Rudolf Koes has birded since his early childhood in The Netherlands. He has lived in Canada since 1968 and has birded widely in North America and elsewhere. He is the co-editor for the Prairie Provinces region column in North American Birds and has contributed numerous articles in other journals. He is also the illustrator and co-author of the award-winning The Birds of Manitoba.

Rudolf has conducted annual tours to Churchill, Manitoba since 1980 and he has also led birding trips to the United States, Central America, Europe and India. Rudolf leads our successful Eagle-Eye Manitoba Owls Birding Tour annually, has led or co-led several other North American tours, plus a combined birding/art/architecture visit to The Netherlands and Belgium.

Grab yer pirate gear and watercraft or stay a landlubber if ye must, but find yer way to the World Rivers Day celebrations in Carman on Sept 21, 2024 posthaste!

Events of the day include a Poker derby on the Boyne River and one for scurvy landlubbers. A Costume Contest will find the best buccaneer outfit and a Treasure Hunt will There’ll be booty to be won!

Carman Car Club will be rallying in the downtown area with landlubbing vessels, glorious to behold!

Spend yer doubloons at the Treasure Chest Market, but hornswaggling is frowned upon.

There’s grog to be had and grub as well, so come hungry and thirsty.

Shiver me timbers it will be fun!

 AR- B- DAR

May 23,2024 was World Turtle Day and the day of the Full Flower Moon. This is also the day that Boyne River Keepers organized a Metis Bridge Naming Ceremony for the walking bridge behind Legacy Estates called Mikaawadad. The name Mikaawadad came out of a Carman Elementary School contest held several years ago and means “beautiful” in Ojibway. Denise Smart’s grade 1 class participated in the drum, water and tobacco ceremony that was led by Metis Elder Delores Gosselin.

Celebrate World Turtle Day! Come, paint your own turtle stepping stone. Supplies included... PLUS a complimentary glass of wine!

Turtle Painting Night was held on May 9, 2024 at the Carman Legion Auxiliary Hall. Over 70 turtles were decorated by the participants in many various designs and colours. Chris Larsen and Nikki Falk gave us some information about Painted Turtles and their place in Indigenous culture as well as in the Carman area. It was a fun and productive night with the beautiful turtles going home with their owners.  Funds that were raised will go to Carman Wellness Connections for the Clearwater Memorial.