NEWS RELEASE

from Nature Saskatchewan

Humanity in Harmony with Nature

For Immediate Release

Lookout! Youngsters are on the move!
Regina, SK- August 6, 2013 It may still feel like summer to you and I, but for some species, such as the Burrowing Owl, Piping Plover, and Loggerhead Shrike, its just about time to get ready for the winter! Piping Plovers have already begun to prepare! Piping Plovers are small migratory shorebirds that nest in Saskatchewan during the summer months, and spend the winter months on the coastal beaches of the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. Piping Plovers have already begun their migration after the young have spent the month of July practicing their flying skills, and growing quickly in preparation says Kaytlyn Burrows, Habitat Stewardship Coordinator with Nature Saskatchewan. Even though Piping Plovers have begun their migration journey, there may still be a chance to see young Burrowing Owls and Loggerhead Shrikes in action right here in Saskatchewan! Thats why it is important to be on the lookout for these youngsters when driving country roads; you never know when they will dart across the road! From mid-July to the end of August, young Burrowing Owls and Loggerhead Shrikes are still learning to fly and hunt on their own. It is so important for motorists to be on the lookout for the inexperienced young to avoid hitting them because they often fly near roadways in search of food, says Burrows. Both the Burrowing Owl and Loggerhead Shrike face many obstacles in their first year of life, and in order to survive, they need to avoid predators and colliding with vehicles, and find enough food for their migration journey, to name a few. Motorists can help minimize one of these risks by taking their time and slowing down. Nature Saskatchewan is asking residents of southern Saskatchewan to report Burrowing Owl, Piping Plover, and Loggerhead Shrike sightings and also sightings of impalements (e.g., grasshoppers, mice, snakes, beetles) on barbed wire or shrubs by calling our toll-free number at 1-800-667-4668. By reporting a sighting to Nature Saskatchewans Stewards of Saskatchewan programs, you are helping to monitor the species population, and providing valuable information for the conservation of these endangered and threatened prairie birds. Information provided is never shared without permission.

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For further information, please contact Nature Saskatchewan: Kaytlyn Burrows (306) 780-9833, email: obo@naturesask.ca Habitat Stewardship Coordinator

Nature Saskatchewan 206 - 1860 Lorne Street, Regina, SK S4P 2L7 Phone: (306) 780-9273 or 1-800-667-4668 (SK only) Fax: (306 780-9263; Email: info@naturesask.ca Visit us at www.naturesask.ca
Stewards of Saskatchewan is a Nature Saskatchewan voluntary landowner stewardship program funded through the Government of Canadas Habitat Stewardship Program for Species at Risk, Saskatchewan Ministry of Environments Fish and Wildlife Development Fund, US Fish and Wildlife Service Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act Program, SaskPower, Elsa Wild Animal Appeal of Canada, and SaskTel.

Nature Saskatchewan is a charitable conservation and cultural organization of naturalists dedicated to protecting and promoting nature, its diversity, and the processes that sustain it. Our supporters include over 1,000 individual members and 14 local naturalist groups. Our vision is Humanity in Harmony with Nature.
Nature Saskatchewan receives funding from: