The LCBS has proclaimed Sunday, September 20 Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve Day

The LCBS has proclaimed Sunday, September 20,
2009, as "Celebrate Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve Day."

On that day, the public is invited to attend an open house at at Banshee
Reeks Nature Preserve, 21085 The Woods Road, Leesburg, from 11:00 a.m. to
3:00 p.m., sponsored by the Friends of Banshee Reeks and the Loudoun County
Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services.

The event will feature family-friendly activities and interactive
demonstrations focusing on stream monitoring, bird banding and monitoring,
amphibians and reptiles, native and invasive plants, rain gardens, and more
that will provide an opportunity for visitors to celebrate the
environmental, cultural, and historical stewardship of the nature preserve.
Hayrides and guided archaeological and nature walks are also planned for the
open house. Admission is free.

A brochure outlining the day's activities is available online here:
http://www.loudoun.gov/Default.aspx?tabid=2778

The proclamation adopted by the Board points out that Banshee Reeks Nature
Preserve exemplifies the beauty of Virginia's rolling countryside and the
wildlife that calls it home. The preserve consists of 725-acres of forests,
fields, ponds and streams and over two miles of frontage on Goose Creek, one
of Loudoun County's two designated State Scenic Rivers. The county-owned
preserve contains unique wildlife habitats and offers recreational and
nature study opportunities to Loudoun County residents and visitors from all
over the Mid-Atlantic region.

The text of the proclamation is as follows:

"WHEREAS, Banshee Reeks was designated a Nature Preserve by the Loudoun
County Board of Supervisors at the April 16, 2001 business meeting; and

WHEREAS, Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve has been included on the Virginia
Birding and Wildlife Trail by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland
Fisheries; and

WHEREAS, Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve exemplifies the beauty of Virginia's
rolling countryside and the wildlife that calls it home. The preserve
consists of 725-acres of forests, successional fields, ponds and streams and
over two miles of frontage on Goose Creek, one of Loudoun County's two
designated State Scenic Rivers; and

WHEREAS, Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve habitats support more than 200
species of Virginia native plants and an abundance of wildlife, including
more than 225 species of birds and recognized by the Institute for Bird
Populations as the most important public bird monitoring station in the
Piedmont Region; and

WHEREAS, the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation has
recognized Loudoun County Department of Parks, Recreation and Community
Services for its contribution to the conservation of Virginia's natural
heritage by nominating Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve for placement on the
Virginia Natural Area Dedication; and

WHEREAS, Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve is the home of Virginia's first local
chapter of Virginia Master Naturalist and the future home of the Raptor
Conservancy of Virginia; and

WHEREAS, Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve contains important cultural resources
from history and pre-history including archaeological sites with 8,000 year
old artifacts; and

WHEREAS, Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve lies within the historic Route 15
corridor and is part of the Journey Through Hallowed Ground; and

WHEREAS, Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve is a unique asset to Loudoun County,
where native species of plants and wildlife are protected, educational
opportunities exist for students and the public, can focus on species and
habitat conservation and management now and into the future; and

WHEREAS, Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve is a center for where communities and
citizens can learn to appreciate nature and conservation measures that can
be applied in their own communities to protect precious environmental
resources; and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors
does hereby recognize Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve for its contributions to
conservation, historic preservation and environmental education and does
hereby proclaim September 20, 2009 as Celebrate Banshee Reeks Nature
Preserve Day; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that on today's date of August 31, 2009, a copy of
this proclamation will be permanently included in the official records of
Loudoun County."

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Lor and I will be volunteering at this event.