Tuesday, June 2nd, 7:00 – 8:30pm at the Twisp Grange (2nd Ave in Twisp)
From eagles to hummingbirds, Idie Ulsh will teach us how and where birds make nests, and relate interesting facts about their construction. She has photographed the nests of more than 60 species, with an emphasis on song birds. In addition to her own photos, she will show photos from many local photographers, University of Puget Sound Slater Museum and Cornell Lab of Ornithology in this unique program.
Idie Ulsh is well known for her bird and butterfly programs. She has now completed an intensive three-year study of bird nests. She is a past president of Seattle Audubon, founder of the Washington Butterfly Association, Seattle Audubon Master Birder, nature photographer and an independent college counselor.
The doors will open at 6:30pm. Light snacks and beverages will be available free of charge. The event is free and open to everyone. Contact Mary at 996-2870 or info@methowconservancy.org if you have questions.
This past weekend, more than 500 people joined us at the Winthrop Barn for the official community kick-off of our Imagine the Methow Campaign. We enjoyed a tasty local dinner by chef Stewart Dietz, learned more about this historic conservation effort, and rocked the night away with Jo Miller and Her Burly Roughnecks. It was a great gathering of the diversity of the Methow – from spurs to lycra – and an enthusiastic kick-off to our capital campaign.
We’ve now launched a new website for the campaign: www.imaginethemethow.org. We’ll keep the site updated with information on what we are up to, how close we are getting to our goal of 1000 donors to the campaign this summer, and where we will be next in the community sharing the story of the campaign.
In late June we’ll start a series of “neighborhood” gatherings – inviting all those who live in different regions of the Methow Valley to get together, learn more about the campaign, and support the effort. While the Imagine the Methow Campaign is a fundraising effort, it is also focused on building a sense of community around a shared love for the land here in the Methow. We hope you will join us this summer!
Early in May, Karel Zikan and Elizabeth Holmes finalized a conservation easement on their Lost River area property in the area known as Cedarosa. This easement contributes to our overall Cedarosa project, where we've now protected a total of 19 lots  on 17 acres, preventing clearing and filling of a very important riparian zone and cold
water upwelling. The protected property of 6 tax parcels includes a diverse mixture of native plants, including dense deciduous riparian forests and western red cedar, beaver ponds, and numerous wetlands, which provide excellent fish, songbird, amphibian, raptor, and large and small mammal habitat. The Zikan-Holmes property is situated in a corridor of conservation easements and protected lands in the Upper Methow River so that a total of nearly 1000 acres of land and over 4 miles of river front are protected. Karel and Elizabeth said when completing the easement, “We came to Methow River Valley to ski, climb, boulder-hop in the rivers and creeks, and camp on the river banks. We did not seek golf courses or housing developments; there are plenty of those elsewhere. In contrast to those places, the Methow Valley is still a place where Nature itself is the prime force shaping the land. It is a great place for big kids to play and smaller kids to grow up. We think it’s worthwhile to preserve the ingredients that comprise the Methow’s 'genius loci' (the spirit of a place or an area’s distinctive atmosphere, Wikipedia tells us!).
We thank Karel and Elizabeth for their interest in and commitment to conservation, and for teaching us a new term!
You’ll have so much fun at a Methow Conservancy workshop or field trip this summer that you might not notice that you are learning a lot too! We have outings for adults and kids. The June events are listed below – stay tuned for more throughout the summer. Contact Mary at 996-2870 or info@methowconservancy.org for more information or to register. 
3rd Annual River Ecology Raft Trip
Sunday, June 14th, 9am to 4pm on the Methow River
This is the Methow Conservancy’s unique, on-the-water explorationof the Methow River from Mazama to Winthrop. The float trip, guided by the trained, local river guides of Osprey River Adventures, will meander through wildlife habitat, floodplain development, and pristine, tranquil areas on unique and ever-changing river channels. From a variety of instructors, learn about salmon migration, riparian ecology, river dynamics (hydrology and geology) and more. A catered lunch of local food is included. The cost is $80/person and registration is limited. (This trip is currently full, but call to get on the wait list in case someone drops out!)
"The Art of Wildlife Tracking" Summer Field Workshop
Saturday, June 27th
Explore the Methow’s wild side with professional wildlife tracker, Gabe Spence. Learn the six arts of tracking wildlife, including how to identify and interpret tracks and signs. 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 but registration is necessary and space is limited.
 Nature Expeditions for Kids
Hosted by the Methow Conservancy at Pearrygin Lake State Park
June 21st and July 15th, 10:00 – 11:30am
Kids, ages 6 and up, are invited to join the Methow Conservancy for an on-the-ground exploration of Pearrygin Lake State Park. Sunday, June 21st, volunteers from the Methow Conservancy will take kids of all ages on a hike to a beautiful grove of aspens and share a tree-measuring activity. At least one parent must accompany the children they bring. Please wear appropriate shoes and bring a water bottle. The program is free and no registration is necessary. Enter through the main park entrance (the east entrance), go about 100 yards and look for a sign. Park on the left side of the road. Contact Mary at the Methow Conservancy at 996-2870 if you have questions.
* Sunday, June 21st, 10:00 -11:30am, solstice hike and trees
* Wednesday, July 15th, 10:00 – 11:30am, lake walk and water exploration
As the sea of green has returned, briefly, to the valley and you’ve taken in the beauty and color of native flowers and shrubs, you’ve no doubt seen some weeds too. Whether you have a little or a lot on your property, trying to rein them in and re-establish diverse native plants that support wildlife and the soil, and compete with weeds is do-able given time and effort. Those that attended our May “1st Tuesday” program learned that weeds change the soil and use water differently than native plants, but that native plants can out-compete weeds if they are encouraged and cared for with consistent watering and basic weed control.
This summer, we are offering several methods to help you learn more about weeds and native plants.
For those of you who like hands-on education, our “Restoring Native Habitat Around Your Home” Workshop Series is a great option. This monthly workshop series has been a big hit. Classes continue once-a-month through October so take a look at the schedule and let us know if you’d like to attend one or more sessions. The next class is June 13! Each class is on a Saturday, from 9am to noon at Methow Natives. For all the details, including a list of workshop dates and topics, and how to sign-up, click here.
Another great option is our Weed and Native Plant Education Booth at the Twisp Farmers’ Market June 13, 20 or 27 (from 9am to Noon). This is the 6th year that we’ve been at the market and the interest in what to do for native plants and weeds never seems to cease! We’ll take your questions, success stories, weed war stories and share what advice we can. We’ll also have both our Good Neighbor and Restoring Shrub-Steppe Handbooks freely available, so come by with your questions or just say hello.
If you simply want a free copy of our “ Restoring Shrub-Steppe in the Methow Valley” handbook, stop by the office or call or email to have us mail you one. The handbook will help you learn to evaluate your site; create a good irrigation system; identify common weeds; develop a weed control strategy; choose appropriate native plants; sow seeds; identify deer resistant plants, and much, much more.
Stewardship Volunteers Needed Wednesday June 10th!
Our project to improve the health of riparian habitats by caging naturally regenerating tree saplings and shrubs to prevent over-browsing by deer is going well. Our next work-party is Wednesday, June 10th from 9am to noon at a property off the East County Rd. If you can help out, or if you’d like more details, please call the Methow Conservancy at 996-2870 or email us.
This is a great opportunity to participate in a citizen-science project! In partnership with Audubon Washington, the Methow Conservancy is seeking volunteer “birders” to assist with monitoring 12 beaver restoration sites here in the Methow Valley.
Bird surveys will help document changes in the bird communities at these restoration sites as habitat changes in response to beaver activity. Each site will need two visits about two weeks apart from a team of two volunteers (at least one competent birder and one recorder; we can match people up, if need be). Surveys will include an “area search,” recording all of the birds seen and heard along the project stretch of the river. Surveys will be conducted between early June and early July, and will require about a half-day on-site for each visit. If you’re interested in joining the bird survey effort, please contact us at 996-2870 or info@methowconservancy.org.
The Methow Valley Beaver Project is an effort to restore riparian habitat on public land by relocating beaver that local property owners consider a nuisance into historically beaver-occupied tributaries of the Methow River above the valley floor. The numerous project partners include the Methow Conservancy, US Forest Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service, WDFW, Pacific Biodiversity Institute, and the Yakima Nation.
The first year of the project is coming to a close, and methods to safely capture, hold, and relocate nuisance beaver have been perfected. As snow receded from shaded creek banks earlier this month, project partners inspected three of last year’s beaver relocation sites. They found signs that the beaver are doing well and are busy re-organizing their new surroundings. After more than a century of their absence, the beavers are building dams, creating and expanding pools, flooding conifers, and cutting hard woods to fill their need for bark. All of this activity is likely to change the local bird community, increasing local diversity and favoring more riparian-dependent species. Efforts are underway to relocate more beaver this year into more unoccupied sites.
If you’re interested in joining the bird survey effort, or if you’d like to learn more about the project, please contact us at 996-2870 or info@methowconservancy.org.
Thank you to our new members who donated in the month of May: Cyndi Mundhenk and Steve Gerken, Nancey Goforth (in memory of Kurt Jacobsen), Nanette Latham, and Janet & Frank Ploof
Below, you'll find announcements about events or publications (ours and those of other organizations) that we think you might find interesting.
May 31st: The Crown S Ranch Annual Farm Tour and Potluck. The Crown S Ranch was protected with a Methow Conservancy conservation easement this year.  Crown S Ranch produces organic beef, pork, poultry, eggs, and vegetables through a pasture-based, grass finishing operation using management-intensive pasture rotation, sometimes called grass farming. Take a free tour of this amazing local farm and hear first-hand farming stories from Louis Sukovaty and Jennifer Argraves. Tours will be held at 10am, 1pm and 3pm with the potluck at noon. Crown S will provide meat and beverages. Simply try to bring a side dish if you’ll be joining the potluck. This event is free and open to everyone – come join the fun! For more information contact Crown S Ranch at 996-3849. (If you miss this event or want to come again, see our July 1st Tuesday program!)
June 2nd: Methow Conservancy “1st Tuesday” Program, “Feathered Architects: The Fascinating World of Bird Nests” with Idie Ulsh, 7pm at the Twisp Grange. See above.
June 13th, 20th, 27th: Methow Conservancy Weed and Native Plant Education Table, 9am – Noon, at the Farmer’s Market in Twisp. We’ll take your questions, success stories, weed war stories and share what advice we can. We’ll also have both our Good Neighbor and Restoring Shrub-Steppe Handbooks freely available, so come by and say hello.
June 14th: 3rd Annual River Ecology Raft Trip on the Methow River, $80 includes lunch, space limited. See above for more details.
June 14th: Hands-on Class at Crown S Ranch: “Build a Walk-through Passive Horn Fly Trap,” 1 - 4pm at Crown S Ranch. Louis Sukovaty of Crown S Ranch modeled his livestock horn fly trap on the original research of Willis Bruce in the 1930s. This type of passive trapping has been largely forgotten since the advent of modern chemical insecticides. Louis’ class will provide an interactive, hands-on forum where participants learn basic theory and design concepts while building an actual horn fly trap. Class size is limited and costs $10/person. Call Crown S Ranch at 509-996-3849to confirm attendance.
June 20th: Greater Twisp Neighborhood Imagine the Methow Campaign Party
June 21st: Nature Expeditions for kids ages 6 and up hosted by the Methow Conservancy at Pearrygin Lake State Park. 10 - 11:30am. See above for more details.
June 25th: Rendezvous / West Chewuch / Cub Creek Neighborhood Imagine the Methow Campaign Party
 June 27th: The Art of Wildlife Tracking Summer Field Class with instructor Gabe Spence, $30, space limited. See above for more details.
July 3rd: Mazama / Lost River Neighborhood Imagine the Methow Campaign Party
July 7th: Methow Conservancy “1st Tuesday” Program, “A Day on the Farm: A show-and-tell of traditional animal husbandry and local food production at Crown S Ranch,” 7 – 8:30pm at Crown S Ranch.
July 11th: Conservation Education Fair, 9am - 1pm, in the Twisp Commons.
July 15th: Nature Expeditions for kids ages 6 and up hosted by the Methow Conservancy at Pearrygin Lake State Park. 10 – 11:30am.
July 18th: Greater Winthrop / Mid-Valley Neighborhood Imagine the Methow Campaign Party
August 12th: Methow Conservancy “1st Tuesday” Program, “Bound for the Methow: A Pictorial History of the Methow Valley,” with Kit Cramer and Karen West, 7 - 8:30pm at the Shafer Historical Museum.
August 15th: South Valley Neighborhood Imagine the Methow Campaign Party
September 5th: Wolf Creek / Pine Forest / Twin Lakes Neighborhood Imagine the Methow Campaign Party
September 26th: Annual Cider Squeeze and Social
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