is nestled between the Red Deer River and the South Saskatchewan River, at the eastern edge of Alberta. There is a wild feel to this quaint village surrounded by expansive farms and ranches, pronghorns, coyotes and so many different species of birds. The recreation opportunities for adventurers and star-gazers are boundless. Come and see for yourself!
Birds
Some of the birds in our region. Many rare or endangered species thrive in our region.
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) 2
Great Horned Owl chicks (Bubo virginianus)
Western Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis)
Common Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus). AKA Ring-necked Pheasant
Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus)
Baby owl
Ducklings
Pelican on river, , American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) by Cathy Cocks
Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia)
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
Pheasant cock strutting, Common Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus), AKA Ring-necked Pheasant
Western Tanager (Piranga ludoviciana) by Cathy Cocks
Male Pintail Duck (Anas acuta) by Cathy Cocks
village_of_empress_slide08
... and a 'partridge' in a 'pear' tree, Sharp-tailed Grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus)
Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum), on the river
Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta) by Barry Cocks
Yellow-breasted Chat (Icteria virens)
Common Pheasant hen & cock (Phasianus colchicus), AKA Ring-necked Pheasant
Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta)
Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) 2
Sharp-tailed Grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus) drumming by Kevin Schonhofer
Pheasant cocks by Cathy Cocks, Common Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus), AKA Ring-necked Pheasant
Curlew baby (Numenius) 2
Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) 2
Ferrunginous Hawk (Buteo regalis) feeding young by Cathy Cocks
Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)
Long-billed Curlew (Numenius americanus) by Barry Cocks
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) basking in the November sun
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) by Clint and Lily Steinley
Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoides)
Tennessee Warbler (Leiothlypis peregrina)
Prairie Falcon (Falco mexicanus)
Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis) by Cathy Cocks
Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa) 2
Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus)
Bohemian Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus)
Nighthawk (Chordeilinae)
Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus)
Male Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus)
Eurasian Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) by Barry Cocks
Great Horned Owl chicks (Bubo virginianus) 2
White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys)
Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa)
Great-horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) by Barry Cocks
American Kestrel (Falco sparverius). AKA Sparrow Hawk