I, Garry oak, am the only native oak tree in the region surrounding SḴŦAḴ | Mayne Island. In Washington, Oregon, or California I might be called the Oregon white oak or Oregon oak, but the most common name in Canada is the one botanist David Douglas gave me. He named Read more
Islands are fascinating places. Natural isolation provides the perfect opportunity for things to get weird. I think we can all agree SḴŦAḴ | Mayne Island is unique in all kinds of ways. As a plant ecologist, one of the unique things I notice about the island is which native plants Read more
If you asked me what my biggest fear was as a kid, I probably would have said seaweed. This summer at the Mayne Island Conservancy I really had to face that fear. As Ecosystems Technician I had the honour of coordinating the kelp monitoring program on SḴŦAḴ | Mayne Island Read more
A hoary bat in flight. One of the most commonly seen bats on SḴŦAḴ | Mayne Island. What is the first thing you picture when you think of a warm summer evening in the Gulf Islands? Bats, obviously. Bundled in sweaters with tea and chocolate, we (the summer staff and Read more
Bald Eagle in a perch tree, by Kamilla Hindmarch You might walk right past it without noticing. High above the trail, at the top of the forest canopy, a jumble of sticks sits atop an old Douglas fir. The nest is so large it weighs as much as a small Read more
Photo by Donna Wood, Native Creatures Category, 2025. Calling all photography and nature enthusiasts! The Conservancy is pleased to announce our 13th Annual Nature Photography Contest, featuring plants, animals and landscape from SḴŦAḴ | Mayne Island. Share your sunset photos, “planet Earth” moments, and the beauty of the Coastal Douglas Read more
Clad in suspenders and boots, he has the build of a logger – but Tal Engel approaches the forest like a doctor in a clinic. He picks off leaves and digs handfuls of soil, looking for clues that indicate the health of the ecosystem. We invited Tal, founder of WolfTree Read more
Violet-green swallow by Kamilla Hindmarch Perhaps you are reading this article from your living room, or your garden, or while awaiting a ferry that’s running late. If you have a moment, take one minute to close your eyes and tune into the sounds in your surroundings. Each of you will Read more
As one of the Ecosystems Technicians this Summer on SḴŦAḴ | Mayne Island, I’ve spent many days in a variety of landscapes across the island. From removing Scotch broom at the height of soaring turkey vultures on Henderson Hill, to meticulously combing through herbaceous plants on my hands and knees Read more
This time of year, the Mayne Conservancy’s native plant nursery on SḴŦAḴ | Mayne Island is bursting at the seams. All spring we have been ‘potting up’ seedlings to the point where nearly every surface is covered by over 40 different species, like a forest in miniature. I often catch Read more