Inmigración: A Human-Monarch Story
Plus, help heal Utah's riverscapes, save the date for our end-of-season volunteer celebration, and more!
Happy Latinx/Hispanic American Heritage Month! We're grateful to celebrate with our amazing community of volunteers, donors, and friends.
In "Inmigración: A Human-Monarch Story," former Sageland Collaborative intern, Utah student, immigrant, young conservation leader, and artist Alhondra Lopez shares her story, which is deeply interwoven with the movement of monarchs between Mexico and the US.
From the article: “I started hearing a fluttering sound, and what I saw . . . it was like a miracle embracing the trees. Monarchs were everywhere. I remember the sunlight catching in their tiny wings, reflecting so much red....”
Photo credits: Sierra Hastings (above). Alhondra Lopez (below).
We Need YOU to Help Heal Utah's Riverscapes!
Our Riverscape Restoration volunteers have been busy working across Utah's streams, shovels and muddy boots at the ready. By building simple structures that mimic the impact of beavers, who have historically been removed in large numbers from Utah's streams, these volunteers spark the healing of ecosystems.
Sageland Collaborative Ecologist Mary Pendergast hefts stakes at a riverscape restoration day in Millcreek Canyon, Utah. After stakes are set in a stream, volunteers will weave branches, add rocks, and pack mud to make a structure that heals riverscapes. Photo by Sierra Hastings.
Volunteers on this project support the restoration of critical wildlife habitats and water quality. No experience, training, or special clothing or equipment needed! We provide boots, gloves, tools and snacks.
If you haven't yet joined a riverscape restoration day, it's not too late! Join us for beautiful autumn days giving back to Utah's landscapes.
Other Projects
There's a place for everyone on our projects! If you're unable to join a riverscape restoration day this fall, check out our other current projects below.
Photo courtesy Wasatch Wildlife Watch
Photo by Janice Gardner
Wasatch Wildlife Watch Image Analysis: Help us identify the wildlife in our camera images, taken along the Wasatch. Great for those who want to volunteer independently, and on your own time!
Utah Pollinator Pursuit: Our pollinator project needs you in these last warm autumn days! Download an app and record bumblebees and butterfly species in decline, whether in your yard or on a hike.
Wilson’s Phalaropes and their Journey from Canada to Argentina
Wilson’s Phalaropes and Red-necked Phalaropes. Photo: Janice Gardner
Check out our recent article, written with our Intermountain West Shorebird Survey partners and fellow shorebird experts, all about the amazing journey of the Wilson's Phalarope.
From the article: "It was the confirmation we had been waiting for—a male Wilson’s Phalarope tagged as “47348” had reached Great Salt Lake after flying 1079 kilometers (670 miles) from Chaplin Lake in Saskatchewan, Canada with only a short rest after crossing the U.S. border into northern Montana..."
Staff Recommendation: From Our Riverscape Restoration Technician
Rachel Winder and Jens Ammon (Riverscape Restoration Team) monitor stream health at one of Sageland's restoration sites.
Riverscape Restoration Technician Rachel recommends "Fighting Fire with Fire" on the podcast "How to Save a Planet."
She says, "Although we aren't wildland firefighters at Sageland, wildfire still has a big impact on the work we do. For example, one reason the work being done in the riverscape restoration program is so important is because it creates a "green fire break" around important watersheds. By adding complexity to streams and rivers and expanding wet meadows, we keep our watersheds healthy when wildfires come through."
Save the Date: End-of-Season Volunteer Celebration
Partners gather for a day full of stream restoration. Photo: Sierra Hastings
A huge thank you to everyone who has volunteered on our projects so far in 2023. Our entire team is humbled, as always, but the huge amount of time, resources, and efforts donated by wildlife conservationists across the West.
2023 volunteers and donors, please mark November 8 on your calendar for our end-of-season celebration!
Thank You, Red Butte Garden!
A monarch butterfly at Red Butte Garden. Photo: Janice Gardner (cropped)
Thank you to Red Butte Garden for awarding Sageland Collaborative with a Non-profit Wellness Pass to further engage our community in appreciation of the gardens.
If you haven't had a chance to visit Red Butte, it's a great spot to look for monarchs and bumble bees (don't forget to log them with Utah Pollinator Pursuit), enjoy the gardens, and experience special local programming like guided walks and events. Check out their website to learn more.
Volunteer of the Month: Jenny Makosky
One of Jenny's kids poised to catch a tiger salamander while volunteering on the Boreal Toad Project.
Our September Volunteer of the Month is Jenny Makosky! Jenny monitors an independent site as part of the Boreal Toad Project, documenting these species as well as potential amphibian habitats in Utah.
Not only does Jenny get out on this project, but she also brings her children to spark the next generation of amphibian conservationists. A big thank you to Jenny and her amazing young conservationists!
Thank you for loving wildlife and lands in the West!
Visit the project page on our website, check out our Impact Report, or connect with us on social media (see links below) to learn more about our conservation work. Please feel free to contact us any time to share your volunteer stories, questions, or suggestions.