Gus Yaki has been a bird watcher and nature lover all his life and is leading birding hikes for hundreds of Calgarians through the spring and summer in Calgary parks.

Yaki is now in his 80s but says his interest in birds began at a very early age.

“I probably started being interested before I was born. I had nothing to do for those first nine months,” he says.

He admits that his fondness for fowl likely didn't start quite that early but growing up in rural Saskatchewan he had about a five kilometer walk to and from school so he used that time to learn more about the birds in his community.

“My teacher had a little bird book, little three by six inch bird book, that she allowed us to thumb through so I would, on the way to school see a bird, we’d thumb through that book at recess or noon hour, come to the conclusion that we'd seen the bird, but on the way back we'd check it out again,” said Yaki.

As an adult, he turned his interest and knowledge into a business and for years he ran his own nature tour company, leading tours across Canada and around the world.

Yaki was involved in the formation of the Nature Conservancy of Canada and NCC Alberta board chair Michael Going says he is a living legend.

“His knowledge of natural systems is unparalleled but I think what's really remarkable is Gus’s willingness and enthusiasm to share that with others. He’s so inspiring at connecting others to nature so that they gain more knowledge and appreciation for natural systems,” said Going.

Going says as people gain more knowledge they also gain a greater appreciation for what nature conservancy has to offer.

“A lot times we think that to get into nature we have to go far afield, we have to go into the mountains or a long ways away but Gus really can show us how wonderful local trips within our city really are,” he said.

Yaki says Carburn Park is a great example of what's available in the city.

“Well in this park today they saw 43 species of birds,” he said.

For all he does to show people what nature has to offer in our city, Gus Yaki is our Inspiring Albertan this week.

(With files from Darrel Janz)