William A. Switzer Provincial Park
  Nature

Plant Checklist | Bird Checklist | Mammal Checklist
   
 
Updated: October 15, 2007

Alberta's Natural Regions
When you picture Alberta's natural beauty, several distinct landscapes come to mind. These are Alberta's natural regions, also known as the Canadian Shield, Rocky Mountain, Grassland, Foothills, Parkland and Boreal Forest Natural Regions. Each natural region is further divided into sub-regions based on even more specific landscape, climate and species distinctions. There are twenty sub-regions in Alberta. Alberta's parks & protected areas preserve representative samples of this environmental diversity for all time. William A. Switzer Provincial Park helps preserve a part of the Foothills Natural Region.

Top of Page

Foothills Natural Region
The Foothills Natural Region is a transitional zone between the Rocky Mountain and other natural regions, running along the eastern edge of the Canadian Rocky Mountains. It is characterized by strongly rolling topography and morainal deposits, underlain by deformed sandstone and shale. Due to its higher elevation, summer temperatures are cooler, although the region often escapes the severe cold of Arctic air masses in winter. This results in warmer winter temperatures than portions of the Boreal Forest and Parkland Regions.

The Upper Foothills Sub-region is situated between the Lower Foothills and Subalpine subregions and has the highest summer precipitation in Alberta.

Top of Page

Switzer's Unique Natural Features
One of William A. Switzer Provincial Park's most significant natural features is Jarvis Creek, one of the most diverse, relatively intact and productive river valley habitats in the foothills of Alberta.

Other natural features of note include:
  • high plant diversity, including provincially and national rare plant species
  • important elk, moose and deer habitat, and critical terrestrial fur-bearer habitat
  • nesting habitat for osprey
  • uncommon birds, such as yellow-bellied flycatcher, philadelphia vireo, winter wren, black-breasted woodpecker, barred owl and pileated woodpecker
  • Venus lady slippers or Calypso orchids are a unique plant that are found in association with the pine forests in the park
  • the sandstone cliffs above Gregg lake support ferns that are rare or uncommon in the park and province
  • the park lies in a preglacial valley that once held the Athabasca River but has since been modified by the action of glaciers, glacial meltwater and present day water processes
  • some of the resulting features that can be seen in the park include erratics, kames, kettles and eskers
Top of Page

Wildlife Viewing BlindFlora and Fauna
William A. Switzer Provincial Park offers visitors an excellent opportunity to view an abundance of wildlife. Sitting in the transition between boreal forest/mountain habitats and accompanied by the vast wetlands complex, the park provides homes for a diverse array of plants and animals.

Click here for a plant checklistGrey Wolf photo courtesy of U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service; Terry Brooks

Relax on the viewing platform on Kelley's Bathtub Trail, photograph wildlife from the viewing station at Winter Creek Meadow, or hike the interpretive trails at Gregg Lake, Jarvis Lake and Beaver Ranch.

Over 150 species of birds, including at least 13 raptor species, have been spotted in the park such as nesting bald eagles, osprey, barred owls and great grey owls.

Click here for a bird checklist

At least 30 mammals including wolf, coyote, bear, beaver, pine martin, river otter, elk, moose, mule and white-tailed deer frequent the park.

Click here for a mammal checklist

To maximize your experience, study Tips on Successful Wildlife Viewing.




Footer
For more information, contact
Scott Sunderwald
Technical questions should be
sent to: Parks Webmaster