Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy

11/14/2025

𝗟𝗼𝘂𝗱𝗼𝘂𝗻'𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘀 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝗖+ 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁-𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝘆-𝘄𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗱—𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝘁.

After a year of monitoring by 150+ community scientists contributing over 2,700 volunteer hours, the 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝗟𝗼𝘂𝗱𝗼𝘂𝗻 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗱 gives us our clearest picture yet of stream health across the county.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗯𝗼𝘁𝗵 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼:
🟢 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆: 𝗔 (𝟵𝟮%) – Our streams are clear and can support aquatic life

🟡 𝗥𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝘁 (𝗖𝗵𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗲): 𝗖 (𝟰𝟲%) – Winter salt is putting strain on waterways

🟡 𝗕𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵: 𝗖 (𝟱𝟮%) – Pollution-tolerant species are becoming more common

🔴 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆: 𝗙 (𝟭𝟱%)– High levels of dissolved pollutants from runoff are harming aquatic life

𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲'𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀: This is our baseline. Now we know exactly where to focus, and you can take action today.

𝗦𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘄:💧 Be a smarter salter this winter – shovel first, use salt sparingly, sweep up excess 💧 Plant native vegetation along streams – natural filters reduce runoff 💧 Test soil before fertilizing – prevent unnecessary nutrient pollution 💧 Join our Salt Watch program – test your local stream monthly (free training!)

Every action matters. Together, we can move that C+ upward and protect the streams that sustain both people and wildlife—from our backyards to the Chesapeake Bay.

See the full Report Card: https://bit.ly/47ULQrV

Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy Loudoun Now

11/14/2025

After three decades of monitoring the water quality in Loudoun County waterways, the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy today released a report designed to provide a snapshot of the stream health and

11/13/2025

☀️ 𝗔 𝗦𝘂𝗻𝗻𝘆 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗕𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸

It was a beautiful, sunny morning when 16 birders gathered for a regular LLoudoun Wildlife Conservancywalk at Bles Park and nature had a few surprises waiting.

Right from the start, several American Pipits flew overhead. Down by the marsh, the group spotted a River Otter swimming alongside a Great Blue Heron and a few Mallards. Then a Beaver glided through Broad Run, just 20 feet from the group, which was a real treat to watch!

In the woods, the morning continued with a busy flock of Kinglets (both Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned), a Hermit Thrush, and 2 Blue-headed Vireos.

With a total of 49 bird species tallied...it was quite a morning of surprises!

📖 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗮𝗽: https://bit.ly/3JXJosC
☑️ 𝗙𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁: https://bit.ly/4qYXWZQ

📸 Photo Credit: Bryan Henson

eeBird

11/12/2025

🍂 Earlier this month, participants in our 𝗪𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽 explored the theme of migration in wildlife and in our own lives.

From the comfort of the Morven Park gatehouse set amid the late-autumn landscape, they wrote about movement, belonging, and change, imagining the pull of sunlight, distant places, and the feeling of home. Inspired by poems like Wild Geese by Mary Oliver and A Butterfly Life by Sarah Zylstra, their reflections captured how migration can be both a journey outward and a return within.

As Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy prepares to move to a new home this January 2026, we’re reminded that every migration carries hope, renewal, and connection.

📖Read more here: https://bit.ly/4hRr6pC

📆Join us next month: https://bit.ly/47snneG

📷Photo Credit: Nancy Morgan

11/11/2025

Inspired as a young girl by Jane Goodall’s example, Miriam Westervelt Ph.D, program coordinator for Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy’s 𝗣𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 (a program she co-created) has spent her life helping young people discover their own connections to nature.

Miriam was recently honored with the Virginia Federation of Garden Clubs' - 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱, recognizing her lifelong dedication to conservation, education, and community stewardship through her work with the Peterson program. The program trains K-12 teachers to use outdoor exploration and nature observation to meet their curriculum goals, and it's been making a difference in the lives of Loudoun County students since 1999.

Through her teaching and outreach, Miriam continues to grow a legacy that began with her stepfather, famed naturalist Roger Peterson — inspiring countless students, families, community members, and educators to see the world with curiosity, care, and respect.

💚 Please join us in recognizing Miriam for her extraordinary dedication and impact!

Read more about Miriam’s remarkable journey in Loudoun Now:
https://bit.ly/47WfhKj

Learn more about the 𝗣𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 at: https://bit.ly/3XlJHAy

11/09/2025

💚 𝗩𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁: 𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝗸𝗲

Since July 2024, Michelle has been a devoted steward of Harrison Street Meadow, a Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy native plant restoration site near downtown Leesburg. Her care and curiosity about native plants have helped this once-overgrown area flourish into a thriving pollinator haven.

After moving from Herndon to Leesburg in 2021, Michelle brought her passion for native gardening to the community, transplanting her own plants and lending a steady hand in restoring the meadow through LWC’s volunteer efforts.

🌿With each visit, pulling invasives, laying mulch, and tending native blooms, Michelle helps this special place thrive. 𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘺 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘴, she says. 𝘐’𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮 𝘴𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺.

Thank you, Michelle, for sharing your love of native plants and for helping make Loudoun County a little more wild and beautiful.

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲’𝘀 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆: https://loudounwildlife.org/2025/10/volunteer-spotlight-michelle-menke/

11/08/2025

🦅 𝗘𝗮𝗴𝗹𝗲𝘀 & 𝗛𝗮𝘄𝗸𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗪𝗮𝗴𝗴𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗿’𝘀 𝗚𝗮𝗽

Our first-ever Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy trip to 𝗪𝗮𝗴𝗴𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗿’𝘀 𝗚𝗮𝗽 𝗛𝗮𝘄𝗸 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 in Pennsylvania soared!

Under crisp blue skies and steady north winds, the group enjoyed a steady pace of migrating raptors, including 14 Sharp-shinned, 31 Red-tailed, and 3 each of Red-shouldered and Cooper’s Hawks. A Northern Harrier, Peregrine Falcon, and Merlin added extra excitement to the mix.

The day’s highlights? Watching a kettle of 6 Bald Eagles circle overhead at once, followed by a breathtaking view of a Golden Eagle, a life bird for 4 participants.

Non-raptor sightings included Purple Finches, Pine Siskins, Black-capped Chickadees, Red-breasted Nuthatches, and Common Ravens - rounding out a full and unforgettable day of birding!

📋 𝗙𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁: https://ebird.org/checklist/S281670018

📝 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗮𝗽:
https://loudounwildlife.org/2025/10/eagles-hawk-watch/

📸 Photo credit: Michael Sciortino

eBird Identifying Hawks: A Field Trip to Waggoner’s Gap, PA

11/07/2025

Thank you Waterford Foundation Inc. for your partnership 💚

This past October, we in partnership with the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy were able to conduct a bethnic macroinvertebrate survey at two sites on the Phillips Farm- including one led by our Historic Preservation Director! One of those sites on Ball's Run scored as acceptable ecological conditions, three points higher than it did in the fall. We are thankful for our partnership with Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy and the data that comes from stream monitoring! This data helps supports conservation work that happens on the Phillips Farm.

11/06/2025

𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵𝗹𝘆 𝗕𝗶𝗿𝗱 𝗪𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝗮𝘁 𝗔𝗹𝗴𝗼𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸

🍂 A perfect fall morning + a curious group of 21 birders = one wonderful October outing at Algonkian!

Many were new to birding and thrilled to spot some exciting species for the first time, from the tiny Ruby-crowned Kinglet to the ever-busy Yellow-rumped Warbler and a stunning Belted Kingfisher.

Our leaders shared fun tips (and a few laughs) on how to tell a Fish Crow from an American Crow...complete with a classic bad birder joke.

White-throated Sparrows were the stars of the soundtrack, filling the air with their familiar calls. By the end of the morning, the group had recorded 36 species in total.

📝 Full checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S280310620
📅 Join us next month: https://loudounwildlife.org/event/birding-algonkian-november/

📸 Photo credit: Bryan Henson

Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy eBird Algonkian Regional Park

11/05/2025

𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗟𝗪𝗖 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗧𝘂𝗯𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹! 𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘆𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗮 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗯𝗶𝗿𝗱𝘀?

Check out our latest recording, 𝘈𝘵𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘉𝘪𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘠𝘢𝘳𝘥, featuring Julie Borneman of Watermark Woods - Native Plants - Native Plants & Nursery and Sherri Bartlett of Wild Birds Unlimited.

They share practical, inspiring tips on how to:
🐦 Choose native plants that draw in feathered visitors
🌻 Supplement naturally with high-quality bird seed & feeders
💧 Create water features that keep birds coming back

It’s the perfect guide for anyone who wants to turn their backyard into a thriving, bird-friendly oasis.

Watch or listen now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEyO3TeYRJw&feature=youtu.be

💚 Special thanks to Brambleton Library for hosting this wonderful event.

Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy

Julie Borneman, owner of Watermark Woods Nursery, described how you can attract and maintain an oasis with native plants for the many birds who live and migr...

11/04/2025

🎁Every act of giving creates a ripple of hope...

And, for nearly 3 decades, Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy has worked to 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁, 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗯𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁 — not just for the species who call it home, but for the generations who will walk these trails and hear the same birdsong tomorrow.

This year, we’re honored to join the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) for the first time, connecting our local mission with a nationwide effort of generosity and service.

Through the CFC, federal employees, retirees, and military personnel can choose from thousands of vetted charities, giving back through one simple pledge that reaches far and wide and runs until December 31, 2025.

𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲 𝗟𝗼𝘂𝗱𝗼𝘂𝗻 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿, 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁 𝗚𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗖𝗙𝗖.𝗼𝗿𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗖𝗙𝗖 𝗰𝗼𝗱𝗲: 𝟮𝟳𝟱𝟭𝟬.

Every contribution strengthens the habitats, programs, and partnerships that keep Loudoun County — and beyond — wild and thriving.

💚 When we give to nature, it always gives back.

📷 credit: Michael Myers

11/03/2025

🍁 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗼 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝘀 ... 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗹?

Did you know those fallen leaves aren’t just part of autumn’s charm, they’re vital habitat. Beneath that natural blanket, salamanders burrow, fireflies rest, and pollinators like bumblebee queens and Luna moth cocoons wait for spring.

As we shared in the article, 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘞𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘘𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘓𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘦 https://bit.ly/49zUVsD, leaf litter acts as insulation, moisture protection, and shelter for countless species through the colder months.

If your HOA hasn’t yet adopted wildlife-friendly yard practices, now’s the perfect time to share this information ahead of next year’s planning season. Small changes make a big difference!

And if you can’t leave all your leaves where they fall, try raking or blowing them into natural areas, garden islands, or along the edges of your yard. Even small patches can offer much-needed refuge for overwintering wildlife.
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𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀:
🔗 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘞𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘘𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘓𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘦 (LWC) - https://bit.ly/4oPQFJY
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🔗 𝘓𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘍𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘯 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘴 (LWC) - https://bit.ly/3X7hUUn
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🔗 𝘍𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘊𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘶𝘱 𝘪𝘯 𝘛𝘸𝘰 𝘌𝘢𝘴𝘺 𝘚𝘵𝘦𝘱𝘴 (Plant NOVA Natives) - https://bit.ly/4nDv5aF
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Doing a little less this fall can make a world of difference for so many creatures.

🔎𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼? 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆.

Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy