Postcards from the Field: Amy Bergunde

Shell Conservation Intern Amy Bergunde

Hey There!

My name is Amy Bergunde and I’m thrilled to be working as a Shell Conservation intern this summer for the Nature Conservancy of Canada.  A born and raised Albertan, I can’t wait to explore the many regions this province has to offer!  Working out of the Calgary office I get the opportunity to spend my days hiking parts of the foothills, the Rockies, and the grasslands.

I’ve always been an advocate of conservation and, upon graduating with a diploma in Wildlife and Fisheries Conservation from Lakeland College, I was extremely excited to receive my first field job with NCC.  So far this summer, I’ve been developing my GIS and GPS skills, as well as my bird, plant, and wildlife identification techniques.  I’ve even found myself becoming something of an amateur photographer in the field, always eager to capture the beauty of nature and the rare species we come across in our work.  Though late blooming this year as a result of all of the rain we have received, wildflowers can now be seen almost everywhere we go and I’m proud to say that I’ve seen my first of many species including the mariposa lily, calypso orchid, and striped, as well as spotted, coralroot

Hall property, Crowsnest pass, Alberta

I hope that through my work with NCC this summer conducting property monitoring visits, fenceline assessments, and vegetation and wildlife community compositions, I can show my value as a field biologist and find a place in the conservation field.  I have gained invaluable experience and knowledge through the Shell internship and can’t wait to see where it takes me!

Amy