Redberry Lake Biosphere Region

Redberry Lake Biosphere Region The RLBR is one of 20 UNESCO designated Biospheres in Canada and the only one in Saskatchewan!

What in the world has our Bander-In-Charge been up to this week? 🌏Mike has been busy assisting master’s student Ana Corn...
06/19/2026

What in the world has our Bander-In-Charge been up to this week? 🌏

Mike has been busy assisting master’s student Ana Cornea in Dr. Christy Morrissey’s lab at the University of Saskatchewan, helping with songbird banding near Paynton, Sk.

Their project focuses on studying songbirds in non‑crop vegetation adjacent to cropland and is part of the Prairie Precision Sustainability Network.🦆🐦

⁉Curious about PPSN? Check out their story here:
🔗https://www.prairiepsn.ca/about-4-1

Like all bird banding projects we participate in, this work is conducted under proper provincial and federal permits, ensuring birds are captured and handled responsibly.❣

Did you know...🐍🐍🐍You can tell the health of a garter snake by the condition of the skin they shed?🏥A healthy garter sna...
06/18/2026

Did you know...
🐍🐍🐍
You can tell the health of a garter snake by the condition of the skin they shed?🏥

A healthy garter snake usually has a clean, complete shed (called a shed “skin” or exuvia). The shed should come off in one piece or in large sections, including the head and eye caps (the clear scales over the eyes). This indicates the snake is well‑hydrated and in good condition. The shed skin should look thin, slightly stretchy, and intact with clear scale patterns.💧💪

Signs of a healthy shed:
🐍Comes off mostly whole, not in many small flakes
🐍Includes eye caps and tail tip
🐍 Looks smooth and not overly dry or brittle

If the shed is patchy, stuck in pieces, or leaves eye caps behind, it can signal dehydration, stress, or husbandry issues (like low humidity). Occasional imperfect sheds can happen, but consistent problems may mean the snake needs better care.🤧

📸: Marissa Miller

☀Our partners at USASK Co-Lab - Centre for Community Engaged and Collaborative Historical Research are looking for more ...
06/17/2026

☀Our partners at USASK Co-Lab - Centre for Community Engaged and Collaborative Historical Research are looking for more participants for the summer! ☀

Want to share your story? 📚

📩Contact us by emailing [email protected] or reaching out to the Co-lab on instagram .usask

Come create, listen and connect with us🌿This hands on workshop invites participants to "bead" with paint in traditional ...
06/17/2026

Come create, listen and connect with us🌿

This hands on workshop invites participants to "bead" with paint in traditional Cree and Métis floral patterns, on a mini black canvas while learning their cultural significance through story-often with a cup of muskeg tea in hand. 🌼

No previous experience needed. All materials included

Led by Elizabeth Zdunich, a member of the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation and author of the children's book kisêwâtisi: Be Kind.
A mom, teacher, and author, Elizabeth shares cultural knowledge through hands-on learning and storytelling. Inspired by the strong women in her family, she continues to learn from the land, traditional medicinal plant use, and Cree language and culture.
Elizabeth holds a Certificate in Indigenous Languages, a Bachelor in Education, and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from the University of Saskatchewan.

We are honored to have her lead this workshop!

📆June 29th
🕐 6:30-8 pm
📍Redberry Lake Biosphere Interpretive Site
🎫 $25 per person

To book your spot: email [email protected], DM us, or call us at (306) 549-2360

Join us for an afternoon of Mycology & Meandering! 🍄Learn how to identify mushrooms with Sandy Jasieniuk of Sask Mycolog...
06/12/2026

Join us for an afternoon of Mycology & Meandering! 🍄

Learn how to identify mushrooms with Sandy Jasieniuk of Sask Mycology, then explore the trails on a scenic hike along Redberry Lake.

📅 July 4
⏰ 1–4 PM
💲 $20/person (limited spots available!)

Snacks provided, curiosity encouraged, and nature waiting 🌲

📩 Book your spot: [email protected] | DM us | ☎️ (306) 549-2360

🐦Birds of the Biosphere🐦Did you know one of Saskatchewan’s largest birds nests right here at Redberry Lake? 👀With an inc...
06/11/2026

🐦Birds of the Biosphere🐦

Did you know one of Saskatchewan’s largest birds nests right here at Redberry Lake? 👀

With an incredible wingspan of up to 3 metres (10 ft!), the American White Pelican is hard to miss. These striking birds have bright white bodies, black flight feathers, and a massive bill with a stretchy pouch for catching food 🐟

📍 Local Highlight:
Redberry Lake hosts one of the largest nesting colonies of American White Pelicans—up to 400 breeding pairs return each year starting in mid-May!

🪺 Nesting & Family Life:
• Both parents build a simple nest (a small scrape in sand or soil)
• Females lay 1–2 eggs
• Eggs hatch after ~30 days
• Chicks take about 10 weeks to grow before testing their wings
During this time, adults travel far to find food—sometimes all the way to the North & South Saskatchewan Rivers (even Saskatoon!) before returning to feed their young 💪

🍽️ Feeding Facts:
Pelicans scoop fish, amphibians, and crayfish into their pouch, then tip their heads back to swallow.
They can eat over 1 lb per trip—and sometimes up to 6+ lbs in one go!

⚠️ Why protection matters:
Pelicans are very sensitive to disturbance—if frightened, they may abandon nests. That’s why their nesting islands on Redberry Lake are closed from April 15 to September 15 🚫
Other threats include predators, overheating of chicks, and climate pressures.☀

✨ Fun fact:
Breeding adults grow a temporary “horn” on their bill—a sign of maturity!
Another amazing fact? Some pelicans fly all the way to the weir in Saskatoon to fish… and back again to feed their chicks! That's a long way to go!

🪶 The oldest recorded American White Pelican lived to 20 years old. How do they know this? It was banded and documented!

With anything in nature, let’s respect their space and help protect these incredible birds 💙

🌳Native Seeds 🌳The bright red clusters on Red Elderberry are not just eye-catching!. They are full of seeds that help gr...
06/10/2026

🌳Native Seeds 🌳

The bright red clusters on Red Elderberry are not just eye-catching!. They are full of seeds that help grow future shrubs and play an important role in the ecosystem as a food source. 🍃

Want to know the crazy thing about the Red Elderberry—including the seeds? They contain cyanogenic glycosides.☠

When the plant tissue is crushed or digested, these compounds can break down and release hydrogen cyanide (HCN), a toxic compound that interferes with cellular respiration.🔬

For humans, this means raw berries or crushed seeds can cause illness. However, thorough cooking denatures the enzymes involved and allows the cyanide gas to dissipate, making the fruit safe to consume when properly prepared.
🚫 Raw = unsafe
✅ Cooked = safe

But wait! If they are a part of a birds diet, how are they not harmed by the cyanogenic compounds? Birds process the fruit quickly and typically don't chew or break the seeds, which limits the release of defensive compounds. This allows them to benefit from the fruit while safely dispersing the seeds around the land. 🐦

Red Elderberry is a perfect example of how plants use chemistry as a defense, and why understanding plant science helps us interact with them safely!❗❗❗

06/10/2026

Just a reminder to pick up your FREE Notice Nature Passport at participating locations across Saskatchewan!

The Plant ID page of the NN Passport will always be a favorite! June is a great time to look for wildflowers. 🌻🌿🌳
To explore more about native plant species, check out these pages:
Redberry Lake Biosphere Region

EcoFriendly West

🚨Have an abandoned homestead on your land and want to be included in a really captivating project with the University of...
06/09/2026

🚨Have an abandoned homestead on your land and want to be included in a really captivating project with the University of Saskatchewan?

Dr. Christy Morrissey's research group at the University of Saskatchewan is seeking a few additional abandoned homesteads in the North Saskatchewan River watershed and Redberry Lake region for a wildlife conservation study.🏡

Abandoned prairie homesteads often contain semi-natural habitats – including shelterbelts, dense vegetation, and derelict structures – that can provide valuable refuge for local wildlife. This study aims to better understand how these sites contribute to conservation within working prairie landscapes.

Researchers are looking for landowners who may be willing to include their property in the study. Participation involves the placement of acoustic recording units (ARUs) and trail cameras to monitor bird and mammal presence and activity. Equipment would be installed for a few weeks, or through the end of summer, with minimal disruption to your land.🦉🐦🦊

📲If you are interested in being a partner in conservation, or know someone who might be, please reach out to Dr. Morrissey at [email protected] or James Fiorino at [email protected] as soon as possible. Or simply pass along this invitation.

Thank you for supporting wildlife conservation on the Prairies!💪

🌱 Our Native Tree Nursery is on the hunt for seeds! 🌱 Have you noticed catkins starting to show signs of "fluffing" on ...
06/08/2026

🌱 Our Native Tree Nursery is on the hunt for seeds! 🌱

Have you noticed catkins starting to show signs of "fluffing" on your aspens, balsams, cottonwoods or willows? Have you noticed any elm seeds taking over your gardens? Have some berries in the freezer that you forgot about from the last couple years? They may still have viable seeds inside them!👀

🤳Give us a holler and we will come take some of those seeds off your hands (or trees). Or pop on in at the Biosphere office in Hafford with your own collected seeds for us to clean!

Our nursery grows hand collected native seed from within the region because the genetics of these trees are well adapted to our climate. These will be more successful when planted back into the region for many of our current projects. 🌳

We will send out a call for seeds throughout the summer and fall for other tree and shrub species!❗

Address

Redberry Lake
Hafford, SK
S0J1A0

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Redberry Lake Biosphere Region posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Redberry Lake Biosphere Region:

Shortcuts

Share