RARE, INDEED, in these subur- banized climes are glimpses of the blue-gray gnatcatcher or the spotted touch-me-not. But those are just two of the species (the first a bird, the second a plant) found on the pristine peninsula called Crow's Nest. Now Stafford County supervisors have voted to buy part of the land and preserve it. But is the deal they've made a boon or a bane for the community?

First, a little history: The 4,000-acre Crow's Nest peninsula is, itself, rare. On it stands one of the largest unfragmented forests in the Chesapeake Bay watershed and a 70-acre heron rookery. Twenty-five species of waterfowl live in and around the property, and 57 species of neotropical birds migrate through it. The peninsula's deep ravines shelter many rare plants; its 1,300 acres of undisturbed wetlands are an ecological treasure.

For years the friends of Crow's Nest have doggedly tried to save this land, but every time rescuers found sufficient funds, it seemed, the price would go up. Offers, counteroffers, pleas for help, T-shirt sales, and yard signs all failed to procure the prize: the preservation of an inch of Crow's Nest.

Now, after moving a year ago to condemn the property, the Stafford Board of Supervisors has reached an agreement with the area's main owner, K&M Properties: The county will buy 1,720 acres for $19 million now and will retain the option to buy another 1,200 acres for $16.2 million for two years.

Some Crow's Nest partisans remain unhappy: They say the price is too high, the parcel purchased is not the right one, and the deal fails to guarantee the whole peninsula's salvation. Perfection is indeed unachieved. Still, the prospect of saving potentially 2,900 acres from development is cheering.

Many people have worked for years to bring the plight of Crow's Nest to the public's attention. Local residents John Mitchell, Cecelia Kirkman, and Arch Di Peppe (who made a film about the land) are among those who've raised awareness about its importance. Of late, Stafford Supervisor Paul Milde has been "the single-focused, high-energy driver of this whole process," holds fellow GOP Supervisor Mark Dudenhefer.

Would it be preferable to save the entire 4,000-acre peninsula? Yes. For free. But there is that issue of the owner's legitimate interests in his property. Virginia's eminent-domain law might disallow this sort of condemnation. A lengthy court battle could be safely predicted.

Some Staffordians question the wisdom of investing any money in buying this land. To them, we commend hollow joe-pye weed, common agrimony, the American coot, old-growth forests, and bullrush-filled marshes. Spend a day in that company--you'll get the picture.