Jesse began volunteering with Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy in 2023 when he helped install deer exclusion fences at JK Black Oak Wildlife Sanctuary and was part of creating the award-winning 4th of July parade float in Leesburg. He continues to volunteer for JK Black Oak workdays and became a trail leader on one of our bluebird nestbox monitoring trails at Ida Lee Park.

Jesse Edwards

Before becoming a volunteer, Jesse attended a walk led by Jenny Erickson, the Amphibian Monitoring Program Coordinator, in March 2023, and he was “immediately hooked and went all in with everything.” Since then Jesse started bird watching and added 60 species to his life list the first year and another 15 so far this year. Additionally, he “dabbled a little bit with some bat monitoring” and adds, “I am also helping out Virginia Working Landscapes [a program of the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute] with grassland bird and plant surveys this year and plan on starting the Master Naturalist course in 2025…maybe even get a chance to help out with Blue Ridge Wildlife Center as well.”

Prior to discovering Loudoun Wildlife, Jesse says, “I wasn’t really that involved with nature too much outside of how it crossed paths with my profession as a landscape architect and was looking for something to help me feel more fulfilled than just taking a stroll in the woods.” Now he just likes “being out and getting closer to wildlife whether it is an insect, amphibian, bird, plant, etc. All of those things have little nuances that make them interesting and [make me] want to know more.”

Jesse does not have a specific favorite thing in nature, but he shares:

Whenever I come across someone that gets excited or passionate about something they want to share I am all ears and immediately gain more of an interest for whatever it is they are talking about.

Birdwatching has kind of become my Zen activity because it amazes me how if you just take a minute to slow down, be quiet, and listen you start to realize everything that you are missing operating in today’s busy world.

Going out to the vernal pools has become a new favorite of mine as well…just seeing the development of amphibians over the course of a few weeks is…I don’t know…enlightening? You almost become like a super fan rooting for them to succeed and survive in the world.

We are glad Jesse found us and has gained an all new appreciation for wildlife and wild places through our programs and volunteer opportunities. Many thanks to him, and to all of our volunteers, for helping make Loudoun a place where people and wildlife thrive together.

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