Program and Event Descriptions:

Calmes Neck Christmas Bird Count ― Monday, January 2. The Calmes Neck Christmas Bird Count area, in far western Loudoun County and Clarke County, includes a wide variety of habitats, ranging from mountain forests to rural subdivisions to old farm fields and meadows, with the Shenandoah River running throughout.  If you are interested in helping with this count, please contact Margaret Wester at 540-837-2799 or margaretwester@hotmail.com.  Joe Coleman, jcoleman@loudounwildlife.org or 540-554-2542, and Phil Daley, pedaley@verizon.net or 540-338-6528, are sector leaders.  Phil’s area includes Round Hill and north, and Joe’s area includes Bluemont south to Bloomfield.  If you are interested in joining either of them, please contact each directly.

Birding Banshee ― Saturday, January 14, 8:00 a.m. Join Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy and the Friends of Banshee Reeks at the Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve for the monthly bird walk.  Because of its rich and varied habitat, this part of the county is a birding hot spot.  Please bring binoculars.  Questions:  contact Joe Coleman at 540-554-2542 or jcoleman@loudounwildlife.org.

Butterflies in Winter ― Sunday, January 15, 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.  Registration Required. Location is Rust Library in Leesburg. Did you leave your garden a little "messy" at the end of the season? Well, hidden in old flower stems or tucked away in a hibernaculum, an egg or caterpillar may be waiting out the chill. And what about the adults? Well - there just may be butterflies in that leaf pile!Where do butterflies go in the winter? How do they hibernate? In what form?  How does a miniscule egg form into a beautiful creature of flight?  Can you raise butterfly eggs to adulthood for release? Nicole Hamilton will answer all of these questions, show you some overwintering chrysalids and more! Learn how you can help butterfly populations and encourage butterflies to over-winter in your very own backyard. For those interested, following the program, we'll walk around the habitat restoration area and see what signs of butterflies we can find. This free program is sponsored by Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy.  Sign up online. For questions, contact Nicole Hamilton at nhamilton@loudounwildlife.org

Winter Bird Walk at Bles Park ― Saturday, January 21, 8:00 a.m.  Join Andy Rabin for one of Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy’s free bird walks at Bles Park in eastern Loudoun County.  A mostly level, gravel path makes it easy to explore this park, which contains wetlands and is bordered by the Potomac River and Broad Run.  Please bring binoculars.  We will meet in the parking lot on Riverside Parkway.  Directions can be found at www.loudoun.gov/Default.aspx?tabid=924.  Admission to the park is free and there is ample parking. Questions: contact Andy Rabin at stylurus@gmail.com.

Tree Identification in Winter ― Saturday, January 21, 9:30 a.m.   Join Dr. Emily Southgate at her home outside of Middleburg as she shows how winter trees are distinctive in their skeletons and buds, which are much easier to see in winter than summer. The walk down to the Goose Creek will include a variety of habitats, reflecting the importance of winter trees as habitat and food for wintering birds and other animals. Bring binoculars, hand lens, and a pocket knife if you have them. Registration Required as space is limited: contact Emily Southgate at ewbsouthgate@gmail.com or 540-687-8291.

Sunday in the Preserve ― Sunday, January 22, 1:00 p.m.  Join a naturalist from the Friends of Banshee Reeks and Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy for a free informal, family walk around the preserve. Search for the many natural wonders that make this a special place. For information call the Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve at 703-669-0316.

Searching for Birds of Prey ― Sunday, January 22, 1:00 p.m. Registration Required.   Join Liam and Laura McGranaghan on a winter raptor search.  After meeting at a location TBD, we will drive the back roads of Loudoun County with frequent stops to find and identify the many hawks and an owl or two, who over winter here. Sign up online or contact Laura McGranaghan at lmcgranaghan@loudounwildlife.org.

Birding the Blue Ridge Center ― Saturday, January 28, 8:00 a.m. On the fourth Saturday of each month (except December), Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy leads a free bird walk at the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship (BRCES). This beautiful 900-acre preserve is located on Harpers Ferry Road, Rt. 671, in northwestern Loudoun County. Only a few miles south of Harpers Ferry and the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers, the property includes meadows in the valley and heavily forested slopes on the Blue Ridge. Meet at the Education Center. The Blue Ridge Center is located just north of Neersville, at 11611 Harpers Ferry Road (Rt 671).  Detailed directions can be found on the website, www.brces.org . Questions: contact Joe Coleman at 540-554-2542 or jcoleman@loudounwildlife.org.

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