Conservation

The Izaak Walton League is one of the oldest Conservation organizations in the United States and the Loudoun County Chapter take stewardship of our eighty-eight acres quite seriously.

From a recently concluded two-year study of wildlife on the property we have produced a video entitled “The Four Seasons”, which is now shown at every new member orientation.  It is available to view anytime on the Chapter House page.

Members are also photographing the flora and fauna on our property and saving those photographs in an online gallery titled “Eighty-eight Acres”. 

A Forest Stewardship Plan developed for the chapter by the Virginia Department of Forestry has increased our emphasis on eliminating invasive plants such as Autumn Olive and Multi-flora Rose, making room for our threatened native plants. 

Read the plan. 

Also, review the stand map.

Conservation Events:

Conservation Events at the chapter are open to the public and well-attended. Here are a few of them.

Bat Night: An annual summer event, Bat Night brings to the chapter Johns Hopkins professor Dr. Susanne Sterbing, one of the world’s leading experts on bats. At sundown, following Dr. Sterbing’s lecture, members and guests line the pond as these mysterious creatures emerge for their evening meal.

Moth Night: An annual summer event, Moth Night brings to the chapter Smithsonian Institute researcher Dr. David Adamski, the world’s leading authority on micro-moths. Dr. Adamski’s lecture is followed by a walk around the property examining and identifying the moths caught in specially designed traps strategically placed around the chapter grounds.

Bird Walks: Led by Virginia Master Naturalists Allison Gallo and Bryan Henson, we have already identified over seventy-five bird species on our eighty-eight acres.

Conservation Projects:

A visit to the grounds of the Loudoun County Chapter will reveal numerous conservation projects undertaken by members or by Scouts sponsored by members. Here are some of them.

Bat Monitoring: In cooperation with Banshee Reeks Master Naturalists, members monitor bats using iPads with specially designed microphones. The results are posted to a statewide database. This is part of an effort to combat the deadly effect of white nose syndrome on bats.

Monarch Waystation Garden: Built and maintained by members, this huge garden attracts Monarch Butterflies and other pollinators all summer long.

Native Bee Hotel: A Boy Scout Eagle project sponsored by the Chapter, this structure is designed to attract native bees and aid in their reproduction.

Bluebird Trail: Members maintain thirteen blue bird nesting boxes. In 2018, these boxes generated forty-four fledgling bluebirds and chickadees.

Native Tree Trail: This mile-long trail around the pond identifies twenty-five native trees and habitats. The project was a member- sponsored Eagle Scout project.

Chimney Swift Tower: We have two of these towers on the property. Their purpose is to provide both a nesting place and a migration shelter for chimney swifts. This project is a member-sponsored Eagle Scout project.

For a schedule of upcoming events or for more information send an email to conservation@lcciwla.org.