Postcards from the Field: Eri Hiraga

Shell Conservation Intern Eri Hiraga

Greetings from Alberta,

Working as a Shell Conservation Intern with the Nature Conservancy of Canada this summer has been an incredibly rewarding and enriching experience. Thanks to this opportunity to work and travel throughout different regions of the province this summer, I have developed a newfound appreciation for the diversity of landscapes and ecosystems that Alberta has to offer; some of which I had started to take for granted. After completing other field positions in Canada and the United States I was thrilled to come home and rediscover Alberta while learning from like-minded individuals.

I am a fourth-year student studying natural resources conservation at the University of British Columbia. Having also completed a degree in biology, this job has provided me with the opportunity to combine my love of field biology and interest in conservation issues while positively contributing to the management of important landscapes.

George Connop - Millarville Property, Bow Natural Area, Alberta

I have learned so much about the flora and fauna of Alberta through our travels to the Badlands, Cypress Uplands and the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. Whether I am identifying a plant or bird species or interacting with landowners, I have yet to go a day without discovering something new in my ever-changing outdoor office. It’s always exciting to find rare plants, such as Downingia and silverplant, or to spot Double-crested Cormorants and Pronghorn antelope, all in a day’s work. From plant and bird identification, to field navigation and the production of monitoring reports, I have been able to apply the skills and theoretical concepts gained from an educational setting to real-world conservation.

I am confident that my involvement with the NCC will help to further my career goals of working in wildlife or resource management. After gaining some more work experience, I hope to eventually complete a Masters degree. Having taken a few steps towards a career in conservation, I am excited to see where my path leads from here!

Eri Hiraga