Kaposvar Birding Trails

Esterhazy, Saskatchewan

For local birding information, please contact

John Simpson (306) 745 2803

KAPOSVAR BIRDING TRAILS
Article and Photos
John Simpson

The idea of a birding trail along the Kaposvar  reservoir first developed when I attended the inaugural meeting of the YFBTA. Judy Parker, REDA officer of Esterhazy, felt Esterhazy should be represented and asked me to attend. When discussing possible bird trails in the YFBTA areas, I immediately thought of John Nightingale’s land located two miles west of Esterhazy.

Dr. Stuart Houston stated in his after dinner talk at the first annual general meeting of the YFBTA: “If Saskatchewan is the Duck factory of North America, the Yorkton-Duck Mountain area is its heart. The area of the YFBTA encompasses is a part of the heart. Esterhazy’s closeness to the Qu’Appelle Valley, the creeks Kaposvar and Cutarm, and the many potholes and sloughs in the area provides many opportunities for birding. The interpretive trail around the golf course is another. The little creek that flows into the Kaposvar reservoir on  the Nightingale property is my favourite.

After the meeting with John Nightingale and gaining his permission and enthusiastic support we scouted out possible trails on the site. This was accomplished in March 2004. It was decided that an eight foot bridge  would be needed to cross a three foot trench that the beavers had excavated. This would allow access to cross the creek via one of the beaver dams. With the assistance of the Esterhazy Scouts, this bridge was constructed and put in place in the spring of 2004. In June the trail was visited by the grade four classes of  P. J. Gillen School. 

After spending three hours on the trail, July 4, 2004 I wrote an article about what I saw that day. At the suggestion of Walter Farquharson is was offered to “Nature Views” where it was published in the fall issue. On the last weekend of September 28, 2004, approximately 60 members of Nature Saskatchewan visited the Kaposvar Trail. 

John Nightingale and I, along with the assistance of  Wayne Provick have expanded the trails. Plans are in the works to construct a bridge and set up a viewing platform.  Also signs will be placed where needed. It is the hope of the Kaposvar Birding Trail Committee that all will be in place for the 2006 birding season.