Crow's Nest Preserve

Crow's Nest Preserve Crow’s Nest Preserve is a haven for many wild and wonderful creatures, including children! Learn more at www.natlands.org.

Crow’s Nest is composed of several 19th-century farms and the forests that have grown up around them. Most of the forests in this area were cut repeatedly in the 1800s to make charcoal to fuel iron-making furnaces and in the early 1900s for timber. Crow’s Nest is the gateway to the Hopewell Big Woods, a 73,000-acre expanse of forest that reaches north into Berks County. For decades, the preserve h

as hosted both after-school programs and a summer day camp to help combat the nature disconnect today’s kids face. The preserve includes a NaturePlayGround to encourage creative, unstructured play. Crow's Nest Preserve is owned and managed by non-profit conservation organization Natural Lands.

Happy Friday! What will you do with your weekend?📸: Jill Sabre
05/29/2026

Happy Friday! What will you do with your weekend?

📸: Jill Sabre

Black rat snakes are excellent, proficient climbers and frequently ascend trees to hunt for food, such as bird eggs and ...
05/22/2026

Black rat snakes are excellent, proficient climbers and frequently ascend trees to hunt for food, such as bird eggs and chicks, or to seek shelter. They use their strong muscles and specialized, keeled belly scales to grip bark, enabling them to move vertically up trees and even man-made structures.

📸: Michael Gehman

Just a woodpecker reminding you that dead/dying trees are essential for food and nesting sites. Leave them stand if it's...
05/15/2026

Just a woodpecker reminding you that dead/dying trees are essential for food and nesting sites. Leave them stand if it's safe to do so!

📸: Michael Gehman

These rubber speed bumps were dumped at the preserve over the weekend. We checked with the township, and they don't belo...
05/12/2026

These rubber speed bumps were dumped at the preserve over the weekend. We checked with the township, and they don't belong to them. If anyone has any ideas where they're from, we'd be happy to reunite them with their original owner!

There are several species of viburnum native to Pennsylvania, including blackhaw viburnum (Viburnum prunifolium). All sp...
05/08/2026

There are several species of viburnum native to Pennsylvania, including blackhaw viburnum (Viburnum prunifolium). All species produce high-nutrition berries for birds and other wildlife.

📸: Cody Hudgens

Getting kiddos out and involved in nature is one of our passions, and we're thrilled to share that Ford, son of one of o...
05/07/2026

Getting kiddos out and involved in nature is one of our passions, and we're thrilled to share that Ford, son of one of our awesome Force of Nature volunteers, is competing in this year's Jr. Ranger competition!

One young explorer will win a cash prize, enjoy an exclusive wildlife experience with Jeff Corwin, and appear in Ranger Rick Magazine.

Ford loves the breeze, discovering life under a microscope, catching snakes, and playing with friends in the woods. He also loves how some fish are the same today as they were a long time ago, like sturgeon. In the fall he loves to make leaf crowns with colorful leaves, and enjoys playing "watching woodpeckers" in the backyard.

We hope you'll show your support for Ford — he's been doing an awesome job helping his mom with nest boxes out on the preserves. 🪺🐣

Today is the last day for this round, so please follow the link below to help Ford become the next Jr. Ranger!

I Love To Explore Nature. I Like To Share My Discoveries Like Cool Creatures I Net In A Creek Or A Special Flower I Find On A Trail. -Ford

Who else thinks Barn Owls look a little like the Porgs from "Star Wars: The Last Jedi"? May the Fourth be with you. 📸: S...
05/04/2026

Who else thinks Barn Owls look a little like the Porgs from "Star Wars: The Last Jedi"? May the Fourth be with you.

📸: Steve Eisenhauer

While they are typically green, green frogs can also exhibit shades of brown, bronze, or even blue. They have a bright y...
04/29/2026

While they are typically green, green frogs can also exhibit shades of brown, bronze, or even blue. They have a bright yellow throat, especially in males during the breeding season.

📸: Jill Sabre

The Eastern Redbud is part of the legume family, which means it can fix nitrogen in the soil. This ability helps improve...
04/22/2026

The Eastern Redbud is part of the legume family, which means it can fix nitrogen in the soil. This ability helps improve soil quality and supports the growth of surrounding plants.

📸: Bill Moses

What spring ephemerals have you spotted so far this season?All images by Cody Hudgens, Dan Barringer, and Judith Trojnar
04/15/2026

What spring ephemerals have you spotted so far this season?

All images by Cody Hudgens, Dan Barringer, and Judith Trojnar

Address

201 Piersol Road
Elverson, PA
19520

Telephone

+16102867955

Website

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