Frank Farley and the Birds of Alberta

"This book is an in-depth study of amateur ornithologist Frank Farley and his social environment, set against the changing backdrop of environmental activism and ecological knowledge during the first half of the 20th century." Eric Mills, Dalhousie University
"Frank Farley and the Birds of Alberta sheds light on a leading naturalist and his network of ornithologists and birders during a transformative moment in Alberta history." Joanna Dean, Carleton University
"This well-researched book is successful in establishing Farley as a significant figure in early Canadian ornithology and as a significant naturalist of his time.” James Murton, Nipissing University
"In this remarkable biography Hvenegaard, Mouat, and Marshall team up brilliantly to give Frank Farley the recognition his legacy deserves, all the while unpacking a fascinating tale of conservation, settler, Indigenous, academic, and environmental history. This is a compassionate but balanced account of a complex individual living in complicated times. Anyone interested in our province or our environment will find this a fascinating read." John Acorn, Canadian naturalist and author
"This is an important book for it reminds us where conservation efforts started in Alberta and that the need for conservation is just as relevant and ongoing today." Lorne A. Fitch, author of Conservation Confidential
"...Frank Farley and the Birds of Alberta is a treasure trove of ornithology and Canadian history interwoven into a biography." Henry Wong, The Gateway, December 2025
"...an affectionate biography of a homesteader who achieved national renown in his day as a self-taught ornithologist..." Holly Doan, Blacklock's Reporter, January 3, 2026 [full review at https://www.blacklocks.ca/book-review-a-love-story/]
"...a nuanced portrait of a man who bridged environmental conservation, politics, education and a deep love of his province. For bird and nature lovers, or anyone interested in the intersection of conservation and colonialism in Western Canada during the early 1900s, this book is worth perching with." Kamila Costello, Canada's History, February 16, 2026 [Full review at https://www.canadashistory.ca/explore/books/frank-farley-and-the-birds-of-alberta]
“… a significant contribution to the literature on Canadian ornithology…. Farley’s biography also adds to the historiography of conservation in North America.” James R. Skillen, Ibis, 2026
"[Frank Farley and the Birds of Alberta] stands out both for the depth and quality of the archival research that went into it and for the authors' approach to building historical context. The latter makes it more than just a biography. It's Frank Farley in the context of his times... Conservation doesn't happen by accident. If luck is involved, it's the kind of luck that puts the right people in the right place at the right time. Frank Farley was one of those. This biography is a long overdue recognition of a man, and a time, that Alberta would do well to remember." Kevin Van Tighem, Alberta Views, May 2026