Author: Lorene Keitch

How a pile of dirt became a bank swallow haven

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A chance discovery by a group of Invermere birders led to a conservation success for a fledgling bank swallow colony in Invermere, British Columbia. In the spring of 2022, local birder Greg Scott and his fellow birdwatchers noticed a small…

A path to protecting native pollinator species

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Elk Root Conservation Society in the West Kootenay's Slocan Valley is creating a pollinator highway. Pollinator highways are tracts of land dedicated to supporting pollinators (bees, hummingbirds, bats and more) by growing food sources such as native wildflowers, connecting…

The power of the pollinator

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Global pollinator declines are causing rising concern for the future of global food security. Bee populations in particular are declining at an alarming rate, leading to organizations such as the United Nations to call for action to reverse the trend…

Ecosystem services: Nature’s gift to us

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While nature is valuable for nature's sake alone, we can also appreciate the valuable services nature provides to humans that allow us to thrive on this planet. Nature regulates the climate, cleans the water and pollinates the plants.

Tracy Flynn: Making a lasting impact

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"What will have a lasting impact?" This is the question Columbia Valley resident Tracy Flynn asks herself when she chooses how to spend her time. Tracy is an environmental advocate who focuses on listening to all perspectives and building bridges…