Program and Event Descriptions:

Calmes Neck Christmas Bird Count― Sunday, January 3. There are several Christmas Bird Counts in Loudoun County besides the Central Loudoun CBC. The Calmes Neck Christmas Bird Count area includes much of far western Loudoun County, which has a wide variety of habitat ranging from mountain forests to rural subdivisions to old farm fields and meadows, with the Shenandoah River running through it. If you would like to join the Calmes Neck Christmas Bird Count, please contact Margaret Wester at 540-837-2799 or margaretwester@hotmail.com. (Joe Coleman, joecoleman@rstarmail.com or 540-554-2542, and Phil Daley, pedaley@verizon.net or 540-338-6528, are sector leaders for the Calmes Neck CBC. 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 9, 8:00 a.m. Join the 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.

Sunday in the Preserve― Sunday, January 17, 1:00 p.m. Join a naturalist from the Friends of Banshee Reeks and the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy for a free informal, family walk around Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve. Search for the many natural wonders that make this such a special place. For information call the Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve at 703-669-0316.

Birding the Blue Ridge Center― Saturday, January 23, 8:00 a.m. On the fourth Saturday of each month (except December) the 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 visitor 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.

Searching for Birds of Prey― Saturday, January 23, 1:00 p.m. Registration Required. Join Liam 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 winter over here. Registration required. Please Sign Up online. Questions, contact Laura Weidner at lweidner@loudounwildlife.org.

In Our Backyards: A Celebration of Loudoun's Historic and Environmental Heritage ― Sunday, January 31, 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Loudoun Water in Ashburn. Sponsored by the Loudoun County Preservation and Conservation Coalition, a group of local organizations dedicated to the preservation, enhancement, and celebration of Loudoun's unique historic and environmental assets. Come and enjoy multiple exhibits highlighting each organization's activities. Learn how you can get involved in preservation and conservation projects in Loudoun. Visit Loudoun Water's Aquiary. Enjoy light refreshments. Attend a short talk by Rich Gillespie, a well known authority on Loudoun's heritage. The event is free and open to the public. Location: Loudoun Water, 44865 Loudoun Water Way, Ashburn, VA (off of Loudoun County Parkway). You can get directions at: www.LoudounWater.org. Exhibitors: Loudoun Preservation Society, Piedmont Environmental Council, Audubon Naturalist Society, Banshee Reeks Chapter of the Archeological Society of Virginia, Loudoun County Civil War Roundtable , Friends of Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve, Friends of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Goose Creek Association, Lincoln Preservation Foundation, Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy, Mount Zion Church Preservation Association, Morven Park, Mosby Heritage Area Association,Sustainable Loudoun, Unison Preservation Society, Waterford Foundation