NCC Magazine: Fall 2019

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PROJECT UPDATES 1 Listening for bat signals SASKATCHEWAN 2 1 THANK YOU! Your support has made these projects possible. Learn more at natureconservancy.ca/where-we-work. Listening for bats in central Saskatchewan. 3 Little brown myotis and northern myotis bats are both listed as endangered in Canada due to devastating population declines in eastern Canada as a result of white-nose syndrome, an introduced fungal disease. The fungus is moving west, but it has not yet been documented in Saskatchewan. As a result, there is an urgent need to determine the population status of myotis bats in Saskatchewan, as well as to determine what type of habitats they are using for different parts of their life cycle. Through acoustic surveys, the Nature Conservancy of Canada’s (NCC’s) Saskatchewan Region has been working to develop a better understanding of what bat species are found on our properties — by listening for their calls. Using an ultrasonic recording device in areas likely to be used by bats (such as waterbodies and forest trails) NCC staff record the bats’ calls as they fly around and forage for insects. The calls of each species are unique. By reviewing sonograms of the bats’ calls recorded on each property, we can determine which species are present and how active they are. To date, we have surveyed eight properties across the province and documented all eight bat species known to occur in Saskatchewan, including endangered little brown myotis and northern myotis. In summer 2018, we initiated a project to identify where little brown and northern myotis were using habitat in the aspen and mixed-wood forests of central Saskatchewan. Both species have been confirmed in the area; however, which areas and habitat types they are actually using and for what purpose (such as for day roosting or as a maternity colony) remains unclear. After catching bats with mist nets, we then attach radio transmitters to them. Bats with transmitters are tracked back to their roosting areas, which can then be identified. Both little brown myotis and northern myotis use tree cavities for roost sites, so the trees being used can be compared to others on the landscape to identify which trees are used by myotis bats. This information can help NCC tailor our management plans in the areas where these species occur to help with the species’ protection and recovery. You can also help by joining Neighbourhood Bat Watch (batwatch.ca), which aims to document and monitor bat colonies across Canada. The data collected allows scientists to track bat populations and distribution, and determine if the populations are stable or growing, or if they are in need of conservation action. Determining the age of the bat. Adult bats have a fused joint in their wing, while it is absent in juveniles. Shining a light from behind illuminates the joint and helps distinguish this feature. SARAH LUDLOW. 14 FALL 2019 natureconservancy.ca
2 Making Darkwoods whole BRITISH COLUMBIA TOP TO BOTTOM: STEVE OGLE. STEVE OGLE. YAY MEDIA AS/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO. SEAN LANDSMAN. When NCC acquired Darkwoods in 2008, we knew at the time that this major accomplishment was not truly complete. As vast as Darkwoods was (spanning over 550 square kilometres), there was a missing piece right in the heart of the conservation area. For Tom Swann, NCC’s director of strategic initiatives and major gifts, this missing piece was central to the vision of Darkwoods. He believed it was a question of when, not if, NCC would acquire the unprotected land at the core of this important conservation area. “It didn’t matter who we were talking to; as soon as we put a map of Darkwoods in front of them, they would immediately point at the hole in the middle and ask, ‘What’s that? What’s going to happen to it?’” Tom recalls. Ten years after the initial conservation of Darkwoods, the timing fell into place to make it whole, by filling the “hole” in its centre. The landowners were ready to sell the property. Thanks to a trusting relationship built over time with NCC staff, they chose to prioritize a conservation sale over other options that would have left the land open to unsustainable development opportunities. The newly conserved lands encompass most of the Next Creek watershed, which nurtures pockets of old-growth inland temperate rainforest and provides crucial habitat for grizzly bear, wolverine, elk, bull trout and other wildlife. The unique forests found here are sometimes known as snow forests, because they receive most of their moisture from the snowpack. These snow forests harbour the highest tree diversity in BC. Notably, like all of Darkwoods, this land represents a stronghold for the endangered whitebark pine. “Conserving the Next Creek watershed and expanding the Darkwoods Conservation Area presented an incredible opportunity to fulfill a conservation vision that started over a decade ago,” says Nancy Newhouse, NCC’s BC regional vice-president. “We are so grateful for all of the people and organizations who believed in this vision of creating an internationally significant conservation impact.” Learn more about the people and organizations who helped make this project happen at natureconservancy.ca/bc. 3 PEI nature reserve donated by local family PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND Thanks to a well-known family on PEI, NCC has conserved 91 hectares (226 acres) of rare wetland and hardwood forest in Kingsboro, near Souris. The site was donated to NCC by Camilla MacPhee and her family, in memory of her late husband, Melvin MacPhee. At 13, Melvin began working in his parents’ grocery store in Souris, later called Clover Farm. In the 1980s, he developed a mall in Souris and became one of the larger local employers. He was widely regarded as a communityminded business leader. Melvin was inducted into the PEI Business Hall of Fame in 2005, and died in 2010 at the age of 78. The Camilla and Melvin MacPhee Nature Reserve features a large undisturbed peat bog; a type of freshwater wetland that is rare on the Island. It also features an older-growth forest of red maple, sugar maple and yellow birch; a combination of native hardwoods that is no longer common on PEI. The area provides habitat for eastern wood-pewee, listed under Canada’s Species at Risk Act, as well as many provincially rare plants, such as herb-Robert and nodding trillium. Partner Spotlight TD Bank Group (TD) is supporting the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) through its corporate citizenship platform, The Ready Commitment, as the presenting sponsor of NatureTalks. The NatureTalks Cross-Country Speaker Series visits cities across Canada, providing thoughtprovoking content and discussions led by a diverse panel of experts. As presenting sponsor, TD is supporting a large network of community leaders and socially conscious citizens who are coming together to explore and value nature as a resource, a source of inspiration and a place that sustains life. Through The Ready Commitment, TD aspires to use its business, philanthropy and people to help elevate the quality of the environment so that people and economies can thrive. This is part of its commitment to help create a more inclusive and sustainable tomorrow. TD and its national foundation, TD Friends of the Environment Foundation, have supported NCC for over 30 years. From 2012 to 2016, TD and NCC worked together to help protect forested areas across Canada. TD helped NCC protect more than 16,000 hectares (40,000 acres) in seven of Canada’s eight forest regions. From coastal forest in British Columbia, to boreal forest in Saskatchewan, to Acadian forest in Nova Scotia, support from TD has helped NCC protect important forested habitats across all 10 provinces. To learn more about TD’s commitment, visit td.com/vibrantplanet. natureconservancy.ca
Page 1 and 2: FALL 2019 The best medicine Spendin
Page 3 and 4: FALL 2019 CONTENTS Nature Conservan
Page 5 and 6: Here are six species at risk that N
Page 7 and 8: Ferruginous hawk BACKPACK ESSENTIAL
Page 9 and 10: GUILLAUME SIMONEAU It was too cold
Page 11 and 12: TAYLOR ROADES. Centre, near Wasaga
Page 13: APPEARANCE The greater sage-grouse
Page 17 and 18: Open grassland spans the 80 hectare
Page 19 and 20: What Will We Leave For Them? Invest

NCC Magazine: Fall 2019

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