Lake Newell
Last Review/Updated: May 10, 2002
S. Brechtel (AB Gov.) |
As the only major reservoir in the area, Lake Newell attracts many species of prairie waterfowl and water birds. It has one of the largest nesting populations of Canada geese in Alberta and is also a nesting site for dabbling and diving ducks. Several protected islands are used by colonies of nesting birds including double-crested cormorants, American white pelicans and California and ring-billed gulls. Visitors are not permitted on these islands.
The best viewing areas are along the east shore, where Kinbrook Island Provincial Park is connected to the mainland by a causeway. The marsh areas provide habitat for ducks, coots, rails, bitterns, grebes and geese.
The native grasslands surrounding the lake are good places to spot pronghorn, burrowing owls, long-billed curlews and chestnut-collared longspurs. Check carefully for black widow spiders in abandoned ground squirrel and badger burrows.
Swen Bayer Peninsula is located south of the provincial park. A self-guided, interpretive trail leads around the scenic peninsula with its sheltered bays, marshes, grassland and long stretches of shoreline.
