The Dirt Blog

Fall migration is here!

September 15, 2023

The end of summer brings the start of shorter days and eventually cooler weather. It’s also the beginning of fall migration! Twice a year, billions of birds across North America embark on journeys of varying lengths and destinations to find plentiful food and nesting resources. In the fall, many birds will be leaving their summer […]

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Species Spotlight: Cuckoos in nature and song

August 9, 2023

By Laura Warman, Grants Manager “Oh the cuckoo, she’s a pretty bird. She warbles as she flies.  She never says cuckoo, ‘till the fourth day of July”.  Cuckoos and their calls are the subject of a surprising number of songs, poems and stories, and they feature heavily in different mythologies (from ancient Greece to the […]

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Community Action Against Invasive Autumn Olive

August 4, 2023

One of TLC’s most popular public properties, Brumley Nature Preserve is home to 673 acres of mature hardwood, young pine, and alluvial forests that surround streams, wetlands, and ponds. It is also home to thriving populations of invasive species under its forest canopy. From Japanese stiltgrass to tree of heaven, these invaders and others continue […]

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Celebrating a Second Year of PINES!

July 11, 2023

In May, our Pathways Into Nature and Environmental Science (PINES) program wrapped up their semester with our largest cohort of students yet! This year TLC was able to expand the program by welcoming 10 students from Knightdale High School to join us in exploring the outdoors, careers in conservation, and create community around learning and […]

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Spotting the Spotted Lanternfly

June 16, 2023

By Laura Warman, Grants Manager You might remember hearing about spotted lanternflies (SLF, Lycorma delicatula) in the news (or on this blog!) last year. These planthoppers feed on the sap of many species of plants and can have very negative effects both on crops and natural systems. Not only is their feeding detrimental to their […]

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Look out for these invasive worms!

June 16, 2023

By Laura Warman, Grants Manager As we near summer and start spending more time out on the trails and in the garden, it’s a great time to be on the lookout for invasive species. As a quick reminder – native species can also be unruly, aggressive, and unpleasant for us but they evolved here and […]

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TLC Protects More of Important Aquatic Habitat in Johnston County

June 12, 2023

TLC is excited to announce the protection of 17 acres along Middle Creek in Johnston County!  This purchase marks the first time since the Bailey & Sarah Williamson Preserve that Johnston County has directly funded a TLC project. Last year, Johnston County committed $625,000 to local land-protection efforts, which has allowed TLC and partners to […]

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Tour the Triangle on These Favorite TLC Trails

May 12, 2023

It’s the Year of the Trail in North Carolina, and to celebrate we’ve gathered some of our staff’s favorite trails across TLC’s public nature preserves! Since 1983, TLC has opened and now manages over 55 miles of trails in the Triangle where we welcome thousands of visitors each year. Located across the region, TLC preserves […]

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TLC is everywhere!

May 2, 2023

Ten years ago, TLC moved into what has been our head office on Duke Street in downtown Durham. A lot has changed since then. As the Triangle’s population has grown, our team has doubled in size to meet the increased need for land protection, stewardship, outreach, and fundraising — including our finance and administration team […]

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