The Nicola Naturalist Society undertakes environmental stewardship and monitoring projects within the Merritt/Nicola area.
Sandhill Crane Monitoring
The Douglas Lake Plateau is a key stop-over for Sandhill Cranes migrating through the BC Interior. For several years our club has been tallying cranes on their spring migration, and in 2024 and 2025 we did daily surveys to get the first accurate measures of how many cranes are using the wetlands and hayfields on their spring migration. For more information and lots of photos click here: Crane Monitoring
Spadefoot Monitoring 2022-2026
Our club is monitoring and mapping Great Basin Spadefoots (Spea intermontana) in the grassland of the Nicola Valley and Douglas Lake Plateau. This area is one of the key breeding areas in Canada for this small Threatened amphibian. More information here: Spadefoot project 2022-2026
Douglas Lake Plateau IBA
Along with the Kamloops Naturalists, the Nicola Naturalist Society is responsible for reporting on the Douglas Lake Plateau Important Bird Area (IBA). More information on this ongoing project can be found on our Douglas Lake Plateau IBA page.
Bioblitzes
Starting in 2023 our club is undertaking bioblitzes in key locations. Our first was a mini-bioblitz to get us up to speed, on a property in Coutlee, just outside Merritt, which is planned for re-wilding. More on that project here: Coutlee 2023 Bioblitz
Merritt/Nicola 2011-2015 Amphibian Monitoring Project
Under the guidance of Dr. Kristiina Ovaska, a herpetologist from Biolinx Environmental Research Ltd. in Victoria, the NNS completed a multi-year amphibian monitoring project. More information on this important project can be found on our Amphibian Monitoring Project page, including downloads of the project reports.
Butterflies of the BC Interior
Bob Scafe, Nicola Naturalist director and prolific nature photographer, has put together photos and notes of some common butterflies (and a moth) to be found in and around Merritt. This is an ongoing project which will get more species added over the months ahead. Check it out here: Butterfly and moths – series 1
Or if the species is not found in the first series try Butterflies and moths – series 2
