Midge (left) and Jim Wyse have been honoured with the BC Nature Recognition Award. At right is Doreen Olson, president of the South Okanagan Naturalists’ Club.
The South Okanagan Naturalists’ Club is pleased to announce that Midge and Jim Wyse were the recipients of this year’s BC Nature Recognition Award.
This award is presented to a person or persons from outside the federation (BC Nature) or its affiliates who has made an outstanding contribution to the knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the natural history of BC. The award was presented to the Wyses at the club’s annual picnic which was held on July 6 at the Summerland Ornamental Gardens.
BC Nature and the South Okanagan Naturalists’ Club recognize, appreciate and honour the many contributions that the Wyses have made. They are a driving force behind the Burrowing Owl Conservation Society of BC. They have been the overseers of the Oliver breeding facility, one of the three breeding facilities the society operates and maintains with the objective of reintroducing burrowing owls to the grasslands of BC. They have also been supporters of the South Okanagan Rehabilitation Centre for Owls (SORCO) assisting with the building of the new raptor rehabilitation medical clinic.
Jim was for several years a member of the board of SORCO and has been a long-term and current director of the Burrowing Owl Conservation Society of BC.
The Wyses’ dedication started several years ago in the early 1990s when they purchased an already planted vineyard on Black Sage Road near Oliver and named it “The Burrowing Owl Vineyard” after reading the nearby sign that talked about reintroduction of the locally extirpated burrowing owls (by the way, this provincial initiative failed).
Since that time Jim and Midge have become the major sponsors of the Burrowing Owl Conservation Society, donating all of the tasting fees from their wine shop to the Burrowing Owl Conservation Society. Additionally, their vineyard hosts a monitored bluebird trail and welcomes researchers. A snake smart program is in place and a xeriscape garden has been planted around the winery.
Not only are Jim and Midge major donors, and practice and demonstrate good land stewardship, they work in the field, digging artificial burrows, helping to organize fundraising events and support the many volunteers who help out at both the Burrowing Owl and SORCO facilities. They have also been enjoying hosting Meadowlark nature tours of the winery and burrowing owl breeding facility, as well as being a major sponsor of the annual festival.
Midge and Jim recognize the value of rare grassland ecosystems, not only for wildlife but also as an important value to the community and way of life. For the past five years they have been vocally supportive of the South Okanagan–Similkameen national park reserve. Jim and Midge are leaders and have made an outstanding contribution to the knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the natural history of BC and are deserving recipients of the nature award.
