On July 13, Wildlands Conservancy unveiled its newest property acquisition, a parcel on the Blue Mountain in Eldred Township, Monroe County, known as the Alpine Property.

Called by Wildlands "a tract of irreplaceable wildlife and wetland habitat," the 354-acre parcel was recently transferred to the Pennsylvania Game Commission as an addition to State Game Lands 168.

Dave Mitchell, land management supervisor for the Game Commission, led a hike through the property after presentations by Wildlands, the Pennsylvania Game Commission and Lehigh Gap Nature Center.

Calling it "one of the most significant conservation deals in our land trust's history," Wildlands President Chris Kocher said the Emmaus-based organization was thrilled to protect such an ecologically significant property.

The acquisition is especially important since for many years it had been the site of a proposed motorsports track.

Financing was provided by a number of organizations, led by Palmerton Zinc NRDA Trustees, the Pennsylvania Game Commission, and Monroe County.

Other partners in the acquisition included Audubon Pennsylvania, Lehigh Gap Nature Center and the Blue Mountain Preservation Association.

LGNC Executive Director Dan Kunkle gave several reasons why this acquisition was so important.

"First, [the race track] would have heavily impacted the peacefulness of the world-famous Appalachian Trail, just a few hundred yards from the track.

Second, Kittatinny Ridge [the Blue Mountain] is a regionally important feature and habitat. It is the last unbroken forest habitat in Pennsylvania from Northwest to Southeast.

It is vital habitat for interior nesting songbirds, an important dispersal corridor for wildlife, and a critically important habitat for migrating raptors.

Third, the Kittatinny is a major source of groundwater infiltration and recharge and the source of some of the water in the Aquashicola Creek, which runs along the base of the ridge at this property."

Kunkle added that the property includes some unique habitats, such as a sedge meadow that provides habitat for the endangered bog turtle and the Brook Snaketail dragonfly, recently discovered there for the first time in Pennsylvania.

LGNC has a particular interest in the ridge because of the organization's long association with the Bake Oven Knob Hawk Count.

Migrating raptors need habitat on the ridge and in the adjacent countryside to sustain them on migration, Kunkle said.

It was a young naturalist from Kunkletown, Corey Husic, who first identified the Brook Snaketail at the Alpine Property.

While still in high school, Husic would ride to the property on his bicycle, said Kocher.

He made the discovery during one of his visits.

Now a graduate of Moravian Academy headed for Harvard, Husic also shared some observations with The Press.

Exploring the sedge and alder wetland along the Aquashicola, he said he had found, besides the Brook Snaketail and the rare Maine Snaketail, numerous Ebony Jewelwings, a damselfly resembling one seen on the July 13 hike.

Walking along the now-abandoned motor track, nature-lovers got a first-hand introduction to the property.

A special treat was hearing the song and call of the veery at several points along the track, which still bears large number of signs marking the turns.

This faintly-spotted woodland thrush generally prefers damp forests, according to a U.S. Forest Service study, and can be adversely affected by forest fragmentation leading to cowbird predation.

Also heard along the walk were the common yellowthroat and rufous-sided towhee.

The track-turned-trail has some gain in elevation, but is not difficult, except for the many rocks now hidden by dense overgrowth.

Mitchell commented on some of the problems to be confronted and the work to be done.

He pointed out the prevalence of Japanese barberry, a non-native species, as well as hay-scented fern.

This was encouraged by logging that opened up the forest canopy, as well as by deer browsing that left the barberry untouched, he said.

The game commission will use both mechanical and chemical means to remove barberry and mulberry, said Mitchell.

Now that the tract will be open to hunting it is hoped that over time a native understory will be able to re-grow.

The Game Commission will also remove larger trees from the open meadow areas in order to encourage soft-mast [fruit-and nut-bearing] trees that will attract wildlife.

"The primary emphasis in managing the tract is wildlife habitat," said Mitchell. "The rules for use will be the same as for any other state game land. Hikers may still use the property, but from Nov. 15 to Dec. 15 regulation orange vests must be worn.

"A parking lot will be constructed by the road and by fall it should be a fully-functioning game land."