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

agroecology Farm Native Plants Nature Science

The Bees of Rushton Farm: A Pollinator Perspective on Willistown Conservation Trust & Environmental Education

Benjamin Reynard / February 13, 2021

One Sunny midsummer day in 2012 on Rushton Farm, the bees decided to swarm. Noah, a certified apiarist--and the sustainable...

Bird Conservation Conservation Flappy Hour

Flappy Hour: Black Vultures in the Backyard

Kelsey Lingle / January 15, 2021

We are excited to welcome Bracken Brown, Biologist-Naturalist at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, to join us and discuss the Black Vulture....

Conservation Lunch & Learn Science Watershed

Road Salt and Its Impact on Fresh Water

Evan Hunt / January 12, 2021

As winter quickly approaches so does the threat of salt pollution. Since the 1940s, salt has been the number one...

Stewardship

Winter Solstice

Andrew Kirkpatrick / December 21, 2020

Solar system planets set. The Sun and planets in a row on the universe stars background. Elements of this image...

Bird Banding Bird Conservation

Celebrating 11 Years of Bird Banding at Rushton Woods Preserve

Blake Goll / December 16, 2020

Established in 2009 with a grant from the Delaware Valley Ornithological Club (DVOC), our banding station has been a huge success over the years...

Bird banding, bird banding data, bird migration

Uncategorized

A New Path Forward – Our Statement on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Communications Team / December 4, 2020

Dear Friends, It has been nearly six months since I wrote to you about the tragic death of George Floyd...

Uncategorized

Giving Thanks to the Okehocking People

Mike Cranney / November 23, 2020

With Thanksgiving approaching, it is an appropriate time to reflect upon our connection with the indigenous people who first lived...

Uncategorized

Flappy Hour: Secrets of the Saw-whet Owl

Communications Team / November 13, 2020

The Trust has been studying the populations of this small migratory owl for the past 10 years as part of...

Conservation Land Protection Nature Preserves Trails

Kirkwood Sign Dedication

Erik Hetzel / November 4, 2020

Fifteen years ago, the 83-acre Kirkwood Preserve was established thanks to a public/private partnership that included Willistown Conservation Trust, Willistown...

agroecology Farm

The Old Salt

Fred De Long / October 29, 2020

Noah and I have learned a lot from the “old salts” who entertained us as we grew up. We have also learned a lot about each other after twenty years in the field.

Uncategorized

Help Us Meet the Challenge!

Chelsea Heck / October 29, 2020

Are you a friend of the Trust but have never donated or have you supported the Trust in the past...

Nature Science Watershed

From Tops of Trees to the Base of the Food Chain

Lauren McGrath / October 13, 2020

There is a chill in the air and the leaves are starting to turn, signaling that fall is here! Have...

Bird Banding Bird Conservation Bird Events Flappy Hour Motus Nature at Night Uncategorized

Nature at Night: Flappy Hour, Using Motus to Track the Flight Path of an Avian Biologist

Communications Team / October 9, 2020

Meet Shelly Eshleman, our newest Motus team member and bird conservation biologist as she describes her path to working for...

Farm General Nature Preserves Sustainable Agriculture Trails Uncategorized

Join Us for a Pop-Up Picnic Dinner to Help Kick Off Art on the Trails

Kelsey Lingle / October 8, 2020

A week-long event Art on the Trails: Preserve Gallery Walk with a pop-up picnic dinner on the lawn at the Rushton Conservation...

Nature Nature Preserves Stewardship Trails

Trails Workshops (Part 1 & 2)

Communications Team / September 28, 2020

Do you love trails? We do! Willistown Conservation Trust is offering virtual trails workshops! Hosted by Andrew Kirkpatrick, Director of...

Nature Stewardship Tree Planting

Mapping the Ashbridge Tree Planting

Evan Hunt / September 23, 2020

The most important part of a tree planting usually comes after the trees are in the ground. Recently planted trees...

Conservation Land Protection Nature

Legacy of the Land: A History of Land Conservation in Willistown

Communications Team / September 23, 2020

Trust’s Executive Director and co-founder Bonnie Van Alen, co-founder Alice Hausmann, and Director of Land Protection Erik Hetzel, discuss the...

Nature Nature Preserves Stewardship Trails Volunteers

History of the Trails Team

Communications Team / September 23, 2020

Besides its abundance of over 7,500 acres of countryside permanently protected from development, Willistown has long been known for its...

Conservation Land Protection Uncategorized

Fifteen More Acres Protected Forever!

Communications Team / September 22, 2020

The final conservation chapter to the 15-acre Stonehedge Farm at Plumsock and Goshen Roads in Willistown has finally concluded. The...

Bird Banding Bird Conservation Bird ecology

The Wings of Change

Blake Goll / September 19, 2020

Our banding station has been operating for fall migration for the past three weeks, and change is evident...

Bird banding, Connecticut Warbler, fall migration, land conservation, migration

{"dots":"true","arrows":"true","autoplay":"true","autoplay_interval":3000,"speed":600,"loop":"true","design":"design-1"}

Bird Banding Bird Conservation Bird Events Conservation Motus Nature Owls

Unraveling the Mysteries of Migration with Motus Technology

Kelsey Lingle / September 14, 2020

Since 2017 the Trust’s Bird Conservation Team along with its partners (the Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art, Project...

Uncategorized

Conservation Celebration September 21 – 25

jspragins / September 14, 2020

A week of celebrating the many groups that support the important work at the Trust. Be on the lookout for...

Farm Interns, Co-Ops Sustainable Agriculture

The Wonder Twins

Fred De Long / August 28, 2020

It was a warm day in mid-June and summer was right around the corner when Abby and Anna showed up to volunteer at Rushton Farm.

Academic Partners Interns, Co-Ops Watershed

Watershed Department Bids Farewell to Drexel Co-ops

Lauren McGrath / August 28, 2020

"When my co-op at Willistown Conservation Trust began at the beginning of April, I had no idea what to expect but the past few months have been nothing short of spectacular." ~Jules Smith

co-op, Drexel University, watershed protection

Native Plants native wildflower meadow Stewardship

Planting in Fall

Mike Cranney / August 27, 2020

The most significant benefit of planting in the fall is the jump-start it gives plants to get their roots established.

Fall planting, Native Plants

Lunch & Learn Nature Education

“The Secret Life of the Skunk”

Communications Team / August 25, 2020

Kate Garchinsky reads “The Secret Life of the Skunk” by Laurence Pringle. Kate is the talented artist of this book...

Bird Conservation Motus

Motus Wildlife Tracking System – A Tutorial

Bird Conservation Team / August 10, 2020

Learn about the Motus Wildlife tracking system by watching this slideshow. You'll learn about the technology, the network, and its...

Farm Tomato Tasting

Tomato Tasting Recipes

Kelsey Lingle / July 22, 2020

This year would have been our 12th annual Tomato Tasting event at Rushton Farm. Our farm is still beaming with...

Conservation Watershed

How to Safely Pick Up Plastic Litter

Lauren McGrath / July 21, 2020

It is that time of year again – Plastic Free July! In case you missed our previous blog posts on...

Conservation Watershed

Plastic Free July Tips

Lauren McGrath / July 14, 2020

Welcome to another year of Plastic Free July! To say that this year is a little unusual would be an...

Bird Conservation Bird Events Nature

Nesting Birds in Your Yard

Communications Team / July 9, 2020

Did you notice more birds than usual this spring around your yard? Watch the video of this this virtual event...

Conservation Watershed

Plastic Free July in the Age of COVID-19

Watershed Protection Team / July 2, 2020

As we launch into Plastic Free July, we find it particularly challenging in the presence of COVID-19, when retailers seem...

clean water, ecology, environment, plastic free, pollution

agroecology Farm Sustainable Agriculture

Why Donating is Important

Fred De Long / June 29, 2020

A farmer’s primary job is to provide. Provide not just to those who can afford food, but those who cannot.

Nature Preserves Stewardship Volunteers

Stewardship Volunteer Program – Update!

Mike Cranney / June 29, 2020

Set up a time with our Stewardship Team to come out and safely volunteer at our preserves!

Nature

Fireflies, Moths, and Your Yard in the Dark

Communications Team / June 25, 2020

If you missed our Fireflies, Moths, and Your Yard in the Dark presentation, watch the video to learn about our...

Native Plants

Native Plants for Your Landscape

jspragins / June 19, 2020

Learn what native plants will thrive in your garden. Whether it’s a meadow, a rain garden, a woodland shade garden...

Bird Conservation Bird ecology

The Bluebird Keeper

Blake Goll / June 18, 2020

“I have the ability to look at a piece of wood and say I can do this or that with...

agroecology Farm Nature Preserves

Rejuvenation at Rushton Farm!

Communications Team / June 12, 2020

Rejoice with the Staff at Rushton Farm as we celebrate the start to a new season. Hear first hand from...

Conservation General

Troubled Times – Striving for a Better Future

Communications Team / June 10, 2020

Dear Friends, In the aftermath of the horrific murder of George Floyd, my heart aches for his family, for the...

Bird Conservation Bird ecology Photography

Meet Brian Storey, the Bird Chasing Shutterbug Chef

Communications Team / June 1, 2020

How did a professional chef become an avid bird watching photographer? How did the pandemic fuel Brian's passion for birds?...

« Previous 1 2 3 4 … 12 Next »

Upcoming Events

CONSERVE. INSPIRE. RESTORE. DONATE.