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1st Tuesday Program: Lynx in Winter: The Status of Lynx in Washington
February 5th, 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. at the Twisp River Pub (The pub will open at 6pm for attendees who would like to purchase drinks or something from the light menu).
 Gary Koehler with the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife will share photos and information about the lynx surveys and studies being conducted right now. For 30 years, Okanogan and Chelan counties have been the only counties in Washington where lynx tracks have been found and where breeding has been documented. Yet, wild fires in the past decade have burned more than 50% of the lynx habitat in these two counties, prompting an effort to study them and assess their status. Come hear about lynx that were followed with GPS collars last winter and learn what scientists hope to do this winter.
Free and open to everyone. For more information contact Mary at 996-2870 or info@methowconservancy.org.
 Cheers to Trubee
For the second January in a row, Williams College student Trubee Davison has donated dozens of hours of precious winter-break time, enthusiasm and thoughtfulness to the Methow Conservancy. Trubee interned with us this winter, helping our stewardship and land protection efforts significantly. We can’t thank him enough for his attention to detail, diligence with some large and tricky projects, and his overall helpfulness. We enjoyed his earnest good humor, especially while helping clear our roof, and wish him the best as he returns to school.
Conservation Buyer Program
Over the past decade, the Methow Conservancy has worked with over 80 families to document and protect the  conservation values on their properties through conservation easements. While the generosity and vision of these families has led to remarkable and rapid conservation success, the Conservancy recognizes that conservation easements are not the only way to achieve land protection.
When conservation easements are not an option, conservation purchases offer an important land protection alternative. In order to facilitate conservation purchases the Conservancy has started a small, focused conservation buyer program.
The purpose of the conservation buyer program is to match high-priority conservation properties with buyers who treasure the natural richness of these properties.
The conservation buyer program focuses on two types of private land:
existing conservation easement properties that are for sale
unprotected, high-quality properties at risk of subdivision and degradation.
To assist potential conservation buyers, the Methow Conservancy maintains a list of conservation properties currently for sale in the Methow Valley. Properties with significant river frontage, significant acreage, high-quality habitat, connection to existing protected areas, or productive agricultural soils contribute to the Methow Conservancy’s determination of whether a property is a valuable conservation objective.
Methow Conservancy staff are readily available to consult with potential conservation buyers and can describe the specific natural resource qualities and conservation easement options. We maintain a list of potential conservation buyers, and will regularly notify buyers of new opportunities if buyers request this service. If you would like to learn more about what is currently for sale, or if you would like to sell to a conservation buyer, please contact us 509-996-2870 or info@methowconservancy.org.
2nd Annual On-line Board of Directors Auction Coming in March!
Don’t worry….we aren't auctioning off our Board members! Last year we had such fun, sharing some of the amazing talents of our Board of Directors, we thought we’d try it again. Stay tuned to our website and March e-news for more details of the great lessons and experiences our Board Members will offer to help raise funds for our conservation work. The auction will be run on-line via the Methownet.com Bulletin Board from March 10-14th. The auction is the perfect chance to enjoy some great Methow activities and help preserve our rural Methow landscapes.
Take a Walk on the Wild Side of the Methow
If you’ve ever wanted to know how to tell a long-tailed weasel track from a cougar’s; wondered why beavers busily buzz trees; or wanted to know what all those people with binoculars are looking for, then it’s time to join us on a field class! Contact Mary at 996-2870 or info@methowconservancy.org to register or to ask questions. Stay tuned for more activities through the summer!
 "The Art of Wildlife Tracking" Field Workshop
March 9th, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Explore the Methow’s wild side with professional wildlife tracker, Gabe Spence. We'll learn the six arts of tracking wildlife, including how to identify and interpret tracks and signs. Join us and find ways to learn more about and connect with the hidden lives of the creatures that share this land with us! This unique outdoor class costs just $30. The field workshop is from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. Registration is necessary and space is limited to 10 individuals. Please call or email Mary at 996-2870 or to reserve your spot in this March class (February’s class is full). See our events page for more details.
Beavers & Birds ~ “Mini” Conservation Courses
We might be in the throes of winter but it’s never too early to think about spring, especially if you want to join us for our annual “mini” conservation courses. Our annual 6-week long Conservation Course starting February 4th is on “water” this year, and we are continuing the theme with our mini courses. These are field-oriented, one-day weekend courses with expert instructors. Space is limited. Contact Mary at 996-2870 to reserve your spot. 
Our first mini-course will be “Beavers: Nature’s water engineers,” on Saturday, April 12th from 9am to 4pm. Instructors John Rohrer and Steve Bondi will teach participants about beaver ecology and as we travel to sites of past, present, and potential future beaver habitat and activity. Learn how these ingenious mammals have altered and greatly affected and benefited our riparian areas and waterways. Cost $30/person
The second mini-course is “The Riparian Connection: Birds, Water and Avian Romance,” on Sunday, May 18th from 6am to Noon (the early bird gets the worm!). Instructors Libby Mills and Kent Woodruff will give students an introduction to the life history and important habitat relationships of riparian bird species. We will travel to wetlands, riparian forests, and shoreline areas to learn about, and hopefully see and hear, unique bird species that depend on our rich functioning watershed. Why is riparian habitat so important? Find out as we take a good look at this special world. Cost $40/person.
Good Fences Make Good Neighbors
Since livestock can’t help keep fences in good order, but people can, we are offering a “Fence Mending Workshop” with the help of local rancher and Methow Conservancy Conservator, Vic Stokes. Vic has kindly offered to donate his time to teach interested people how to mend wire fencing on March 29th from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. The workshop is free.
You might want to attend if any of the following situations apply to you:
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Livestock encroaching into areas due to a broken down fence?
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Interested in learning a new skill and possibly lending a hand to local ranchers and/or other landowners who are trying to manage livestock with land stewardship in mind?
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Interested in learning the basics about fence law?
Space in the workshop is limited to 10 participants. If you are interested, please contact Eric Bard at eric@methowconservancy.org or 509-996-2870.
Events
Below, you'll find announcements about events or publications (ours and those of other organizations) that we think you might find interesting.
Through March 1st, Saturdays: Nature of Winter Snowshoe Tours. The Methow Valley Sport Trails Association and the Methow Valley Ranger District hold snowshoe tours throughout the winter. Go with a local naturalist and learn about winter ecology, wildlife and tracks, snow and more. Tours leave from Jack's Hut at the Freestone Inn and from the Sun Mountain Lodge ski shop at 11:00 a.m. each Saturday between December 29th and March 1st. On the President's Day holiday weekend, tours will be scheduled at 11:00 a.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays. Visit MVSTA’s webpage for more info.
February 5th:Methow Conservancy “1st Tuesday” program: “Status of Lynx in
Washington” with wildlife scientist, Gary Koehler. See the top of E-News.
February 10th: "The Art of Wildlife Tracking" Field Workshop, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. (This class is full, see March 9th)
February 26th: The State of the Methow - The State of the World, 7:00 p.m. The Partnership for a Sustainable Methow is sponsoring a series of presentations on the world and the Methow Valley by local experts from an ecological point of view. Topics include food supply, ecology, global warming, Valley planning and waste. Located at and co-sponsored by The Twisp River Pub. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. with snack menu available. Presentations start at 7:00 p.m. Free.
February 27th: Natural History Book Club Discussion of Visible Bones, by Jack Nisbet, 6:00 -7:15 p.m. at the Methow Conservancy office. For more information and upcoming books see our Book Club page.
March 4th: Methow Conservancy “1st Tuesday” program: Lamprey ~ The Ancient Fish of the Columbia, 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. at the Twisp River Pub. John Crandall, local resident and Wild Fish Conservancy freshwater ecologist, will discuss the heritage, natural history, and conservation of Columbia Basin  lamprey.
March 9th: "The Art of Wildlife Tracking" Field Workshop, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.. Explore the winter landscape of the Methow Valley with professional wildlife tracker, Gabe Spence. We'll learn the six arts of tracking wildlife, including how to identify and interpret tracks and signs. Join us and find ways to learn more about and connect with the hidden lives of the creatures that share this land with us! This unique outdoor class costs just $30. Registration is necessary and space is limited to 10 individuals. Please call or email Mary at 996-2870 or info@methowconservancy.org to reserve your spot. See our events page for more details.
March 10th - 14th: Our Second Annual Online Board Member Auction. The auction will be run through the Methownet.com Bulletin Board. Stay tuned for more details!
April 5th: Good Neighbor Workshop: Practical Advice for Building and Living in the Methow Valley, 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. This free workshop is a great place to gain helpful information about the Methow Valley especially if you are thinking about building or are currently building in the Methow. Attendees will meet neighbors, share questions and perhaps similar situations, and learn about specific building concerns and opportunities. There will be lots of time for questions, and refreshments and snacks! Stay tuned for more details.
April 12th: Beavers ~ Nature’s water engineers, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Instructors John Rohrer and Steve Bondi will teach participants about beaver ecology and as we travel to sites of past, present, and potential future beaver habitat and activity. Learn how these ingenious mammals have altered and greatly affected and benefited our riparian areas and waterways. Registration required. Cost $30/person.
May 18th: The Riparian Connection: Birds, Water and Avian Romance, 6:00 a.m. to Noon. Instructors Libby Mills and Kent Woodruff will give students an introduction to the life history and important habitat relationships of riparian bird species. We will travel to wetlands, riparian forests, and shoreline areas to learn about, and hopefully see and hear, unique bird species that depend on our rich functioning watershed. Why is riparian habitat so important? Find out as we take a good look at this special world. Registration required. Cost $40/person.
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