Surprising number of bird species at Motherwell Reservoir
BY JOAN JANZEN
joanjanzen@yahoo.com
Most Kindersley and area residents would be surprised to discover there is a wide variety of bird species near the Motherwell Reservoir and the walking trail, except for one local resident - Floyd Connor.
Floyd has been passionate about birds since he was a kid growing up near Smiley, Sask. It was there that he first identified fifty different bird species, with the help of a bird book he had acquired. That was the beginning of a life-long passion and past time.
In later years, digital photography allowed him to expand his horizons, and capable mega zoom lens further enhanced his photos, helping him to shoot some truly stunning images.
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He loves to share his love of nature with others, and is willing to take interested locals on a guided walk at the walking trail. It helps people to be able to put a name to particular species of birds. According to Floyd, the marshy habitat and different varieties of trees in the area are the perfect conditions for his hobby. Floyd left the prairies to work at Queens University in Ontario. When he moved back to the prairies in 2010, he came to Kindersley and began frequenting the Motherwell Reservoir.
“To be able to show a great horned owl or a yellow warbler with a dignified pin stripe on its breast - that brings satisfaction to me and to the person who is seeing it for the first time,” Floyd said. This novice photographer has managed to capture quite a variety of species, including a Great Horned Owl, Horned Grebe, Northern Flicker, Goldfinch, a clay coloured Sparrow, and Yellow Warbler.
Local bird enthusiast, Floyd Conner.