President's Corner
Bird Walk at Four Mile Run Park, Libby Lyons
I am excited to announce a new ASNV program called Stretch Our Parks. It is a community-based conservation initiative, centered around northern Virginia parks, to be implemented via partnerships among ASNV, parks, conservation groups, and neighborhood and community groups.
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Recovering Our Night Sky for People and Wildlife
La Palma, Canary Islands, Babak Tafreshi, TWAN
Remember the last time you saw the Milky Way? Around 33 percent of the world’s population can’t see it. In North America, nearly 80 percent of us cannot.
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Check Your State Legislators' Record
Ballot Box, Wikimedia Commons
To learn how your state legislators voted on conservation issues, visit the conservation scorecard posted by the Virginia League of Conservation Voters.
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Shopping for the Birds
Native Plant Tag, Margaret Fisher
Warm weather has many of us headed to the garden center, where lovely blooms await. Did you know that those shopping trips can double as one of the most effective ways to contribute to a healthier environment?
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Why Did the Canada Goose Cross the Road?
Canada Goose, Deidra Bryant
Ah, the notorious Canada Goose. We see them on golf courses, at parks, on corporate office campuses, near ponds, and of course, casually crossing busy roads in suburban neighborhoods.
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Welcome Back Yellow Warblers
Yellow Warbler, Sheen Watkins/Audubon Photography Awards
Spring is a busy time for bird-watchers in northern Virginia as flocks of tiny warblers migrate through our area to northern breeding grounds. But there are some that migrate to northern Virginia to breed, and it’s exciting to welcome them back.
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Observations from Meadowood
Six-spotted Tiger Beetle, Judy Gallagher
Judy Gallagher is a long-time participant in the Meadowood Recreation Area survey. Here are some of her findings.
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Plant This, Not That: Replacing Bush Honeysuckle
Bush Honeysuckle, Elaine Mills
This series by Alyssa Ford Morel offers suggestions on replacing invasive non-native plants with northern Virginia natives.
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Upcoming Classes and Events
We have some exciting classes and events coming up, both virtually and in-person! Click any event to learn more and register. You can also check our calendar for our full schedule of events.
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Water: Sustaining Bird Life - Migratory Bird Day Workshop
Graphic by worldmigratorybirdday.org
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Join Greg Butcher for a seminar on World Migratory Bird Day. This year’s theme is Water, which is essential to sustaining life. Virtually all migratory birds rely on water and its associated habitats at some point during their life cycles. Lakes, rivers, streams, ponds, wetlands, and coastal waters are all vital for feeding, drinking, or nesting, and as places to rest and refuel during long seasonal migrations. Unfortunately, these aquatic ecosystems are becoming increasingly threatened around the world, and so are the migratory birds that depend on them. Greg will also talk about the World Migratory Bird Day count on May 13 and how to participate.
When: Thursday, May 11, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Where: Virtual
Members: FREE
Non-members: $10
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Beginning Birder Workshop with Larry Meade
Huntley Meadows Boardwalk, Ser Amantio di Nicolao
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Early May is prime time for birding! Birds of all kinds are moving into our region to start nesting. Others are stopping over as a respite before they continue their journey north. In this experiential workshop at Huntley Meadows Park, the pace will be leisurely as we learn how to spot and identify birds. We also will discuss the natural history of the birds that we see. As we explore the park, we can practice using our optics and apps such as eBird and Merlin. The emphasis of this workshop will be more on learning about birding than on compiling a big list for the morning, although we will see plenty of birds.
When: Sunday, May 7, 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Where: Huntley Meadows Park, 3701 Lockheed Blvd., Alexandria, ,VA 22306
Members: $10
Non-members: $20
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Butterfly Identification Workshop with Leslie Rise
Zebra Swallowtail, Emily Carter Mitchell
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The sight of butterflies fluttering around on a warm day is one of the most iconic signs of summer. These beautiful insects usually live only a few weeks as adults, but they make quite an impression while they are in their full glory. There is a large variety of butterfly species in our area. Dr. Leslie Ries will focus on identifying the 20 most common butterflies in Northern Virginia.
Participants also will learn about the North American Butterfly Association Survey on July 1, 2023, including how to register to participate.
When: Thursday, June 15, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Where: Virtual
Fee: FREE
Registration coming soon!
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Bird Walks
Birding, Camila Cerea
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Check this page for upcoming walks! Registration is no longer required for ASNV-sponsored walks.
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Monday Nature Mystery
Foamflower, Tina Dudley
Monday Nature Mystery continues! Read on to learn who correctly identified our last mystery and see what this week's mystery holds.
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Conservation Counts
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Rusty Moran
Join Jim Waggener in his ongoing natural resource surveys at two of Northern Virginia's best birding spots. Surveys alternate between Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge and Meadowood Special Recreation Management Area on Mason Neck.
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E-Activist Network: Volunteers Needed
The National Audubon Society invites all Auduboners to join its e-activist network. When you subscribe to the Society’s newsletter, you'll receive alerts about important congressional actions and information about how you can affect legislation by contacting your members of Congress. https://www.audubon.org/
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Maximize Your Impact
Green Heron, Jay Stout/Audubon Photography Awards
Help ASNV build its nest egg through planned giving. Learn how here.
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