February 2025 eNews

You could say we were "feeling the love" this February thanks to the team of volunteers who joined SJPT staff in planting over 200(!) trees and shrubs along a riparian corridor at the Sundstrom Farm Preserve on San Juan Island.

Riparian areas are critical for maintaining stable banks, healthy water quality, lower water temperatures, and increased water clarity in fish spawning areas, all of which contribute to a thriving ecosystem. Thanks to our dedicated fieldwork volunteers, Sundstrom Farm Preserve has a healthy future in store!

Click here to see how you can get involved with the Preservation Trust as a volunteer. 

We’re excited to launch our new Walk n' Talk series in March! Each month, join us for a guided nature walk on SJPT-protected lands, led by staff and local experts.

Land Steward Troy Buckley kicks off the series at the Beecher Preserve on Lopez Island on March 19. Troy will lead a guided tour through the woods, asking the head-scratching question: "What Good is Dead Wood?" He will share insights into the vital role that dead wood plays in supporting the health of our island forests.

Space is limited, be sure to register today to secure your spot!

SJPT members have shown their love for the San Juans through their actions, by partnering with the Preservation Trust to ensure a bright future for the islands—for people, plants, and animals for generations to come.

To show our gratitude, we put together a video message this month just for you!

Our 2025 season is officially in full swing: Walk n' Talks, volunteer work parties, field classes, homestead tours, and much more are in store as the year unfolds. See our upcoming offerings here.

Capacity is limited for several events, so register soon if you're interested!

Stay tuned for updates as events open for registration throughout the year. We can't wait to see you out on the land!

Lopez Island – Come and join SJPT staff as we head to the Mottola Life Estate Preserve to cut back unwanted plants at this lovely protected property on Lopez Island that is otherwise not open to the public.

San Juan Island – The San Juan Preservation Trust is working to recover the Island Marble Butterfly, and you can help! We need dedicated, multi-year volunteers to care for specific habitat patches on San Juan Island. Register below to receive additional details, fieldwork duties, and time expectations before our March 15 Habitat Helpers training session.

Lopez Island – Our first walk will take place at the Beecher Preserve, where Land Steward Troy Buckley will guide us through trails and explore the head-scratching question: “What Good is Dead Wood?” 

San Juan Island – Before our first Bluebird Blitz of the year, join us at Red Mill Farm for an evening of Q & A about Western Bluebirds, a conservation-dependent species. Returning and new volunteers alike are encouraged to attend.

San Juan Island – Our first Bluebird Blitz of the year. As a volunteer community scientist, you’ll be assigned to an area on San Juan Island to search for Western Bluebirds to assess where they have returned from winter migration.

San Juan Island – Our second Bluebird Blitz of the year. As a volunteer community scientist, you’ll be assigned to an area on San Juan Island to search for Western Bluebirds to assess where they have returned from winter migration.

SJPT volunteer Ava Potter took first place in our Swan Count Photo Contest this year with her breathtaking shot of two swans gracefully soaring over Panorama Marsh!

Each year for the past few decades, the San Juan Preservation Trust has helped coordinate the San Juan Island region of Washington’s statewide annual wintering swan count. This year, 44 volunteers counted 87 Trumpeter Swans in the San Juan Islands! Read more about this year's Swan Count here.