Eagle named DLT volunteer of the year

The Deschutes Land Trust - well known for the stewardship projects they conduct in Sisters Country- presented two Central Oregonians with Volunteer of the Year awards at its annual open house on October 22. Eva Eagle and Ginny Elliott were honored for their dedication to conserving land in Central Oregon.

Eva Eagle has been a DLT volunteer since 2005. For nearly 10 years she has collected and analyzed bird sightings submitted by volunteer birders on land trust protected lands. While Eva has donated hours of volunteering for other land trust efforts, the bulk of her time has been dedicated to the bird survey program - over 1,355 hours since 2005.

Some of those volunteer hours were also spent guiding hikes, helping members and visitors take a closer look at the scenic nature of Sherwood Canyon, where DLT has helped to provide a conservation easement of 550 acres on private land near Smith Rock.

Her dedicated group of bird survey volunteers conduct 60 to 80 surveys annually in the Camp Meadow Preserve, where DLT recently returned Whychus Creek to its ancestral meanderings. The survey data has been critical in monitoring wildlife, tracking the effects of large restoration projects, and helping guide management of the preserve.

As Eagle analyzed the data the volunteers provided, she said, "My first surprise was watching the bird species and interactions change as the influence of the creek changes habitat; so much so that beaver have returned to the meadow.

"My second surprise was learning how long these changes will go on, and how exciting that will be to the nature of the preserve. That's one of the things about volunteering with the land trust that is so wonderful, their dedication to the long-term management

values."

DLT Stewardship Director Amanda Egertson said, "We sincerely value Eva's long-term dedication to the bird survey program! She has helped guide its development over the years and is always sharing intriguing and useful information with us about the bird communities at our preserves."

Perhaps DLT wouldn't have had Eva as the helpful volunteer she is if it hadn't been for her mom, Jean, and big sister, Anna. Birds were always an important part of Eva's home during her growing years, and when she was enrolled as a sophomore at El Cerrito High School in California, a life-changing event

occurred.

Her science teacher, Mrs. Mikesell, gave her a challenge: locate 20 birds and write up a report on their habitat and natural history. The idea was so appealing to Eva she came back with a report on 60 local birds. And the best part is she watched all those birds with just her unaided eye; she had no binoculars until her mom gave her a pair many years

later.

"My older sister, Anna," Eva recalled, "was going to Berkeley at the time I was in high school, doing a behavioral study on the Anna's hummingbird, which I thought was so cool, and she encouraged me to take on Mrs. Mikesell's

challenge.

"I'd like to say I spend all day crunching the bird data I get from all 12 of the land trust volunteers working Camp Polk Meadow," Eva said, "but I'm so disorganized at times, I have a hard time establishing the two-hours per day I'd like to do, but I do get in 30 to 50 hours a month."

In all, volunteers donated more than 4,400 hours to the Deschutes Land Trust during the past year. In the process, they've improved wildlife habitat, sunk roots in the community and made a commitment to helping others experience the best of Central Oregon.

The Deschutes Land Trust has protected more than 8,700 acres since 1995. For more information call 541-330-0017 or visit www.deschuteslandtrust.org.