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Surveying Kestrel Hill: A Summer of Wildlife and Restoration

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By: Ian Salisbury, Stewardship Intern

This past summer, I had the privilege of being the Stewardship Intern here at Willistown Conservation Trust. I worked with the Stewardship department to maintain all five of our nature preserves, while learning the techniques and protocols to do so. When managing land, you are pulled in many directions – there is no way to predict how one day or another is going to go. For instance, when we have storms, trees fall, and anything else you were planning on doing has to get pushed off until the downed tree is dealt with. Consequently, there is very limited time to observe how nature is interacting with the land you are managing. This is why, as an intern, I wanted to complete a project involving surveying. Surveying is the act of making observations in a planned and organized manner so as to collect the most reliable data possible. This data is then used to influence decision making.  

To conduct my surveys, I chose Kestrel Hill Preserve, the newest preserve owned by WCT. Observations here are vital in creating an accurate management plan that is tailored to a specific land area. I collected data on woody plants, birds, insects/pollinators, and mammals living within the Preserve, which contains grasslands, meadows, and forest with tributaries that lead to nearby creeks and streams. Much of the land was previously used as agricultural fields with an annual crop rotation of corn and soybeans. This land use history highlights the importance of proper management to help restore the land back to native habitat, only possible with a comprehensive management plan.  

By surveying, you gain an understanding of how the ecosystem is truly functioning, and what constitutes the habitat. Most ecological surveys begin by first designating an area to study. It is unrealistic to expect that we could observe everything that is happening on an entire preserve at any given time, so we make zones or transects (specifically measured areas, often boxes in a grid pattern, depending on the terrain and needs of the survey) to help get a representative sample of the site. After determining what details and information should be recorded, we finally conduct the survey. This can be done just once, weekly, biweekly, annually, etc. – as long as you feel it is necessary to collect good data.  

The best data I collected was from trail cameras during my mammal surveys. Capturing eastern coyotes (Canis latrans), red fox (Vulpes Vulpes), Virginia opossums (Didelphis virginiana), lots of raccoons (Procyon lotor), and white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), was absolutely the highlight of this project. When surveying mammals, it is a common practice to track and record the presence of various predatory species because their presence is directly correlated to the number of prey species present in the ecosystem. While prey species are hard to observe, they are important to understanding the impact we are having on our preserves. Mammalian prey species, mainly small rodents, rely on the plants in their environment. By planting native plant species and removing invasives, we are directly benefiting both the predators and their prey.  

I also conducted pollinator surveys that showed how the newly restored meadow and grasslands are already helping our beneficial insect populations grow by providing nectar sources and host plants for young to feed on. I was able to observe a variety of swallowtails, skippers, and other beautiful native butterflies, as well as multiple native bee species, many of which are declining in population. The grassland is particularly worth noting because many of the species of skippers rely on native grasses to lay eggs on and for their caterpillars to feed on. Caterpillars and other insects are also vital food sources for both migrant and resident bird species. While bird surveying didn’t produce as many results as I wanted, I was able to see a Worm-eating Warbler (Helmitheros vermivorum) in August, which is their migration season, an unusual site for me. There are also many American Kestrels (Falco sparverius) nesting in nest boxes that have been set up, showing we have suitable habitat for them. Finally, I have observed Northern Harriers (Circus hudsonius), Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), and many hawk species flying around the preserve, indicating there must be ample food supply for all of them to feed on.  

Unfortunately, due to my limited time here, I couldn’t fully conduct the surveys in the way I would have preferred. With a longer project period, I could have had proper transects creating more usable data, more recorded bird survey data blocked by habitat type, time of day and weather, and much more specific trail camera data that catalogued behaviors, species identifications, and number of individuals. My hope is that these surveys can be continued by other researchers moving forward who may be able to expand upon the work I have started. 

Surveying is an under-appreciated part of land management in my eyes, particularly with the trail cameras. We can easily walk around the Preserves during the day, but we can’t at night when a lot of our local wildlife are active. With restoration efforts already underway in the meadows and grasslands, surveys and continued monitoring will help demonstrate the long-term impact of these projects. As I mentioned before, when managing land, you are pulled in many directions. Restoration work on the scale being done at Kestrel Hill requires many hands and hours of work to achieve. This internship has been a gift to me, and I am grateful for the environmental playground that I was allowed to explore and experiment with at Kestrel Hill Preserve. 

Ian Salisbury is a recent graduate of West Chester University with a degree in Ecology and Conservation. He was interested in wildlife before he could walk or talk, and he hopes to spend his life working in land restoration to make sure that our beautiful wild ecosystems are there to inspire generations to come. When he’s not working at one of the preserves, you can find him birding, engaging in wildlife photography, or traveling to places near and far.

Crayfish, Tributaries & Microplastics: A Reflection on my Internship with Polygone Systems and Willistown Conservation Trust

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By: DeJenae Smith

Living in a densely populated city, the sight of a stray chip bag near a drain or illegally dumped trash is like finding a pebble in cobblestone. But what if there was pollution happening that we couldn’t easily perceive?

Water is one of the world’s largest and most valuable resources, and yet our society’s current structure has a strong reliance on a supply that actively pollutes water bodies – plastics. Just over twenty years ago, the term ‘microplastics’ was first used in a scientific publication and since then, an entire branch of research has since blossomed and exploded. Scientists have researched and found the presence of microplastics in the air, water, soil, and many aquatic and terrestrial organisms – including humans.

Microplastics are defined to be between one and five millimeters in size and are derived from a wide variety of sources. Primary microplastics enter the environment micro-sized, like tire dust or microbeads found in personal care products. Secondary microplastics are from larger plastics being broken down into smaller particles. Both plastic types can easily find their way into our streams and rivers: from directly polluting water with non-biodegradable waste to washing synthetic materials down our drains and sinks through everyday activities. Beyond the direct harm of ingesting microplastics, these materials can also carry harmful chemicals with them, leading to unknown complications for organisms’ wellbeing.

Since April of this year, I have been working alongside Willistown Conservation Trust (WCT) and PolyGone Systems to better understand the contamination of microplastics in our waters and further the advancement of technology for microplastic removal and recovery. After months of planning and development, PolyGone and WCT officially deployed a microplastic-collecting device (affectionately referred to as the ‘Plastic Hunter’) this July in Ridley Creek at WCT’s Ashbridge Preserve. I have been conducting a 9-week study of the microplastics collected over time, along with testing the Plastic Hunter’s performance.

Working with PolyGone, I have gained a lot of experience on the technical component of science, along with developing the skills necessary for an independent researcher. Through their diverse and specialized teams, I have better learned how to better communicate with other scientists, as well as through interdisciplinary channels.

Experimental results that are easily digestible to me may not be the same for an engineer, or even my lab partner – and learning how to translate such information to other people has been a great experience about perspective and its importance of having diversity. As our team worked on the completion of a prototype, it quickly became clear to me how valuable having others present to critique and discuss was, and that aspect played a strong role in the visualization and creation of this year’s Plastic Hunter (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Photographs of the Plastic Hunter established at Ashbridge Preserve (top) and with its filter boxes filled with material as they sit in RIdley Creek (bottom).

Alongside soft skills, I have also developed significantly as an independent researcher and lab technician.

In comparison to my research experiences in a college-setting, I have had much more autonomy and played an important role in the designing of my research project and collection of data. As the current Plastic Hunter has gone through design changes from previous years, I encountered many new challenges, often having to find creative solutions and work-arounds (Figure 2).

Figure 2. A collected filter box brought into the lab for further processing, taped with a sample identifier (top). In an attempt to minimize external exposure with plastics, each box is stored inside of a plastic-free compostable bag (bottom).

While working on a separate project, I was also considered a valued lab member and thus became very familiar with the space and how to conduct key tasks and operate equipment. After the departure of my fellow interns for the school year, I now frequently manage the lab space on my own as I complete the day’s given experiments or sample processing (Figure 3, Figure 4, Figure 5).

Figure 3. The aftermath of washing a filter box before (left) and after (right) adding hydrogen peroxide to dissolve organic materials in the water.
Figure 4. Photographs running the peroxide-digested water through a filter paper (left) and staining the sample with the chemical Nile Red. As plastics are dyed, they can be seen under a powerful microscope.
Figure 5. Photograph of a fully processed water grab sample in a petri dish, ready for imaging under our microscope (top). Using our imaging protocol, the microscope snaps a picture of a very small area of the petri dish (which can be up to 8,000 photographs total!), stitching them together to generate three image versions of the sample (bottom). With programming, a computer can analyze the sample and estimate the total number of microplastics present.

While I work on my technical skills in the lab with PolyGone, it is with WCT that I am able to effectively apply and adapt my approach in the environment, which has undoubtedly been the best part of my co-op experience. Where one may precisely model and predict results in the lab, I enjoy having each of those expectations wiped-out by the inconsistencies and unpredictably inherent to the natural world.

Being mentored by Lauren McGrath, Anna Willig, and Sarah Barker of the Watershed Team, alongside the wonderful individuals in other WCT departments, I have started to comprehend the true multidimensionality that is our environment. Alongside conducting water chemistry and analysis, I have learned much about Pennsylvania’s and the world’s natural history, from environmental justice to case studies in wetland ecology. As I approach the end of my co-op and enter my junior year, this internship has truly been a transformative experience for me. Before, I used to focus solely on the analytical component to science and research, but my internship with PolyGone and WCT has drastically changed that view for me. As I continue my education and grow as a professional, I now aspire to become a naturalist alongside a scientist. Instead of taking from the environment for the sake of my research, I wish to connect deeper with natural landscapes and use my results in pursuit of palpable change to conserve and improve the state of our water, air, and biota (Figure 6).

Figure 6. A collection of the life found at Ashbridge Preserve (A: Painted Turtle [Chrysemys picta] , B: A fawn and its mother, C: A baby Snapping Turtle [Chelydra serpentina)], a female Blackburnian Warbler [Setophaga fusca] banded at Rushton Conservation Center by the Bird Team (D), an empty Eastern elliptio [Elliptio complanata] mussel shell found in Darby Creek during mussel surveying (E).

References

How Do Microplastics Enter The Environment?. (2022, January 28). Ocean Diagnostics. Retrieved August 15, 2025, from https://oceandiagnostics.com/ocean-diagnostics-blog/post/how-do-microplastics-enter-the-environment

Issac, M. N., Kandasubramanian, B. (2021, March 2). Effect of microplastics in water and aquatic systems. Environ Sci Pollut Res, 28(16), 19544 – 19562. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-13184-2

Kye, H., Kim, J., Ju, S., Lee, J., Lim, C., Yoon, Y. (2023, March). Microplastics in the water systems: A review of their impacts on the environment and their potential hazards. Heliyon, 9(3). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e14359

Lai, C. (2022, July 20). Microplastics in Water: Threats and Solutions. Earth.org. https://earth.org/microplastics-in-water/

Microplastic Contamination: Sources, Effects, and Solutions. (2025, August 1). Biology Insights. Retrieved August 15, 2025, from https://biologyinsights.com/microplastic-contamination-sources-effects-and-solutions/

Savchuk, K. (2025, January 29). Microplastics and our health: What the science says. https://med.stanford.edu/news/insights/2025/01/microplastics-in-body-polluted-tiny-plastic-fragments.html

Targhan, H., Evans, P., Bahrami, K. (2021, December 25). A review of the role of hydrogen peroxide in organic transformations. Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, 104, 295-332. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jiec.2021.08.024

Thompson, R.C., Courtene-Jones, W., Boucher, J., Pahl, S., Raubenheimer, K., Koelmans, A.A. (2024 September 19). Twenty years of microplastic pollution research – what have we learned?. Science, 386(6720). doi: 10.1126/science.adl2746

Types of Pollution. (n.d.). Science Facts. Retrieved August 14, 2025, from https://www.sciencefacts.net/types-of-pollution.html

Water Quality and the Global Microplastic Crisis. (n.d.). Safe Piping Matters. Retrieved August 14, 2025, from https://safepipingmatters.org/2019/03/20/water-quality-and-the-global-microplastic-crisis/

Yale Experts Explain Microplastics. (2020, December 1). Yale Sustainability. Retrieved August 13, 2025, from https://sustainability.yale.edu/explainers/yale-experts-explain-microplastics

Yee, M.S., Hii, LW., Looi, C.K., Lim, WM., Wong, SF., Kok, YY., Tan, BK., Wong, CY., Leong, CO. (2021 February 16). Impact of Microplastics and Nanoplastics on Human Health.  Nanomaterials, 11(2), 496. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11020496

Home Is a Hanging Gourd: Purple Martins and the Spaces They Call Home 

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Article by: Aaron Coolman, Will Krohn, and Blake Goll | Video by: Julia Griffin

Video by: Julia Griffin, Communications Volunteer with WCT
ft. Farmer Bob Lange of Sugartown Strawberries

Purple Martins, the largest swallows in North America, are more than just a beautiful sight in summer skies; they are an essential part of our ecosystem and a Species of Greatest Conservation Need in Pennsylvania. These aerial insectivores spend their summers breeding across much of North America. Their eastern nesting range consists almost exclusively of manmade housing colonies.

Have​ you ever noticed a tall pole with dried gourds hanging from it​?​​ ​​These are the communal nesting sites for Purple Martins (Figure 1). The design mimics lost breeding habitat from the landscape (i.e. abundant tree cavities). In late summer, martins gather in enormous roosts before making their long journey to South America for the winter.

Despite their prevalence in rural landscapes, Purple Martin populations are declining across much of their range. Loss of nesting habitat,​ decline of insect populations​, and shifting climate patterns are all potential contributing factors to their decline. ​Invasive species, like European Starlings and House Sparrows, can outcompete martins for their nesting sites. ​Because martins​ in eastern North America​ now rely almost entirely on human-constructed nest sites, their survival is closely tied to the care and stewardship of people who maintain their colonies, lovingly dubbed ​“​Purple Martin landlords​.”​

Banding and monitoring Purple Martins is a key conservation tool. By banding individual birds, researchers can track trends in population, demographics, and the connection between breeding colonies. This data helps guide conservation efforts to protect these birds well into the future.

Figure 1. A communal nesting site for Purple Martins in Longwood Gardens | Photo by: Will Krohn
Figure 2. Photo of color banded Purple Martin Chick | Photo by: Alison Fetterman
Figure 3. Photo of Will sealing a color band | Photo by: Alison Fetterman

Will Krohn, bird bander and wildlife ecology Master’s student at the University of Delaware (Figure 3),​ is tracking how Purple Martins move between nesting colonies. This process (called natal dispersal) is a key aspect in the survival of the species. Although it largely remains a mystery for this enigmatic bird. Using a coded system of colored leg bands attached to the chicks (Figure 2), the color combinations allow researchers and the public to uniquely identify the breeding colony where each bird was hatched. If you see a color-banded Purple Martin, you can submit it to an ongoing citizen science project. 

Want to see Purple Martins in person? Look for colonies in open areas, farms, or near wetlands​. Communities in these habitats often​ host thriving populations​ of Purple Martins thanks to the ​diligent​ efforts of martin landlords​. Visit a colony in June or July and you’ll likely see adults delivering insects to their young or adding materials to their nests.​ Listen for their song: a rich series of gurgling whistles they make while perched or flying.​ For our early-risers, you may be lucky to hear the Purple Martin “dawn song”- a song performed by the adult males to attract new martins into their colony. ​Even if you aren’t near a Purple Martin colony, you may see them flying high and catching insects over agricultural fields, meadows, or wetland habitats. Conserving these open landscapes is crucial in giving Purple Martins, among many other species, a place to call home. ​  By providing habitat and monitoring these birds, we can ensure that future generations get to enjoy the dazzling sight of Purple Martins swooping through summer skies. To become more involved with WCT and our bird banding program, check out our Bird Conservation web page.

*Wild birds are handled under federal and state permits for research purposes

Welcome Summer Interns!

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Farm Hands

Kayley graduated from Widener University with a degree in accounting. However, after spending three years working full-time on horse farms, she decided to return to school to pursue what she’s truly passionate about. Kayley went to Penn State for environmental conservation before landing at Rushton. Off the farm, she loves horseback riding, hanging with friends, or spending time with her cat, Fellow.

Rabia Jones is a part-time farm hand at Rushton Farm. She is also a Clinical Herbalist, teaching workshops, seeing clients and crafting herbal products when she’s not on the farm. She loves to be outside, and is passionate about the intersection between plants & people. In her free time, she loves to read, cook, garden & hike.

Stewardship Intern

Ian Salisbury is a recent graduate of West Chester University with a degree in Ecology and Conservation. He was interested in wildlife before he could walk or talk and hopes to spend his life working in land restoration to make sure that our beautiful wild ecosystems are there to inspire generations to come. When he’s not working at one of the preserves, you can find him birding, engaging in wildlife photography, or traveling to places near and far.

Communications Intern

Claire Venanzi is a senior at Penn State University studying Advertising with certificates in Business and Digital Arts. She loves being creative and highlighting the beauty of nature. In her free time, she enjoys dancing, drawing, being outside, and spending time with friends and family. She is excited to gain essential career skills and combine them with her love of nature while working at WCT.

Watershed Co-op

Dejenae Smith is a Biology major with a minor in Data Science at Drexel University, passionate about environmental science, climate research, and ecological conservation. She has experience in fieldwork, data analysis, and environmental advocacy, with a strong focus on the intersection of science and environmental equity. As a member of honor societies and research committees, her interests include GIS, sustainability, and the effects of urbanization on biodiversity. Outside of academics, she enjoys story writing, Scrabble, and fine arts, as well as exploring topics in planetary science and weather.

Watershed Interns

Clare Walsh is a current senior at Villa Maria Academy in Malvern and is excited to pursue a career in conservation. She loves all things animals and is planning to major in wildlife ecology and conservation. When she is not outside, you will find her on the stage rehearsing for the next show! Clare will be shadowing the Watershed Team for the first two weeks in May!

Lauren Mackenzie is a senior at Conestoga High School. She is planning on attending The University of South Carolina and majoring in Environmental Science with a minor in Chemistry. In her free time I do cheerleading and spending time with my family and friends! She is excited to learn more about our water and the many different things we can study about it while she shadows the Watershed Team in the month of May!

Kudos to our kestrels: Saving Open Space for One of Nature’s Most Remarkable Raptors

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Aaron Coolman holding a kestrel chick that is soon to be banded.

Tucked within the sweeping grasslands of our region’s newly protected space, Kestrel Hill Preserve, live some of the most colorful and charismatic raptors in North America: the American Kestrel.

With their cinnamon backs, slate-blue wings, and bold facial markings, kestrels are quite striking, but these petite falcons are more than just a pretty sight. They’re indicators of grassland health, quietly working behind the scenes to keep a balanced ecosystem. By feeding on rodents like voles, shrews, and mice, kestrels help keep pest populations in check. They also help regulate invertebrates, ensuring that the grasslands they call home remain thriving, biodiverse spaces.

In Pennsylvania, American Kestrels are classified as a Species of Greatest Conservation Need, highlighting the urgency of protecting and restoring the open spaces they depend on.It’s significant that WCT recently discovered a nest box full of baby American Kestrels on our newest preserve, Kestrel Hill Preserve. Clutches of kestrel signify that these falcons find WCT’s conserved open spaces suitable not only for foraging, but more importantly, for nesting and breeding. They are a sign that the kind of open, connected landscape these falcons need is suitable, and that this special place is already playing a critical role in supporting a species that needs our attention.

Safely removing the kestrel chicks from their box to band them and gather data.

Why Do Kestrels Need So Much Space?

Unlike many other backyard birds, kestrels won’t breed in heavily developed landscapes. To successfully raise their young and hunt for food, these birds need large, open stretches of grassland, approximately the size of an 18-hole golf course or even larger. Scattered trees and perches offer the vantage points they need for foraging and protection, while old tree cavities (or well-placed nest boxes) serve as safe spots for nesting.

Creating a Safe Haven

This newly protected preserve isn’t just a win for one species; it’s part of a much bigger conservation puzzle. American Kestrels thrive specifically when we conserve contiguous tracts of land. Through the efforts of WCT, private landowners, and local authorities, 220+ acres that could have been 40 new homes are now 128 permanently deed-restricted acres and–opening soon–90 acre Kestrel Hill Preserve. Take a look at this bird’s-eye view of confirmed and potential breeding sites for the American Kestrel, noticing the connective mosaic throughout the local landscape.

Protected tracts of land throughout the Willistown area, highlighting confirmed and potential breeding habitat for the American Kestrel.

Heavily fragmented landscapes can’t support kestrels’ breeding and hunting needs. By safeguarding larger and connected parcels of habitat, we not only protect kestrels, but also grassland ecosystems as a whole.

At Kestrel Hill Preserve and our other protected lands, we’re putting conservation science into action:

  • Installing nesting boxes that mimic the lost tree cavities kestrels and other birds require
  • Monitoring breeding activity each spring and summer using federally and state licensed bird banding practices and an internationally significant Motus Wildlife Tracking System network
  • Habitat Management practices that maintain open grassland and meadows
  • Preserving large, open habitats through conservation easements and nature preserves, such as Kestrel Hill Preserve

These efforts are already making a difference. Each nest box that fledges chicks is a small but powerful sign that we’re giving kestrels the resources they need to thrive and survive in a rapidly changing world.

Join Us in Protecting What Matters

The story of the American Kestrel is a reminder that even small creatures need big, undeveloped, open spaces. By supporting Kestrel Hill Preserve, you’re helping preserve the wild beauty and balance of our local landscape, not merely for our enjoyment, but for kestrels and creatures of all kinds, for generations to come

Join the effort to protect the land that American Kestrels and all of us depend on.