Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy

This past March, the first ever State of the Birds Report was published and it’s well worth a download. You can also watch a State of the Birds video (6 minutes) that gives a summary of the findings. The report looks at over 800 species of birds across the United States in habitats that range from forests to wetlands to coastlines and oceans to grasslands to deserts. It looks at 40 years of bird population data, assesses the current state of birds and talks about their future. As the narrator of the video states, the results are sobering…..but birds also have some degree of resilience so we have the opportunity now to change the course. 

In addition to the excellent information provided in this report, I wanted to point out a bit about how it was produced.  The effort was led through the partnership of both non-profit and government organizations, but the work wasn’t just done by paid staff. Citizen Science Volunteers (like you and me) played a key role in gathering and reporting data that was used.

This highlights the importance of the efforts that so many of you are involved in with our International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD) Counts, our Bird Atlas and our Christmas Bird Count and it also highlights a wonderful cycle. Data that we gather locally here in Loudoun is fed up into the databases that scientists as well as decision-makers within our government can use to make policies and set direction for restoring and protecting our environment. But, it is also used to create reports like this that enables each of us to see the big picture and turn data into action: restoring habitats, employing well planned habitat management practices (like mowing fields after grassland birds have nested), putting conservation easements in place on properties, letting our backyards be wild places, and so on.

Included here is a photo of a Prairie Warbler by Laura Weidner from the IMBD Count, just one of well over 100 species of birds that were identified through our bird counts and birdathon.

“Birds are the bellwether, not only of their own populations and habitats; they are indicators of the health of the environment that all humans depend upon.”

So, it’s a little weird to blog about myself but we wanted to pass on the news about the Loudoun County Outstanding Environmental Volunteer Award. It was quite an honor to receive it and I’m very thankful for the recognition. Below is the press release.
 
Volunteer Loudoun recognized Nicole Hamilton and named her the Loudoun County Outstanding Environmental Volunteer at the April 21st Board of Supervisors meeting.  Remarks by Master of Ceremonies Tim Jon during the award presentation follow:
 
. . . Nicole Hamilton, our Outstanding Environmental Volunteer is being honored today for her countless hours to The Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy and has served in many leadership roles for over 10 years.  With her initiative, many of the conservancy’s popular programs have grown in scope, volunteers, and positive outcomes.  She served as president from 2004-2008 and increased programs and communication with members, volunteers and the public substantially.
 
Programs that Nicole began or enhanced include the “Citizen Science” or wildlife monitoring programs, the Bluebird Monitoring program in partnership with the Virginia Bluebird Society, the Loudoun Amphibian Monitoring Program with support from local experts, and she coordinated the 2008 Butterfly Count with 48 participants who counted nearly 3,000 total butterflies and over 50 species.
 
As president of the LWC, Nicole increased membership fourfold to 616, strengthening its capability to accomplish its mission.  In addition, Nicole works with property owners and local government officials to increase awareness of vernal pools threatened by development which resulted in plans to protect these pools with increased buffer areas and habitat restoration projects.
 
Nicole also serves as webmaster of the LWC website, www.loudounwildlife.org, writes an almost daily blog, and has introduced new technologies including podcasts and Twitter to communicate with a broader audience.  She generates a monthly e-mail announcement and writes articles for LWC’s quarterly publication the Habitat Herald.