Crow’s Nest: Crystal clear light

By Daniel Barringer, Preserve Manager.

We’ve had some incredible weather this spring, like nothing I’ve ever seen before. There were weeks of low humidity and crystal clear light. It’s difficult to imagine, yet very possible, that decreased auto emissions over the last few months had this immediate an effect.

We’ve been busier than ever at the preserve, keeping up with mowing, cutting invasive vines and pruning low-hanging branches over the trails and the roads, and weeding around our newly-planted trees and shrubs. So many days of good weather means not much time to catch up on the weblog, so these images are a roundup of beautiful scenes here over the last month.

Above, Jim Moffett monitors the kestrel box that he put up at Crow’s Nest. Unfortunately we don’t have any kestrels using it. Below, the bench that overlooks the restored stream, gradually filling in with its newly planted wildflower seedlings and shrubs.

Here are more views of the clear light which makes for high-contrast photos. Below, rows of corn across the road from our maintenance center barn at 401 Piersol Road. That’s Mount Pleasure, in French Creek State Park, in the background.

The Adirondack chairs by the tiny library are a popular landmark. The preserve has seen its highest visitation ever, just now tapering off in the heat and humidity that comes with summer. But the preserve is big enough to accommodate these numbers of people without seeming crowded and you can still find solitude here.

The barn in harsh noon light (above) and at sunset after a storm.

Above, the kids’ play area, a hidden gem tucked away that visitors are gradually discovering. Below, the Chief’s Grove surrounded by meadow.

The morning and evening light has been amazing. Below, a silver maple in the pasture near the Hartung Barn. I spent a lot of time pruning this tree to remove damaged and crossing branches and am very pleased with the results–it looks very natural.