The Other Pollinators

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 […]

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Turtles on the Road: How to Help

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. […]

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The Benefits of Downed Wood 🗓

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 […]

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Regrowth and Reforestation: Replacing Ash Trees

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 […]

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Heritage Conservancy Adds Three New Buildings to its Register of Historic Places

Any structure that is approved for the Register of Historic Places is eligible to display a plaque to recognize its historic and/or architectural elements. Three new buildings, the Scholl Pottery House, the Renninger Apartment Building, and the Theodore Cornell Manor, have been added to Heritage Conservancy’s Register of Historic Places. Heritage Conservancy maintains and updates […]

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Maria Rieders Named New Board Chair

Maria Rieders, Heritage Conservancy’s new Board Chair. With the start of 2023, Heritage Conservancy has named Maria T. Rieders, Ph.D., the new Chair of its Board of Directors. The Board of Directors assists Heritage Conservancy in achieving its mission, and its members’ combined extensive experience and commitment help bolster efforts in preservation, reaching financial goals, […]

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Two Turtles for World Wetlands Day

Two native species of the turtle variety that are often found around or within wetlands. Wetlands come in a variety of types. Some are found along the coast, such as tidal marshes, while others can be found isolated along mountain ranges, such as vernal pools. Pennsylvania is rich with a variety of wetland types, along […]

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Three Reasons to Get Outside This Winter

A sleepy Great Horned Owl, normally hidden, stands out quite easily on a leafless branch. Winter has arrived, and for many, this means that time spent outside will more or less cease to exist. Frigid conditions don’t compare well to the warmth and comfort of the indoors. Yet, I wouldn’t be so quick to dismiss […]

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