#natlands

Preserving and nurturing nature’s wonders. Creating opportunities for joy and discovery in the outdoors for everyone. We save open space, care for nature, and connect people to the outdoors.

Green Hills Preserve

One of my roles, in addition to managing Mariton, is collecting information about nest boxes from the other NLT preserves. Some of the Preserve Managers are very involved in the nest boxes on their preserves.  Other managers utilize volunteers, including the Force of Nature, to manage their nest boxes.

We often think of bluebirds when we talk about the nest box program. Bluebirds are important to Natural Lands Trust’s nest box program, but depending on the management goals of a particular preserve, other species also benefit.  For instance, Mariton’s fields are pretty small. Early in the season it is good habitat for bluebirds, but later in the season it gets a little brushy for them.  Chickadees often do as well as bluebirds in our nest boxes.  Other preserves manage large swaths of grassland which provide a habitat that is quickly disappearing from Pennsylvania’s landscape.  This benefits many bird species, and while bluebirds use the boxes, this type of habitat is ideal for tree swallows.  NLT’s nest boxes provide nest sites for a variety of cavity nesting species, not just bluebirds. 

Saturday, September 19, 2015 (Rain Date: Saturday, October 3, 2015) 8:00 am – 11:00 am Crow’s Nest Preserve 401 Piersol Road, Elverson, PA 19520

Join us for a memorable morning experience at Crow’s Nest Preserve. Early risers are rewarded with a relaxing, outdoor breakfast surrounded by 621 acres of woodlands, meadow and meandering French Creek.

We’ll hike a short distance to enjoy pancakes cooked over a campfire, then jump on the haywagon for a fun return ride!

In between flipping short-stacks, Natural Lands Trust staff and volunteers share their knowledge of the land, highlighting the wildlife and people communities that thrive in this expansive landscape.  Crow’s Nest Preserve is the gateway to the 73,000-acre Hopewell Big Woods, one of the largest areas of protected land in the region.

Bring your appetite and camera too!