Trust’s Executive Director and co-founder Bonnie Van Alen, co-founder Alice Hausmann, and Director of Land Protection Erik Hetzel, discuss the history of land protection in our region. Bonnie, Alice, and Erik explore the history of our land and early days of conservation, including the founding of Willistown Conservation Trust. You will also learn more about conservation easements that have helped lead to the protection of more than 7,500 acres in the Willistown region, and ways you can contribute to land conservation in your own backyard.
History of the Trails Team
Besides its abundance of over 7,500 acres of countryside permanently protected from development, Willistown has long been known for its lovely network of trails, consisting of both eased (permanently protected) and uneased equestrian and pedestrian trails. In October of 2012, the “Willistown Trails Team” was formally created as a subcommittee of the Trust’s Land Protection committee.
The Team’s purpose
With the support of the community, the Trails Team Subcommittee is committed to assuring the ultimate connectivity and preservation of our precious trail network. Its goals are to:
(1) identify and map critical equestrian and pedestrian trail corridors within the Trust’s program area
(2) develop strategies for acquiring trail easements on currently unprotected trails
(3) coordinate with landowners to improve access to, and maintenance of, both protected and unprotected trails.
The Trails Team continues the good work of the Willistown Area Trails Association (WATA) and is staffed by volunteers who are a hardworking group of land conservation advocates, fox hunters, recreational riders, and outdoor lovers.
Unraveling the Mysteries of Migration with Motus Technology
Since 2017 the Trust’s Bird Conservation Team along with its partners (the Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art, Project Owlnet, and the Carnegie Museum of Natural History’s Powdermill Nature Reserve) has been working tirelessly to establish what is now the world’s second largest array of the Motus Wildlife Tracking System’s automated radio telemetry stations. Motus is a collaborative research project that uses a network of receiving stations to track the movements of birds and other small flying animals tagged with miniature radio transmitters. This cutting-edge technology has transformed our knowledge of bird migration. Watch this fascinating presentation from the Trust’s Bird Conservation Team to hear what researchers have begun to learn and how these discoveries can be shared to help further bird conservation in your community. Recorded on September 10, 2020.
Nesting Birds in Your Yard
Did you notice more birds than usual this spring around your yard? Watch the video of this this virtual event held on July 7, 2020. Our Bird Box Team discussed the birds you might have seen nesting around your yard this summer and covered the basics of bluebird box monitoring and maintenance. We also had a special guest and bluebird expert, Ken Leister.
Photo by Mimi Davis
Photos by Blake Goll/Staff.
Fireflies, Moths, and Your Yard in the Dark
If you missed our Fireflies, Moths, and Your Yard in the Dark presentation, watch the video to learn about our only bioluminescent beetle, the firefly, and how you can help these and other insects that enchant the night. Presentation by Blake Goll, Education Programs Manager on June 24, 2020.
Blake mentioned some fun and informative online resources and books during her program. Here they are if you missed them and would like to continue to learn about fireflies.
Silent Sparks This is the website for the book by Sara Lewis: it contains great information about fireflies including videos and even a TED talk to help you learn more about the fascinating world of fireflies.
Firefly Watch Get involved counting fireflies in your yard for citizen science! Also see live distribution maps of firefly activity.
Butterflies and Moths of North America Participate in citizen science by observing moths in your yard at night. Also use this database for researching moths in your area including their host plants!
Blake’s Favorite Books
Silent Sparks by Sara Lewis
For kids:
Sam and the Firefly by P.D. Eastman
The Very Lonely Firefly by Eric Carle
The Very Quiet Cricket by Eric Carle
For learning about singing insects of the night:
The Songs of Insects by Lang Elliott
Cricket Radio by John Himmelman
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