Th e S y c a m o r e N E W S F R O M W I L L I S T O W N C O N S E R VAT I O N T R U S T
|
SPRING 2021
Jeanne B. Van Alen President and Executive Director Catherine W. Etherington Associate Executive Director
BOARD OF TRUSTEES Elizabeth C. Hucker | Chair Bryan D. Colket | Vice Chair Alice E. Hausmann | Vice Chair V. Richard Eales | Treasurer Matthew E. Taylor | Assistant Treasurer John F. Stoviak, Esq. | Secretary Leanne M. McMenamin | Assistant Secretary Timothy B. Barnard, Esq. L. Clarke Blynn Anthony J. DiValerio, Jr. Meg Tegler Hardesty William T. Howard George F. Krall, Jr. Mark T. Ledger Lindsay Scott Leisenring
Michael J. McGraw Elizabeth R. Moran* Peter S. Strawbridge** James L. Van Alen II Susanna M. Wall** Richard A. Warden Jason D. Weckstein, Ph.D. Alejandro Zozaya
* Honorary Trustee | ** Trustee Emeritus
STAFF Todd Alleger | New England Motus Project Technician Mary Armstrong | Executive Assistant Sue Costello | GIS Coordinator Mike Cranney | Preserve Manager Fred de Long | Director of Community Farm Program Michelle Eshleman | Motus Avian Research Coordinator Alison Fetterman | Bird Conservation Associate & PA Motus Project Manager Blake Goll | Education Programs Manager Eliza Gowen | Community Farm Outreach Coordinator Noah Gress | Rushton Farm Field Manager Chelsea Heck | Director of Annual Fund and Outreach Erik Hetzel | Director of Land Protection and Public Grants Sarah Hutchin | Garden and Landscape Coordinator Andrew Kirkpatrick | Director of Stewardship Lisa Kiziuk | Director of Bird Conservation Program Kelsey Lingle | Associate Director of Communications and Marketing Lindsay Martin-Carlson | Director of Rushton Conservation Center Lauren McGrath | Director of Watershed Protection Program Molly Clark Tracy | Rushton Farm Production Manager Tripp Way | Director of Major Gifts Caitlin Welsh | Bird Conservation and Community Farm Specialist Cover Photo | Kate Etherington WILLISTOWN CONSERVATION TRUST 925 Providence Road | Newtown Square, PA 19073 610.353.2562 | land@wctrust.org Conservation TrustANNOUNCEMENTS is a nonprofit, tax-exempt corporation under Section 2Willistown | NEWS AND 501(c)3 of the I.R.S. Code. Donations are tax-deductible. A copy of the official registration and financial information may be obtained from the PA Department of State by calling toll free, within Pennsylvania, (800) 732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.
I
hope you have been safe and healthy during the past 12 months and will continue to stay safe and healthy, both physically and mentally, in 2021. 2020 was certainly a challenging year! During the past year, the resiliency and creativity of the Trust’s staff resulted in new and fun ways to maintain a level of outreach and brought new families into our fold. We are optimistically planning for in-person events as the weather warms and more people are able to get their vaccine. In the meantime, visit the Trust’s website to see what virtual events are being planned as well as those we can offer outdoors in a safe, socially-distanced way. This year was also one of incredible volatility in our society, in our democracy and the financial markets. Many of us have been looking for ways to be more inclusive in our work and personal lives, and in our charitable endeavors. While broader diversity has been part of the Trust’s strategic thinking for years, we have, like many other land trusts and environmental organizations, begun to take a closer look into how we can include more diverse individuals and groups in our team and programs. As you delve into this issue, you will learn that the Trust has been working on the Campaign for Rushton Woods, with a goal to raise two million dollars by December 31, 2022. These funds will be critical to improving habitat, trails, accessibility, and programming at Rushton. I hope you will join me and the Board in supporting this effort. Lastly, if I could find any sliver of a silver-lining in the last 12 months, it has been that the Earth appears to be ever-so-slightly healthier with many of us having been forced to reduce our carbon footprint by working from home. Hopefully the lessons we can learn from this will be carried forward so that future generations can enjoy the many things in nature that we used to take for granted.
Beth Hucker, Board of Trustees Chair
CONTENTS THE SYCAMORE NEWSLET TER | S PRING 2 0 2 1
4
LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
7
WILLISTOWN CONSERVATION TRUST’S COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION
8-9 10
PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE OF RUSHTON WOODS PRESERVE
12-17
THE BIRDS OF RUSHTON WOODS PRESERVE: COMMEMORATING 10 YEARS OF SONGBIRD BANDING
18-19
EIGHTEEN ACRES CONSERVED FOREVER AT HISTORIC DUCKETT MILL FARM
21 22-23
KELSEY LINGLE/STAFF
DARBY CREEK HEADWATERS MONITORING PROGRAM
STUDENTS GETTING OUT ONTO THE LAND AND INTO THE SOIL THE CAMPAIGN FOR RUSHTON WOODS PRESERVE
24
STAYING HOME AND STAYING CONNECTED
25
UPCOMING EVENTS
26-29
MOVERS AND SHAKERS | STAFF AND TRUSTEE NEWS
30-35
DONOR SUPPORT AND VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION
TABLE OF CONTENTS | 3
Letter from the Executive Director
I
t is mid-February as I write this message for the spring Sycamore. The snow is falling again, and there is a bevy of birds at the feeder outside the kitchen door. Our broader Willistown countryside, with its 7,500 acres of protected lands, nature preserves and hiking trails, has the comforting feeling of a safe harbor for wildlife and people. It is a microcosm of rich natural resources which has been protected over the past 40 years and which all of us at the Trust are committed to make even better through careful stewardship. However wonderful this micro view of Willistown is, we know from recent scientific reports that the bigger picture for the future of our natural world is not so rosy. We know that bird species are declining at an alarming rate both in the Americas and worldwide, and our changing climate poses serious threats to the fragile network of life on our planet. As you read through the articles in this issue of the Sycamore you will note that, while most of the Trust’s efforts are directed at making our 28,000 acre program area a better, richer and more welcoming place for all people to visit and be inspired to love and protect nature, we are increasingly looking at what we as a land trust can do to address larger and compelling environmental issues that stretch beyond our borders. How can we use the expertise and knowledge we have here at home to help answer some of the questions that threaten the very natural world we are committed to protect? Land is where it all begins and land protection will always remain a priority as we focus on preserving more vulnerable acres each year. It is the rich reservoir of protected lands in the Willistown countryside that has enabled the creation of our four nature preserves, miles of pedestrian and equestrian trails, the Community Farm, Bird Conservation, Habitat Restoration and Watershed programs, and the Rushton Conservation Center at Rushton Woods Preserve. And it is land protection and habitat restoration informed by science that will allow nature to regenerate and people to thrive. Our Trustees and staff will soon begin the process of developing our next three-year strategic plan. An integral part of that plan will be examining ways that we as a land trust can best use our resources to help address the larger threats facing our precious natural world - so that people and nature can continue to thrive together.
Bonnie Van Alen, Executive Director
4 | LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
STEPHANIE KUNIHOLM
NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS | 5
BLAKE GOLL/STAFF
6 | NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Willistown Conservation Trust’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion By Kate Etherington, Associate Executive Director
T
he mission of Willistown Conservation Trust is to preserve and manage land, and “to share these unique resources with people of all ages and backgrounds to inspire, educate and develop a lifelong commitment to the land and the natural world’. In the aftermath of a tumultuous year highlighting the inequalities and racism that continues to pervade our society and conservation field, we at the Trust have had to reckon with our own shortcomings and evaluate how we, as an organization, can truly live out our mission and share our love of nature with individuals of all backgrounds. In an earlier letter to our community Bonnie Van Alen noted, “We must strive to make our land, our natural resources and all of our programs, from Community Farm to Bird Conservation to Habitat and Watershed Protection, more widely accessible and welcoming to all.” In the summer of 2020 a new Trustee and Staff committee was formed, the Committee for Equity and Inclusion (CEI), to prioritize and solidify our commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) and examine ways to diversify our organization at all levels, from trustees, staff and volunteers, to program participants and supporters. One of the first steps we took as a committee was to craft an organizational Statement on DEI. This statement, shared across all communication channels including our website, will help guide our decision making as we design deliberate action steps towards becoming a more inclusive and welcoming organization for all. The statement reads: Historically, the voices and experiences of certain groups, including Black, Indigenous, and other people of color, have been and continue to be underrepresented in the land conservation movement. Willistown Conservation Trust believes that nature and open space are for everyone and embraces all forms of identity including race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status and class, religious or spiritual belief, age, and ability. As conservationists, we celebrate the vast diversity of life on our planet, and work each day to preserve and protect these natural resources for future generations. Guided by this ethos, we commit to including a broader and more diverse group of people in our work. To fully realize our mission, we as an organization, must make a concerted effort to weave DEI into the fabric of our organization at all levels. In pursuit of that end, Willistown Conservation Trust commits to:
• An ongoing effort to reflect on and actualize our commitment to diversity throughout all levels of our organization. • Examining our organization’s culture and business practices to ensure equity in our operations. • Actively seek opportunities to learn about biases and injustices in the conservation field, and how we as an organization can better promote inclusivity across our programming. As we commit to this work, we recognize that the process will be dynamic and ongoing. Working alongside other groups endeavoring to diversify conservation efforts in Chester County and beyond, we strive to recognize, amplify, and engage the voices and experiences of underrepresented groups for the benefit of not just our communities, but of the natural world. As a first action step, we are proud to announce the launch of a new internship opportunity for minority students, the Foundations in Conservation program. The internship program aims to inspire and educate future conservation and environmental leaders from traditionally underrepresented college students and graduates in the conservation field – including, but not limited to individuals who identify as Asian, Black, Latino, Indigenous, or multiracial – to engage in and help shape the Trust’s conservation work. Conservation Interns will participate in a four-month paid internship, gaining real-world, hands-on experience, receiving professional mentorship, and participating in networking opportunities designed to equip students with a strong foundation for successful careers in conservation and beyond. Using Rushton Woods Preserve as a campus, the Conservation Intern will have the opportunity to participate in each of the Trust’s program areas – Land Stewardship, Land Protection, Watershed Protection, Bird Conservation, and Community Farm. This program was generously funded by the McIssac Family for two students per year over a three year period. Interviews are underway and we look forward to welcoming our 2021 class of interns this spring. If you are interested in learning more or know of a great candidate, please visit the position listing at wctrust.org/engage/internships.
NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS | 7
Darby Creek. Photo by Sue Miller, Darby Creek Valley Association.
Darby Headwaters Team. Photo by Evan Hunt.
Darby Creek Headwaters Monitoring Program By Lauren McGrath, Director of Watershed Protection Program
T
he Watershed Protection Program has teamed up with Darby Creek Valley Association (DCVA) and Stroud Water Research Center to create a citizen science water monitoring program in Darby Creek! This collaborative project aims to create a network of training and mentoring opportunities to empower the neighbors of Darby Creek to collect high quality stream data and become water advocates for their community. The long-term goal of this project is to use the information collected from Darby Creek to advise restoration decisions, like choosing the most effective location to improve riparian buffers or the best place to install a rain garden to slow down storm water entering the stream. Detailed monitoring data will also help to identify pollution sources and areas of the landscape that pose a risk to watershed health and integrity. Cultivating a stronger understanding of the waterway takes time and effort, and we are looking to the community for help! To create a better understanding of the health of Darby Creek, trained citizen scientists will visit sites throughout the Darby Creek Headwaters on a monthly basis, where they will collect water samples and gather data. Each month, volunteers will visit 1-2 sites to collect a 1 liter water sample and data points, including pH, conductivity, and water temperature. Water samples will be analyzed by the Trust to measure the amount of sediment present in the water to better understand how storm events and development are contributing to erosion and sedimentation of waterways. All data will be shared with the volunteer team in regular online meetings and an annual report. Professional staff from the Trust will also be conducting additional data collection and analyses to complement the citizen science effort. Training for this program will focus on safety, data quality, and education on watershed ecology and the influence of humans on waterways. Individualized training will be provided to each volunteer to ensure that every person is confident 8 | NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
in safety protocols and how to collect high quality data and water samples. In addition, volunteers will learn more about how human activity and landscape development affects the health of waterways beyond the borders of the headwater region. The creation of a volunteer network will provide a platform for volunteers to become stream advocates who are knowledgeable about current issues in the watershed and can speak to both the needs of the waterway itself, as well as the surrounding communities. While the Trust is focusing on the headwaters of Darby Creek, our partnership with DCVA ensures that this program is being implemented throughout the entire Darby Creek Watershed. This whole-watershed approach will provide opportunities to learn about how the waterway changes as it moves downstream and will highlight challenges that local communities face such as flooding, thermal pollution, freshwater salinization, and erosion and sediment problems and will provide a foundation to address those issues. The data we collect will help address these concerns starting at the origin of the stream, right in the Trust’s program area. Our waterways are a valuable part of our environment and are a reflection of the health of the entire landscape – the more we understand how they are being impacted by human activity (and protected by highly valuable forests and wetlands), the more effective we can be at preserving and restoring them. We are looking for volunteers! To learn more about this program, email lbm@wctrust.org, and to become a volunteer, contact director@dcva.org.
NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS | 9
Planning For the Future of Rushton Woods Preserve By Andrew Kirkpatrick, Director of Stewardship
R
ushton Woods Preserve is blessed with a rich and diverse array of natural habitats supporting numerous plant and wildlife species - mature woodlands, wildflower meadows, old hedgerows, early successional (shrub) habitat, and the Indian Run tributary to Ridley Creek. It’s here that our conservation programs – Farm, Bird, Land, and Water – collide. Hiking trails, Rushton Farm, the federally licensed bird banding station, the watershed lab, and the Rushton Conservation Center offer ample opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to experience and develop deeper connections with our natural world. In the coming months, Rushton Woods Preserve will be receiving some overdue attention as a new Master Plan takes shape with the help of Applied Ecological Services and Simone Collins Landscape Architects. The woods at Rushton are faced with many challenges including invasive plant species that are out of balance, ash trees that are declining rapidly, and white tailed deer that continue to consume the next generation of forest seedlings. The Community Farm and Bird Conservation programs, Rushton Nature Keepers, the Rushton Conservation Center, and the 2.5 miles of hiking trails attract thousands of visitors to the Preserve each year. All of these activities require a comprehensive plan so that the preserve can continue to be a resource well into the future. Showcasing the Trust’s preserves as examples of healthy habitat while modeling land stewardship best practices is central to our mission. As we expand Rushton Woods Preserve’s role as the heart of education and outreach for the Trust, the new master plan will serve to enhance the Preserve’s functionality, appearance, variety of native species, and provide recreational and educational opportunities for all visitors.
10 | NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Since last March, Trust staff have been hard at work envisioning the future of the preserve, collecting plant species data, assessing trails, and gathering staff input. Now, with the help of Mike McGraw, our newly elected Trustee, who is a wildlife biologist with Applied Ecological Services, and a team from Simone Collins, we will create and implement the Master Plan. The plan will focus on addressing stewardship issues like habitat creation, forest restoration, invasive plant species management, and climate change as well as recreational trail circulation and use at the preserve. The recently released 10 year bird banding study by the Trust’s bird team is an invaluable resource for the master planning process. Armed with a rich plethora of data, AES will help synthesize a management plan that addresses these complex issues. Simone Collins will help reconcile trail use and circulation ensuring great trails for pedestrians and equestrians alike and the graphics to illustrate it for the public. In the coming months and years, things will start to change at Rushton in the forest and on the trails. There will be new trees, shrubs, and woodland perennials planted in the forest and along the stream. Invasive species will be removed to create space for a healthy forest ecosystem. With the presence of more native plant species available as food and shelter, we hope to attract more birds and facilitate their continued health and development. The trails at Rushton will be re-aligned to reduce erosion and improve drainage so that they are dry and pleasant for both pedestrians and equestrians in any season. With a new ADA universal access path connecting the Farm to the Rushton Conservation Center, we will create space for visitors of all abilities to come experience nature at Rushton.
PICTOMETRY
NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS | 11 Lauren McGrath looking for caddisflys among the watercress. Photo by Kate Etherington/Staff.
The Rushton Woods Preserve Master Planning team discusses restoring functional wetlands. Photo by Kate Etherington/Staff.
The Birds of Rushton Woods Preserve: Commemorating 10 Years of Songbird Banding By Alison Fetterman, Bird Conservation Associate & Northeast Motus Project Manager and Blake Goll, Education Programs Manager
E
ach spring as birds embark on their northward journeys, a small group of federally licensed bird banders—along with many dedicated and talented volunteers— venture out in the dark hours of the mornings at Rushton Woods Preserve to record the migration of songbirds through the area. Our efforts continue into the breeding season and through the southward fall migration until the end of October each year. As 2019 marked the 10th year of songbird banding at Rushton Woods Preserve, Alison Fetterman summarized the banding data in the Rushton Woods Banding Station Songbird Banding Ten Year Report*. The report makes it clear that we have learned a lot in a short time! With a grant from the Delaware Valley Ornithological Club (DVOC) in 2009, the Rushton Woods Banding Station (RWBS) was created at Rushton Woods Preserve (RWP) and has been a huge success over the years. Bird banders operate up to 16 nets at a time, placing a unique aluminum band on each captured songbird before release (Fig. 1). Tagging birds in this way allows us to: learn about presence or absence of species that are using our conservation farm and nature preserve; reveal longevity and examples of site fidelity as individual breeding birds return to Rushton and are recaptured year after year; understand migratory behavior (like how long birds stopover in our habitat to refuel); and explore other important population dynamics as well as habitat quality.
Figure 1. Connecticut Warbler with band. Photo by Blake Goll/Staff.
12 | NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Total Number of New Birds Captured Each Season Per Year 2010-2020
Now, after 11 years of migratory songbird banding (spring and fall) and 10 years of banding breeding birds (summer MAPS program: Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship) we have banded a total of 15,219 songbirds of 100 species! See the RWBS 2020 Annual Report* for the full list of species! Most individual birds are captured during the fall due to the abundance of newly hatched birds (Fig. 2). However, we capture nearly the same number of species in the spring and fall migratory season (Fig. 4). What follows here are some interesting highlights from our 10-year report and 11 years-worth of banding. 2020 marked our second most productive breeding season (MAPS), and though not our biggest fall migration, certainly one of the most interesting!
Figure 2. Number of new birds captured each season per year at Rushton Woods Banding Station.
100TH SPECIES CAPTURED | On September
Figure 3. Blue Grosbeak banded on 9/3/2020 at RWBS, our 100th species! Photo by Blake Goll/Staff.
3rd, among the droves of Indigo Buntings of blue and brown, banders happened on a very unfamiliar looking blue bird. This diamond in the rough was immediately identified as our first ever capture of a Blue Grosbeak! This beautiful young male (in its second year) also marked our 100th species captured at RWBS (Fig. 3). The species richness chart below shows the cumulative number of species captured each season from 2010-2020, and you can view all species of thrushes, warblers, woodpeckers and many more in the Master Species Banded List*.
Species Richness Per Season | 2010-2020
Figure 4. Number of species (species richness) captured each season 2010-2020. Total unique species is a total of all species across all seasons.
NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS | 13
MOST ABUNDANT SPECIES | Although we have banded 100 species at RWBS, a few species dominate the landscape. These include: Gray Catbird, White-throated Sparrow, Common Yellowthroat, Song Sparrow, and Wood Thrush. Catbirds take the cake numbering over 3,700 individuals through the years (Fig. 5).
Gray Catbird 3,727
White-throated Sparrow 1,849
Common Yellowthroat 963
Song Sparrow 849
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 612
Wood Thrush 502
Northern Cardinal 383
Figure 5. Most abundant species in order of numbers of individuals banded at Rushton Woods Preserve. Photos by Staff, Jennifer Mathes and Celeste Sheehan.
UNCOMMON CAPTURES | Over 11 years, there are 9 species that have only been captured once (Fig. 6). While they are not necessarily rare migrants, their species-specific behavior (e.g., foraging in the tops of trees above our nets) may in some cases account for why these species rarely encountered our nets.
Bay-breasted Warbler Blue Grosbeak Clay-colored Sparrow
Cape May Warbler Eastern Kingbird Hooded Warbler
Louisiana Waterthrush Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Yellow-throated Vireo
Figure 6. Cape May Warbler, Yellow-throated Vireo, and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker: species banded only once at Rushton. Photos by Blake Goll/Staff.
LONGEVITY RECORDS |
Long-term banding is a tool to monitor local bird populations over time. As we completed our 10th year of MAPS banding, we discovered a few incredibly old birds in our woods! Both long distance migrants and ground nesting birds, the Veery and Ovenbird are two species expected to have an average five-year life span. However, in the summer of 2020, we captured one individual of each species that we had originally banded at the same site in 2011. 14 | NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
VEERY | At least 11 years old! This male Veery was first captured on June 30, 2011, determined to be at least two years old. We have since encountered this bird breeding at Rushton in 2012, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019 and 2020! We may not have seen the last of this Veery! The BBL (Bird Banding Lab) record for Veery is 13 years old. OVENBIRD |
At least 11 years old! This female Ovenbird was first captured on May 27, 2011, determined to be at least two years old. We have since encountered this bird breeding at Rushton in 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2020. The BBL record for Ovenbird is 11 years old, which makes this feisty female tied for oldest ovenbird on record!
Veery. Photo by Jennifer Mathes.
INTERESTING RECAPTURES | Of
the over 3,200 recaptures—birds captured that already had a band— only two of those birds were not originally banded by us. (This is a typical phenomenon for passive songbird banding.) These migrants included an American Redstart and an American Goldfinch. In addition, one Whitethroated Sparrow that was originally banded by us was subsequently recaptured at another station (Fig. 7). Since all data for each bird is stored in a centralized database called the BBL, banders can acquire the birds’ stories from their band numbers:
Ovenbird. Photo by Celeste Sheehan. American Redstart (10/1/2014 + 9/1/2015) 570 miles White-throated Sparrow (10/1/2016 + 5/1/2017) 77 miles American Goldfinch (11/1/2018 + 5/1/2019) 59 miles
Rushton Woods Preserve
On September 3, 2015, we captured an adult female American Redstart that had been originally banded at Kiawah Island Banding Station (KIBS) in South Carolina in the fall of 2014. These banding stations are 570 miles apart and the bird was presumably on its southbound fall migration when it was encountered in both years. On May 1, 2019, tucked within a large flock, we discovered a young male American Goldfinch that was banded originally at Foreman’s Branch Bird Observatory (FBBO) in Maryland on November 25, 2018. The young bird must have hatched in Maryland in the summer of 2018 and dispersed the 59 miles to Rushton the following spring! On October 16, 2016, we banded a White-throated Sparrow at RWBS that was captured the following spring at Cape May Bird Observatory—77 miles southeast!
Figure 7. 0
50
Rushton Banding Station Songbird Recoveries 2010-2020
These banding recoveries contribute to our understanding of the migratory patterns of these small songbirds.
100
Miles
NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS | 15
NOTABLE WEIGHT GAINS | Our data show that 75% of our individual birds are only captured by us once. Among the other 25% of recaptures, we have noted a few birds that stick around taking advantage of the habitat. When we recapture our birds, we are able to record whether they are gaining weight and using Rushton to fuel up for their next migratory flight. Songbirds typically only gain weight during migration in order to make long overnight flights.
As part of the banding process, we look at subcutaneous fat stores, visible as an orange bulge under the skin on a scale from 0-6, with 6 being the most fat (Fig. 8). We also weigh the birds in grams. Through recapture data we can determine the length of time birds may be staying at the preserve and their rate of weight gain for migration. This information has implications for measurements of habitat quality. Here are a few examples!
Figure 8. Subcutaneous fat is visible under the skin of birds, and during migration stored fat is commonly seen in the furcular hollow of a bird, just below the throat. Pictured left is a bird with an empty furcular hollow and no fat stores. Middle image: the furcular hollow is overfull with fat, stored for a long overnight flight. Subcutaneous fat is visible as an orange fleshy glow under the skin. Photos by Staff members. Right image: Worm-eating Warbler. Photo by Blake Goll/Staff.
VEERY | In early September 2017, we captured a Veery twice and discovered that the bird gained 14.9 grams in only eight days! This means the bird gained 47% of its body weight from the first time it was weighed, in only about a week’s time. A true athlete, this small thrush could easily have flown a couple hundred miles in one night following its final capture at Rushton Woods Preserve. It also means the bird was finding everything it needed at Rushton to fuel such a long journey. WORM-EATING WARBLER (FIG. 8) |
In the fall of 2015 we captured this bird three times between September 3 and October 1. However, this is a different example of an indication of good habitat quality. This bird did not gain weight between those catches like a typical migrant, but it was a young bird that most likely hatched that summer in a nearby dry wooded hillside—the preferred breeding habitat of this species. After leaving the nest and its parents (fledging), the Worm-eating Warbler likely dispersed from the open woodland to the denser hedgerow and meadow habitat where we caught the warbler. The long length of stay rather, indicates that Rushton was providing important post-fledging habitat for this young bird and others—a shrubby early successional safe zone full of easy food, cover, and fewer predators (compared to open woodland) for young birds learning how to make it in the world. LOCAL SPECIES TRENDS | Eleven years of
standardized bird banding efforts have just begun to illustrate the health of our local bird populations. We investigated the capture rates (number of birds caught per 100 net hours: b/100nh), which allows us to look at species trends over time. We can see some species decreasing, some increasing, and some remaining steady since 2011. See our RWBS 2020 Annual report* for analyses of some of our most abundant species such as Gray Catbird, White-throated Sparrow , Common Yellowthroat, Wood Thrush , Ovenbird, and Song Sparrow . Further analysis of weather and habitat is needed for indications of change, but this information will help us manage Rushton Woods Preserve. For example, if you look at the overall linear trend for the White-throated Sparrow, you will notice a decline over the years; since this sparrow species tends to look for shrubby areas during migration, this local decline could indicate the natural process of vegetative succession occurring at Rushton. Focusing on reinvigorating the early successional shrub habitat at 16 | NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Rushton could result in an increase in White-throated Sparrows (Fig. 9). Conversely, Wood Thrush breeding populations are increasing within the woods of Rushton. Wood Thrush prefer mature woodlands with a dense understory where they place their nests in shorter trees or shrubs such as spicebush protected by a dense canopy of towering beeches. As the woods of Rushton mature, Wood Thrush populations thrive (Fig. 10).
White-throated Sparrow Capture Rates by Season 2011-2020
Figure 9. Capture rates (number of birds caught per 100 net hours: b/100nh) of White-throated Sparrow during the spring and fall migratory seasons. The linear line represents the long-term trend over time.
Wood Thrush Capture Rates During Breeding Season (MAPS) 2011-2020
Figure 10. Capture rates (number of birds caught per 100 net hours: b/100nh) of Wood Thrush during the breeding season (MAPS). The linear trend represents the long-term trend over time.
After eleven years of banding, we can see that RWP is a significant sanctuary for a variety of birds. Our location in the piedmont region of the Atlantic flyway provides a refueling station for migratory birds. It is also clear that RWP is a welcome refuge for important breeding species, including Pennsylvania State Responsibility Species (for which PA hosts 10% of its total population in North America) such as Wood Thrush and Worm-eating Warbler. We will continue to band birds, collect data, and decipher population trends that will help guide us as we continue to manage Rushton Woods Preserve for the birds! * Full reports available at wctrust.org/research. NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS | 17
PHOTOS: LEANNE MCMENAMIN
The Miller’s Cottage at Duckett Mill Farm.
Eighteen Acres Conserved Forever at Historic Duckett Mill Farm By Kate Etherington, Associate Executive Director
A
long the rolling hills and winding roads of scenic Garrett Mill Road, drivers can’t help but slow down to cross over Ridley Creek on the one-lane Garrett Mill Road Bridge. Flanked by farms on either side, the bridge was built in 1933 to replace a wooden covered bridge. Together, the bridge, and the surrounding farms and open space, create scenic vistas and ample habitat that remain much as they were 150 years ago. Thanks to the generosity of owners Leanne and Rob McMenamin, another patch of this landscape will be forever preserved for generations to come. “With every acre we conserve, we add to the tapestry of protected open space that has benefits beyond the beauty”, says Erik Hetzel, Director of Land Protection. Ridley Creek, a major tributary of the Delaware River, flows through the woodland and along with the property. The easement preserves the open space and natural woodlands along the riverbank allowing native flora and fauna to thrive and creating an important riparian buffer zone that contributes to a healthy and robust water system. In addition to the rich ecological value, Duckett Mill Farm preserves an important piece of local history. The property consists of a variety of historical buildings including The Joseph H. Duckett House (c. 1840), the Duckett Paper Mill (c. 1839), a traditional Chester County bank barn, and a fieldstone “Miller’s Cottage”. In 1838 Joseph H. Duckett purchased 38 acres on which he erected a paper mill in 1839. The original mill consisted of a paper mill, a bleach house, and a water house with a wheel, the ruins of which can be seen today. Additionally, Joseph bought the rights to build a dam across Ridley Creek which controlled the water flowing to the water wheel.
18 | NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
“It’s with gratitude to those who before us who had the foresight to preserve the surrounding acres that we are now able to fill in the donut hole of the magnificent collection of adjoining properties to create a 250 acre area under the stewardship of Willistown ConservationTrust.” - Leanne & Rob McMenamin, owners, Duckett Mill Farm He built a raceway that can be seen coming through the woods before being diverted underground as it leads to the ruins of the water wheel race. At the time of its construction, the 30 foot water wheel was the largest in the state. Unfortunately, Joseph suffered many financial setbacks while building the mill, resulting in several liens from unpaid contractors and finally a sale to John B. Duckett, who renamed the mill Forest Mills Paper Company. By 1850 the mill was producing various products including writing, printing, wrapping, and envelope papers. Most notably 30 tons of special paper used to cover the roof of Horticultural Hall, erected in Fairmount Park for the 1876 Centennial Exposition, was made at the Forrest Mills Paper Company. 25 years later, a disastrous fire forced the temporary closure of the paper mill and subsequent sale to Lewis Cullen who made significant improvements to both dam and mill. The ultimate demise of the mill in 1927 was caused primarily by severe drought and Ridley Creek was pumped dry to satisfy the water needs of the Borough of West Chester. The closed four bay, stone and frame banked barn overlooks the adjacent fields, bordered by Ridley Creek. Once home to horses, mules, cattle and swine, the barn’s residents now include two donkeys, two driving ponies, antique pony carriages, and a former competitive show hunter. Rob and Leanne McMenamin have worked diligently with Willistown Conservation Trust to ensure that this remarkable place - with its natural beauty, historical importance, and position in relation to neighboring conserved lands, woodlands, and streams – will be protected in perpetuity.
NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS | 19
The first students to volunteer at Rushton Farm in a 2008 potato planting; clockwise, Production/Education Manager Ashley Brister, George Rubin, Fig Gowen, Katerina Rubin, and Camilla Gowen. Photo by Fred de Long/Sfaff.
20 | NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS The current Rushton Farm Staff; Molly Clark, Caitlin Welsh, Noah Gress, and Great Valley High School intern Abby Oswald. Photo by Fred de Long/Sfaff.
Students Getting Out Onto The Land and Into The Soil By Fred de Long, Director of Community Farm Program
I
t was a warm day in mid-June 2020 and summer was right around the corner when Abby Oswald and Anna McNaull showed up to volunteer at Rushton Farm. Rushton had been bringing in regular volunteers for a few weeks and we were still working on the logistics for work precautions due to Covid. Volunteers were generally working alone and communication was limited as staff worked independently from the volunteers. That all changed the day Abby and Anna arrived. On that mid-June “Just Show Up” volunteer Wednesday Abby rolled into the parking lot, hopped out of her car, and sauntered over with a smile to say she was here to volunteer. Anna pulled in a short while later (driving a little bit slower) and with a similar enthusiastic smile jumped right into work in the field. Both Abby and Anna showed no fear in attacking weeds and planting endless crops. They also worked comfortably with the Rushton Staff, who until their arrival had been isolated. In these times where precaution is a constant focus, it was refreshing to see two 17 year old rising seniors smile and laugh while working hard alongside seasoned farm veterans. From that first day on, Abby and Anna became part of the Rushton Farm Staff. Later more high school students came to volunteer. Noa Dijstelbloem is a senior at Strath Haven High School with a passion for agroecology. She initially visited Rushton Farm as a junior on a field trip as part of our relationship with Strath Haven’s AP Environmental Science Program. Not having the opportunity to visit this past fall she received permission to volunteer during the week. She had a desire to work, and more importantly to learn. Inspired by their experiences at Rushton Farm, both Noa and Abby have chosen to study agroecology at college next year. When Rushton Farm was established in 2007, one of the first priorities was engaging students through education and hands on learning. In the first two years, programming centered around high school internships but quickly evolved to include a work service program. Students from many different area high schools including The Shipley School, Conestoga High School, and Strath Haven High School
would commit to working and learning, on the farm during the month of May. They would work alongside the Rushton Farmers, following their activities and learning the importance of farming in concert with nature. Rushton Farm concentrates on the science of agroecology in its farming practices. Agroecology is farming with the understanding of applying ecological principles in agricultural systems and practices. It focuses on having very little impact on the ecosystem that surrounds the farm and helping to support both the wildlife and the land while producing food for the surrounding community. It is understood that we have to adapt farming practices to feed not just our community but also the world in years to come. Developing future farmers to understand this concept was something Willistown Conservation Trust saw as vital to our educational practices. Initially, students would work at Rushton Farm out of a commitment to a high school work service program or a paid internship. We soon found that with a better understanding of the environmental impact of conventional farming practices and food insecurity we were receiving applications from students with a passion to learn more about effectively growing organic food to feed people and support the surrounding ecosystem. The Willistown Conservation Trust Bird Conservation Program has played a large part in this. Their studies over the last decade have shown that the farm can help support a bird population where conventional farm practices can destroy it. Being able to engage students in multiple environmental programs helps deliver a strong message about proper land management practices. For thirteen years, Rushton Farm has worked to engage students and volunteers in the importance of farming with an understanding that agroecology and regenerative agriculture practices are essential to the future of farming. By teaching this to the students who work at the farm, we create an understanding of how our food system has to change if we are to feed the world while protecting the land that sustains us. NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS | 21
The Campaign for Rushton Woods Preserve THE NEED HAS NEVER BEEN GREATER For over forty years, land conservation has been a primary focus of our mission resulting in more than 7,500 protected acres in the Willistown countryside. At Rushton Woods Preserve, we unite the Trust’s five core programs in Land Protection, Habitat Restoration, Sustainable Agriculture, Bird Conservation and Watershed. RUSHTON WOODS PRESERVE BRINGS IT ALL TOGETHER At Rushton Woods Preserve, we have protected an extraordinary slice of nature, constructed an inspiring building, created compelling and effective programming, and assembled a talented staff. We need your support now to strengthen the Rushton Woods Preserve infrastructure and programs.
A $2,000,000 campaign to strengthen the Rushton Woods Preserve, to inspire in all who visit a deep commitment to save the land and preserve the natural world for our children and future generations. Funds from the Campaign for Rushton Woods Preserve will:
ESTABLISH RUSHTON WOODS FUND FOR OUTREACH AND PROGRAMMING $1,000,000
DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT STEWARDSHIP AND HABITAT RESTORATION PLAN $425,000
Our programs educate and inspire people to take action and make a difference. They require educated and talented staff, equipment with maintenance needs, and state-of-the-art curricula. This excellent programming has noticeable impacts on our participants. Both children and adults benefit from our workshops, presentations, guest speakers, research and events. Funding for this will be used to enhance:
Rushton Woods, like our other preserves, must be actively managed and maintained –both now and forever. It is home to healthy native habitats of early successional growth, northern hardwoods, meadows and grasslands and important riparian zones. Showcasing the Trust’s preserves as examples of healthy habitat while modeling land stewardship best practices is central to our mission. Funds for this will be used to:
• Land Protection & Stewardship • Habitat Restoration • Community Farm • Bird Conservation • Watershed Protection • Research, Education, Outreach & Events • Equipment & Supplies • Community engagement opportunities
22 | NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
• Develop a comprehensive Preserve Management Plan • Restore & maintain 2.5 mile pedestrian and equestrian trail network (considering future connectivity to trails beyond preserve boundaries) • Restore all represented habitats for maximum benefit to wildlife and people • Improve habitat quality to support maximum diversity of species • Increase opportunities for outdoor learning and field experience • Capacity for carbon storage and sequestration
CAMPAIGN FOR RUSHTON WOODS PRESERVE
Campaign Goal:
$2,000,00
Raised to Date (March 2021):
$775,000 JODI SPRAGINS
Funds Needed to Complete Campaign: $1,225,000
DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT PRESERVE ACCESS AND CIRCULATION PLAN $175,000
RESTORE HISTORIC WHITE FARMHOUSE FOR INTERNS AND VISITING CONSERVATIONISTS $400,000
The addition of the Rushton Conservation Center has exponentially increased the Trust’s outreach. The new building brings thoughtful leaders from near and far to discuss pertinent topics such as habitat, wildlife, land protection, stewardship and climate change, It also serves as a place for children and adults to learn about our work and the importance of conservation. As our programs grow and our outreach expands, the Preserve Access and Circulation Plan will address: • Expanded parking at the Rushton Conservation Center • Improved parking at Rushton Farm • Access to farm outbuildings including tractor barn • Water and electric to tractor barn • Pedestrian pathway from farm to Rushton Conservation Center • Interpretive signage and appropriate lighting
The White Farmhouse is an historic residence adjacent to the newly built Rushton Conservation Center. The Farmhouse provides housing for interns and co-op students, aspiring farmers, biologists and researchers who work at Rushton Woods Preserve. Renovating the White Farmhouse will allow us to attract high-caliber staff and visiting conservationists for years to come. Funding will provide for: • New roof and front entrance porch • New siding and removal of old asbestos siding • New fenestration and doors • Interior renovation for optimal living space • Exterior landscaping and privacy screening
For more information about the Campaign for Rushton Woods Preserve contact Tripp Way at development@wctrust.org
NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS | 23
JENNIFER MATHES
Staying Home and Staying Connected By Lindsay Martin Carlson, Director of the Rushton Conservation Center
W
hen the Rushton Conservation Center (RCC) closed its doors in March 2020, it was unknown what the future would hold for this beautiful, new building with the mission to bring our community of conservationists together. Without the ability to safely gather for educational and culinary programming at the RCC, The Trust’s outreach and events team quickly began producing virtual programming featuring its program areas: Land Protection, Land Stewardship, Bird Conservation, Watershed Protection and Community Farm. There was one missing piece to the program calendar: culinary experiences. This is when the Community Supper series concept became a reality.
Partner at The Whip Tavern, about why his restaurant is committed to sourcing their ingredients from local farms with sustainable farming practices. The restaurant and food industry has been hit particularly hard during the Covid-19 pandemic, but the Trust has been able to strengthen relationships with current partners and find new small businesses and restaurants to collaborate.
After it was clear that reopening for in-person culinary experiences and educational programming was not going to be feasible, we knew we could find a way to connect with the community through food, promote regional and sustainable agriculture, and support local businesses. That is when we started the Community Supper Series and reestablished the deep connection and comfort we can find through good food sourced responsibly. While there may not be a pre-dinner farm tour at sunset or a hands-on demonstration dinner right now, the message about the importance of sourcing food from local, sustainable farms is more important than ever.
Using the concept of agroecology (farming with nature in mind) and using organic and regenerative farming practices, the Trust puts the land to work at Rushton Farm to feed people and further enhance the surrounding ecosystems. The result is a productive farm that yields 30,000 pounds of fresh, healthy food each year and grows 140 varieties of fruits and vegetables, proudly donating 15% of the yield at Rushton Farm to the Chester County Food Bank and West Chester Food Cupboard each year. In the spirit of continuing its commitment to food access, Community Supper Series participants are encouraged to bring non-perishable foods and grocery store gift cards to be donated to these deserving organizations.
“By growing sustainably, farms will reduce their pollution and food waste, meaning our supply chain is more ecofriendly as a whole. Further, by adapting our menu to the seasonal growing cycles we can help cut down our purchase of out-of-season crops that may require harmful chemicals to grow in non-peak conditions. But one of the greatest benefits is that by sourcing from farms like Rushton we are cultivating the ability to tell stories around the dishes that incorporate your harvest,” said KC Kulp, Operating 24 | NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Monthly meal pickups have taken place at the Rushton Conservation Center. Nestled at the edge of Rushton Woods Preserve and Rushton Farm, the RCC is a gateway into the Preserve and the hub of our educational and culinary programming for both youth and adults.
We have worked with a variety of restaurants and food producers since the fall of 2020 offering a range of cuisines, including Taste of Puebla (Kennett Square), The Pasta Lab (Philadelphia), Talula’s Table (Kennett Square), and The Whip Tavern (Coatesville). We plan to feature a different partner each month and continue to make new connections in the community as we work toward safely reopening and gathering in-person.
Upcoming Events Visit wctrust.org/calendar for more event information and registration
APRIL 8 Nature at Night: Native Plants for Your Landscape APRIL 15 Filmmaker and National Geographic Explorer Alizé Carrère presents ADAPTATION: Creatively Living on a Changing Planet MAY 1 Bird Banding Open House MAY 13 Historic Sugartown and Willistown Conservation Trust: Where Preservation Meets Conservation MAY 23-29 Tree Planting at Ashbridge Preserve JUNE 1 First Rushton Farm CSA Pickup JUNE 5 Barns & BBQ JULY 17-25 Wildflower Week AUGUST 14-29 Cruise for Conservation SEPTEMBER 30 An Evening with Scott Weidensaul and His New Book: A World on the Wing: The Global Odyssey of Migratory Birds OCTOBER 16 Run-A-Muck Events subject to cancellation - check wctrust.org for the latest details.
Recurring Events WEDNESDAYS | “Just Show Up” Volunteer Wednesdays at Rushton Farm. This is an opportunity to work in the fields with the farmers. You can show up at the farm from 9 am - 4 pm on any Wednesday during the season. THURSDAYS | “Love the Land” Stewardship Volunteer Thursdays. Volunteer at our nature preserves! Willistown Conservation Trust maintains 3 public preserves, soon to be 4! With so much beautiful habitat, we need some help keeping these conserved lands looking their best for all visitors. If you wish to attend, please contact Mike Cranney (mjc@wctrust.org) ahead of time to sign up for that week. THURSDAYS | Spring Migration Bird Banding starts April 22-May 20. Visit the bird banding station at Rushton Woods Preserve to observe the banding process, learn about the science of bird migration, and see the importance of land conservation for migratory birds. Space is limited. Please register in advance, bring a mask, and stay within the designated viewing area for the safety of our staff and visitors. Note: we do not band if it rains, for the safety of the birds. RUSHTON NATURE KEEPERS (RNK) | RNK educational programing will resume in May 2021! Check for registration details and the program schedule at wctrust.org/rushtonnaturekeepers.
UPCOMING EVENTS | 25
MOVERS AND SHAKERS | STAFF NEWS Outstanding In Their Fields | Staff Presentations, Awards, and Professional Advancement
BIRD CONSERVATION PROGRAM & NORTHEAST MOTUS COLLABORATION
Seven Ways to Give Traveling Birds a Boost, May 2020, Lisa Kiziuk, Blake Goll, Caitlin Welsh, Alison Fetterman, Todd Alleger Nesting Birds in Your Backyard, July 2020, Blake Goll with Ken Leister (Bluebird Society of PA) Motus, September 2020, Lisa Kiziuk, Blake Goll, Caitlin Welsh, Alison Fetterman Flight Path of an Avian Biologist, October 2020, Shelly Eshelman, Zoe Warner Mysteries of the Saw-whet Owl, November 2020, Blake Goll The Black Vulture, January 2021, Lisa Kiziuk with Bracken Brown (Hawk Mountain) For The Love of Birds, January 2021, Blake Goll (at Radnor Hunt) Ornithology 101: Part 1 & 2, March 2021, Blake Goll COMMUNITY FARM PROGRAM
Rejuvenation at Rushton Farm, June 2020, Fred de Long, Molly Clark Tracy, Caitlin Welsh Let’s Get Growing, February 2021, Fred de Long, Molly Clark Tracy, Noah Gress, Caitlin Welsh LAND PROTECTION
Legacy of the Land, September 2020, Bonnie Van Alen, Alice Hausmann, Erik Hetzel STEWARDSHIP
Native Plants for Your Landscape, June 2020, Blake Goll, Mike Cranney Fireflies and Moths: Your Backyard at Night, June 2020, Blake Goll Trails Workshop: Part 1 & 2, September 2020, Andrew Kirkpatrick, Mike Cranney WATERSHED PROTECTION PROGRAM
History of Plastic, February 2020, Lauren McGrath (Presented at Radnor Hunt) Marvelous Macroinvertebrates, May 2020, Lauren McGrath Plastic Free July, July 2020, Lauren McGrath with Gwenn Nolan (Mother Compost) Darby Creek Headwaters Citizen Science Series: -Watershed 101, April 2020, Lauren McGrath co-presented with Stroud and DCVA -Saltwatch, April 2020, Lauren McGrath co-presented with Stroud and DCVA -Watershed 101, May 2020, Lauren McGrath co-presented with Stroud and DCVA -Darby Creek Headwaters Volunteer Meet and Greet, July 2020, Lauren McGrath with Stroud and DCVA -Macroinvertebrates, April 2020, Lauren McGrath (Guest lecture to Ursinus Biology students) Alumni Panel at Penn, October 2020, Lauren McGrath (At University of Pennsylvania) Being a Professional in the Field, November 2020, Lauren McGrath (Presented to Ursinus Aquatic/Marine biology students) Salt in Our Roadways, January 2021, Lauren McGrath with Dr. John Jackson (Stroud Water Research Center) 26 | MOVERS AND SHAKERS | STAFF AND TRUSTEE NEWS
MOVERS AND SHAKERS | INTERN NEWS SOPHIA GROSS | Sophia is a Temple University graduate with a degree in Communications, Media, and Advertising. Sophia has been serving as Willistown Conservation Trust’s Communications and Marketing intern since September. During the internship, Sophia assisted with various video, marketing, social media, and graphic design projects. Sophia will be beginning a full-time position at MC3 as a Project Coordinator at the beginning of March. EVAN HUNT | Evan joined the Watershed team as a Conservation Associate in
January 2020. Evan Hunt is a native of southeastern Pennsylvania and graduated from Ursinus College in 2018 with a BA in Environmental Studies. This past year Evan focused on cataloging and mapping the 691 trees planted along the banks of Ridley Creek in Ashbridge Preserve. Using geographic information system (GIS) software, he was able to monitor tree health and organize ongoing tree maintenance. These maps will be incredibly useful as we plan to plant several hundred more trees in the coming years. ANNA MCNAULL | Anna is a senior at West Chester East High School. Always upbeat and with a constant smile, Anna saw Rushton as an opportunity to get out and spend some time during her summer working on a farm. Anna became a committed volunteer putting in many hours of hard work on the farm throughout the summer.
ABBY OSWALD | Abby is a senior at Great Valley High School. She is an avid swimmer who enjoys the outdoors and has a great work ethic. She joined the Rushton Farm staff as a volunteer and soon proved herself worthy of a full-time paid internship, working alongside the senior staff members. Thanks to her experience at Rushton Farm, Abby has chosen to study agroecology at college this fall.
JULES SMITH | Jules is a senior at Drexel University where she studies environmental science and biology. Her interests include conservation biology and aquatic systems. Jules joined the Watershed team as a Co-Op student in the spring of 2020. While at the Trust, Jules completed a literature review and put together a proposal to analyze the aquatic macroinvertebrate response to restoration efforts based on the recovery of insect feeding groups in the coming years. ZACH SMITH | Zach originally from Clarks Summit Pennsylvania, Zach is an environmental science major at Drexel University. Zach joined the Watershed team as a Co-Op student in the spring of 2020. During his time at the Trust, Zack completed a preliminary study on the impact of microplastics on our aquatic communities. His research focused on counting plastic filtered from Total Suspended Solids samples collected throughout 2019.
MOVERS AND SHAKERS | STAFF AND TRUSTEE NEWS | 27
MOVERS AND SHAKERS | MEET OUR NEW TRUSTEES Lindsay Leisenring The Trust welcomed long-time friend and neighbor Lindsay Leisenring to the Trust’s Board of Trustees in January 2021. Since moving to the area in 1995, Lindsay focused on her career as an attorney and on raising her three children; Aida (43) Alex (34) and Chase (24). It was with the Garden Club of Philadelphia where she found her passion for conservation. She was inspired by Doug Tallamy’s speech about the insect and bird “apocalypse” and the importance of planting native species in our backyards. This led her to begin proactive habitat efforts on her own property, including a journey to steward 35 acres on their family farm from commercial corn and wheat production to native warm season grasses. After Lindsay retired in 2016 as an attorney, she became involved with the Garden Club of America’s (GCA) National Conservation Committee, to keep GCA membership well informed on current conservation issues by advocating with legislators about federal policy initiatives that promote clean water and air. Currently, she is Subject Vice Chair of Public Lands, Sustainability and Infrastructure for GCA’s National Conservation Committee.
HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED WITH WILLISTOWN CONSERVATION TRUST (WCT)? | We moved to Glenbrook Farm in 1995 and built our house on the family owned property. My husband Ted’s family had put the farm under conservation easement with Brandywine Conservancy before the advent of WCT. Ted served on the Board of WCT in its earlier days. I was struck from the beginning with the beauty of the Willistown countryside and the importance of the work that Bonnie (and Alice) were doing at that time to prevent development. WHAT INSPIRES YOU ABOUT THE MISSION OF WILLISTOWN CONSERVATION TRUST? | That there is a team of people out there working on nothing but preserving our countryside. The Trust’s unique position to educate others about the importance of protecting our watersheds, planting native plants to nurture biodiversity, and eliminating pesticides and herbicides. That there are steps we can all take to combat climate change, to build plant biodiversity in our backyards and help stem the decline in insects and birds. IF YOU COULD BE ANYTHING IN A FOREST, WHAT WOULD YOU BE AND WHY? | I would be a tulip poplar. They predominate the woods behind our house, growing tall and straight and living long lives. The leaves serve as a larval host for the Eastern tiger swallowtail, the flowers produce nectar and pollen for honey bees, native bees and hummingbirds and the seeds feed birds, rabbits and squirrels.
28 | MOVERS AND SHAKERS | STAFF AND TRUSTEE NEWS
Michael McGraw, MES, QAWB Michael McGraw joined the Trust’s Board of Trustees in December 2020. He is a Wildlife Biologist and Ecologist at Applied Ecological Services (AES). Since 2002, Michael has performed an extensive variety of reptile, amphibian, and avifaunal surveys in the Eastern and Midwestern U.S. with a strong emphasis on endangered, threatened, and species of concern. Beyond survey and research, his work as a consulting scientist includes project design, permitting, project management, and client relations, as well as writing technical reports and proposals. Michael is currently managing numerous projects and functioning as a lead biologist on a variety of AES projects, including wildlife surveys, ecological assessments, threatened and endangered species surveys, population biology research, wetland mitigation, sensitive habitat restoration, FAA-mandated wildlife hazard management plans for airports, land management and site master planning, and energy development projects. Michael has had a long relationship with the Trust as a volunteer through both songbird and Saw-Whet owl banding, as well as serving on the Environmental Committee. He is currently working closely with the Stewardship department to design the Ecological Master Plan for Rushton Woods Preserve. HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED WITH WILLISTOWN CONSERVATION TRUST (WCT)? | My first involvement with WCT was in 2009 exploring possible bog turtle habitat restoration on a local property under easement with the Trust. Through this effort, I met Lisa Kiziuk and promptly began volunteering at the net lanes alongside banding friend Doris McGovern during spring and fall songbird migration. The friendships were cemented! Since then I’ve had the great pleasure of exploring the site as a UPenn student, as a UPenn instructor, and through Project OwlNet. Recently I’ve been enjoying roles on the Environmental Committee and in developing an Ecological Master Plan for the Rushton Woods Preserve. WHAT INSPIRES YOU ABOUT THE MISSION OF WILLISTOWN CONSERVATION TRUST? | The aspect about WCT that keeps me genuinely amazed is the commitment to biotic health across multiple disciplines. The health of the land, the health of the food, and the health of people. The Trust truly embraces real science to inform community-driven programs. Few organizations have both research-grade science and a people-forward mission like this group. It is amazing and inspiring as a model for consilience! IF YOU COULD BE ANYTHING IN A FOREST, WHAT WOULD YOU BE AND WHY? | This is a hard question! I suppose I would want to be an old growth, overstory white pine that managed to evade the logger’s blade in the 18th and 19th centuries. To be a living part of pre-colonized North American forests and have passenger pigeons perch on my limbs, to provide shade for forest buffalo on a hot summer day, and to protect wild turkeys and myriad birds with my boughs. With this would come many years of painful observations too, but worth it to have that grander perspective and retain that energy for the curious natural history explorers of our time to encounter.
MOVERS AND SHAKERS | STAFF AND TRUSTEE NEWS | 29
BLAKE GOLL/STAFF
DONOR SUPPORT | THE SYCAMORE SOCIETY
P L AT I N U M S YC A M O R E S ($25,000 or More)
Anonymous (2) Ms. Elizabeth G. Atterbury Mr. Timothy B. Barnard and Ms. Meredyth Patterson Tally Foundation
Dick and Nancy Eales Mrs. Beverly S. Hattersley Beth and David Hucker Mr. and Mrs. Collin F. McNeil Quaker City Foundation
Dr. Amanda A. Ryan and Mr. Kevin T. Ryan Bob and Carolyn Turner Mr. and Mrs. James L. Van Alen II
GOLD SYCAMOR ES ($10,000 to $24,999)
Anonymous (2) Clarke and Barb Blynn The Bryn Mawr Trust Company Frank and Terry Buzan Anthony and Linda DiValerio Alice and Peter Hausmann
Francis Jennings and Terri Cappelli LL Charitable Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Layden, Jr. Linda and Chris McIsaac Mr. and Mrs. Robert S. McMenamin The Merz Family Foundation
Ms. Caroline A. Moran Ms. Alexandra Murphy Mr. and Mrs. Seymour S. Preston III Starrett Foundation Don and Nancy Weaver Ms. Lida A. Wright
S ILVER SYCAMOR ES ($5,000 to $9,999)
Anonymous Christian H. Bauta Joanne M. Berwind Mr. Adrian A. Castelli and Ms. Molly G. Love Dr. and Mrs. Robert R. Corrato Mr. and Mrs. Gary A. Cox Kimberley and Russell Galligher Charles A. and Patricia Genuardi Jim and Cherie Gerry
30 | DONOR SUPPORT
The Giving Tree Foundation Ms. Linda M. Gordon Dr. Janet F. Haas and Mr. John Otto Haas The Hamilton Family Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Nathaniel P. Hamilton Jr. Dick and Meg Hayne The William Penn Foundation Chris and Jennifer Moller Mr. and Mrs. Peter Morse
E. Murdoch Family Foundation Britt and Janice Murdoch Mr. and Mrs. Robert D. Patterson Dr. Donald E. Red Mr. Matt E. Taylor and Ms. Francie Ingersoll Mr. and Mrs. Richard Warden The Honorable Thomas D. Watkins and Mrs. Penelope Watkins Alex and Janine Zozaya
We are grateful for these donors who have generously supported the Trust’s conservation efforts. Those listed on the following pages provided support between January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020.
The Sycamore Society honors individuals and organizations who annually contribute $1,500 or more to the Trust. Gifts listed below include contributions to the Annual Fund, Capital Campaign, and other special gifts.
B R O N Z E S YC A M O R E S ($2,500 to $4,999)
Anonymous Franny and Franny Abbott Mr. and Mrs. Bryan D. Colket Diamond Ice Foundation Ray Dombroski and Colleen DeMorat Michael E. and Elizabeth S. Drummond Ann Ercolani and Drew Conboy Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Etherington Steve and Debra Gautier Les Green and Ethie Ziselman Mr. and Mrs. S. Matthews V. Hamilton, Jr. Meg and Chris Hardesty Mr. and Mrs. J. Wesley Hardin Mr. and Mrs. Thomas W. Hofmann
Mr. and Mrs. Bill T. Howard Marybeth Hurley Mrs. Barbara M. Jordan Kimberton Whole Foods Mr. George F. Krall Jr. First Cornerstone Foundation Mr. and Mrs. James O. Moore Mrs. Anne G. Moran The National Bank of Malvern Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Newbold Donna and Bill Oliver Conrad and Amanda Radcliffe The Rorer Foundation Mr. and Mrs. John A. Simkiss, Jr.
The Simkiss Family Foundation Lang and Marilyn Smith Mr. and Mrs. Steven L. Spinner Spinner Family Charitable Fund of The Community Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Randal Steinhoff John F. and Holly H. Stoviak Mr. and Mrs. Peter S. Strawbridge Mr. George Strawbridge Jr. Jeanne and Doug Swope David and Laura Thayer Frank Tobin and Ilene Chester Carolyn J. Wukitch and Anthony McCarley
S YC A M O R E S
($1,500 to $2,499) Anonymous (2) Rebecca and John Adams Caroline and Olin Belsinger Doug and Peggy Briggs Warren Claytor Jonathan and Kelly Cleborne Jon and Tracey Costello Mr. and Mrs. John F. Cozzi Jim and Jan D’Arcy Emery and Bonnie Davis Dr. and Mrs. Sanford H. Davne Carol and J.R. Delich Ronald E. DiSimone and Patricia A. Torna John and Kate Fahey Mrs. Heather E. Gallagher Mr. Brook Gardner and Ms. Jodi Spragins GBH Foundation Germeshausen Foundation Dr. and Mrs. Robert P. Good Mr. and Mrs. James E. Gowen II Steve and Christina Graham Dr. George T. Graham and Ms. Suzanne M. Roth Phil and Betty Harvey Mr. Scott T. Hattersley
Ryan and Lori Heenan Lynn Hitschler L. Stockton Illoway Mr. and Mrs. James P. Kennedy III Dr. Martha Nolte Kennedy and Mr. Raoul D. Kennedy Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Kenworthy Nancy and Dick Klavans Catherine LaFarge Helen and Dick Leaman Mr. and Mrs. Mark T. Ledger Ted and Lindsay Leisenring Ms. Victoria B. Mars and Mr. David R. Spina Mary and Jay McElroy Quincy McCoy John and Melissa McGlinn Mr. and Mrs. Joseph J. McKenna Jr. Wendy W. McLean Jennifer and Bob McNeil John and Joan Mullen Mr. and Mrs. Britton Murdoch Pam and Pete Nagy Mr. and Mrs. Steve M. Oblack Ned and Rachel Owen
PECO Mrs. Keith M. Pension Mr. and Mrs. Mark Piro Radnor Hunt Pony Club, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. David W. Rawson Ms. Elizabeth Reilly Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Rorer Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Rorer Mr. and Mrs. Karl R. Schoettle Jr. Mrs. Alice M. Sharp Elizabeth Stone Arthur and Doris Strawbridge Mr. and Mrs. Steven L. Strawbridge Dylan and Anne Supina Mr. and Mrs. Gerard H. Sweeney Mr. and Mrs. Stuart A. Taylor John and Gerry Tuten Mr. and Mrs. James L. Van Alen, Jr. George and Linda Wattman Ted and Susan Wentz Margaret and Tom Whitford Mark and Chay Wike Penny Wilson
DONOR SUPPORT | CONTINUED CONSERVATIONIST ($1,000 - $1,499)
Anonymous Mrs. Sandra K. Baldino Broadacres Trouting Association Mr. and Mrs. W. Thacher Brown Tim Buckley and Elizabeth Norris Beatrice Cassou Catherwood Foundation Vince and Kali Curran Gary and Claire Daniels Jeff and Diane Groff Mr. and Mrs. A. Dunham Hollister, Jr. Gary and Patricia Holloway Margot and Bob Keith LandArt Events Mr. and Mrs. Marc Lederman Mrs. Jane E. MacElree John and Nima Marsh Dr. F. Arthur McMorris and Dr. Joanna Balcarek McMorris Mr. and Mrs. Peter J. McNeely Mr. and Mrs. Chip G. Morgan Sandra and Warren Ormerod Elizabeth Evert and Andy Orr The Pencoyd Foundation Frank A. Pension Mr. and Mrs. Gerald B. Rorer Fritz and Christine Seving Dr. Sharon Taylor and Mr. Joe Cannon Mr. and Mrs. James J. Tornetta James Sargent and Paige Turner Mr. and Mrs. Rob B. Van Alen Mr. and Mrs. Jeff S. Vincent Sara Williams and Tom Koester Devin Wilkins and Kyle Wichser Ms. Effie Wister
NATURALISTS ($500 - $999)
Anonymous (2) Mr. Jonathan C. Alderson and Ms. Ann Hausmann Altus Partners Mr. Frederick L. Bissinger Jr. Bright Funds Mr. and Mrs. John O. Buckley Dr. and Mrs. Barry H. Burkhardt Mr. and Mrs. Cummins Catherwood The Catherwood Family Fund of the Philadelphia Foundation Martin J. Cappelletti Custom Builders, Inc. Ernie and Jane Charlesworth Robin and Alan Crawford III The Cruise Family Dr. and Mrs. Edward B. Daeschler Mr. and Mrs. William O. Daggett Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Anthony D’Alessandro Ron D’Angeli Mr. and Mrs. Neil H. Davis Ms. Laura De Ramel Emily Dodge Deb and John Donaldson Mr. and Mrs. Charles F. Dougherty Dennis and Charlotte Elko Facebook Donations Mrs. Elizabeth H. Fahey The FS Foundation John and Dolly Fisher Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Flaherty Lynn and Steve Flynn Edward D. Frank II and Susan G. Lea Mr. and Mrs. Paul Gansky Mr. and Mrs. John Griffin
32 | DONOR SUPPORT
Gil and Tracey Hanse Lisa Hatcher and Charlie Bernard Judy and Darrel Herbst Mr. and Mrs. Tom Hipp Mr. and Mrs. Terry Jarman Rick and Sharon Jones Mark and Shanu Kurd Mr. and Mrs. D. Christopher Le Vine Anita and Frank Leto Nick and Cass Ludington Meridee Winters School of Music Jamie Milden Jim and Judy Milne Mr. and Mrs. John D. Milner Ms. Akiko Mitsui and Mr. James Heath Mr. and Mrs. Peter M. Morris Jay and Nancy Mossman Jim and Kayo Nolan Bob and Susan Peck Mr. and Mrs. R. Anderson Pew Nancy and Donald Resnick Rita E. Reves Nicole and Ed Riegl Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Shanahan Mr. and Mrs. Steven C. Sharkey Eric and Genevieve Snyder Morris and Boo Stroud Mr. and Mrs. Jack M. Taylor Mr. and Mrs. Justin N. Thompson Meghan Walsh and Albert Pizzica Lee and Bill Warden Gary Warzecha Joe and Jolly Waterman Mr. and Mrs. Donald B. Wilkins, Jr. James G. Willson Ms. Josephine Lippincott Winsor Ellyn Spragins and John Witty
STEWARDS ($250 - $499)
Anonymous (2) Page and Betsy Allinson Anderson Family Charitable Fund Norman and Sid Baglini Jennifer Strawbridge Braxton Michael and Linda Burg Thomas P. Cobb Mr. and Mrs. Eric A. Corkhill III Pam Costanzi and Kevin Murphy Fred and Paula de Long Francis DeRoos Jennifer Drass Mr. and Mrs. John A. Eichman IV Ms. Laura Jane Favela and Mr. Eric Favela Wendell and Jenny Fenton Sharon and Tony Fernandes Tatiana Field Diana and Matt Funchion Dr. Jan Taylor Gordon Lyn and Harry Groome Dr. Stephen Gross and Karen Gross Marshall Hamilton Mrs. Lawrie A. Harris IV Barlow Herbst Jamie and Hollie Holt Dr. Keith A. Kennedy Mr. and Mrs. Daniel J. Krysztofiak Lisa and Chris Lawler Mr. and Mrs. Kurt V. Leininger The Garden Club of Philadelphia Mrs. William D. Lenker Ms. Mary E. MacLachlan
Mr. Ralph W. Marsh Ms. Kim Mayhew Mr. and Mrs. Patrick E. McGovern Mr. and Mrs. Alan McIlvain, Jr. Margaret McKinley Bill Munley Laura and David Palmer Mrs. Eleanor R. Peterson Kate and Travis Peyton Avery Rome and Jeff Price Mr. and Mrs. Peter D. Quinn Radnor Hunt Foundation David and Bridget Rahr Mary and Rob Ruggiero Ms. Anne Satterthwaite Bonnie Schaefer Mr. and Mrs. David R. Shaman Mr. and Mrs. Andrew J. Smith Countryside Consulting, Inc. Mr. Michael G. Starecky Brandon and Ainsley Stewart Eric and Susan Swanson Mr. James K. Thompson Pete and Christina Townsend Mr. and Mrs. Alexander S. Van Alen Dr. and Mrs. Michael Ward Washburn Family Foundation The Weeders Bradford F. Whitman Mr. and Mrs. Peter Wilmerding Mr. and Mrs. David R. Wilmerding Jr. Mr. and Mrs. James Wilson Sally Ann Wood Eliza and Peter Zimmerman
PROTECTORS ($100 - $249)
Anonymous (8) Richard Adler and Madeleine Boyer AmazonSmile Foundation Ardrossan Beagles, Inc. Ms. Elizabeth N. Barnett Greg and Suzanne Barton Robert J. Bednar Debbie Beer and Adrian Binns Ms. Barbara L. Bird Mr. Rodger A. Bovenkerk Mr. and Mrs. A Bowles Boyance Family Mr. and Mrs. James Brecker Mrs. Margaret S. Bridwell Ms. Elaine Brody Dr. A. Michael Broennle Betty and George Buckland Denise A. Carpenter Ms. Deborah Cascarino Mr. and Mrs. Joseph R. Caspar George and Jan Cauffman Ms. Debra L. Charlesworth Chester County Fox Hunters Association Sally and Jim Congdon Rika Conlan Mr. and Mrs. David Cook Debra Somers Copit, MD Mr. Peter Cozzi John and Mary Custer Mr. and Mrs. Robert Davis Paul and Caroline Davis Mr. Eric Charles Delss Mr. and Mrs. William M. Diehl Mr. Steve DiMedio Mr. Walter J. Dowling
Mr. and Mrs. Ford B. Draper, Jr. Ms. Lisa M. Dudash and Mr. John P. Forde Mrs. Elisabeth Gula Duffy Twin Valleys Garden Club Mr. and Mrs. Christopher B. Ebmeyer Mr. Thomas J. Farrell III and Ms. Alison D. Ogelsby Debra and Theodore Fetterman Jody and Alan Fitts Jeff and Karen Fleming Dona and Thomas Foerster Mr. and Mrs. James Fooskas Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Edmund J. Gaffney The Gardeners Ms. Glenna F. Geiger Ms. Vicki Gershon Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Gibson Mr. and Mrs. Aidan and Elaine Gilmartin Ms. Penny Goulding Julie S. and K. David Graham Green Valleys Association of Southeastern PA, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Perry C. Gresh Kathleen and Rick Hagan Brian Hamilton Dr. Andrea S. Hanaway Mr. Paul Nigel Harris Barbara and Bob Heck Leslie Hempling John and Linda Hicks Ms. Madeline Iacobucci and Mr. Joe Farrant Mr. Robert Itin and Ms. Mary Garrett Itin Mr. and Mrs. Roy Jackson Ms. Isabel Johnson and Ms. Lupin Hipp Louise R. Johnston Susan Johntz and David Velinsky JPMorgan Chase Foundation Willaim Keyser and Pat Reeser Mr. R. Bruce Killen Colleen J. King Paul Kirsch Ms. Lisa Krall The Kraut Family Mr. and Mrs. Robert Latyak Mr. and Mrs. David P. Lavins Mr. Peter K. Lee Mr. and Mrs. Richard S. Lee Rebecca and Gerald Leggieri Dr. and Mrs. Blair LeRoy Donna Levitsky Pamela E. Lewis Kristine and Jason Lisi Ms. Denise Liszewski Susan and Bob MacDonnell Ms. Joan W. Mackie Dr. and Mrs. W. Steven Mark Joan and David Martin Robbi and Jim McErlane Mrs. Angel Mecca Mr. James Meehan Judy Meinkoth and William Baxt Arthur P. and Marjorie L. Miller Mr. and Mrs. John D. Mohr Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Morris Kristin K. Morsman Ms. Diane Murray Mrs. Maria V. Nelson Mr. and Mrs. James A. Nolen IV John Odell and Maryanne Buschini
Catherine Ormerod and Theo Hunte Judy and Rick Owens Mr. and Mrs. Martin R. Page Edie Parnum Patagonia, Inc. Margot and Mac Patterson Ms. Jane G. Pepper Melissa and Michael Perticari Mariana and Andrew Pesthy Ms. Barbara M. Pettinos David Phelan Elizabeth and Gabriel Pilar Stephen and Amy Plourde Tracy and Joe Przybylowski Mr. and Mrs. John Rhoads Jr. Rick and Nancy Richards David and Faye Rogers Jeff and Liza Rugen Mark and Emily Saks Mr. and Mrs. Henry E. Schellenger Mrs. Nancy Schwab Mr. and Mrs. Keven Shanahan Mr. and Mrs. Win Siedlarz Mr. John R. Silverthorne Paula Singer Mr. and Mrs. John M. Skrocki Dr. and Mrs. W. John Smith Mary and Sid Smith Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Somers Cathy and Jim Staples Lyn Strickler Ms. Eileen Sullivan Mr. and Mrs. Barry Swirsky Liz and Ken Tankel Terleckyj Family Sara Thompson David Tidman Drew and Kristin Trautman Steven and Denise Treichel Scott Tuttle Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Wagner Michael and Kerry Walsh Michael Walsh Mr. and Mrs. Michael A. Warner Mr. David E. Watt William Y. Webb Mr. H. Drake Williams Jr. Sarah A. Willig and Family Mr. George C. Wood Minturn J. Wright III Christopher and Jean Wright
FRIENDS (UP TO $99)
Anonymous (6) Ms. Ruth E. Abbott Carol Anderson Megan Annan James Arbuckle and Chelsea Heck Mary and Allen Armstrong Mr. and Mrs. Keith Banks Ms. Maryanne Bayer Mr. Timothy M. Beadle Sam Bedeian Patricia Behler Dr. Christine Blumhardt Bernadette Brady C D Brown Mr. and Mrs. Peter Caldwell Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas J. Caniglia Mr. and Mrs. Jeffery Cantlin Sara Carmichael
Ms. Patricia Carson Mr. and Mrs. Mark Christaldi Ms. Carole Clarke and Walter Englander Ms. Jonna D. Coachman Mary Coe Susan L. Cooker Mr. and Mrs. William C. Corcoran Mr. and Mrs. Peter H. Craig Bill and Colleen Cranney Mr. Christopher B. Cryer William J. Curry Dr. and Mrs. Francis X. DeLone, Jr. Wendy DeWall Kelly Dillon Dori DiMassimo Mr. and Mrs. Albert Doering Morna Dombach Laura and Jack Murdoch Mr. and Mrs. Ryan Downey Mrs. Maureen A. Ebel Tara Eckert Ashton Eldredge Henry D. Elek Mr. Kenneth Enochs Jr. The Familetti Family Elizabeth Featherman Tara Fehon Mark and Jen Fifer Amy and John Finkbiner The Frankenheimer Family John and Suzanne Gaadt Brent and Karen Gartner Leonard Geiger Barbara and Jack Geltosky Mr. Peter George Ms. Deirdre Gibson Dr. and Mrs. Edward F. Gilardi Gill Family Mr. and Mrs. Gareth E. Glaser Brian Glass Ms. Laura Taylor Gorham Mr. and Mrs. James A. Grant, Sr. Nancy Graybeal Ryan Green Laurie Hallacker Ms. Deborah Hamilton Joanne Hanna Mr. and Mrs. Wick Hannan Susanne Harrigan Susanne and William Harrigan Ms. Adrienne Hart Erika and Azeez Hayne Eileen and John Hazard Ms. Suzanne Helme Carol H. Henn Mr. Eugene Hough Rob Howard Frances L. Hundt Ms. Mary N. Hundt Mr. and Mrs. Peter S. Illoway Kathleen Jackson Elizabeth Johnson Mr. Jim Joyce Paul Justice and Joshua Young Mr. Brandon Kauffman and Ms. Andrea Kauffman-Berry Mike Keller Mr. Peter Kennedy Jeffrey Kenney Ms. Melissa K. Kessler Ingersoll Lin and Rick Koenig Mrs. Janet Krevenas
Elizabeth Kuensell Allyson Lance Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey W. Lang Jan Lapointe Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Lownes Jr. David Luning Mr. and Mrs. Tom A. Maher Mr. and Mrs. Karl A. Malessa Jennifer Mathes Mrs. Cynthia Mehallow Ms. Judith Mendelsohn Mrs. Donna Meyer Jim Moffet Lawrence Monte Dana Montgomery Eileen Morrissey Sue Mrugal William Murphy Mrs. Carol Murray Joan Neely Gail Neiman Kevin Olsavsky Sara Painter Dominic Parrotta Ms. Lydia Pastuzek and Mr. Brian Monahan Peachtree Catering and Events Ms. Amy Piccola and Mr. Eric Kublius The Pikes The Pike Family Carol Pinheiro John Plonski and Carol Meinhardt Mr. and Mrs. Donald Prutzman Mrs. Joyce Rall Kate Ranalli
Mrs. Gale A. Rawson Mary and Mark Rippel Jamie Romansky Susan Rosen Francesca Russo Dr. and Mrs. Keith L. Sharkan Emily Sherwood Christopher Sides Jane Sleutaris Ms. Pamela Smyth Ms. Julie Snell Mr. and Mrs. James W. Snively Jr. Dan Snyder Erica Spiess Jo-Ann Stephens Ms. Christine R. Stevens Ms. Marian A. Stevens Mr. Henry Stevens Jessica Sugalski Mr. Edmund Thayer Jr. Craig and Judy Thomas Melissa Tice-Holmes Mr. and Mrs. Cary W. Toner Bobbi Tower Bruce and Caron Ulmer Mr. David L. Unruh Sheila Volinsky Garret Stephen Voorhees Dale Weaver Pat Welsh Skip and Kathy Withrow Mr. and Mrs. Jerold T. Wright Christine Yelovich Jean and Charles Zeien
W I L L I S T OW N C O N S E RVAT I O N T RU S T
Legacy Society Please consider joining the Legacy Society by adding simple bequest language to your will, or make Willistown Conservation Trust a beneficiary of your life insurance or retirement plan. For more information contact Tripp, at tw@wctrust.org.
NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS | 33
JENNIFER MATHES
DONOR SUPPORT | CONTINUED
BARNS & BBQ CO-CHAIRS
SPECIAL GIFTS
TRIBUTES
Donna and Rob Corrato Linda and Anthony DiValerio Lori and Ryan Heenan
Bird Conservation Program Anonymous (2) Megan Annan Norman and Sid Baglini Wendy DeWall Tara Eckert Diana and Matt Funchion Green Valleys Association of Southeastern PA, Inc. Ryan Green Joanne Hanna Mr. Jim Joyce David Luning Mr. and Mrs. Chip G. Morgan Gail Neiman Carol Pinheiro Jane Sleutaris Mr. and Mrs. James W. Snively Jr. Cathy and Jim Staples Mr. and Mrs. Barry Swirsky The Pencoyd Foundation Twin Valleys Garden Club Mr. and Mrs. James L. Van Alen II Joe and Jolly Waterman
In Honor of Alice and Peter Hausmann Johnathan Alderson and Ann Hausmann
BARNS & BBQ SPONSORS Co-Presenting Sponsors John Milner Architects, Inc. Pinemar, Inc. Virtual Platform Sponsor Kreischer Miller Habitat Restoration Sponsors Arader Tree Service Bank of America Private Bank Barnard, Mezzanotte, Pinnie and Seelaus, LLP Cherokee Construction Conicella Group Cullen Construction E.C. Trethewey Building Contractors, Inc. Glenmede King Construction Company, LLC Meadowbank Designs Mill Creek Capital Advisors, LLC Peter Zimmerman Architects, Inc. Ranieri & Kerns Associates, LLC Shreiner Tree Care Spire Builders Sycamore Racing Tague Lumber The Mundy Wealth Management Group Warren Claytor Architects Watershed Protection Sponsors A.K. Fencing, LLC Arcus Design Group - Architects, Inc. Donald Pell Gardens Dutchies Stone Work, LLC Griffiths Construction, Inc. Program Book Sponsors Country Properties Dewson Construction Company Fifth Park Stoneworks Flowers & More, Inc. Gardner/Fox Associates, Inc. Karen Beam Architect LLC L. S. Stone Masonry, Inc. Precise Buildings Providence One Builders Stoney Bank Nurseries, Inc. The M&T Charitable Foundation White Horse Construction, Inc.
SYCAMORE SOCIETY SPONSOR
Bryn Mawr Trust
34 | DONOR SUPPORT
Community Farm Program Edward D. Frank II and Susan G. Lea GBH Foundation Mr. Scott T. Hattersley Mrs. Barbara M. Jordan Cathy and Jim Staples Steven and Denise Treichel Motus Fund Anonymous Christian H. Bauta Debbie Beer and Adrian Binns Cabot Kjellerup Foundation Mandy Cabot and Peter Kjellerup Ernie and Jane Charlesworth Commonwealth of Pennsylvania John and Dolly Fisher Leo Model Foundation Inc. Sara Williams and Tom Koester Starrett Foundation The Weeders Mr. and Mrs. James L. Van Alen II Trail Fund Mr. and Mrs. A. Dunham Hollister, Jr. Quaker City Foundation Conrad and Amanda Radcliffe Radnor Hunt Foundation Watershed TreePennsylvania, the PA Urban and Community Forestry Council The William Penn Foundation
In Honor of Brooke Baxter Clarke and Barbara Blynn In Honor of Peter and Liz Strawbridge Jennifer Strawbridge Braxton In Honor of Christian Wynne Emily Dodge In Honor of Sara, Lucas, Sophia and Rosie Henry D. Elek In Honor of Barlow Herbst Judy and Darrel Herbst In Honor of John George Peter George In Honor of Linda LeRoy Nindy Pike In Honor of Peter and Claudia Somers Stephen and Katherine Somers In Honor of Maria M. Thompson Sara Thompson
MEMORIAL GIFTS In Memory of Sam Walsh Michael Walsh In Memory of Louis C. and Barbara R. Washburn Washburn Family Foundation
CAMPAIGN FOR RUSHTON WOODS PRESERVE DONORS 1976 Foundation Mr. Timothy B. Barnard and Ms. Meredyth Patterson Diamond Ice Foundation Anthony and Linda DiValerio Dick and Nancy Eales Mr. and Mrs. Christopher B. Ebmeyer Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Etherington Mrs. Perry C. Gresh Meg and Chris Hardesty Alice and Peter Hausmann Mr. and Mrs. Thomas W. Hofmann Mr. and Mrs. Bill T. Howard Beth and David Hucker Mr. George F. Krall Jr. Ms. Lisa Krall Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Layden, Jr. Ted and Lindsay Leisenring Mr. Adrian A. Castelli and Ms. Molly G. Love Otto Haas Charitable Trust Heidi S. Phelan Schwab Charitable - Kent Van Alen Fund Lang and Marilyn Smith Mr. and Mrs. Michael A. Stolper Mr. and Mrs. Peter S. Strawbridge Mr. Matt E. Taylor and Ms. Francie Ingersoll Bob and Carolyn Turner Mr. and Mrs. James L. Van Alen II Veritable, LP Mr. and Mrs. Richard Warden Ms. Lida A. Wright Alex and Janine Zozaya
LEGACY SOCIETY DONORS Susan L. Cooker Dick and Nancy Eales Alice and Peter Hausmann Beth and David Hucker Mr. Adrian A. Castelli and Ms. Molly G. Love Ms. Anne Satterthwaite Fritz and Christine Seving Mr. and Mrs. Peter S. Strawbridge Mr. and Mrs. James L. Van Alen II Margaret and Tom Whitford Ms. Lida A. Wright
Lists may be incomplete. Please forgive any omissions or errors.
VOLUNTEERS
Lauren Bacigalupi Bela Banker Tim Barnard Kathryn Bartling Amanda Bebel Emily Blackburn Barb Blynn Linda Brook Carlisle Brooke Bracken Brown Lindsay Brown Teresa Brown Angelo Brutico Adrian Castille Ilene Chester Beth Coppola Angie Cosey Judy Corr Liam Corr Charlie Coulter Noa Dijstelbloem Amanda Dunbar Mike Dunn Dick Eales Sandy Gargus Gary Gittis Kat Gord Deirdre Gordon Ryan Green Louis Hahn Meg Hardesty Suzanne Harrigan
Gene Harris Liam Hart Meg Hauler Kristen Henwood Barlow Herbst Janie Hill Jennifer Horan Evan Hunt Kristen Johnson Sheryl Johnson Kelly Johnson Marilee Jones Andrea Kauffman-Berry Heather Kostick Katie Kourakis Gabrielle Lent Linda Leroy Pam Lewis Molly Love Julie Malloy-Dutot Alicia Marziani Jennifer Mathes Corrine McConville Doris McGovern Michael McGraw Anna McNaull Allyson Mctear Jennie Mullen Rich Mooney Steven Oblack Catherine Oblack Abby Oswald
Meredy Patterson Sandie Perkowski Eugene Potapov Michele Roche Michael Rodgers Avery Rome Jordan Sanford Cindy Scheeler Edwin Shafer Jessica Shahan celeste Sheehan Maribel Sindlinger Victoria Sindlinger Marilyn Smith Holly Spinner Randal Steinhoff Doris Strawbridge Joan Swirsky Jeanne Swope Kirsten Synder Daria Syskine Angel Taylor Sara Thrall Gerry Tuten Emma Velinsky Barbara Vincent Maddie Vile Zoe Warner Dale Weaver Jason Weckstein Anna Willig Jim Willson
Our sincere thanks to the following individuals who offered their time and talents to help Willistown Conservation Trust. The list reflects volunteer activities between January 1, 2020, through December 31, 2020.
ERIK HETZEL/STAFF
VOLUNTEERS
TOM WILCOX Tom Wilcox of Wilcox Builders carved this eagle as a gift and a symbol of gratitude to Bonnie Van Alen and the Willistown Conservation Trust for their efforts to preserve open space for the benefit of all the residents, including the wildlife. Carved out of an 8 foot spruce tree, this wooden eagle will soar at the Trust’s office for many years to come. Tom also carved eagles as gifts to the Bryn Mawr and Paoli Hospitals to show his appreciation to the staff and patients during the pandemic. Thank you Tom for your creative gift and dedication to our local wildlife!
Lisa Kiziuk with students at the Bird Banding Station in 2019. Photo by Blake Goll/Staff.
Th e S y c a m o r e WILLISTOWN CONSERVATION TRUST 925 Providence Road Newtown Square, PA 19073
JENNIFER MATHES
With its abundance of open space and scenic vistas, Willistown Conservation Trust will once again partner with LandArt Events throughout 2021 to host Plein air artists at our preserves and locally conserved lands. The year-long partnership will feature a series of art shows, both virtually and in person, where artists will showcase their work. LandArt Events has generously pledged to donate a portion of the proceeds from sales of paintings to the Trust. Be on the lookout for Plein air painters at our nature preserves from now till October. For more information about LandArt Events, visit landartevents.com.
NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID SOUTHEASTERN, PA PERMIT NO. 96