Northwesten Lehigh residents recently gathered for handshakes and hors d'oeuvres at the Irma Broun-Kahn Education Building at Hawk Mountain, Kempton, to bid farewell to well-known conservationists and welcome sanctuary association president, Jerry Regan, and his family to the neighborhood.

Mel and Marvin Charles, avid conservationists and philanthropists, announced to Lynn Township supervisors earlier this month they donated their 64-acre property and home to Hawk Mountain Sanctuary.

The land added to the 2,600 acres of preserved property the sanctuary has acquired through donations since the original 1,394 plot was purchased in 1934.

The donation, with an estimated value of $500,000, was made as a planned gift through the sanctuary's Rosalie Edge Society, which honors individuals who donate $25,000 or more in money or property.

Although some planned gifts are fulfilled by a donor's last will and testament, the couple wanted to make sure the non-profit could benefit from the property now.

Built in 2000, the home at 8041 Springhouse Road, New Tripoli, will serve as living quarters for the sanctuary's president.

Over the years, Marvin and Mel Charles transformed their property into a preserve, they call "Wood Song."

Although "Wood Song" is not contiguous to the sanctuary's preserved borders, the property is an eight-mile "hawk's fly" away.

The couple have been active members of the Lynn Township Environmental Advisory Committee and National Recreation and Park Association.

Marvin Charles said the unique position of "Wood Song," which crosses paths with the Appalachian Trail, seems a natural addition to the preserve.

About a year ago, the couple decided they wanted to head west. Although they have not finalized their destination, they will be moving out soon so Regan and his family can move in.

Regan said board members had been tossing around the idea of creating a president's quarters on the mountain when he got word of the donation.

"This extraordinary gift fell into our laps," he said.

To welcome Regan and his family to the area, Marvin and Mel Charles invited friends to attend the informal meet and greet June 27. Regan said he and his wife, Janise, were waiting until their youngest son, Michael, graduated from high school to make the move from Hummelstown.

Michael Regan will be heading to West Virginia University in the fall. His brother, 20-year-old Kevin, will be returning for his third year at Michigan State University.

After making the 57-mile trek to his office for the last four years, Regan and Janise said they are thrilled to be moving to the area.

"It really lets me connect with the community," he said.

Growing up on a farm in Towanda, Regan is used to working hard and getting his hands dirty. Since taking the position of president in 2010, he has been a motivating force for improvements and developments at the renowned raptor reserve.

Over the past two years, he has been working with staff to improve services, enhance research, and attract new visitors to Hawk Mountain Sanctuary through a $10 million capital campaign.

As guests sipped wine and nibbled on savory appetizers provided by Brick House Grill, Orwigsburg, Marvin Charles approached the lecturn to thank Hawk Mountain Sanctuary for the opportunity to contribute to its mission to conserve birds of prey and preserve natural landscapes.

"We see beautiful and pristine places disappearing all over," he said. "We felt fortunate to be able to do this."

Charles regretted that his wife, Mel, could not attend the event due to professional commitments in South Dakota.

"Mel was the real visionary for "Wood Song," he said.

As a native of New York City, Charles said his wife lured him into the woods of Blue Mountain. Charles, 72, unaggressive appearance and candid personality seem juxtaposed against his powerful passion for preservation.

He said he and Mel sometimes ruffled feathers in their efforts to zone "Wood Song" as a preserve.

"I don't normally get emotional, but I am very passionate about this," he said, revealing a moment of sentiment. "We felt we were very lucky to be the stewards of the property for the better part of 14 years. We have enjoyed enormously the time we have spent in the area."

Charles concluded by formally inviting the Regans to the area and bidding adieu to his friends and neighbors.

Longtime friends, Linda and Jim Flemming of Heidelberg Township, joined the nearly two dozen supporters who attended the event.

"Marvin and I used to go to county fairs together," said Jim, who knows Mel and Marvin from Rural Preservation Association of Northwestern Lehigh County meetings.

Director of Advancement Craig George said the property will be used to continue 80 years of ornithological research.

Rebecca McCabe, conservation science trainee, at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, will be using the donated property to study nesting and migration behaviors of broad-winged hawks over the next two years.

McCabe, a graduate student at East Stroudsburg University, plans on using research collected with Dr. Laurie Goodrich to complete her master's thesis.