Isabel Priestly would be proud.
Although the Yorkton, Sask., woman never saw the formal creation of Nature Saskatchewan, she was key to its inception.
Priestly began publishing the Blue Jay, an informal newsletter designed for people to share their interest in nature and record their observations, in 1942.
It was mimeographed in the medical office of doctors Clarence and Sigga Houston and distributed to like-minded naturalists.
When Priestly died unexpectedly in 1946, someone had to take over. The Yorkton Natural History Society carried on for two years, but then decided to discontinue the newsletter.
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The news was not well received and in January 1949 a group including Dr. Stuart Houston, son of Clarence and Sigga and still an active member, formed the Saskatchewan Natural History Society.
This year, the organization now known as Nature Saskatchewan celebrates 60 years and the Blue Jay is still publishing.
“We’re probably the oldest,” said acting general manager Gary Seib of Nature Saskatchewan’s place among similar groups in the province.
“We’re broader than some in that we focus on nature appreciation.”
It’s also the largest non-profit naturalist organization in Saskatchewan, with 1,300 members and 13 local affiliates actively promoting the natural world, educating its human inhabitants and protecting birds, animals, plants and habitat.
A good number will gather the last weekend in May for the organization’s annual spring meet and the official 60th anniversary celebration. Artist and naturalist Robert Bateman speaks at a gala dinner in Regina May 29.
Seib said the funds raised at this event will go toward a five-year, $250,000 goal to keep the Last Mountain Bird Observatory operating.
The observatory is located near Canada’s first bird sanctuary, established on Last Mountain Lake in 1887.
Previously operated in partnership with Environment Canada, it is now the sole responsibility of Nature Saskatchewan.
Seib said the observatory is a great place for people to practise “citizen science.”
Since 1989, volunteers have banded more than 58,000 birds of 110 different species, catching them in mist nets draped across the trees. Most are migrating birds and they come from as far away as the Northwest Territories and the northern parts of the western provinces.
New feather analysis technology can tell researchers where the birds spent their summers, Seib said.
“You just have to steal a tail feather.”
The organization maintains other nature sanctuaries and while it encourages land protection, it owns little.
“It is not in our mandate to acquire land,” Seib said. “We don’t see ourselves being in the business of being landowners.”
Nature Saskatchewan operates several voluntary stewardship programs, including Operation Burrowing Owl, Rare Plant Rescue, Shrubs for Shrikes and Plovers on Shore.
Plantwatch is a national project to keep track of the first blooming day of 16 different plant species. Results show that plants are blooming about a week earlier than they used to, indicating climate change.
Members hear from the organization through various newsletters, and the Blue Jay, eight times a year.
Nature Saskatchewan has a significant publishing arm. One of the recent standouts is the 2007 publication of The Great Sand Hills: A Prairie Oasis, which won several awards.
A current project is a two-volume Birds of Saskatchewan reference set. Seib said the first volume should be available next year, with the second a year or so after that.
These books will highlight Saskatchewan’s unique place in bird history.
“Birds are named where they’re first described to science,” Seib explained.
“The largest number is in New Jersey. Saskatchewan has the second largest number.”
For example, Sir John Richardson first described and named the Trumpeter Swan in the province. On May 14, 1827, at Fort Carlton, he collected the world’s first specimen of the Clay-coloured Sparrow. And, he was among the first to describe the Yellow-headed Blackbird, Seib said, although he called it Saffron-headed Maize-bird.
Seib added that membership, as with many organizations, is declining. It used to be more than half rural but is now more urban.
At the same time, he has noticed resurgent interest by young people who want to understand and appreciate the natural world.
More information can be found at www.naturesask.ca.
