We always celebrate when a property is preserved, but this 58-acre farm in White Hall is extra special. Several years ago the owner was ready to allow a ground-mounted commercial solar installation to be erected. We were thrilled when he changed his mind and determined that the farm should remain a farm forever. Crops will continue to be grown, an amazing viewshed will remain intact, and more than 400 feet of stream will protected as well. Thanks to our partners at Rural Legacy/ Maryland Department of Natural Resources for their help and support.

       

On March 23, local birder Marty Brazeau presented a lecture on birds that can be found at different levels of local forests. A recording is available on YouTube at https://youtu.be/WctLAkL4K4s.

In Casablanca, one of the greatest movies of all time, a pickpocket warns a man to be careful of the "vultures" surrounding him, even as he stole the man's wallet. But an article in Momentum, the magazine put out by the College of Agriculture & Natural Resources at The University of Maryland, describes how valuable vultures are to the environment and to human health. Read more about vulture conservation and you'll never look at them the same way.

The Baltimore County Executive is holding virtual Town Hall Meetings for each councilmanic district. These Town Hall Meetings present an opportunity for residents to weigh in on budget priorities. 

The schedule is as follows, along with how to join by phone:

6TH DISTRICT TOWN HALL WITH COUNCILWOMAN CATHY BEVINS

Tuesday, March 2 at 6:30 p.m.

Call-in: 1-415-655-0001; Access code: 180 025 4055

2ND DISTRICT TOWN HALL WITH COUNCILMAN IZZY PATOKA

Monday, March 8 at 6:30 p.m.

Call-in: 1-415-655-0001; Access code: 180 686 0349

1ST DISTRICT TOWN HALL WITH COUNCILMAN TOM QUIRK

Thursday, March 11 at 6:30 p.m.

Call-in: 1-415-655-0001; Access code: 180 385 0425

7TH DISTRICT TOWN HALL WITH COUNCILMAN TODD CRANDELL

Tuesday, March 16 at 6 p.m.

Call-in: 1-415-655-0001; Access code: 180 815 9310

3RD DISTRICT TOWN HALL WITH COUNCILMAN WADE KACH

Thursday, March 18 at 6:30 p.m.

Call-in: 1-415-655-0001; Access code: 180 202 5808

To submit comments and ideas in advance, go to townhall@baltimorecountymd.gov. 

To view live, visit Baltimore County's YouTube page at https://www.youtube.com/user/BaltimoreCounty.

American history is Black history. So much of American history is more diverse than it might appear, including the history of land conservation.

In 1866, the year after the Civil War ended, Congress established regiments of enlisted Black soldiers. The 24^th and 25^th Infantry and the 9^th and 10^th Cavalry served in peacetime as well as in every American war until the US Army integrated troops in 1951. These Black soldiers were known as Buffalo Soldiers, the name given them by Native Americans, possibly as a respectful reflection of an animal they esteemed for its bravery and fierceness.

Until 1913, when the Park Service was established, the military was the sole protector of national parks, and the Buffalo Soldiers could be considered among the first park rangers. In Sequoia and Yosemite National Parks, they chased away poachers, fought fires, and constructed trails in the late 1800s and early 1900s. They endured long days in the saddle, racism, and slim rations, as well as separation from family.

Their legacy includes an arboretum in Yosemite that is considered to be the first museum in the National Park System, as well as the first trail to the top of Mount Whitney, at that time the highest peak in the United States.

Another legacy of the Buffalo Soldiers may be the Ranger hat, also known as the Smokey Bear hat. Although not officially adopted by the Army until 1911, the distinctive hat crease, called a Montana peak or pinch, is worn by several of the Buffalo Soldiers in park photographs dating back to 1899. Soldiers serving in the Spanish–American War added the pinch to Stetsons to better shed water from tropical rains. The park photographs show Buffalo Soldiers who were probably veterans of that 1898 war.

We owe a debt of gratitude to these unsung conservation heroes.

This is a link to an article written by our executive director about the importance of land preservation and the local food supply.

No land preservation, no food.

https://rb.gy/9sub5s

Moths and butterflies belong to the same insect family. Moths aren’t just nocturnal, less-brightly colored cousins of butterflies. First of all, they’re not all nocturnal; hummingbird moths and hawk moths are out during the day. Second of all, some moths are vividly colored, like the cinnabar moth, known for red markings on its forewings and scarlet hindwings. The garden tiger has orange hindwings with black spots. The Madagascan moon moth, also known as the comet moth, is yellow, with an 8-inch wingspan and a 6-inch tail. Other evocatively-named moths include the scarlet tiger, clouded buff, early Thorn, blood-vein, and the black witch. The white witch moth is even bigger than the comet moth, with an 11-inch wingspan. It has a zigzag pattern to make it hard to see, but the reason you’ve never seen one is more likely that it’s native to Mexico and South America. Plus it only lives a week or two.

So how do you tell a moth from a butterfly? The easiest way is to observe them at rest. A butterfly’s wings will be closed while a moth’s will be open. Moths also have short feathery antennae; butterflies have long thin antennae (skippers are butterflies with hooked antennae). Moths also make a silky cocoon, while butterflies produce a shiny chrysalis.

There are many more species of moths than there are butterflies, nine times as many, in fact, maybe as many as 500,000. Moths are important pollinators as well as prey; their caterpillars also provide a lot of food for birds, bats, and other critters.

Maryland doesn’t have a state moth though many moths call Maryland home. Here’s a link to a page that shows photos of over 400 Maryland moths - https://www.insectidentification.org/insects-by-type-and-region.asp?thisState=maryland&thisType=Butterfly%20or%20Moth

You probably recognize the wooly bear caterpillar, an unreliable predictor of winter weather. Do you also recognize the moth it becomes, the Isabella tiger moth? 

The Manor Conservancy has just accepted an easement on a 122-acre property in Harford County. Mostly agricultural, the property includes more than 90 acres of prime and productive soils and more than 6000 feet of streams in the Deer Creek watershed.

The owners are committed preservationists who have preserved other properties they own. "We feel lucky that our children want to farm the property. Now their children will be able to, too, if they want." A major reason to preserve land is to leave a legacy for future generations. It's wonderful to know this easement benefits not just the grantors' family but the entire community as well.

Great news - the bill that would have removed the requirement that transfer taxes in Harford County be spent on schools and land preservation was withdrawn due to opposition by the community and Harford County government.  Eternal vigilance may be the price we pay for liberty; it most certainly is the price we pay for land preservation!

The Comprehensive Zoning Map Process (CZMP) takes place every 4 years in Baltimore County. Anyone can requests changes to the zoning of any property. Requests are reviewed by the county and recommendations are made to the council with input from property owners, residents, county staff, and the Planning Board.  

To view a list of zoning issues in District 3, please click here. 

The Planning Board will meet on Thursday, March 12, at Loch Raven High School, to hear from residents. Speakers can sign up starting at 5 pm; the meeting starts at 6, and signed-in  speakers are allowed up to 2 minutes. Click here for more information about the Planning Board meeting.

During April the Planning Board will hold public deliberation sessions; while the meetings are open to all no public comments will be taken.  In June County Council will hold public hearings - check back here and we'll let you know when dates and times have been set.