BRADY TWP — Henry and Linda Lenz traveled the world after retirement looking for the best place to settle down.

The couple took a few years and traveled countless miles before realizing the place they wanted to live was a piece of property they already owned.

That same property, 85 acres in Liberty Township, Mercer County, was one of this year's designees for a wildlife sanctuary, according to the Bartramian Audubon Society. And on the society's 25th anniversary, the site was also chosen for June's annual picnic, an honor the couple is enjoying fully.

"We've wanted that for a very long time," according to Linda Lenz.

"We've owned the property since the early 1970s and always wanted to keep it the way it is."

The pristine wooded parcel includes a 10-acre lake and evenly planted trees, the remnants of strip mining in the 1950s or 60s. The site now serves as a haven for wildlife of all types, including frolicking grandchildren.

"Our only problem is we can't get anything done because we're watching the birds and wildlife," Linda Lenz said.

In 25 years, the Bartramian Audubon Society has designated 109 bird sanctuaries covering 42,503 acres in Butler and surrounding counties.

"I think one of the most important things we're doing is creating these sanctuaries," said Gene Wilhelm, a member of the board of directors and sanctuary committee chairman. The Bartramian Society covers Butler, Lawrence, Venango and Mercer counties.

With the amount of building and development going on, especially in Butler County, several parcels need to be protected for the sake of the birds and other wildlife, Wilhelm said.

The area's total number of sanctuaries includes 41 wildlife sanctuaries, which should be at least 20 acres in size, as well as 68 bird and butterfly sanctuaries, which can be any size, according Wilhelm. The smallest bird and butterfly sanctuary is the size of a walkway in someone's front yard, he added.

This designation was added in 1997 after several people showed an interest in starting sanctuaries but didn't have enough land for the wildlife label.

"It's quite a stringent thing," Wilhelm said. "It requires that a property include around 20 acres but also be biologically inclined to host birds."

At the 25th anniversary meeting May 12 at Jennings Environmental Education Center in Brady Township, each sanctuary owner was honored with the society's new book "Bartramian Audubon Society Sanctuaries," which details with maps and photos all of the sites already designated. The book is available for sale to non-members for $13 by e-mailing genewilhelm@aol.com.

Also at the ceremony, members passed out awards to an institution, business, individual and a special certificate of appreciation.

This year's institution award also honored the sanctuary concept, since the recipient, Slippery Rock University, has designated 210 acres to sanctuaries since 2005. Miller Woods in Slippery Rock Township was the first to be designated, with areas at the Macoskey Center, on South Main Street and behind the Old Stone House following suit recently.

The university has a been a leader in this area, according to Wilhelm, especially since Robert Smith became president in 2004.

"He's really balanced the development of campus and leaving green space," Wilhelm said.

Other honorees on May 12 included:

n Individual Conservation Award — Richard Eakin of Guys Mills. The biology professor is a well-known wildlife artist and photographer who created the chapter's logo.

n Business Conservation Award — Grove City County Market, owned by Dave and Vicki Knopp and their son David Jr. The Knopps established their 1.1 acre property on Lake Latonka as a bird and butterfly sanctuary.

n Special Certificate of Appreciation — Ron Fodor, board of director member and Butler County Conservation District manager. As manager for the past 27 years, his priorities include preserving farms and other land in Butler County. He has also designated his 1-acre property in Slippery Rock Township as a bird and butterfly sanctuary.

Membership in the Audubon Society has grown from 35 members to 500 members in the four counties.

The concentration in the next few years will remain on adding more sanctuaries, according to Wilhelm. With five now waiting to be designated, he expects the future of the group to be strong.

Society members enjoy the support of local businesses as well, said Wilhelm. Many businesses donate funds to allow members and designees to attend summer camps, like one trip planned for this summer. Three local residents will be sent to the National Audubon Society Summer Ecology Camp on Hog Island in Maine. They include Amanda Seibel, a teacher in the Grove City School District; Brittanie Smith from Slippery Rock High School; and Nancy Lendyak, Karns City School District teacher.