Swift Current and Moose Jaw:

After a long day of driving we went for an evening walk at the Highland Coulee Trail system in Swift Current. Westerners seems to have a distaste of the all too common Black-billed Magpie, but we were thrilled to have a close encounter with one near our parked car! This large, flashy relative of jays and crows is a social creature, gathering in large numbers to feed on carrion. They're also vocal birds, keeping up a regular stream of raucous calls.

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-billed_Magpie/overview

While walking on a hill top, 3 American White Pelicans flew overhead!

Uncut fields provided habitat for many insects including one of the Blues, possibly a Melissa Blue.

Four-spotted Skimmer

Painted Lady

It was fun to find a Spinystar Cactus in bloom! 

We visited the Saskatchewan Burrowing Owl Interpretive Centre. I have not seen a Burrowing Owl in the wild but had some close looks at a few of the captive birds that cannot be released. The centre was created to help promote the conservation of the endangered Burrowing Owl and their prairie habitat through education, stewardship and eco-tourism. The building site, located on the Moose Jaw Exhibition Grounds, was chosen because several pairs of burrowing owls typically nested in the infield of the racetrack!

https://www.skburrowingowl.ca/

Display board portraying first 20 days of growth for a Burrowing Owl!