In Admiration of the Plants, Bees, and Toads
June welcomed us into summer, kicking off our ambitious warm-weather project season. This month, volunteer community scientists have scoured Utah’s alpine wetlands in search of elusive boreal toads, documented thousands of pollinators across the state, and trekked across the Wasatch Mountains to better understand how wildlife are doing across the state.
Thanks to our volunteers, these community science programs create positive impacts for Utah’s wildlife. We are excited to highlight one of our volunteers who has truly poured their heart into our conservation programs this month.
Tracy Aviary staff and Sageland interns observing some of the native plants that Parker’s team has been growing from seed at the Nature Center at Pia Okwai greenhouse. Photo: Sierra Hastings.
Meet our June Volunteer of the Month, Parker Lloyd! This month, Parker has contributed 25 observations to the Utah Pollinator Pursuit project and monitored wetlands with us through the Boreal Toad Project, providing valuable data that inform habitat management decisions for our native pollinators and amphibians.
Get to know Parker in our interview below.
What is your background in? Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
I briefly studied architecture and environmental science in Portland OR, but eventually dropped out and independently studied plant systematics, taxonomy, and art. Now, I work in the horticulture department at Tracy Aviary where I manage the tropical plant collection, among other things.
What originally drew you to Sageland Collaborative? How long have you been a volunteer?
I first become aware of Sageland Collaborative about a year ago through my work at Tracy Aviary. Since then, I have been involved in building beaver dam analogs, pollinator tracking, and surveying for toads.
What do you love most about volunteering? What keeps you coming back?
The people. You probably aren't going to volunteer with Sageland unless you are passionate about nature and love getting dirty - I always have something to talk about with everyone on a project!
Parker geared up for a toad survey. Photo: Jimena Santana De Niz.
Do you have a favorite story you'd like to share from volunteering on these projects?
Just a couple weeks ago, we were hiking above Brighton with a group from Utah’s Hogle Zoo looking for boreal toads. I'll start by saying - we didn't find any.
After circling our second lake, we spotted tiger salamanders and, eager to catch something, Keilani and I flooded our boots to gently scoop up a larval tiger salamander. It was a fun moment to show the rest of the crew as well as some hikers passing by what we found. It was worth every moment of wet feet the remainder of the day.
Conservation projects like these depend on the generosity of volunteers and donors like you. Will you donate today to support wildlife and lands in the West?
What are your thoughts on wildlife and land conservation in the West? Why is it important to you?
I grew up on the West coast where we would sometimes get 100 inches of rain a year. Moving to the arid Intermountain West over a decade ago was an adjustment, but I quickly learned to love the sweeping landscapes, impressive geology, and incredible adaptations which life takes on. Ecosystems everywhere are fragile, but few are as sensitive to upsets as the desert. For many, the desert is — at best a quick vacation spot — but more often, thought of as little more than a bleak wasteland to pass through. In fact, the desert is more like an ocean with elaborate reefs of soil, fungi, and bacteria and trees older than human civilization stretching between mountainous islands of biodiversity. Utah is home to over 1100 documented species of bees, and the majority of these species live in the arid desert regions. Advocating for wilderness and wildlife will always be worthwhile, and Sageland Collaborative does exactly that.
What would you say to others thinking of volunteering?
Do it, you won't regret it!
Where can our community learn more about you?
I am most active on Instagram (@thesassyteapot). You can also often see me doing plant-y things with Tracy Aviary @tracyaviaryofficial and @naturecenteratpiaokwai, as well as Sagebrush Steppe Land Trust in Pocatello, ID (@sagebrushlandtrust).
On August 14, 2024 from 1pm-2pm, I will be presenting on Pollinators in Urban Gardens in The Chase Mill at Tracy Aviary as part of their Exploring Nature Speaker Series. I also lead a weekly “Plants of the Rainforest Tour” talks at the Aviary on Thursdays at 12:45pm.
Parker poised to catch a native bee for observation at our Pollinator Office Hours event. Photo: Sierra Hastings.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
I am not affiliated with either project, but I love to direct people to learn more about desert conservation at @90mifromneedles and to watch bird conservation happen in real time with @sihek_recovery_project working to reintroduce the extinct-in-the-wild Sihek (Guam Kingfisher) to its home in the Pacific.
Get involved in community science like this by volunteering or donating today!
Article by: Sierra Hastings. Photos (unless noted otherwise): Parker Lloyd.