The Laurels, King Ranch and Stroud Important Bird Area (IBA) are the culmination of numerous years’ worth of data collection and the foresight of many conservation-minded landowners. 

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Comprising 41,950 acres within central Chester County-- of which 25,834 acres (62%) are protected by the Brandywine Conservancy, Natural Lands Trust, and county and municipal governments-- it is the largest contiguous block of protected open space in the five-county Philadelphia region.  Not surprisingly, this IBA hosts the highest density and diversity of grassland-nesting birds in Southeastern Pennsylvania.

Today, I had the opportunity to lead a group of 11 members of the Delaware Nature Society on a tour of the IBA to view and discuss various hay management techniques and their respective impacts on avian populations.  After several hours, we had observed 84 species of birds...(and a lot of hay).  Our most notable finds included six Dickcissel, five Grasshopper Sparrows, two Blue Grosbeaks, seven Savannah Sparrows, thirty-six Bobolinks, twenty-three Eastern Meadowlarks, two Bald Eagles, and a Great Blue Heron rookery that contained 19 birds.

If you would like advice on how to better manage your grasslands to support the greatest diversity of grassland-nesting birds, please contact the Conservancy at (610) 388-8340.