It’s widely acknowledged that most people prefer to stay indoors when rainy days arrive. Precipitation often brings about uncomfortable conditions, making everything feel cold and damp. However, I hold the opinion, albeit an unpopular one, that rainy days present some of the best opportunities for exploration. While this perspective may require an interest in particular […]
We have lost almost 3 billion birds since 1970 in North America alone. There are many causes, however, habitat loss and degradation are some of the main reasons. The development of land into acres of lawns with exotic and invasive plants has destroyed habitats in many ecosystems across North America, reducing the bird populations that […]
Every spring, a miniature forest blooms on the forest floor in the window of warmth and sunlight before the woody giants put out their leaves. These are the spring ephemerals. Here one season and gone the next, you don’t want to miss them. Their life’s strategy? Soak up all the light energy they need for […]
Pennsylvania is home to an amazing array of bird diversity. As of 2024, over 430 species of birds have been reported from the Keystone state – a fair portion of which are consistently encountered. Of those species, there are a handful who elicit a great deal of appreciation from outdoor enthusiasts. Some, like the Long-eared […]
4.6 billion years is a long story to tell within a human lifetime, let alone a single article, yet here I am trying to sum up PA’s place – southeastern PA in particular – in Earth’s history in roughly 2,000 words. Why? Because I’ve found that understanding our place in the world of rocks builds […]
Snow isn’t a welcome sight for many. It can obstruct travel plans, often requires shoveling, and creates giant, seemingly everlasting snow mountains that we have to circumvent in parking lots. Yet the services that snow provides, particularly to plants, wildlife, and the people who appreciate them, make all of those gripes seem a bit superficial. […]
If you’ve never heard of the fruit and tree known as Pawpaw, you’re not alone, and if you have heard of it, chances are you’re a big fan. As the largest edible fruit native to North America, the Pawpaw has a lot to offer, but it has largely gone under-appreciated in recent years. Small Tree, […]
The basic strategy for plant life in temperate climates is to maximize above-ground activity during the spring and summer months when warmth, water, and light are plentiful. Yet there is one species of shrub common in Pennsylvania that deviates from that strategy in a major way. Now that it’s October, it feels appropriate to highlight […]
Photo by Kara Foran. This past spring, Heritage Conservancy hosted a BioBlitz event at our Croydon Woods Nature Preserve. This 24-hour biological survey was a huge success as staff, biologists, and community scientists identified hundreds of species that utilize the preserve. To conduct the surveys, professionals and community scientists used multiple traps and visual encounter […]
Held on June 8th of this year, our annual Garden Party is our opportunity to share our appreciation with our community of supporters. Thank you to all who joined us to celebrate our shared preservation successes! This year’s program included a special recognition of Heritage Conservancy’s Legacy Society who joined us for a special pre-event […]