I have led and participated in a variety of research projects since the early 1990's. Some projects have involved extensive field work and data collection, while others are summaries of existing data. The primary focus of my research is birds, with an emphasis on riparian areas and native grassland habitats.
Examples of Recent Research & Writing Projects
A Field Guide to Common Riparian Plants of Alberta

Hale, G., N. Ambrose, A. Bogen, K. Spicer-Rawe, M. Uchikura and E. Saunders. 2005. Cows and Fish Program. 63 pages

Clients: Alberta Agriculture/Cows and Fish

Involvement: Some of the writing, editing, all of the layout, design and pre-press work
A Review of the Proposed 2005 Ferruginous Hawk Population Estimate Sampling Design or "Thinking Outside the Quadrat".

Developed recommendations for the 2005 population survey in an attempt to obtain a useful and accurate population estimate.

Client: Alberta Species at Risk Program, Alberta Sustainable Resources Development
Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife In Canada (COSEWIC) Status Report for the Long-billed Curlew, Numenius americanus.

Year: 2002 - 2003

Client: Canadian Wildlife Service, Government of Canada

Available online - click image to access a PDF version of this document

Population estimate and habitat associations of the Long-billed Curlew (Numenius americanus) in Alberta.
Developed sampling design, coordinated and participated in data collection across southern Alberta, data anaylsis and report.

Year: 2000 - 2001

Client: Alberta Fish & Wildlife, Government of Alberta

Available online - click image to access a PDF version of this document

Riparian Areas, Biodiversity and Livestock Grazing. A Summary and Analysis of Research in Alberta and Saskatchewan.

Collected and compiled a summary of Alberta and Saskatchewan research into riparian biodivesity and livestock grazing. Performed meta analysis on data sets to find common trends.

Year: 2000 - 2001

Client: Canadian Wildlife Service, Government of Canada

Available online - click image to access a PDF version of this document

Influence of Livestock Grazing on Biodiversity of Riparian Areas.

Several projects completed for the Cows and Fish Program that have investigated the relationships between grazing intensity and biodiversity along the Oldman River and Pothole Creek, Alberta. Included work on birds, insects and vegetation:

Related publications include

Saunders, E.J. and T.A. Hurly. 2000. Birds, creeks and cows: The influence of grazing on birds and vegetation in cottonwood forests along the Oldman River. In Proceedings of the Western Range Science Seminar: The Range Program and Potential. Published by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

Saunders, E.J. and T.A. Hurly. 2000. The influence of grazing on bird populations along a prairie creek in southern Alberta. Unpublished report prepared for Alberta Environment, Natural Resource Services

Saunders, E.J. and T.A. Hurly. 1999. The influence of cattle grazing on fall bird use of cottonwood forests along the Oldman River. Unpublished report prepared for the Cows and Fish program.

Hurly, T.A., E.J. Saunders and L.A. Fitch. 1999. Effects of cattle grazing on bird communities in cottonwood forests along the Oldman River, Alberta. In Thorpe, J. et al. (eds.) Proceedings of the Fifth Prairie Conservation and Endangered Species Conference. Published by Provincial Museum of Alberta.

Year: 1995 - 2000

Client: Alberta Riparian Habitat Program (Cows and Fish)