As the summer field season wraps up, Land Stewardship Technician Michaela Dupuis took some time out of her busy schedule to share about the work she has done with Kawartha Land Trust (KLT) and some of her favorite moments on the land she loves.
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The work I have completed this summer as a Land Stewardship Technician with Kawartha Land Trust has fulfilled everything I hoped for from this role. The majority of my days were spent out in the field, which is more than fine by me. There’s nothing like a job that doesn’t feel like a job — but instead feels like you’re contributing to something really good at the end of each work day.
My core work tasks included clearing trails and installing signs, while important tasks like managing invasive species and seed collection were also a part of my days. As we all know, the ice storm in March caused lots of damage and downed trees, so I spent many field days assisting Ashley, KLT’s Land Stewardship Coordinator, and Hayden, KLT’s Land Stewardship Manager, with clearing trails along with the help of amazing volunteers.
Other important tasks included mowing trails, hanging signs, and marking trails. My favourite part about working on trails is knowing someone is going to be able to enjoy the property better because of our hard work.
One of my favourite days in the field was with Aaron Pinfold, KLT’s Conservation Data & GIS Technician. We went to a KLT’s Partners in Conservation member’s property, an island, for a bird survey. The diversity of birds increased as we went deeper into the forest, which is where we stumbled upon a Red-eyed Vireo nest with an adorable nestling. We also saw a huge Raven that was hopping from log to log for hours. It was also my first time seeing an American Woodcock!
We also saw lots of other unique species and ecological features. Forest floors littered with Wintergreen and Bearberry. Clouds of Reindeer lichen. Quartz poking out of the moss-covered rocks. Lowbush Blueberry for days. A beautiful Polyphemous Moth that we saw fluttering in the underbrush of Sarsaparilla. A peaceful nesting Loon in a quiet bay. It was a good day, and I wouldn’t have had the opportunity if not for my work with Kawartha Land Trust.
The conservation and protection of natural lands is important to me because it’s the right thing to do. Every land stewardship task made me feel like I’m contributing to the fight against global events like species loss and climate change. It feels like you’re a part of something big and crucially important. All of these species that we love should be respected and protected — and I think protecting their land against further threats is a good place to start.
Positive human-nature interactions are really important. Protected spaces like Kawartha Land Trust’s public properties allow more nature appreciation and connection, and I’ll always enjoy work that supports that.
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We’re extremely grateful to Michaela for her contributions and stewardship of our protected lands. Thank you, Michaela!
Michaela’s position was made possible through funding provided by Ampere, the Ministry of Natural Resources, and the Trans Canada Trail Youth Employment Program. We extend our thanks to these organizations for supporting land care initiatives and trail maintenance for our community trails.
Photo: Michaela Dupuis along the shoreline at the Hammer Family Nature Preserve.
