FEDERATION OF ALBERTA NATURALISTS

Nature Alberta, known to long-time members as the Federation of Alberta Naturalists (FAN), formed in 1970 when the leaders of six local natural history clubs joined together to create a provincial federation of naturalists. The organization grew exponentially in the 1980s as it undertook the atlas of breeding birds project, which saw more than 1,000 volunteers contributing data from around the province. During this project, the Royal Museum of Alberta provided Nature Alberta with office space in the back of the museum. A generous grant from the Alberta Sport, Recreation, Parks and Wildlife Foundation (ASRPWF) and several other sponsors provided dollars to hire Nature Alberta’s first Executive Director, Jack Clements. The Atlas of Breeding Birds of Alberta was published in 1992.

Through the support of ASRPWF, Nature Alberta later acquired office space at the Percy Page Building in northwest Edmonton. Here they continue to promote several programs including the May Species Count, Living by Water, Nature Kids and Important Bird Areas. Today, Nature Alberta represents approximately 40 clubs with memberships totaling approximately 5,000 naturalists carrying out activities throughout the province.