At the north end of Osoyoos Lake sits a stunning suite of properties that make up part of the Osoyoos Oxbows Important Bird Area. Located midway between Osoyoos and Oliver, these four properties contain some of the last remaining marshes in an area that was once a significant chain of wetlands.

Much of this rich wetland system has been lost to agricultural and urban development. Still, the Osoyoos Oxbows area continues to support diverse wildlife such as long-billed curlew, northern harrier, tiger salamander and numerous species of bats.

Bobolink Meadows Phase II will protect a prime example of rare valley-bottom wetland/meadow ecosystem. This acquisition will build on an existing conservation complex that includes lands owned by the Nature Conservancy of Canada and its conservation partners.

This project takes its name from the bobolink, a small songbird that undertakes the longest migration of any North American songbird, travelling some 20,000 kms to and from southern South America each year.

The Osoyoos Oxbows hosts the only breeding population of bobolinks in the Okanagan Valley, and is one of largest, most important sites for this at-risk songbird in British Columbia.

This Important Bird Area earns its designation from the diversity of bird species, including long-billed curlew, sandhill crane, red-tailed hawk and many species of waterfowl, that use these lands for breeding, nesting, hunting, and as a critical migration stopover point.

Amphibians that rely on these wetlands include tiger salamander, great basin spadefoot and turtles.

This acquisition will fill a gap between existing conservation lands, building connectivity between the Osoyoos Oxbows and the high-quality natural lands in the South Okanagan Wildlife Management Area, managed by the Province of BC.