News, ideas, questions, and observations from Willistown Conservation Trust Staff as we use local conservation to make a broad impact.

Nature Preserves Rushton Conservation Center Stewardship Trails

It’s a Wrap for the Campaign for Rushton Woods!

Communications Team / January 31, 2023

In 2018 Willistown Conservation Trust embarked upon an ambitious $2 million fundraising campaign. Named the “Campaign for Rushton Woods,” the...

Conservation Stewardship

Request for Proposal | Rushton Woods Preserve

Andrew Kirkpatrick / January 25, 2023

ProjectWillistown Conservation Trust is seeking proposals for the design, permitting, and construction of a bioretention basin with level spreader and...

Watershed

Watershed Holiday Gift Guide

Watershed Protection Team / December 20, 2022

Check out some of our favorite watershed-themed gifts by clicking the photos to shop! And don't forget to shop local!...

Education Watershed

Help Keep our Drinking Water Clean by Reducing Salt Pollution

Anna Willig / December 15, 2022

By WCT Conservation Research and Data Specialist Anna WilligCover Photo by Jennifer Mathes Salt levels, often measured as chloride concentration,...

Conservation Nature Science Volunteers Watershed

Capturing a Snapshot of Darby Creek

Anna Willig / December 7, 2022

By WCT Conservation Research and Data Specialist Anna Willig At the beginning of November, the Watershed Protection Program at Willistown...

Rushton Conservation Center Sustainable Agriculture Volunteers

Market in the Meadow Vegetarian Chili Recipe

Communications Team / December 6, 2022

This recipe comes from What's Gaby Cooking. You all loved our Vegetarian Chili from Market in the Meadow, so we...

Bird Banding Bird Conservation Conservation Nature Staff

My Conservation Journey: A Tale of Two Countries

Bird Conservation Team / December 1, 2022

By WCT Bird Conservation Associate Phillys N. Gichuru My first memorable conservation experience was when, as an undergrad, my population...

Education Science Staff Volunteers Watershed

Fish Shocking

Lauren McGrath / November 29, 2022

On Saturday, October 22, the Watershed Protection Program joined scientists from the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University’s Fisheries...

Conservation Land Protection Nature Preserves Stewardship Trails

Chester County Commissioners, PA DCNR, Willistown Conservation Trust, and Willistown Township Celebrate 12-Acre Addition to Kirkwood Preserve

Monica McQuail / November 2, 2022

Photo from L to R: Julie Graham (WCT), Drew Gilchrist (PA DCNR), Judy Thomas (Chester County Parks & Preservation), Jeanne...

Staff

Your Voice is Valued! Help us Complete Our DEI Audit so Our Organization can Improve its Practices

Communications Team / October 31, 2022

In 2020 Willistown Conservation Trust made a renewed commitment to its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) efforts. As our society...

Conservation Education Land Protection

2022 Lenape Sojourn

Lauren McGrath / September 29, 2022

By Watershed Protection Program Director Lauren McGrath; Photos by Kate Etherington On August 16, 2022, Executive Director Kate Etherington and...

Education Science Watershed

State of Our Streams Report Chapter 4: Alkalinity and Hardness

Watershed Protection Team / August 24, 2022

By Anna Willig and Lauren McGrath | Willistown Conservation Trust Watershed Protection Program Cover Photo by Jennifer Mathes Since 2018, the...

Education Science Watershed

State of Our Streams Report Chapter 3: Specific Conductivity, Chloride, and Nutrients

CommIntern / August 17, 2022

By Anna Willig and Lauren McGrath | Willistown Conservation Trust Watershed Protection Program Cover Photo by Jennifer Mathes Since 2018, the...

Science Watershed

State of Our Streams Report Chapter 2: Physical Stream Parameters

Watershed Protection Team / August 10, 2022

By Anna Willig and Lauren McGrath | Willistown Conservation Trust Watershed Protection Program Cover Photo by the Watershed Protection Team Since...

Science Watershed

State of Our Streams Report Chapter 1: Introduction and Basic Stream Parameters

Watershed Protection Team / August 3, 2022

By Anna Willig and Lauren McGrath | Willistown Conservation Trust Watershed Protection Program Cover Photo by Jennifer Mathes The focus...

Bird Banding Bird Conservation Farm

Rushton Farm’s First Purple Martins

Aaron Coolman / July 28, 2022

Purple Martins at the Rushton Farm hotel this spring. Photo by Aaron Coolman Eight years ago, our Bird Conservation Program...

Nature Science Watershed

Project Plastic and the Hunt for Microplastics

Watershed Protection Team / July 27, 2022

By Amy Amatya of Project Plastic Some of the greatest challenges humanity faces today — pandemics, climate change, water contamination...

Plastic Free July

Plastic Free July Local Lessons from The Przybylowski Family

Communications Team / July 22, 2022

During this year’s Plastic Free July, the Trust is committing to going plastic free and highlighting tips and tricks to...

Education Plastic Free July Watershed

Microplastics: The ever present contaminant

Watershed Protection Team / July 20, 2022

By Watershed Protection Program Co-Op Vincent Liu Large-scale plastic production has been around since the 1950s, and while plastics existed...

Education Plastic Free July

Reducing Single-Use Plastics | What You Can Do to Help

CommIntern / July 14, 2022

By Outreach & Communications Intern Niya Moss Most people find single-use plastics simple and convenient, but there are alternative, more...

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Bird Events

Attracting Bluebirds to Your Backyard – Spots Left For Wednesday's Program!

wctbirds / March 12, 2012

Spring is in the air and bluebirds are checking out the real estate! The Trust is starting a nest box...

Bluebird Society of PA, Eastern bluebird, monitoring bluebirds

Bird Events

Attracting Bluebirds to Your Backyard – Spots Left For Wednesday’s Program!

Communications Team / March 12, 2012 / 2 Replies

Spring is in the air and bluebirds are checking out the real estate! The Trust is starting a nest box...

Bluebird Society of PA, Eastern bluebird, monitoring bluebirds

Bird Events

Reminder to PA Young Birders- Change of dates

Communications Team / February 17, 2012

Greetings Jr. Birders! I just wanted to remind you that since this is a holiday weekend and many little birders...

Bluebird, Great Backyard Bird Count, House Finch, PA Young Birders, Robin

Bird Events

Valentine's Day Fun: What Men Can Learn from Avian Romance

wctbirds / February 15, 2012

The natural world is filled with romance, beauty and enchantment, and every day seems to be Valentine's Day outside if you...

ABA, Emperor Penguins, Great Backyard Bird Count, Hooded Merganser, Jane Austen, Red-capped manakin, Valentine's Day, Western Grebe

Bird Events

Valentine’s Day Fun: What Men Can Learn from Avian Romance

Communications Team / February 15, 2012 / 1 Reply

The natural world is filled with romance, beauty and enchantment, and every day seems to be Valentine's Day outside if you...

ABA, Emperor Penguins, Great Backyard Bird Count, Hooded Merganser, Jane Austen, Red-capped manakin, Valentine's Day, Western Grebe

Bird Events

Yellow Diamonds in Snow

Communications Team / February 3, 2012 / 5 Replies

We arrived in Cumberland County last Saturday just after 2 pm. The sky was overcast but the sun still managed...

Bufflehead, Cumberland County Snowy Owl, Great Backyard Bird Count, PA Young Birders, Townsend's Warbler, Willistown Conservation Trust, Woodcock

Bird Events

Willistown Winter Family Bird Walk Tomorrow Morning

Communications Team / January 27, 2012 / 2 Replies

Please join us tomorrow morning (January 28) from 8- 11am at Rushton Woods Preserve for some wonderful winter birding! ...

birding, Cumberland County, Prairie Falcon, Snowy Owl, Townsend's Warbler, Willistown Conservation Trust

Owls

Another Chance to See a Snowy Owl!

Communications Team / January 13, 2012 / 1 Reply

Hi Folks! Just a quick, timely update on the status of the Snowy Owls I spoke of in previous posts......

American Kestrel, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Owl art, Purple Martin, Snowy Owl, Willistown Conservation Trust

Bird Banding Owls

A Little Inspiration and Hope for the New Year

Communications Team / December 28, 2011

The inspiration: This lovely video from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, capturing the joy of birds and the natural world....

Cardinal, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Nuthatch, Snowy Owl

Owls

Last Minute Gift Ideas for the Nature Lover on Your List!

Communications Team / December 20, 2011 / 1 Reply

Christmas is quickly creeping up on us, and if you're like me, you're not finished shopping for everyone on your...

Bird books, Nature books

Bird Banding Owls

Giving Thanks for the Owls of 2011

Communications Team / December 9, 2011 / 4 Replies

Our banding station is officially closed for the year (both songbirds and owls), which means it's time for us banders...

ageing birds, Audubon, bird art, birding, Christmas Bird Count, molt, Northern Saw-whet Owl, PA Young Birders, Snowy Owl

Bird Banding Bird Events Owls

Songbird Banding Comes to a Close and Saw-whet Owl Movement is Sluggish

Communications Team / November 17, 2011 / 2 Replies

"These were, perhaps, the original poetry... ...in tune with the lift and fall of the seasons, returning from nowhere, or...

Bird banding, dark-eyed junco, magnolia warbler, marcellus shale, Ned Smith Center, Northern Saw-whet Owl, oil and gas development, Owl banding, PA Young Birders, rufous hummingbird

Bird Banding Bird Events Owls

Last Days of October Produced The Season's First Juncos, First Snowfall, and A Bunch of Halloween Owls

wctbirds / November 3, 2011

I haven't brought you up to date on last week or this week yet because it has been pretty hectic...

Bird banding, bird migration, Brown Creeper, Hermit Thrush, Northern Saw-whet Owl, PA Young Birders, Palm warbler, White-throated sparrow

Bird Banding Bird Events Owls

Last Days of October Produced The Season’s First Juncos, First Snowfall, and A Bunch of Halloween Owls

Communications Team / November 3, 2011

I haven't brought you up to date on last week or this week yet because it has been pretty hectic...

Bird banding, bird migration, Brown Creeper, Hermit Thrush, Northern Saw-whet Owl, PA Young Birders, Palm warbler, White-throated sparrow

Bird Banding Bird Events Owls

Final Fall Fallout of Migratory Songbirds & Our First Saw-whet Owl of the Season!

wctbirds / October 22, 2011

Last Friday (10-14), we banded 56 birds to the delight of my adult class (age 50+) from Widener's Osher Lifelong...

Bird banding, kinglet, Nashville warbler, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Owl banding, Palm warbler, Sharp-shinned hawk

Bird Banding Bird Events Owls

Final Fall Fallout of Migratory Songbirds & Our First Saw-whet Owl of the Season!

Communications Team / October 22, 2011

Last Friday (10-14), we banded 56 birds to the delight of my adult class (age 50+) from Widener's Osher Lifelong...

Bird banding, kinglet, Nashville warbler, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Owl banding, Palm warbler, Sharp-shinned hawk

Bird Banding Bird Events Owls

Rushton Migration Minutes: An Unexpected Second Wave of Warblers Preceded the Sparrow Surge Last Week… and One of Our Banded Owls Appeared In Quebec!

Communications Team / October 13, 2011

“Bird Migration is the world’s only true unifying natural phenomenon, stitching the continents together in a way that even the...

Bird banding, Blackpoll warbler, Brown Creeper, Field sparrow, kinglet, Lincoln's sparrow, Saw-whet owl, Tennessee warbler

Bird Events

Something Birdy to Do this Weekend

Communications Team / October 5, 2011

I don't like to crowd your inbox with more than one post per week, but I just found out about...

Bird Banding Bird Events Owls

Last Week of September Brings a Major Migratory Shift

Communications Team / October 4, 2011

Even with the warm, muggy weather of last week, we still noticed a major shift in Rushton's migratory visitors. The...

Eastern Phoebe, Gray-cheeked Thrush, Great Horned Owl, Grosbeak, Hawk Mountain, PA Young Birders, Saw-whet Owls, The Big Year, Turkey Vulture, White-throated sparrow

Bird Banding Bird Events Owls

Screech Owl Steals the Stage and Compost Pile Attracts a Pile of Birds!

Communications Team / September 23, 2011

Hello Everyone, Here is our banding update for the past 2 weeks of Fall Migration Banding thus far. Sorry...

Bird banding, Black-throated Blue warbler, Canada warbler, compost, Connecticut Warbler, Field sparrow, New York Times, PA Young Birders, Screech Owl, woodpecker

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