Postcards from the Field: Morgan Hill

Shell Conservation Intern Morgan Hill

Greetings from Alberta,

This summer, I hope to gain more experience identifying native grasses and other flora and I think I have come to the right place! I am preparing for a trip to NCC's property at Horseshoe Canyon, near Drumheller, where I will be working in the field taking reference point photos, identifying rare plants and recording the plants, animals and birds that I observed. Photo reference points are specific points on a property where pictures have historically been taken to monitor changes over time. I will return to these photo locations at Horseshoe Canyon and take additional photographs. The photos I take at the site have to mimic the ones taken from previous years; I will have to stand in the same location and in the same direction as outlined for me in the property's base line. Once I return to the Edmonton office, I will be comparing my photos with ones previously taken at Horseshoe Canyon. My observations and project data will be entered in a monitoring report which keeps track of what work is being done on the site.

Horseshoe Canyon, Alberta Photography by Kevin Connolly

I have heard that Horseshoe Canyon is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Alberta. I have seen photographs of the property while preparing for the trip and I can't wait to see it in person! The contrast between the prairie, the steep slopes, the badland and the agricultural fields that surround the entire property looks breathtaking. The final big field trip for the summer is scheduled at the end of the month for Buffalo Lake Moraine located near Red Deer in the Central Parkland sub-region. Central Parkland is known for its habitat for threatened species like Trumpeter Swan, Prairie Loggerhead Shrike and the endangered Piping Plover. I grew up in a small town outside of Saskatoon called Vanscoy and I'm entering my 4th year at the College of Agriculture, University of Saskatchewan. After graduation, I'm hoping to work in the area of conservation.

I can't wait to see what's around the corner!

Morgan Hill

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