Postcards from the Field: Riley Pollom

Shell Conservation Intern Riley Pollom

Greetings from the Land of Living Skies!

I'm Riley Pollom, one of the Shell Conservation Interns for the Nature Conservancy of Canada in the Saskatchewan Region. I recently graduated from the University of Calgary with Bachelor of Science degrees in ecology and geography. Originally from the badlands of Drumheller, Alberta, my Saskatchewan internship is providing me with an excellent experience and a constantly growing appreciation for native prairie landscapes!

So far this summer my colleagues and I have had some amazing field experiences in the southwestern portion of the province near the Cypress Uplands, Old Man on his Back, and the Frenchman River Valley. The compliance and biological monitoring we've been performing on conservation easements has really allowed us to explore some areas of Saskatchewan that the majority of people never get to see. Our monitoring efforts have allowed us to learn a lot about determining the health of prairie ecosystems, from compiling plant and bird inventories to formally assessing range and riparian health. My bird and grass identification skills have skyrocketed this summer!

Other rewarding aspects of my internship position thus far have included engaging with the public during our conservation volunteer events at the Old Man on his Back Ranch and at Echo Valley, and having the opportunity to interact with Shell and NCC staff from across Canada.

In January of 2011, I intend to head to Newfoundland to carry out a Master's degree in conservation biology. My experiences this summer will go a long way in helping me to plan out my field research and write my thesis. The opportunities to interact with others in the conservation field and to familiarize myself with the Non-Government Organization world will no doubt have a positive impact on my career for many years to come. I look forward to a lasting career in conservation and my time here with NCC and Shell has definitely helped me along that path.

Riley Pollom