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

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agroecology Farm Sustainable Agriculture

Feeding Our Community

Fred De Long / May 27, 2020

In these uncertain times, food insecurity has moved front and center as a primary issue...

food donation, food insecurity, food systems

Native Plants Stewardship wildflower meadow

Our Native Wildflower Meadow: An Example of How to Heal Nature from Home

Blake Goll / May 27, 2020

Not only are native wildflower meadows elixirs to human health, they also promote ecological health...

Native Plants, wildflower meadow

Conservation Native Plants Stewardship

Rain Gardens – Digging Deeper

Andrew Kirkpatrick / May 26, 2020

Rain gardens are popping up everywhere. You will find them on college campuses and office parks, in mall parking lots,...

Bird Conservation Bird ecology Bird Events Conservation

Video – 7 Ways to Give Traveling Birds a Boost – Flappy Hour Recap

Communications Team / May 20, 2020

On May 14th the Trusts’ Bird Conservation field team held a virtual flappy social hour. They shared short talks about ways you can support...

Nature Nature Preserves Photography

Tag the Trust, Win Some Swag!

Communications Team / May 14, 2020

CONTEST DETAILS How do I enter? -Snap a photo at of one of Willistown Conservation Trust’s three preserves Ashbridge PreserveKirkwood...

Watershed

Clean Water Science Pioneer – Ruth Patrick

Watershed Protection Team / May 13, 2020

Dr. Ruth Patrick was one of the most important scientists to study freshwater systems. She was a pioneer when it...

Bird Banding Bird Conservation Motus

Moving Targets

Communications Team / April 29, 2020

If you’ve ever run a 10K, a marathon, or a turkey trot, you’ve probably pinned a bib to your shirt...

Conservation General Nature

Seeking the Healing Power of Nature on Earth Day

Bonnie Van Alen / April 22, 2020

In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.-John Muir In 1970, millions of Americans pledged to...

Stewardship Volunteers

Stewardship Volunteer Program

Mike Cranney / April 20, 2020

We hope to resume weekly volunteer sessions at our preserves in June.

agroecology Farm Sustainable Agriculture

Plants Want to Live

Fred De Long / April 20, 2020

Plants want to live...

farm, greenhouse, regenerative farming, Rushton Farm, sustainable farming

Bird Banding Bird Conservation

How the Trust Helps Birds

Communications Team / April 20, 2020

How is a small land trust like Willistown Conservation Trust helping the global effort to help birds? Take a look...

Stewardship Watershed

Marvelous Macroinvertebrates

Watershed Protection Team / April 20, 2020

Watch this video webinar of Lauren McGrath, Director of Watershed Protection, to learn more about the secrets of stream insects...

Bird Banding Bird Conservation migration Motus

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Provides Grant to Track Species of Greatest Concern in Northeast

Bird Conservation Team / April 20, 2020

A major grant gives wings to NE Motus Collaboration.

American Kestrel, Bird banding, Conservation, Monarch butterfly, Motus Wildlife Tracking, nanotag

Nature Nature Education Rushton Nature Keepers

Nature Escapes for Kids: Create Your Own Headdress

Blake Goll / April 9, 2020

Role playing is such a wonderful way for children to mentally escape and be transported to a different time and place.

environmental education, kids and nature, nature activities, nature education, nature headdresses, nature play, rushton nature keepers

Interns, Co-Ops Watershed

Meet Our Newest Watershed Team Members

Watershed Protection Team / April 8, 2020

The Watershed Protection Program is thrilled to introduce the newest members of our team: Evan Hunt, Jules Smith and Zack...

Bird Conservation Rushton Conservation Center

Designing the Future of Motus

Bird Conservation Team / April 6, 2020

Birds are on the ropes in our rapidly changing world. One recent report suggests that North America’s bird populations have declined...

Nature Nature Education Rushton Nature Keepers

Nature Escapes for Kids: Healing Forest Art Walk

Blake Goll / March 26, 2020

"The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls. "

art and nature, forest walk, healing forest, nature activities, nature and kids, nature art, rushton nature keepers

Nature Nature Education Rushton Nature Keepers

Nature Escapes for Kids: Building Toad Abodes and Heart Space

Blake Goll / March 24, 2020

In doing something as simple as building a place for a toad to rest his head, a child is actually creating a healing space in his/her heart to return to as an adult.

children and nature, nature activities, nature education, nature play, rushton nature keepers, toad abodes