Dear Readers

After a mild winter, spring rushed in, hot weather being broken up by the shivers, shared between garden plants (do we plant the tomatoes? Better not, may be frost) and their keepers. And now this much needed, late June rain. Not great for cherry growers but the thirsty earth has soaked it up.

Birds have fledged this year’s first born, and many second clutches are being incubated. Fortunately the cooler weather has not been cold enough to interrupt most insect cycles, food cycles so important to wild life, from frogs to spiders to birds, and yes, other insects.

As we bounded through spring the Okanagan bounty was so visible, abundant balsam root, Saskatoon, mock orange, Mariposa lily, and the myriad of ground hugging flowers not so obvious as one flashes by in a car, but a wonderful surprise to those who walk the wild and become intimate with its diversity. And flashing by in that car reveals the bounty on farmer’s trees, bright red cherries, small green apples and pears, peaches filling out and glimpses of ripening apricots. Meanwhile, strawberries hug the ground and various other berries are ready to eat. We cultivate most of our food, wildlife depends on us leaving some wild spaces for their food sources to flourish.

April into May the antelope brush was a blaze of yellow flowers filling the air with their sweet, cinnamon scent, calling in pollinators thus assuring a seed set and supplying birds, insects and furry creatures with a winter food source. The Great Basin Spadefoot have morphed from tadpoles, left their ephemeral breeding ponds and gone underground to spend the hot days buried in the cooler, sandy soil, coming out at night to forage for insects.

During these turbulent times immersing ourselves in nature can be reassuring, nature’s rhythms are dependable. At the Osoyoos Desert Centre, we can observe, still our minds, take a reprieve, allow wildness to flourish, allow natural cycles to complete, and invite people to immerse themselves in this haven close to the beaten tracks. 

Summer weather is hiding behind the clouds and soon they will disperse revealing the clear, blue skies we all associate with the South Okanagan. This cooler weather is the perfect time to visit the Centre. May your visit expand your understanding of the South Okanagan’s special landscape and the importance of this protected wildlife haven.

This spring various projects enhancing visitors experience are completed or in progress but I am now stealing Jayme’s story so will reveal no more, she will cover these happenings in her report. 

In closing, I must mention the wonderful volunteer Board of Directors I have the privilege of working with, the dedication and enthusiasm of our Executive Director, Jayme Friedt, and the volunteers, oh, the volunteers, we could not function without you. The Centre is a testament to our teams successes, planning is ongoing, always with wildlife needs and visitor experience paramount.

On behalf of the Osoyoos Desert Society Board

Lee

Lee McFadyen

President, Osoyoos Desert Society

Danika is a fourth-year student in Physical Geography and Environmental Studies at University of Victoria. She enjoys the way that art and nature intersect, and has a radio show which integrates environmental themes and music. Danika’s favourite part about working at the ODC is looking for clues about what kinds of creatures are around. You'll be amazed at what she can spot on her tours! You can also expect to hear some fun facts about the geology of the region! Welcome Danika! So happy to have you on board this year!

Inclusive Trails Update

Thanks to incredible support from individuals, corporate donors, government, and foundations, we are excited to share that we’ve now reached three-quarters of our $50,000 fundraising goal to improve accessibility at the ODC! This spring, we were able to make improvements that have already made a big difference, completing upgrades to our parking area and wayfaring pathways. We now have two new designated accessible parking spaces and the path through our native plant garden (pictured below) has been made smoother with crush gravel making it easier to navigate for visitors with mobility challenges. These changes are part of

ODC's commitment to ensuring that everyone, regardless of ability, can connect with nature and get outdoors and explore our extraordinary landscapes! We're now onto the final stretch of our accessibility fundraising campaign. If you're able to help with a donation, no matter how big or small, please do. With just $12,500 left to raise, your donation today can help us complete our final phase: installing a new fully accessible washroom facility. Together, we’re making our extraordinary desert environment more accessible for today and for generations to come! Thank you for being part of this amazing journey!

Looking for a wee get-away?

This year we were approached by the Okanagan Treasure Hunters Club (OTHC) to be the beneficiary of their annual raffle. Heck ya! Over the years, OTHC has raised over $70,000 which it has donated to regional charities like South Okanagan Similkameen Medical Foundation, Critteraid and Penticton Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts. Our 2025 raffle prize offers a chance to win a round trip flight for two to any regularly scheduled Westjet destination worldwide! For ONLY $10 you can win a trip and make an invaluable contribution to a very worthy cause to boot! All proceeds go to Osoyoos Desert Centre. Tickets are available at the ODC, via email at mail@desert.org or call the office at 250-495-2470. Thank you OTHC for your support!

The Bee's Knees!

Being a part of the incredible Meadowlark Nature Festival is something we look forward to every year. This year we changed it up a bit with a new event called Buzzing for Bees. Home to over 350 different species of native bees, the Okanagan-Similkameen is a bee diversity hot-spot! Buzzing for Bees offered festival goers the chance to learn about these important pollinators while building their very own mason bee house. It also included information on cleaning and caring for the bees the houses would shelter and how to make a pollinator-friendly garden. Judging by the great turn out by adults and kids the event was a big hit and we'll definitely repeat it next year!

Motus Update 

In 2021 ODC began working with Tanya Luszcz, Species at Risk Monitoring Biologist for Canadian Wildlife Service to help with a migratory connectivity project of the threatened Lewis’s Woodpecker. Using the Motus Wildlife Tracking System - the large antennae affixed to the top of our interpretive building - the project aimed to determine Lewis’s Woodpecker’s post-fledging habitat use, migration timing and routes, and overwintering sites. While Motus tracking of Lewis’s Woodpeckers has recently been paused due to low detection rates, this year the project has launched a new initiative that will use the Motus network to support long-term monitoring of Western Screech-Owls in the Okanagan-Similkameen. Led by the Okanagan Nation Alliance, this study combines in-person surveys and Motus tagging to track owl movements, territory occupancy, and population changes over time. The growing Motus network also continues to support research on sparrow migration, Pacific Flyway stopovers, Hoary Bat movements, Northern Saw-whet Owl migration, and multi-species studies across the Intermountain West. Birds Canada will take over station ownership and maintenance by fall 2025 to ensure the network’s long-term success. Stay tuned for further updates on this incredible technology that helps with conservation efforts worldwide. Photo by Kristen Mancuso.

BC Bat Edu-kit is here

As part of our BC Bat Ambassadorship, we're thrilled to now be the proud keepers of a BC Bat Edu-Kit. This spring, we hosted a workshop for teachers and community leaders to introduce them to this unique hands-on learning resource. The session was led by Paula Rodriguez de la Vega, Okanagan Region Coordinator for the BC Community Bat Programs. Designed for educators, facilitators, nature clubs, and bat enthusiasts, the free Edu-Kit offers a dynamic, interactive way to explore the fascinating world of British Columbia’s bats. With 15 native species in the province, the kit provides tools to deepen understanding of bat ecology, adaptations, and conservation challenges. The Edu-Kit includes engaging materials such as bat puppets, games, a bat costume, a replica skull, taxidermy specimens, real bat guano, and more. These tools help bust common myths and spark curiosity while encouraging actions that support bat conservation. If you're interested in borrowing the BC Bat Edu-Kit or learning how it can be used within your classroom or group, please contact Jayme at director@desert.org.

Save the Date!

We were so thrilled by the response to the relaunch of Romancing the Desert last year! Many of you have been asking when it’s happening again. While we’d love to host it annually, this event takes some serious planning and people power, so our goal is to make it a biennial event. The next RTD will take place August 27, 2026. It might seem a ways away, but it'll be here before we know it. Be sure to save the date!

Best Members Ever!

ODC members help us continue to initiate projects that conserve and restore antelope-brush in the South Okanagan and to advocate for and educate people about threatened habitats and species in our region. Members receive unlimited free admission to the Osoyoos Desert Centre, 10% discount in our Gift Shop, 10% discount for special events (except Romancing the Desert) and advance notice of select events and programs. Memberships are $30 per person, per year.

Your support is invaluable! Become a Member today!