Postcards from the Field: Megan Wady

Shell Conservation Intern Megan Wady

Hi everyone!

I am writing to you from the office (unfortunately) but I hope that my fellow Shell Conservation Intern Chris Milne and I can get back out to the field ASAP. The rain and flash flood warnings have driven us inside so we’re taking the opportunity write up baseline reports using information we have collected so far this summer. In the Riding Mountain Aspen Parkland where we’ve been doing most of our work, we’ve been taking vegetation inventories, marking sites and interesting land features with GPS , and looking for habitat that will support rare species of plants and animals. Our baseline reports compile this information and become important tools for both landowners and NCC .

Beaver pond in Manitoba’s Aspen Parkland

This is my first year with NCC and I am enjoying every minute of it! I now realize why all of my professors at university keep chanting “DO FIELDWORK”. I have learned more in a week out in the field than could ever be taught at school. I grew up in this area and being out in the field has made me appreciate the wilderness of Manitoba even more. I have visited properties that have never been broken for land use and I learned a very valuable lesson on these properties – even if all the hazel nut bushes (Corylus cornuta) look the same height it does NOT mean that the ground beneath is!

I'm returning to the University of Manitoba in the fall to start my 3rd year in Environmental Science with a focus on conservation. Before I go back to school, I would like to take a trip through Saskatchewan (it’s not as flat as everyone claims) and Alberta to visit Drumheller to see if all of the flash flooding has turned up any new dinosaurs!

Best wishes,

Megan Wady

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