April 2020 eNews

The Mysterious Yellow-breasted Chat

Often heard rather than seen, this large warbler prefers to make its home in dense brush near rivers, particularly in the wild rose thickets in the Okanagan and Similkameen Valleys.   In partnership with local ranchers, The Nature Trust has helped fence 455 hectares of riparian habitat in the Okanagan Valley which has kept away cattle and allowed rose thickets to return and flourish. Since 2001, the population of the Yellow-breasted Chats in the Okanagan has increased ten-fold from 25 to 250 breeding pairs – a true conservation success story.   This work has been recognized in an article in Partners in Flight. Read more about this work and about the Yellow-breasted chat.

Take A Moment in Nature

These are challenging times. For everyone’s health we have been directed to stay indoors. But that does not mean you can’t still enjoy The Nature Trust properties. We invite you to Take A Moment to de-stress and take a virtual visit to some of our properties in BC. The first in our series is the spectacular Columbia River Wetlands – Edgewater in the Kootenay.   These conservation lands cover 423 acres (171.5 hectares). They are home to threatened Grizzly Bears and endangered American Badgers. And during the winter, Mule Deer, White-tailed Deer and Moose come here for food and cover.   The wetlands are an important area for migratory birds to rest and feed before continuing on their journeys.  For more information about this and other Nature Trust properties, please  visit our interactive property map .   Conserving these special places is what The Nature Trust does.

Communications Manager Welcome to Jes Hovanes who has joined The Nature Trust of BC as our new Communications Manager.  Jes has a master’s degree in English from SFU and a background in communications and journalism. She was previously the communications manager at a UBC Health Centre at St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver.   Jes grew up in the Northwest of BC where she learned to love the outdoors. She spent summers fishing on the Skeena River, foraging in the forests and hiking in the mountains. “Being in nature is one of the great solaces of life,” she says.

Conversations on Conservation

The Nature Trust had a conversation with former board chair John West and his daughter Jennifer West about the importance of conservation in B.C., the responsibility of The Nature Trust in the future, and a millenial’s view on the importance of securing local lands forever. If you need a break from the news, read our conversation with these inspiring conservationists .

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www.naturetrust.bc.ca