Volunteers removed trash and protected habitat at the Dulles Greenway Wetlands, home to more than 200 documented bird species and a registered Monarch waystation
ASHBURN, VA. Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy and Dulles Greenway partnered in support of the Keep Virginia Beautiful initiative to welcome more than 30 members of the community to a hands-on volunteer cleanup at the Dulles Greenway Wetlands on Wednesday, July 8, as part of a new event called Dulles Greenway: Wetlands for Wildlife. Together, volunteers collected 481 pounds of trash and debris from the wetlands property, which Dulles Greenway owns and stewards as a natural refuge for wildlife and native plants in the heart of Loudoun County.
Native plants are the foundation of that living system. Milkweed, asters, goldenrod, cattails, wetland grasses, shrubs, and trees provide nectar for pollinators, food and cover for birds and small mammals, and breeding habitat for amphibians and reptiles, while helping hold soil in place and support healthy wetland conditions. The insects these plants sustain become food for frogs, birds, turtles, fish, and other animals throughout the ecosystem.
Trash threatens that balance. Plastic bags, bottles, food packaging, fishing line, broken glass, and other debris can entangle wildlife, be mistaken for food, damage sensitive vegetation, and wash into wetland pools and nearby waterways. Over time, litter can break down into smaller pieces and introduce pollutants that affect the water and the many plants and animals that depend on it.
By removing 481 pounds of trash from the Dulles Greenway Wetlands, volunteers did more than improve the appearance of the site. They helped protect a functioning ecosystem by keeping habitat safer for wildlife, supporting the native plants that make that wildlife possible, and helping preserve clean water and natural open space for the broader Loudoun County community. Healthy wetlands benefit everyone. They provide refuge for wildlife, help filter and slow stormwater, support biodiversity, and offer people a place to experience the richness of the natural world close to home.
“The Dulles Greenway Wetlands are one of the most biologically rich sites we monitor in Loudoun County, with more than 200 documented bird species alone. Events like this give our community a direct way to protect that richness. Every piece of trash we remove is one less threat to a heron, a turtle, or a monarch butterfly that depends on this habitat to survive.” — Tom Kercheval, Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy
“Dulles Greenway is proud to steward this land and to partner with Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy to protect it. These wetlands are a quiet but essential part of our community, supporting wildlife, filtering stormwater, and giving people a place to connect with nature close to home. We are grateful to every volunteer who joined us today to help keep this ecosystem healthy for generations to come.” — Terry Hoffman, Dulles Greenway
Wildlife and Habitat at the Dulles Greenway Wetlands
Birds, more than 200 species documented by Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy, including:
- Bald Eagles (top predators in the wetlands)
- Great Blue Herons
- Great Egrets
- Green Herons
- Barred Owls
- Ospreys
- Eastern Bluebirds
- House Wrens
- Wild Turkeys
- Sparrows, warblers, and other migratory songbirds
Mammals:
- Beavers
- Otters
- White-tailed deer
- Red foxes
- Flying squirrels
- Raccoons
- Coyotes
- Other small mammals that use the wetlands, stream corridors, and surrounding woods
Reptiles and Amphibians:
- Painted turtles
- Snapping turtles
- Eastern box turtles
- Garter snakes
- Rat snakes
- Spring peepers
- Pickerel frogs
- Cricket frogs
- Gray treefrogs
- Green frogs
Pollinators and Insects:
- Monarch butterflies (the site is registered as a Monarch waystation)
- Native bees
- Dragonflies
- Damselflies
- Various spiders, aquatic insects, and other pollinators and invertebrates that support the wetland food web
Native Plants:
- Milkweed
- Native asters
- Goldenrod
- Native wetland grasses
- Native shrubs and trees
About Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy – Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy works to protect and restore habitat for native wildlife and plants throughout Loudoun County through conservation, education, and citizen science programs that connect the community with the natural world.
About Dulles Greenway – Dulles Greenway is a privately owned toll road connecting Loudoun County to the Washington Dulles International Airport corridor, committed to being a responsible steward of the natural resources along its right of way, including the Dulles Greenway Wetlands.
