Field Notes

Field Notes2024-06-21T12:14:41-04:00

The Magic of Fireflies

June 10, 2025|Categories: Field Notes, Uncategorized|Tags: |

Summer evenings in Willowsford often come alive with a quiet kind of magic, the gentle flicker of fireflies lighting up the dark. Despite their name, fireflies are actually beetles, not flies. Their glow, called bioluminescence, is used mainly to attract mates and to warn predators. Many predators know that bright ...

Protecting our Aquatic Ecosystems

May 28, 2025|Categories: Field Notes|Tags: |

Last week, Ranger Emily and our Land Stewardship team conducted a stream monitoring survey on Lenah Run, a tributary that flows through Willowsford into Broad Run, which eventually feeds into the Potomac River. Emily, who is certified as a stream monitor through Loudoun Wildlife, guided the team through the process ...

Raising Our New Flock!

May 28, 2025|Categories: Field Notes|Tags: |

The Farm Team recently made an exciting announcement: we’ve been raising chicks to replace our aging flock of laying hens! This process is different from our usual flock transition and has provided an excellent opportunity for members of the team to learn new animal husbandry skills. In the past, we ...

Species Spotlight: Wood Ducks (Aix sponsa)

May 16, 2025|Categories: Field Notes|

The wood duck is (Aix sponsa) is one of the most beautiful of American waterfowl with males boasting an iridescent mix of greens, blacks, whites, and chestnut browns.  Contrary to mallards which nest on the ground around lake margins, wood ducks build their nests in tree cavities high off the ...

Growing Garlic

February 5, 2025|Categories: Field Notes|Tags: |

With our recent warm February weather, almost 60 degrees, the garlic has popped tiny sprouts out in the field. This is the beginning of the season-long process that gives us a multitude of opportunities to harvest and use the garlic as it grows. If you joined us for our ...

Identifying Wildlife Tracks in the Snow

January 23, 2025|Categories: Field Notes|Tags: |

When it snows, we are given a wonderful glimpse into the paths and activities of the animals that visit our backyards, trails, and Open Space. Animal tracks are perfectly captured in the fresh snow cover. Most animals tend to stay put during blizzards and many hibernate (learn more in our ...

Getting Ready for Winter Hiking

December 10, 2024|Categories: Field Notes|Tags: |

As long as you prepare, hiking in the winter can be an excellent opportunity for fun! The outdoors in the winter months offers unique and beautiful scenery that you can only experience while cold hiking. When cooler temperatures begin, it doesn't mean you can't enjoy nature – we'll show you how ...

2024 Bluebird Monitoring Update

September 19, 2024|Categories: Field Notes|Tags: |

Bird populations have been decreasing across the globe for the past 50 years. Bluebird populations in particular experienced a dramatic decrease in population size in the early 20th century, reaching a 90% population decrease at one point. Largely due to habitat loss and introduction of aggressive species that outcompeted bluebirds ...

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