From the Field: Saskatchewan

Postcards from the Field: Vanessa Swarbrick

Shell Conservation Intern Vanessa Swarbrick

Greetings from Saskatchewan:

One thing comes to mind when I think about NCC in Saskatchewan these days... bison. On May 17th, fifty young Plains Bison were released from their winter paddock onto the 13,122-acre Old Man on his Back Prairie Heritage and Conservation Area (OMB) and my fellow Shell Conservation Intern Kylie McRae and I were both right in the heart of things when the bison were released! We felt the earth shake beneath our feet as the bison thundered out onto the plains and later, we saw the herd grazing in the distance. It was unforgettable! The Plains Bison were introduced onto the property as the first private conservation herd in Canadian history and will live at OMB, roaming free the way Plains Bison did for thousands of years. While I was at OMB, I helped prepare for the bison release and had the opportunity to visit local schools to talk about NCC, the bison and how important conservation is for Canada's landscapes.

Plains bison released at OMB, Saskatchewan Photography by Karol Dabbs

I first found out about the Shell Conservation Internship Program when I was on a Biology Society committee at the University of Regina. NCC's Senior Land Conservation Representative in Saskatchewan, Jordan Ignatiuk, visited our career banquet and promoted the program. Now, a year later, I can't believe I'm working at some of the great places I heard about at that career banquet. Places like the Missouri Coteau, where I'm completing flora and fauna surveys. This work will be finished in a couple of days and I'll return to the office in Regina to go over the baseline reports and add the data that I have collected in the field, plan upcoming field trips and gather the necessary equipment. Then it's back out in the field for more work and memorable experiences.

I recently graduated with a Bachelor of Science with an independent research thesis on climate change and forestry. At the moment, I'm working on submitting my thesis to a journal to be published, and am looking forward to starting my Masters in Ecotoxicology. I'll be off to the Edmonton in the fall, but not before spending time in the Cypress Hills at the end of the summer.

Enjoy your summer,

Vanessa Swarbrick

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