter. The Songbirding cover art (Townsend's Warbler) is by Lauren Helton: https://tinylongwing.carbonmade.com/projects/5344062
Creative Commons music is from Bluedot Sessions. Learn how to support the show at https://songbirding.com/support
More from Songbirding
In the first half we explore insect songs & sounds in southern Ontario in mid-October, then to a group of Common Ravens in Alberta in June. Credits The Songbirding Halloween Special (2026) is a Songbirding Studios production. Recorded, engineered, narrated and created by Rob Porter. The Songbirding cover art (Townsend's Warbler) is by Lauren Helton: https://tinylongwing.carbonmade.com/projects/5344062 Creative Commons music is from Scott Buckley. https://www.scottbuckley.com.au/library/ Learn how to support the show at https://songbirding.com/support
While hiking the Fullerton Loop Trail I found a very cooperative Townsend’s Solitaire, at about the halfway point of the hike. For this episode, we’re going to listen to this long-winged songster, as well as many other songbird species here. Credits
Continuing the ascent of the Fullerton Loop Trail, I’m about to encounter the songs of Red-breast Nuthatches, Western Warbling-Vireos, and Townsend’s Solitaires. Credits
As I continue along the Fullerton Loop Trail, I’ll be encountering some Chipping Sparrows, Varied Thrush, Mountain Chickadees, and more.
The Fullerton Loop Trail is a half-day hike that gives expansive views over the Elbow Valley in Kananaskis Country. During my trip in early June of 2025, it was full of birdsong, even though the climate felt like winter was still holding on a slight bit.