Winter Lecture Series - Bringing Back Virginia's Grassland Birds

Join us for a series of informative lectures on the first Wednesday of each month from December through March. The lectures will be held indoors at the Bull Run Mountains Conservancy's headquarters, just a few minutes' drive away from Leopold's Preserve. Each lecture will feature a special guest speaker who will discuss a topic relating to the natural world. Light refreshments will be provided.

December 4: "Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants" presented by Steph Johnson, owner of Green Steeze. Learn about common invasive plants used in landscaping, and native alternatives which can replace them.

January 8: "Virginia's Amazing Vultures", presented by Heather Shank-Givens, volunteer wildlife rehabilitator with the Blue Ridge Wildlife Center. Vultures are a critical component of the ecosystem yet are frequently misunderstood and maligned. This talk will provide the facts and information you need to become an informed and enthusiastic advocate for these amazing species. The presentation will cover the natural history of Virginia's awesome native vultures, briefly explore vultures around the world and the challenges they face, and discuss mitigation strategies for human–vulture conflicts.

February 5: "Creating a Wildlife Sanctuary" presented by Leslie Paulson, coordinator for the Northern Virginia Bird Alliance's "Wildlife Sanctuary" program. Learn about NVBA's wildlife sanctuary certification program and the steps you can take to get your property certified. You will learn the importance of adding native plants to your landscape so you can support our native wildlife.

March 5: "Bringing Back Virginia's Grassland Birds" presented by October Greenfield, co-coordinator for the Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative. Over 50 species of birds rely on grassland habitats here in Virginia. But the state of our grasslands is changing with increased pressure from development and changing agricultural practices. As a result, many grassland bird species are in severe decline. The good news is that private landowners and farmers can—and are—helping bring these birds back! Join us to learn more about the decline of grassland birds and the work of the Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative.

The Leopold's Preserve Winter Lecture Series is presented through a partnership of the White House Farm Foundation and the Bull Run Mountains Conservancy.