Frank Farley and the Birds of Alberta

Glen Hvenegaard; Jeremy Mouat; Heather Marshall

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Frank Farley and the Birds of Alberta

Glen Hvenegaard , Jeremy Mouat and Heather Marshall

Language: English

Published/Copyright: 2025

Published by

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About this book

Frank Farley (1870–1949) was a passionate naturalist and enthusiastic booster for rural development in western Canada. He supported and managed newly designated migratory bird sanctuaries, networked with expert ornithologists across the continent, mentored young people (including famous Canadian writer and grand-nephew Farley Mowat), and published widely to scientific and popular audiences. His most significant publication was Birds of the Battle River Region. His data and research served as the basis for the first account of the birds of Alberta, published in 1958. Farley’s career shows how a single individual can make significant contributions to the fields of ornithology and environmental conservation, both locally and internationally. Frank Farley and the Birds of Alberta adds a new layer to a complex western Canadian past and will be an invaluable resource for those interested in Canadian environmental history, climate change, and ecological activism.

32 B&W images, index

Author / Editor information

Contributor: Glen Hvenegaard Glen Hvenegaard is Professor of Environmental Science at the University of Alberta. --- Contributor: Jeremy Mouat Jeremy Mouat is Professor Emeritus at the University of Alberta. --- Contributor: Heather J. Marshall Heather J. Marshall is a freelance writer and graphic designer.

Reviews

"In this remarkable biography Hvenegaard, Mouat, and Marshall team up brilliantly to give Frank Farley the recognition his legacy deserves, all the while unpacking a fascinating tale of conservation, settler, Indigenous, academic, and environmental history. This is a compassionate but balanced account of a complex individual living in complicated times. Anyone interested in our province or our environment will find this a fascinating read." John Acorn, Canadian naturalist and author --- "This well-researched book is successful in establishing Farley as a significant figure in early Canadian ornithology and as a significant naturalist of his time.” James Murton, Nipissing University ---

"Frank Farley and the Birds of Alberta sheds light on a leading naturalist and his network of ornithologists and birders during a transformative moment in Alberta history." Joanna Dean, Carleton University

--- "This book is an in-depth study of amateur ornithologist Frank Farley and his social environment, set against the changing backdrop of environmental activism and ecological knowledge during the first half of the 20th century." Eric Mills, Dalhousie University

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	vii
Acknowledgements Publicly Available Download PDF	ix
Introduction Publicly Available Download PDF	xv
1 Farley’s Early Years, 1870–1907. “Them Were the Days!” Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	1
2 Camrose. “The Most Hustling Town of the West” Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	21
3 Game Officer at Miquelon Lake. “A Second Jack Miner Pond” Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	43
4 Raising the Question. “Are Our Wild Ducks Doomed?” Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	65
5 Networking with Other Ornithologists. “All the Celebrities, Eh?” Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	87
6 Frank Farley as Mentor. “He Lit the Spark” Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	115
7 Farley’s Publications. “A Valuable Addition to the Bird Literature of the West” Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	139
Conclusion Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	165
Appendix. Frank Farley’s Publications Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	173
Notes Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	181
Bibliography Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	225
Index Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	245
About the author Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	253

Publishing information

Pages and Images/Illustrations in book

eBook published on:

October 31, 2025

eBook ISBN:

9781772128383

Pages and Images/Illustrations in book

Main content:

320

https://doi.org/10.1515/9781772128383

eBook ISBN: 9781772128383

Audience(s) for this book

For a non-specialist adult audience

Frank Farley and the Birds of Alberta

Overview

About this book

Author / Editor information

Reviews

Topics

Table of contents

Bibliographic data