MARCH PLANTING PARTY WITH SPRING STREET INT"L SCHOOL STUDENTS | STAFF ARCHIVE
March 2021
Postcard from the Islands
Help us protect the islands you love!
PRESERVATION TRUST NEWS
SHAW VOLUNTEER SKIP BOLD | STAFF ARCHIVE
KUDOS TO SKIP!
Skip Bold, an enthusiastic volunteer at the Ellis Preserve on Shaw Island, has his signature on many completed tasks. He has carefully archived maritime history, fixed plumbing, unstuck doors, and hand-carved signs and gate latches. The many hours Skip has invested at the preserve is a reflection of his deep love for all things Shaw. The San Juan Preservation Trust has been blessed by his approachability and calm competence.
CALLING ALL HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS!
SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINE POSTPONED
To better fit with our island high schools' overall scholarship programs, we have set April 29 as the new application deadline for the Preservation Trust's Climate Leadership Scholarships (postponed from April 1). Please help us spread the word to potential applicants!
WHALE ROCKS | MICHAEL NOONAN
JAM: END OF SEASON II
It's a wrap! As of Spring Equinox, we've completed the filming of our Just a Moment: Season II video series. From the largest pinniped to the smallest bird, from salmon and insects to fungus, and from glacial formations to the night sky—the San Juan Islands are full of natural wonders and a community of storytellers. Feed your curiosity and watch them all!
TOM TIDYMAN | STAFF ARCHIVE
WELCOME ABOARD, TOM!
Our newest staff member is Tom Tidyman, who joined SJPT as Director of Operations & Finance in February. Tom was born and raised in Florida, where he fell in love with the water as a child via scuba diving, kayaking, and boating. He came to the Pacific Northwest in 2009 and moved to the San Juans in 2020 after exploring the islands for years by both land and sea.
LONG-TOED SALAMANDER | STAFF ARCHIVE
IT'S AMPHIBIAN SEASON
With Spring comes another a joyful amphibian season to the islands. Just last week, a long-toed salamander (Ambystoma macrodactylis) was spotted on our new Jester Preserve (Orcas Island). A northern red-legged frog (Rana aurora) made an appearance there last September. Thanks to visionary preserve donors like Bob and Pat Jester, these and many other rare (and not-so-rare) species have forever-wild homes in the San Juans.
LEAVE YOUR LEGACY IN THE SAN JUAN ISLANDS
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. 
UPCOMING EVENTS
April 16 and 30th Bluebird Blitz I and II
Become an independent citizen scientist during one of our Bluebird Blitzes! Receive a San Juan Island territory, that combined with other volunteers, provides coverage across the Island. Once assigned, you will head out with your binoculars and count as many Western Bluebirds as you can!

7:30am–9:30am
April 22 Earth Day at Henry Island Preserve
Come ashore to celebrate Earth Day 2021 by enjoying some outer-island tranquility and helping out with preserve maintenance. We will be brushing trail, caging individual trees, installing Purple Martin nest boxes, cleaning up the beach, and doing a bit of invasive species removal during this work party.

10:00am–3:00pm
May 7 Butterfly Bike Tour!

Take some time to breathe the fresh air and smell the blooming flowers growing in our Island Marble Butterfly Habitat Patches! Here’s an opportunity for you to join us on a bike ride around the heart of San Juan Island where we will be stopping by all three butterfly plots to search for pollinators and learn about these "nectar islands". Space is limited.

9:00am–12:00pm
May 22 Biodiversity Day Plant Upkeep
Celebrate Biodiversity Day by spending the afternoon in an idyllic setting, overlooking the Salish Sea, while supporting native botanicals and pulling out their competitors. During this work party you won’t feel bad for picking flowers. Gorse & Scotch broom are growing wild at the Illg Preserve and your help is needed to halt their spread.

10:00am–1:30pm
PHOTO OF THE MONTH
BACKLIT SHOT OF LICHEN, LOPEZ ISLAND | AARON VLIET
"I'm not really sure what species it was, but my best guess would be Old Man's Beard Lichen, Usnea barbata. It was hanging from a tree. As for what drew me to it, macro [close-up] photos generally require a fair bit of light, so when I saw the sunny sky behind the lichen I figured I'd give it a shot." 
–Aaron Vliet

Passionate about photography, nature, and conservation efforts, Lopez High School student Aaron Vliet is completing a community project by capturing images of nature on protected lands. He's also helping us organize our photo database and displaying his work to bring more attention to island land conservation. Aaron took this intriguing photo of lichen at Watmough Bay on Lopez Island.

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The San Juan Preservation Trust
PO Box 759, Friday Harbor, WA 98250
360-378-2461 | SJPT.org