National Stone, Sand & Gravel
Association Environmental Eagle Award
A Red-Tail Hawk indicative of those found on Manassas Quarry wildlife
habitat
|
Operated by Vulcan Materials Company, the Manassas Quarry in Virginia
was awarded the National Stone Sand and Gravel Association’s 2003 Silver
Environmental Eagle Award. The Environmental Eagle Award was created in
1992 to provide national recognition for aggregate-producing companies
actively contributing to the maintenance of the environment in and around
their operations, as evidenced by a corporate commitment to the full use
of environmental controls and systems.
The employees at the 342-acre Manassas Quarry continue to dedicate
their time and efforts to improving and creating new wildlife habitat
programs. Local Boy Scout Troops help assist with the nest box program,
which has been expanded, to include 30 nest boxes that host species such
as eastern bluebird, American kestrel and house wrens. There is also a
purple martin house and red-tail hawk nesting platform on-site. In wetland
areas, wildlife team members maintain and monitor four floating goose
nests and a wood duck nest box.
A new nature trail, which is regularly maintained, is a one of
the highlights of the wildlife habitat program. The trail was built around
a pond that has abundant bird activity. Red-winged blackbird, bluebird and
goldfinch are some of the species that have been spotted along the trail.
It begins with a new hummingbird memorial garden that is dedicated to past
employees. As visitors continue along the trails, they will spot five
bluebird nest boxes that were installed. The nest boxes are used as
educational tools to show visitors how to maintain and monitor boxes
successfully for nesting birds, and the boxes provide nesting habitat for
local bird populations. |
