Travelers headed east on Route 895 toward New Ringgold are in for a colorful surprise: a vibrant 20-acre wildflower meadow that’s as beneficial for birds and pollinators as it is beautiful to behold.

What began as a land conservation project in 2019 is now a thriving meadow and a living testament to the power of strategic habitat restoration.

Located just west of Hawk Mountain Sanctuary’s Acopian Center for Conservation Learning, the site was purchased with grant support from The Conservation Fund. The Sanctuary immediately began restoration work, transitioning this former cropland into a pollinator paradise. In just a few years, the field has flourished into a rich mosaic of native wildflowers, grasses and shrubs.

“Hawk Mountain is proud to protect and steward this land,” said Hawk Mountain Director of Stewardship Todd Bauman.

“It’s a win for wildlife, a win for water and a beautiful reminder of why open space matters,” Bauman said.

“This project is about more than scenic beauty. It’s about biodiversity,” said Hawk Mountain Senior Research Biologist David Barber.

“By restoring this land to native meadow and riparian habitat, we’re providing critical refuge for migratory birds, pollinators and other wildlife that depend on the Kittatinny Ridge,” Barber said.

The ridge, part of a globally-recognized migration corridor, has more than 200 species of birds passing through each year. The meadow and adjacent habitats now support nesting songbirds such as field sparrows and prairie warblers, and provides foraging areas for raptors, butterflies and native bees.

Making a meadow was something new for the Sanctuary’s three-member stewardship team.

First, Hawk Mountain placed a conservation easement on the parcel, held by the organization’s partners at Berks Nature, and then created with Ecologist Larry Lloyd a long-term management plan.

Next, the stewardship team planted wildflower seed, followed by construction of nest boxes during winter months.

Every spring thereafter required hours of maintenance to remove or treat invasive plants, in particular crown vetch, followed by continued monitoring.

Guided by the Sanctuary’s conservation scientists, and with assistance from summer seasonal stewards, the crew has truly created a winner.

The restored area also helps protect water quality in the nearby Little Schuylkill River and serves as a natural buffer for the Sanctuary’s private scientific headquarters, the Acopian Center for Conservation Learning.

For drivers on Route 895, one of Schuylkill County’s most scenic byways, the roadside transformation offers an inspiring view of conservation in action.

Information: https://www.hawkmountain.org/