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. 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.

Last week, Natural Resources Manager Kevin Fryberger had the opportunity to visit a property in Elverson subject to a Conservancy-held conservation easement. The property had recently been logged and Kevin visited to assess the effects of the timber cut on the property's vegetation and bird populations. While he found a lot of damage to the woodland from the logging operation, Kevin reported a nice variety of both plant and bird species present.