Program and Event Descriptions:

BIRDATHON 2008! ― Saturday, May 3 -11.  LWC is again sponsoring a Birdathon this year as part of Celebrating Wings Over America.  You can have fun birding and also help raise money for the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy through the Birdathon.  Participating teams pick any 24-hour time-period between May 3 and May 11 for their own Birdathon.  If you do not want to participate in the Birdathon, but still want to help, you can sponsor one of the teams.  Click here to sign up and find out more.

CELEBRATING WINGS OVER AMERICA:  INTERNATIONAL MIGRATORY BIRD DAY ― Saturday, May 10, 8:00 a.m.  During spring, thousands of migratory birds move through North America to their nesting territories.  Some will stay and nest in our area, while others will spend only a few days here replenishing their energy before continuing a journey that may be thousands of miles long.  To celebrate and highlight this natural phenomenon, International Migratory Bird Day is scheduled on May 10.  In recognition of the importance of healthy wildlife habitat, the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy is sponsoring several 8:00 a.m. bird walks and an all-day bird survey throughout Loudoun County on the 10th.  Some of the sites the different groups will visit are Horsepen Preserve in eastern Loudoun, Morven Park and the ANS Rust Nature Sanctuary in Leesburg, Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve and the Dulles Wetlands in central Loudoun, Phillips Farm in Waterford, and the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship in northwestern Loudoun. In addition to participating in the bird walks, you can also help with the survey. Click here to sign up and find out more or contact Joe Coleman at 540-554-2542 or jcoleman@loudounwildlife.org before May 8.  Please bring binoculars.

SUNDAY IN THE PRESERVE ― Sunday, May 18, 1:00 p.m.  Join the Friends of Banshee Reeks and the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy for a free informal, family walk around the 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

ANNUAL MEETING: CELEBRATING LOUDOUN’S WILDLIFE WITH THE LOUDOUN WILDLIFE CONSERVANCY ― Sunday, May 18, 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.  Please RSVP so we can plan accordingly. Join us for the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy’s annual membership meeting at ANS’s Rust Nature Sanctuary. The event will include a raffle for an original work of art, wildlife habitat exhibits showcasing the floral and fauna of our area, and a program by local beekeeper Jeff Pfoutz on honeybees and the critical role all pollinators play in our lives.  All LWC members are invited to attend!  RSVP Online or contact Elizabeth Evans at eevans@loudounwildlife.org.

BIRDING THE BLUE RIDGE CENTER ― Saturday, May 24, 8:00 a.m.  On the fourth Saturday of each month (except December) the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy leads a 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 Neersville Volunteer Fire Station on Rt. 671 at 8:00 a.m. Questions: contact Joe Coleman at 540-554-2542 or jcoleman@loudounwildlife.org.