A chimney swift darts over a pond in Prospect Park in NYC. Photo by Ryan Mandelbaum. Introduction The US Committee of the North American Bird Conservation Initiative (NABCI) published its State of the Birds 2022 report last fall. Among its key findings is a list of birds whose populations have fallen by half between 1970–2019, […]
We’ve reached the depths of summer, as evidenced by intense waves of heat and humidity. Solace from our powerful sun awaits beneath the shade of trees, and lucky for us, interesting organisms exist there too. Mushrooms occupy the forest floors throughout the year, but in late summer – and even more so in early fall […]
Mountain laurels (Kalmia latifolia) blooming on one of Heritage Conservancy’s properties. Mountain laurels are gorgeous shrubs that have been Pennsylvania’s state flower since 1933. It is one of the few evergreen shrubs that is native to Pennsylvania, however it is very widespread across the state. It is in the heath family living on drier, more […]
We gathered together with community members, volunteers, local partners, and specialists to learn about Croydon Woods. We had a magnificent turnout at our BioBlitz Celebration on Friday, May 19th, as we gathered together to celebrate our BioBlitz survey – a private 24-hour scientific survey of plants and animals. The celebration served as a reminder of […]
A red milkweed beetle. Most of our pollinators get overlooked for one reason or another. Some are too tiny, simply living out of sight and out of mind, whereas others occur in plain sight but are overshadowed by larger and more charismatic species. Honeybees and monarch butterflies are the rockstars of the pollinator world. The […]
COO Linda Cacossa leaves a legacy as a leader in local and regional land preservation. Written by LisaBeth Weber. Linda Cacossa, Chief Operating Officer of Heritage Conservancy since 2011, has announced her retirement, effective August 1, 2023. Linda has been an integral part of the growth and sustainability of the organization for close to 13 […]
Eastern Box Turtle found crossing a quiet back road. The months of May and June usually spring most of our wildlife into action. With cooler temperatures quickly fading, resources become plentiful, as do the critters that utilize them. Sunlight and warmth are among the resources that cold-blooded animals, such as turtles, rely on the most. […]
Chicken of the woods fungi living on a dead log on Heritage Conservancy preserved land (Photo by Sebastian Harris). All trees have a life expectancy. In Pennsylvania, some trees (like fire cherries) only live for a few decades, while other trees (such as oaks) can live for many centuries if no diseases cut their lives […]
These four women (from left to right: Rosalie Edge, Margaret Murie, Rachel Carson, and Greta Thunberg) have made a significant impact on the history of the environmental conservation movement. Heritage Conservancy proudly celebrates Women’s History Month. We’d like to take a moment to recognize four women who have been influential in the history of environmental […]
Each ash species has leaves that generally turn a brilliant yellow in the fall. Once a thriving component of PA forests, the ash tree genus (Fraxinus) has hit hard times in the past two decades. For me, the best antidote to this feeling is to imagine what may come next if we are good and […]