The American Kestrel, North America's smallest falcon, is declining across the Northeast. While there are many possible causes, habitat degradation is likely an important factor. Unfortunately, little is know about how manage land in a way that will best support this species. In 2021 Clifton Institute staff and interns, along with Dr. Joe Kolowski (Smithsonian-Mason […]
Invasive plant species crowd out native plants and provide little to no food for native animals. Every winter we work to remove invasive Autumn Olive and other invasive plants from around our property and over the last few years we have made a lot of progress, thanks to all of our amazing volunteers! Age: Adults […]
Note that this is postponed from our normal date of January 29. Novice and experienced birders will enjoy this guided 1-2 mile hike to look for the many species of birds that can be found on the field station. We will explore successional fields, meadows, lake edges, and forest. Cost: Free! Age: Adults and children 12 and […]
Over the last two years we have been working to put up trail signs all around the property so that people can navigate on open-access days. We need your help installing sign posts! Age: Adults only and children ages 12 and up, accompanied by an adult. Weather policy: Date and time subject to change dependent […]
Please note that this program was postponed from its original date of January 29. Winter is a great time of year to learn how to identify trees and to practice looking at bark and twigs. In this program, we will take you on a short walk in the woods and talk about the tips and […]
Novice and experienced birders will enjoy this guided 1-2 mile hike to look for the many species of birds that can be found on the field station. We will explore successional fields, meadows, lake edges, and forest. Don't forget to bring your binoculars! Cost: Free! Age: Adults and children 12 and up, accompanied by an adult Weather […]
Piedmont Polliwogs is a monthly pre-K program that includes an outdoor story time and short nature walk. Cost: Free! Age: Children ages 2-5, accompanied by a caregiver Weather policy: Rain or shine except in case of extreme weather (e.g. thunderstorm or significant snow fall). Please check your email for updates on the morning of the event. […]
Over the last two years we have been working to put up trail signs all around the property so that people can navigate on open-access days. We need your help installing sign posts! Age: Adults only and children ages 12 and up, accompanied by an adult. Weather policy: Date and time subject to change dependent […]
Join us for a walk on our trails with one our naturalists. This month, we'll be looking for otters! These playful creatures are often seen on our ponds in early winter. Cost: Free! Age: Adults and children 12 and up, accompanied by an adult Weather policy: Rain or shine except in case of extreme weather (e.g. thunderstorm […]
Families with children in grades K-8 are invited to come along as we explore the field station and experience autumn in Virginia. We’ll explore the woods to look for changes in the landscape and migrating birds. This program is a wonderful opportunity for families to explore nature together. We pick a different trail to explore […]
Once a year, salamanders leave their homes in the woods and head toward vernal pools, temporary ponds created by spring rains and melting winter snow. The conditions must be just right, a warm night with rainy conditions. The males arrive first and lay sperm sacks around the pond. The females come later and absorb these […]
Join us for this exciting series of programs all about patterns in nature! Mathematical patterns are all around us, in plants, animals, and even fungi! Knowing where to find them and why they're there can make being outside in nature even more fun. On each of three consecutive Thursdays, co-director Eleanor Harris, Ph.D., will give […]
Novice and experienced birders will enjoy this guided 1-2 mile hike to look for the many species of birds that can be found on the field station. We will explore successional fields, meadows, lake edges, and forest. Don't forget to bring your binoculars! Cost: Free! Age: Adults and children 12 and up, accompanied by an adult Weather […]
The American Woodcock is one of our stealthiest birds, but it’s also one of the most fun to watch when they do show themselves. On early spring evenings, the males perform their mating displays, flying high into the air and falling back to the ground, making calls and sounds with their wings as they do […]
Novice and experienced birders will enjoy this guided 1-2 mile hike to look for the many species of birds that can be found on the field station. We will explore successional fields, meadows, lake edges, and forest. Don't forget to bring your binoculars! Cost: Free! Age: Adults and children 12 and up, accompanied by an adult Weather […]
Piedmont Polliwogs is a monthly pre-K program that includes an outdoor story time and short nature walk. Cost: Free! Age: Children ages 2-5, accompanied by a caregiver Weather policy: Rain or shine except in case of extreme weather (e.g. thunderstorm or significant snow fall). Please check your email for updates on the morning of the event. […]
The American Woodcock is one of our stealthiest birds, but it’s also one of the most fun to watch when they do show themselves. On early spring evenings, the males perform their mating displays, flying high into the air and falling back to the ground, making calls and sounds with their wings as they do […]
Families with children in grades K-8 are invited to come along as we explore the field station and experience autumn in Virginia. We’ll explore the woods to look for changes in the landscape and migrating birds. This program is a wonderful opportunity for families to explore nature together. We pick a different trail to explore […]
Join us for a walk on our trails with one our naturalists. Usually, we don't look for anything in particular on these walks. This time, though, we'll be looking specifically for beaver. And, since they are more likely to be active in the afternoon, we've scheduled our walk for a bit later in the day […]
Learning to bird by ear is a great skill for any birdwatcher. In this program, co-Directors Bert and Eleanor Harris will teach the common songs and calls of Virginia's birds and give tips to identifying birds by ear. Come back for our bird walk the following day and put your new skills to the test! […]
Novice and experienced birders will enjoy this guided 1-2 mile hike to look for the many species of birds that can be found on the field station. We will explore successional fields, meadows, lake edges, and forest. Don’t forget to bring your binoculars! Cost: Free! Age: Adults and children 12 and up, accompanied by an adult Weather […]
Come help us plant trees for a riparian buffer in our pasture! If you have any of the following items, please bring them with you: pick ax, shovel, gardening gloves, watering can, mallet. Age: Adults only and children ages 12 and up, accompanied by an adult. Weather policy: Date and time subject to change dependent […]
In early spring ephemeral wildflowers appear on the forest floor taking advantage of a brief moment of sunlight before the canopy above fills out with trees. Join us for a walk exploring our wooded trails in search of early spring ephemerals such as Bloodroot, Cutleaf toothwort, Rue-anemone, and Skunk Cabbage. Cost: Free! Age: Adults and children 12 […]
Novice and experienced birders will enjoy this guided 1-2 mile hike to look for the many species of birds that can be found on the field station. We will explore successional fields, meadows, lake edges, and forest. Don't forget to bring your binoculars! Cost: Free! Age: Adults and children 12 and up, accompanied by an adult Weather […]
Come help us plant trees for a riparian buffer in our pasture! If you have any of the following items, please bring them with you: pick ax, shovel, gardening gloves, watering can, mallet. Age: Adults only and children ages 12 and up, accompanied by an adult. Weather policy: Date and time subject to change dependent on weather. […]
Come help us plant trees for a riparian buffer in our pasture! If you have any of the following items, please bring them with you: pick ax, shovel, gardening gloves, watering can, mallet. Age: Adults only and children ages 12 and up, accompanied by an adult. Weather policy: Date and time subject to change dependent on weather. […]
Families with children in grades K-8 are invited to come along as we explore the field station and experience autumn in Virginia. We’ll explore the woods to look for changes in the landscape and migrating birds. This program is a wonderful opportunity for families to explore nature together. We pick a different trail to explore […]
Piedmont Polliwogs is a monthly pre-K program that includes an outdoor story time and short nature walk. Cost: Free! Age: Children ages 2-5, accompanied by a caregiver Weather policy: Rain or shine except in case of extreme weather (e.g. thunderstorm or significant snow fall). Please check your email for updates on the morning of the event. What to […]
Come help us plant trees for a riparian buffer in our pasture! If you have any of the following items, please bring them with you: pick ax, shovel, gardening gloves, watering can, mallet. Age: Adults only and children ages 12 and up, accompanied by an adult. Weather policy: Date and time subject to change dependent on weather. […]
Brush up on your warbler songs just before the migrants arrive in droves. We will listen to the songs of each of the migratory warblers that pass through our region in spring, while looking at spectrograms to help visual learners identify differences in similar songs. We will also briefly discuss habitats where breeding warblers can […]