Jim Wyse, the proprietor of Burrowing Owl Estate Winery, is an avid conservationist and environmentalist. The winery has just surpassed $1 million in contributions to conservation charitable organizations since it began raising funds by charging a tasting fee in 2004. The winery has given special support to the Burrowing Owl Conservation Society of B.C., which works to rebuild the population of burrowing owls, after which the winery is named. (File photo)
Burrowing Owl Estate Winery has now surpassed $1 million it has given to conservation charitable organizations, most notably for re-establishment of the bird the winery is named after.
As of Aug. 1, the winery had raised $1,029, 357 for the Burrowing Owl Conservation Society of B.C. (BOCSBC) as well as other organizations such as the South Okanagan Raptor Rehabilitation Centre (SORCO), the Nature Trust of British Columbia and Nature Conservancy of Canada, the winery said in a news release.
Since 2004, the winery has raised funds for conservation by charging a three dollar tasting fee to customers sampling its wines at the on-site shop.
Proceeds have been donated annually, with the BOCSBC receiving the lion’s share of the funds.
The BOCSBC has always held a special place in the heart of winery proprietor Jim Wyse.
“We’re always conscious that we really owe our success to the land we grow our grapes on,” said Wyse. “Helping this beautiful bird survive is one way we can give back to the earth for all it gives us.”
Mike Mackintosh, president of the BOCSBC, said the winery’s long-term support has given the society stability and the means to focus on rebuilding a self-sustaining population of burrowing owls in the Southern Interior grasslands.
Last Thursday the winery celebrated the achievement with a visit by Pluto, an educational ambassador burrowing owl from the society and Lauren Meads, biologist and executive director.
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