Native Prairie Speaker Series

Upcoming Speaker Series Presentations

Monthly Webinar Series

Every month, PCAP hosts a Native Prairie Speaker Series Webinar about species at risk or prairie conservation. These live broadcasts can be watched from any location for free. Webinars are recorded and uploaded to the PCAP YouTube channel.

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November Native Prairie Speaker Series

Growing Canada's Native Seed Industry: Insights from a Nuffield Canada Scholar's European Journey

Thursday November 21st, 2024 at 12:00pm

Speaker: Renny W. Grilz, P.Ag., 2024 Nuffield Canada Contemporary Scholar Blazing Star Wildflower Seed Company

Watch the Recording on YouTube

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December Native Prairie Speaker Series

The Loggerhead Shrike: The Prairie's Predatory Songbird

Tuesday December 10th, 2025 at 12:00pm 

Speaker: Emily Putz, Habitat Stewardship Coordinator, Nature Saskatchewan

Register Free: https://shorturl.at/V7Rkv

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January 2025 - Native Prairie Speaker Series - Webinar

Topic: Ord's Kangaroo Rats

Thursday January 30th, 2025 at 12:00pm CT 

Speaker: Jessie Bainbridge, MSc Candidate, University of Regina, Department of Biology

Register Free: https://shorturl.at/YEoOW

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February 2025 - Native Prairie Speaker Series Webinar *Save the Date!*

Topic: Piping Plover Census

Thursday February 6th, 2025 at 12:00pm CT 

Speaker: Ashley Vass, Habitat Stewardship Coordinator, Nature Saskatchewan 

Register Free: https://shorturl.at/vEeb0

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Native Prairie Speaker Series Webinar - Presenting Sponsors:

 

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2024 Past Speaker Series Presentations and Webinar Recordings

January Native Prairie Speaker Series - Webinar

A multi-agency collaboration on Burrowing Owl monitoring and recovery

Thursday January 25th at 12:00pm CT or 11:00am MT

Speakers: 

Dr. Troy Wellicome – Adjunct Professor, University of Alberta & Senior Species at Risk Biologist, Canadian Wildlife Service

Dr. Stefano Liccioli – Senior Species at Risk Biologist, Alberta Environment and Protected Areas

Graham Dixon-MacCallum – Conservation Research Population Ecologist, Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo

Watch the Recording Here

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February In-Person Native Prairie Speaker Series in Mankota, SK 

Presentation: Badgers! More than just big holes? 

Speaker: Nikki Heim, Wildlife Ecologist

Watch the Recording Here

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February Native Prairie Speaker Series - Webinar

Took Place on Thursday February 29th, 2024 at 12:00pm CT 

Squirrel, venison, or beef? Coyote diet and feeding behaviour on Canada’s grasslands

Speaker: Dr. Susan Lingle, Associate Professor, Department of Biology, The University of Winnipeg

Watch the Recording Here.

A Video of Expanded Results from Shayla Jackson's work in SW Saskatchewan Can be Found Here

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March Native Prairie Speaker Series - Webinar

Ghosts of Predator Past, Spirits of Perseverance Present, and Shadows of a Fragile Future: The Pronghorn

Wednesday March 27th at 12:00pm MT

Speaker: Paul Jones, Alberta Conservation Association

Watch the Recording on YouTube Here. 

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April Native Prairie Speaker Series 

The Recovery of Trumpeter Swans in Alberta

Thursday April 4th, 2024 at 12:00pm MT

Speaker: Nick Carter, Nature and Science Writer

Watch the Recording on our YouTube Channel! 

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April Native Prairie Speaker Series Webinar 

Scale-dependent relationships between habitat, insects and birds in native grasslands

Speakers: John Wilmshurst, Canadian Wildlife Federation; Kevin Hawkshaw, Birds Canada and Diego Steinaker, SODCAP

Tuesday April 30th at 12:00pm MT

Watch the Recording on Our YouTube Channel

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May Native Prairie Speaker Series 

Management of annual brome invasion within northern mixed grassland using indaziflam

Speaker: Anabel Dombro 

Thursday May 23rd, 2024 at 12:00pm 

Watch the Recording on YouTube

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June Native Prairie Speaker Series - Webinars. In Celebration on Native Prairie Appreciation Week, we will host 2 webinars in June! 

Adventures in Lichenology

Monday June 17th, 2024 at 12:00pm MT

Speaker: Dr. Troy McMullin, Research Scientist, Lichenology, Canadian Museum of Nature

Watch the Recording on YouTube

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The Royal Saskatchewan Museum – a hub of prairie research and collections

Tuesday June 18th, 2024 at 12:00pm MT 

Speakers: Ryan Fisher and Ryan Oram, Royal Saskatchewan Museum 

Watch the Recording on YouTube

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In-Person Native Prairie Speaker Series in Eastend, SK and Val Marie, SK. 

Home for Hawks: A Guide to Installing Ferruginous Hawk Nesting Platforms

Speaker: Tanner Stevens, Canadian Conservation Corps

Watch the Recording on YouTube

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July Native Prairie Speaker Series - Webinar

Redberry Lake Biosphere Region Update

Speaker: Mike Blom, Field Technician, Redberry Lake Biosphere Region'

Tuesday July 30th, 2024 at 12:00pm 

Watch the Webinar Recording on YouTube

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In-Person Speaker Series

Hoo's Watching Who? Using Community Science and Satellite Tracking to Uncover the Nesting and Hunting Habits of Great Horned Owls in Southern Saskatchewan

This presentation took place on September 9th at the SODCAP AGM in Eastend, SK as well as at the Nature Saskatchewan Conservation Awareness Dinner in Climax, SK. 

Watch the Recording from Eastend here! 

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September Native Prairie Speaker Series

A Bird's Eye View - Reflecting on Bird-Building Collisions

Tuesday September 17th, 2024 at 12:00pm 

Speaker: Michael Mesure, Executive Director | Cofounder BirdSafe®, Building Consultant, FLAP Canada
Watch the Recording on our YouTube Channel! 

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October Native Prairie Speaker Series

Prairie Pastures: Grassland Vigour and Grazing Effects as Observed by Satellites, 2000 to 2023.

Speakers: Michael Fitzsimmons, Environment and Climate Change Canada and Xiaolei (Stephen) Yu, University of Saskatchewan and Environment and Climate Change Canada

Watch the Webinar Recording on YouTube

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2023 Past Speaker Series Presentations and Webinars

Native Prairie Speaker Series in Mankota, SK

Speaker: Sheena McInnis, Frenchman Wood River Weed Management Area

This event ook place Thursday January 12th, 2023 at 7:00pm.

Mankota Agricultural Hall in Mankota, SK

Watch the recording here

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January 2023 Native Prairie Speaker Series 

January Webinar

Woody Encroachment in Saskatchewan

Speaker: Xulin Guo, University of Saskatchewan 

This webinar took place on Tuesday January 31st

Watch the recording on our YouTube Channel here!

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February 2023 Native Prairie Speaker Series

Caught in the SNOWstorm

Presenter: Scott Weidensaul, Project SNOWStorm 

This webinar took place on Wednesday February 15th, 2023

Watch the recording on our YouTube Channel here!

March 2023 Native Prairie Speaker Series

Epidemiology of HPAIV in wild birds in Canada

Presenter: Dr. Jolene Giacinti, Wildlife Health Specialist | Science & Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada

This webinar took place on Thursday March 2nd, 2023. 

Resources from this Webinar

Watch the recording on our YouTube Channel here!

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In-Person Speaker Series in McCord, SK 

Greater Sage-Grouse and habitat for other Species at Risk in Saskatchewan

Monday March 13th, 2023 at 7:00pm

Speaker: Beatriz Prieto, Terrestrial Ecologist, Ministry of Environment, Government of Saskatchewan

Watch the Recording on YouTube

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In-Person Speaker Series in Val Marie, SK

Land Management for Species at Risk Habitat, from a Landowner’s Perspective

Thursday March 16th, 2023 at 7:00pm

Speaker: Orin Balas, Rancher and Landowner, Ponteix, SK

Watch the Recording on YouTube! 

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April Native Prairie Speaker Series - Webinar

Chronic Wasting Disease in Saskatchewan: A Wildlife Management Challenge

Speaker: Dr. Iga Stasiak, Provincial Wildlife Health Specialist, Ministry of Environment

 Tuesday April 4th, 2023 at 12:00pm

Watch the Recording: https://youtu.be/fbdCd9MplgE 

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May Native Prairie Speaker Series - Webinar 

How did Golden Eagles respond to a changing Northern Great Plains Ecosystem?

Speaker: Dr. Joe Schmutz, University of Saskatchewan 

This webinar took place on Wednesday May 3rd, 2023. 

Watch the recording here: https://youtu.be/5xhrHsZJXLk  

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May Native Prairie Speaker Series - Webinar 

SK Conservation Data Centre (SKCDC) Data Collection, Sharing & Uses

Speakers: Andrea Benville, Data Manager; Beryl Wait, Invasive Species Coordinator; and Erin Swerdfeger, Zoologist. All from the Saskatchewan Conservation Data Centre in the Fish and Wildlife Branch, Ministry of Environment, Government of Saskatchewan

This Webinar took place on Monday May 15th, 2023

Watch the Recording Free: https://youtu.be/nq6XTx_cY9o

June Native Prairie Speaker Series - Webinar

In celebration of Native Prairie Appreciation Week, we are pleased to offer a special webinar! 

"More Than Stones and Bones: Archaeology in Saskatchewan" and “Post-Treaty Four Land Use by Touchwood Agency Tribal Council First Nations, 1874-1980”

Speakers: Dr. Karin Steuber, Registered Professional Archaeologist and Public Outreach Coordinator, Saskatchewan Archaeological Society as well as Andrew Miller, Associate Professor, Faculty of Indigenous Studies, First Nations University of Canada

Watch the Recording on YouTube

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August Native Prairie Speaker Series Webinar 

Last Mountain Bird Observatory: 30 years of songbird monitoring in the prairies

Speaker: Jordan Rustad, Last Mountain Lake Bird Observatory

This event took place on August 31st, 2023. 

Watch the Recording on YouTube: https://youtu.be/pzFGhQIEXmk?si=-wha_pIoAJUpD69V

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September Native Prairie Speaker Series

Ecological Gifts Program: A legacy for tomorrow – a tax break today

Speaker: Aleksandra Bugajski, Wildlife Biologist, Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment and Climate Change Canada

Wednesday September 27th, 2023 at 12:00pm MT

Watch the Recording on our YouTube Channel

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Special for this September, we had THREE in-person Native Prairie Speaker Series 

On September 26th, Orin Balas, a rancher from near Ponteix, SK will be speaking about ranching with species at risk from a landowner's perspective at the South of the Divide Conservation Action Program - Annual General Meeting . Join us for an afternoon of presentations, followed by supper. Watch Orin's presentation recording

On September 26th, University of Saskatchewan Researchers will be speaking about Bats at the Eastend Historical Museum in Eastend, SK. Click here to find out more about the Bat Presentation in Eastend. Watch this enthusiastic presentation on our YouTube Channel!

On September 27th, University of Sask Researchers will do the same presentation in Consul, SK at the Manley Bread and Honey Bakery. Find out more about the Bat Presentation in Consul

October Native Prairie Speaker Series

Wetland conservation is for the birds: foraging, diet, and insecticide exposure in prairie swallows"

Speaker: Mercy Harris, MSc. Candidate, Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan

Thursday October 12th at 12:00pm MT

Watch the recording FREE on our YouTube Channel

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November Native Prairie Speaker Series

Diet Analysis of Prairie Amphibians

Tuesday November 28th, 2023 at 12:00pm CT 

Presenter: Jordan Vos, Masters Student, University of Lethbridge

Watch the Recording on our YouTube Channel! 

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In-Person Speaker Series in Val Marie, SK 

Cold Blood on the Prairies- the ‘at risk’ amphibians and reptiles of Grasslands National Park

"Cold Blood on the Prairies- the ‘at risk’ amphibians and reptiles of Grasslands National Park"

Presenter: Conrad Jaeger of Grasslands National Park

This took place in Val Marie, SK. Watch the Recording on our YouTube Channel! 

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December Native Prairie Speaker Series - Webinar

Monarchs and Native Plants

Speaker: Emily Putz, Stewardship Coordinator, Nature Saskatchewan

Tuesday December 12th, 2023 at 12:00pm CT

Watch the Recording on our YouTube Channel! 

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2022 Past Speaker Series Presentations: 

January Native Prairie Speaker Series

Habitat occupancy by breeding Pied-billed and Horned Grebes in Prairie Canada: correlates of pond use and breeding success

Speaker: Dan Routhier, Senior Wildlife Biologist, Stantec Consulting Ltd

More Information About This Webinar

Watch the Recording Free

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February Native Prairie Speaker Series - SAVE THE DATE!

A Watershed Stewardship Approach to Invasive Species Education and Management Summary

Speakers: Kevin Steinley of Swift Current Creek Watershed Stewards and Stephanie Huel of Moose Jaw River Watershed Stewards

Watch the Recording Free.More Information About This Webinar

Presentation: Leopard frogs in Southwest Saskatchewan: Biology and threats

Speaker: Dr. Nick Cairns, Conservation Biologist. 

More InformationWatch Recording Now.                       

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March Native Prairie Speaker Series - Webinar

An overview of the Alberta Invasive Species Council and their biocontrol release program in Alberta

Speaker: Paige Kuczmarski, Social Media / Invasive Species Technician, Alberta Invasive Species Council

More Information About This WebinarWatch Recording Now

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April Native Prairie Speaker Series

Using new technologies to track terns in the prairies and beyond

Speaker: Ann McKeller, Research Scientist, Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada

This webinar took place on Thursday April 7th.

More Information About This Webinar. Watch the Recording Now.

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Webinar Presentation: City Nature Challenge Saskatoon and Area CNC YXE. Sorting out noxious invasives from beneficial pollinator species

Speaker: Friends Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc 

This webinar took place on Wednesday April 13th, 2022. 

More Information. Watch the Recording Now

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May Native Prairie Speaker Series 

Timing agricultural activities based on when bobolink finish breeding

Speaker: Julia Put, Resource Management Officer, Grasslands National Park 

This took place on May 3rd, 2022. You can watch the recording on our YouTube Channel! 

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June Native Prairie Speaker Series

An Introduction to Lichens with a Focus on Prairie Species

Speaker: Troy McMullin,Research Scientist, Lichenology, Canadian Museum of Nature. 

This webinar was on Tuesday June 21st. 

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July Native Prairie Speaker Series

Habitat selection and prey composition by great horned owls

Speaker: Victoria Hartley-Cox, Masters of Science Student, University of Regina.

Tuesday July 19th at 12:00pm

Watch the Recording Now. 

August Native Prairie Speaker Series

Invasive Weeds in Native Prairie

Speaker: Clark Brenzil P.Ag, Government of Saskatchewan, Provincial Specialist Weed Control

August 30th at 12:00pm 

Watch the recording free! 

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September Native Prairie Speaker Series

What’s in a scream: how do bats respond to distress calls made by other species?

Speaker: Hannah Wilson, MSc Candidate, University of Regina

This webinar took place on Thursday September 29th. 

Watch the Recording on YouTube for Free!  

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October Native Prairie Speaker Series

"Chaplin Lake: A Shorebird Hotspot in the Prairies"      

Speaker: Kayla Caruso, M.Sc. Candidate, University of Saskatchewan 

This webinar took place on October 6th.

Watch the Recording on YouTube for Free!

November Native Prairie Speaker Series

Snakes and Ladders: The Conservation Climb

Speaker: Sheri Monk, Owner of Snakes on a Plain

Wednesday November 23rd at 12:00pm CT 

More Information

Watch the recording on our YouTube Channel

December Native Prairie Speaker Series

Presentation: "Tigers on the Prowl: An Introduction to Salamanders on the Prairies"

Speaker: Carla Church, Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corporation

Tuesday December 13th at 12:00pm CT 

Watch the recording on our YouTube Channel!

Watch the Webinar Recording Here

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2021 Past Speaker Series Presentations:

January Native Prairie Speaker Series - Webinars

Europe's most invasive fish in Saskatchewan: understanding Prussian carp distribution and resource use

Presenter: Shayna Hamilton, MSc Candidate at the University of Regina

Watch Recording. More Information

Mormon Metalmark butterflies: Apodemia mormo, an uncommon species in the prairie badlands

Presenter: Dr. Shelley Pruss, Species Conservation Ecologist, Parks Canada; Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences, University of Alberta

More InformationWatch Recording.

February Native Prairie Speaker Series - Webinar

The Effects of Grazing on Greater Sage Grouse and Their Habitat in Central Montana

Presenter: Lorelle Berkeley, Research Wildlife Biologist, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks

More Information About This WebinarWatch Recording Now.

March Native Prairie Speaker Series

Preventing the Spread; Applying Biosecurity Measures for Invasive Weeds

Speaker: Taylor Kell, Moose Jaw River Watershed Stewards

This webinar took place on Thursday March 25th

Watch the Recording on YouTube

More Information About This Webinar

April Native Prairie Speaker Series

Native Pollinators: Who they are and how to help them out.

Speaker: Sarah Semmler, M.Sc., Curator, Living Prairie Museum

Took place on Tuesday April 20th at 12:00pm MT 

More Information About This Webinar

Watch Webinar Recording. 

May Native Prairie Speaker Series

Conservation of Sage-grouse Critical Habitat and Implications for Prairie Songbirds

Speaker: Phil Rose, Alberta Conservation Association

Tuesday May 11th at 12:00pm MT 

Watch Recording. 

June Native Prairie Speaker Series

Prairie bats and their conservation in a changing landscape

Speaker: Cory Olson, Alberta Community Bat Association

Took place on Tuesday June 8th, 2021 at 12:00pm MT

More Information About This Webinar

Watch Recording Free. 

July Native Prairie Speaker Series

Webinar: How time and weather influence Saskatchewan’s largest snake

Speaker: Noah Johnson, Masters Graduate, University of Regina

Took place on Thursday July 8th, 2021 at 12:00pm

Watch Recording Free.  More Information About This Webinar

In-person Speaker Series at the SODCAP AGM 

Join Sue Michalsky talk about Managing Habitat Attributes for Multiple Species at Risk.

Monday August 9th

SODCAP AGM - More InformationWatch Recording

August Native Prairie Speaker Series

A needle in a haystack: The search for important and critical bat habitat in Saskatchewan

Speaker: Brandon Burda, University of Saskatchewan 

Tuesday August 10th, 2021 at 12:00pm MT 

More information about this webinarWatch Recording Free

Native Prairie Speaker Series in Val Marie, SK 

“Shake, Rattle, and Roll—Exploring the biology and ecology of snakes in Southwest Saskatchewan”

Speaker: Alexandria Gallon, Grasslands National Park

This presentation took place on Thursday October 28th in Val Marie, SK

More Information. Watch the recording now. 

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October Native Prairie Speaker Series

Weather, climate, and their influence on the living things of grassland

Speaker: Dr. Dan Johnson, Faculty, University of Lethbridge and VP of the Entomological Society of Alberta.

This webinar took place on Thursday October 28th, 2021. More Information About This Webinar

Watch the re