Welcome to the Willistown Conservation Trust Blog

Bird Conservation Bird ecology Birds migration

Volunteers Plant 300 Trees To Improve Ridley Creek Watershed

Lauren McGrath – October 18, 2019 –

First Birds Nanotagged at Rushton Woods Detected by Chesapeake Bay Motus Tower

Bird Conservation Team – October 14, 2019 –

Conservation Native Plants Nature Stewardship Watershed

Variety is the Essence of Life

Stewardship Team – October 7, 2019 –

Bird Conservation Bird ecology Birds Conservation migration

Using Motus and Rushton to Study the Wood Thrush

Bird Conservation Team – October 2, 2019 –

Bird Banding Bird Conservation Bird ecology Birds Conservation Land Protection Nature

Shocking Report Illustrates the Importance of Land Protection

Bonnie Van Alen – September 20, 2019 –

Conservation Native Plants Nature Stewardship Watershed

Riparian Buffer Planting – Step 3. Preserve

Stewardship Team – September 20, 2019 –

Conservation Native Plants Nature Stewardship Watershed

Riparian Buffer Planting – Step 2. Plant

Stewardship Team – September 18, 2019 –

Conservation Native Plants Stewardship Watershed

Riparian Buffer Planting – Step 1. Prepare

Stewardship Team – September 16, 2019 –

Bird Banding Bird Events migration

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

Blake Goll – September 13, 2019 –

Conservation Native Plants Stewardship Watershed

Why Riparian Buffers are So Important & How You Can Help Them

Stewardship Team – September 13, 2019 –

agroecology Farm Volunteers

The Farm Crew

Fred De Long – September 5, 2019 –

Bird Banding Bird Conservation Bird ecology Bird Events Birds

Southbound

Blake Goll – September 2, 2019 –

Getting the Band Back Together

Bird Conservation Team – August 29, 2019 –

Bird Banding Bird ecology migration

Put the Lime in the Chestnut-side

Blake Goll – September 13, 2018 – 3 Replies –

Strikingly different from the deep calico colors it flaunts during breeding season, the fall Chestnut-sided Warbler is still a...

American Redstart, Bird banding, Chestnut-sided warbler, fall migration, songbird conservation, veery, wood thrush

agroecology Bird Banding migration

You Look Like a Tall Glass of Waterthrush

Blake Goll – September 6, 2018 –

The sallow leaves fell slowly through the visible cloak of humidity, dark silhouettes of jays pierced through the gray overhead,...

Bird banding, bird migration, Carolina Wren, fall songbird migration, northern waterthrush, sustainable farming

Bird Banding Bird ecology migration

Warblers Comin' in Hot

Blake Goll – September 4, 2018 – 2 Replies –

The Rushton banding crew was back at it this morning, collecting as much data as possible before the temperature exceeded...

American Redstart, Bird banding, fall songbird migration, magnolia warbler, Rushton Woods Preserve, wood thrush

Bird Banding Bird ecology migration

If Black-throated Blues are Here, Fall is Near

Blake Goll – August 30, 2018 – 2 Replies –

Even though the autumn equinox has not yet occurred and you're still wistfully packing your bags for one last summer...

Bird banding, Black-throated Blue warbler, early successional shrub habitat, fall songbird migration, Rushton Farm

Bird banding, Connecticut Warbler, Motus Wildlife Tracking, nanotag, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Rushton Farm

A Toast to Our Birds of 2017 and the Peculiar Tower Atop the Greenhouse

Blake Goll – December 20, 2017 –

I like winter. As December rolls around and the snow sparkles and swirls outside my window, I have no choice...

Bird banding, early successional shrub habitat, fall migration, MAPS banding, stopover ecology, sustainable farming

Monitoring Songbirds On the Move: Rushton Banding Station's Eighth Autumn

Bird Conservation Team – September 11, 2017 – 1 Reply –

The last day of August was the inauguration of our eighth fall banding season at Rushton Woods Preserve. Aside from...

Bird Conservation Native Plants wildflower meadow

Inspiration From a Wildflower Meadow

Blake Goll – December 31, 2016 – 4 Replies –

The following is an excerpt taken this year from my journal, "Meadow Walking," an attempt to document the delights of our...

american goldfinch, black swallowtail, false sunflower, grass leaved goldenrod, hyssop leaved boneset, native wildflower meadow, new york ironweed, virginia cup plant

American Redstart, Bird banding, Blue-winged warbler, Chestnut-sided warbler, fall songbird migration, field thistle, White eyed Vireo

Autumn Songbird Banding at Rushton Farm – A Community Treasure

Blake Goll – September 16, 2016 – 1 Reply –

Fall has arrived, which means 20 billion birds are burning through the night sky with the big dipper at their...

Bird Banding Bird Conservation MAPS

Our Woodland Bird Nursery + Highlights from Spring Migration

Blake Goll – July 2, 2016 –

Two weeks ago the Strawberry Moon rose within the Cusp of Magic. In times past this full moon was so named because...

Bird banding, Common milkweed, Gray Catbird, MAPS banding, migration, native tree, stopover ecology

Amphibian conservation Bird ecology Phenology

Spectacular Spring Secrets

Blake Goll – March 24, 2016 – 2 Replies –

The beauty of a cloudy spring day seems to stand out against the sunshine-filled days. Calming gray skies provide depth...

American Woodcock, amphibians, Conservation, spotted salamander, spring peeper, vernal pool, wood frog

White eyed Vireo, Winter Wren

Happy New Year!

Blake Goll – December 31, 2015 –

Bottoms up! Here's to the things done and left undone in 2015, the birds that were seen and those that...

Bird Banding Bird Events Uncategorized

Songbird Banding Station Annual Open House Tomorrow + A Foreign Passerine & Rushton in the Press!

Communications Team – September 18, 2015 –

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American Redstart, Bird banding, Connecticut Warbler, fall migration

Bird Banding Uncategorized

Rushton Has Birdiest Summer in Five Years! + Making Sense of Migratory Connectivity

Communications Team – August 15, 2015 – 2 Replies –

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Bird banding, cowbirds, GPS tag, Gray Catbird, Gray-cheeked Thrush, MAPS banding, migratory connectivity, wildlife tracking technology

Bird Banding Owls Uncategorized

Spring Songbird Banding Open House May 16th!

Communications Team – May 6, 2015 –

Did you know that beauties like the stunning warbler pictured above might be gracing your backyard this spring on their...

Bird banding, Blue-gray gnatcatcher, Blue-winged warbler, Oriole, snowdrops

Warm Reflections From 2014 to Fight the February Freeze

Communications Team – February 12, 2015 – 4 Replies –

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Agroecology, Bird banding, birding, chimney swift, chimney swift tower, Monarch butterfly, native wildflowers, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Rushton Farm, tomato hornworm

Black-capped chickadee, Eastern bluebird, nature quotes, Snow geese, winterberry

Blue Feathers, Red Berries and Bright Tidings for the New Year!

Communications Team – January 3, 2015 – 1 Reply –

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Bird banding, junior birders, Northern Saw-whet Owl

Happy Owl-o-Ween!

Communications Team – October 31, 2014 – 1 Reply –

The enchanting little fuzzy phantoms that are now visiting Rushton Woods in thrilling numbers wish you a very Happy Owl-o-Ween! They...

The Spirit of Autumn

Communications Team – October 16, 2014 –

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Bird banding, fall migration, Goldfinch, habitat, native wildflower meadow, stopover ecology

Bay breasted warbler, Bird banding, migration, Yellow-throated vireo

Get Your Fill of Fall Feathers!

Communications Team – September 10, 2014 –

It's that time of year again folks! The goldenrod at Rushton is ablaze, which means that fall migration songbird banding is...