History of Beaverhill Lake and the Nature Centre

Beaverhill Lake is a large, shallow lake that is 16km long, 10km wide and no more than 2m deep. This makes the lake the PERFECT place for birds. Every year, tens of thousands of migrating birds stop at Beaverhill Lake to rest and feed. More than 270 species of birds have been identified at the lake.

Early Area Visitors

Birdwatchers have been enticed to Beaverhill Lake for decades. William Rowan began visiting the lake in 1921 to observe and collect birds. For almost forty years, he was a frequent visitor to the area. Inspired by Rowan and his field notes, Robert Lister, a colleague of Rowan and an Edmonton naturalist and columnist, describes the history of birding at the lake in his book "The Birds and Birders of Beaverhill Lake".

Establishment

The importance of Beaverhill Lake as a staging area for a large number of migratory waterfowl was recognized in 1985 by a small group of local volunteers. At that time, a smaller version of the Nature Centre was started with the objectives to conserve the unique natural character of the lake and surrounding environment, and to facilitate ethical birdwatching through education.

Since that time, tourism to the lake has grown profoundly. In 1994, the initiative to build a larger facility to accommodate the growing number of visitors and to house our local historical museum was undertaken. We now provide a variety of tourist information, a unique gift shop and interpretive displays.

Recognition

Due to the importance of the lake, it has been recognized provincially, nationally and internationally as a waterfowl staging area. Some of the recognitions include:

• Ramsar Site by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in 1987.
• National Nature Viewpoint by the Canadian Nature Federation in 1987.
• A Natural Area was designated in 1987 by the Alberta Government.
• A key wetland in the "Wetlands for Tomorrow" agreement with Ducks Unlimited and Alberta Fish and Wildlife.
• WHSRN Site (Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network) in 1996 because of its importance to migrating and nesting shorebirds. In 1995, seven nesting pairs of Piping Plovers were found on the shore of Beaverhill Lake. The Piping Plover is an endangered bird species.
• Important Birding Area (IBA) by Bird Studies Canada in 1997. Beaverhill Lake is one of three Canadian sites along with Long Point, Ontario and the Niagara River Corridor, in Ontario.
• Nominated in 1999 as a Special Places 2000 site..

We work in close partnership with all stakeholders around the lake. Recently, we partnered with Ducks Unlimited to reclaim a wetland behind our building (to the north). We are in the process of completing a self-guided trail around the wetland, ending on a small boardwalk. This is an excellent area to view birds, especially for those with limited time or mobility.