What’s Inside
Week of 05/03/26: a willow ID experiment, a Western Toad field note, and a campaign update, tracking the funds raised this week.
Together, this week’s field notes point to a larger story that keeps unfolding: Bonaparte Meadows is still revealing what it holds and field teams are documenting what lives there, one observation at a time.
Flora Update
Last year, unusual willows were found at Bonaparte Meadows. One appeared to potentially be a rare species. Another appeared to be a species under review for possible special status. But willows are tricky. Without mature catkins, a positive identification is difficult.
So this spring, our campaign partner and dedicated field ecological restoration practitioner, Julie Vanderwal, tried a practical solution. She collected labeled willow cuttings from the site, along with GPS points and photos, and brought them back to her farm and native plant nursery. There, the catkins can continue to mature in water until they reach the right stage for identification.
That detail may seem small, but it says a lot about conservation work. Sometimes understanding a place begins with patience, timing, and buckets of willow cuttings.
We’re looking forward to finding out what Julie’s cuttings reveal as the catkins mature. Stay tuned for the next update from her willow ID experiment.
Fauna Update
The Western Toad is thriving at Bonaparte Meadows. Julianna Hallza found them during her recent amphibian survey. Julianna is a doctoral student at Washington State University doing amazing work at the intersection of restoration, wildlife, and climate resilience.
This week, Julie Vanderwal and Julianna captured the moment during a field visit.
As their field notes remind us, Western Toads are a Species of Greatest Conservation Need in Washington State, a priority species, and a candidate for listing as endangered, threatened, or sensitive. One of the main threats to Western Toads is the loss of upland habitat when shorelines are developed around water bodies.
Campaign Update: Donations Raised
This week, supporters helped move the Bonaparte Meadows campaign forward with $1,322.00 raised toward protecting this rare peatland and the larger landscape around it.
Thank you to everyone who has given, shared the campaign, asked questions, or helped spread the word. Each action helps build momentum for protecting Bonaparte Meadows while we still can.
Thank you for exploring with us. We’ll keep sharing what the field notes reveal as this work continues. For the Fen!
Click here to learn more about Bonaparte Meadows.
