SOUTHWEST TIP OF REEF ISLAND, WITH MORE WASP ISLANDS IN THE BACKGROUND | STAFF PHOTO |
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November 2020
Postcard from the Islands
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Help us protect the islands you love! |
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FREE-RANGE TURKEYS NEAR THE ORCAS FERRY LANDING ON THE SATURDAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING, 2020 | STAFF PHOTO |
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We’re grateful to be living in a place where wild turkeys (pictured here near the Orcas ferry landing) have enough connected forests, open spaces, and clean water that they can roam freely. They are symbolic of the wild nature that we all need in our lives to stay healthy and grounded.
At this time of year, these turkeys are also symbolic of the deep gratitude we feel for you and for the work we are so privileged to do, together.
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Happy Thanksgiving — and THANK YOU! |
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REEF ISLAND, JUST OUTSIDE DEER HARBOR, ORCAS ISLAND |
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On July 31, we announced that Malcolm Goodfellow, a long-time Preservation Trust supporter and former board member, made a $5.2 million gift, resulting in an expansion of Turtleback Mountain Preserve and a return of shoreline property to the Lummi Nation.
As if that weren’t enough, in November Malcolm donated an additional $4 million so the Preservation Trust could purchase Reef Island.
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THOR HANSON GOES GALL HUNTING |
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Continuing to film small "bites of nature", we've added another season to our "Just a Minute" (JAM) series.
Season Two is called "Just a Moment from the Islands"— and it's featuring locals with expertise in natural history. The first three are posted and more are on their way!
We hope you agree that every moment counts in these compelling narratives from the islands.
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OBSERVATIONS FROM TURTLEBACK |
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iNaturalist is a network of users who share flora, fauna, and fungi observations to learn about the natural world. This citizen science tool is gaining in popularity and we decided that it was time for us to take advantage of the information already being captured on our preserves.
We've created projects that act as real-time, citizen-led biological surveys. Check out what the iNaturalist community has already observed while visiting protected places.
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L TO R: KRISTIN BUCKLEY, VICKIE EDWARDS, BARBARA PILKINGTON |
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Sadly, two long-serving members of the Preservation Trust staff retired this year—Conservation Director Debby Clausen stepped down in February, and Director of Philanthropy Barbara Courtney said good-bye earlier this month.
Happily, however, those two important roles are now filled again, and a third new staff member has joined us in a new position.
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Hence, we are thrilled to welcome Kristin Buckley (Director of Philanthropy), Vickie Edwards (Conservation Director), and Barbara Pilkington (Office Manager) to our staff. |
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TRUMPETER SWAN | STEVE ALBOUCQ |
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Scheduled on a winter's day, volunteers throughout the San Juan archipelago adopt individual territories and search for swans. This one-day "snapshot" (exact date TBD) allows us to provide data to WDFW, who track the state's population from year to year.
Interested in joining the count? Read our event page for more information.
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Name: Joann Otto
Gann Society Member since: 1998
Favorite Island Place: English Camp, San Juan Island
Quote: The San Juan Islands are a treasure. I first came to the islands to take courses at the Friday Harbor Laboratories and was totally amazed at the biodiversity in the intertidal and subtidal regions around the islands. Soon, I began to explore the diverse habitats on the islands themselves and enjoyed seeing the arrays of spring blooming wildflowers, walking in the woods, and learning about the history of the islands.
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I came to love the islands and to recognize that special places on the islands and the marine environment around them must be preserved.
Thus, in order to help preserve unique places in the islands, I have committed part of my estate to the San Juan Preservation Trust, which is devoted to preserving such places. The Trust has long been a key player in land preservation and protection in the San Juan Islands and does an outstanding job of acquiring special places and then taking care of them through its stewardship.
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LEAVE YOUR LEGACY IN THE SAN JUAN ISLANDS |
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The Gann Society is a group of individuals who have notified us that they have provided for the San Juan Preservation Trust in their estate plans.
Protect these islands for generations to come with a bequest to the San Juan Preservation Trust.
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EARLY MORNING KESTREL, ORCAS ISLAND | STEVE ALBOUCQ |
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Photographer Steve Alboucq spotted this fierce little predator off of McNallie Lane on Orcas Island. In the morning light, he quickly snapped a photo from his car window before the gravel trucks caught up with them. |
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The San Juan Preservation Trust
PO Box 759, Friday Harbor, WA 98250
360-378-2461 | SJPT.org
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