Nature Conservancy of Canada is hosting another exciting Conservation Volunteer event at their flagship conservation property in Saskatchewan, the Old Man on his Back Prairie and Heritage Conservation Area near Claydon (southwest of Eastend). Just a few weeks ago I attended a Conservation Volunteer event at the NCC Maymont property and really enjoyed it.
This 3-day event will run over the weekend of August 10-12, 2012 and is full of activities: bird, mammal and wildflower surveys and help with the management of the Plains Bison conservation herd. In the evening, participants will be able to watch the Perseid Meteor Shower in an environment with minimal light pollution. Food and snacks will be provided and you can come for the whole weekend or participate in daily programs. Camping is available on-site. The OMB site also has a very nice interpretive centre where you can learn about the history of ranching in the area (and a lot of other stuff for kids to explore).
Ranch buildings and interpretive centre at the Old Man on His Back
Here is an email that I received promoting the event. Just follow the links to register for individual programs. Unfortunately, I will be in Europe visiting my family until mid August and will not be able to participate.
Prairie wildflowers at OMB, late July of 2011
Information provided by NCC:
Old Man on His Back is near Claydon, between Grassland National Park and Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park. It has sweeping vistas of the open prairie, incredible sunrises and sunsets, and an abundance of wildflowers and grassland birds. A herd of Plains Bison have been reintroduced in this area and Pronghorn Antelope are often sighted! Imperiled species such as the Burrowing Owl and Ferruginous Hawk are sometimes seen.
Volunteers can stay for the whole weekend and camp at Old Man on his Back, or they can simply come out for a day or two. Meals and snacks will be provided! This weekend is the peak of the Perseid Meteor Shower, and with Old Man on His Back’s open skies with no light pollution, it will be a great place to spend the weekend watching the skies at night.
Plains Bison Ranch Hands will be on Friday, August 10. We will be helping to manage the Plains Bison herd by enhancing the bison handling facilities and in doing a bison calf count!
On Saturday, August 11, we will be having Green Grass and Gone Weeds event. We will be surveying steel fence posts for nesting birds, as well as removing invasive plants and old equipment and debris. A short workshop on range health assessment will also be taking place!
On Sunday, August 12, we will finish the weekend with Life in a Grassland Understory. Permanent transects for breeding bird surveys will be put in place, and we will also give these transects a test run! As well, there will be small mammal surveys taking place!
Wildflower survey at the Old Man on His Back – conservation volunteers at work
Prairie with golden bean at dawn, Old Man on His Back Prairie and Heritage Conservation Area