The latest news and events from Audubon Society of Northern Virginia

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** June 2023
ASNV HOME ([link removed]) DONATE ([link removed]) JOIN ([link removed])
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** Board Notes
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** Black Skimmers, Irina Pigman/Audubon Photography Awards
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I have been on the ASNV board for exactly one year, chairing the Citizen Science committee and participating in conservation initiatives. A year in I am impressed by the dedication and hard work of my fellow board members and our incredible partners, volunteers, and supporters.
Read more > ([link removed])


** The Audubon Name
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** Common American Swan, Courtesy of the John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove, Montgomery County Audubon Collection, and Zebra Publishing
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The National Audubon Society (NAS) was named after John James Audubon in recognition of his contribution to the natural history of North America. Historical reviews of his legacy have in the past several years shown light on more troubling aspects of his life.

Read more > ([link removed])


** Trails Can Harm Natural Resources
Tomwsulcer, CCO, via Wikimedia Commons
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Trails through natural areas have undeniable benefits, including improving our mental well-being, providing access for outdoor education programs, and reducing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions if people use them instead of driving cars.

Read more > ([link removed])


** Front Yard Landscaping, Reimagined
Reimagined Front Yard, Margaret Fisher
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Originality has not been what springs to mind when looking at most front yards, but now people are starting to tweak the conventions by putting native plants front and center on their properties.

Read more > ([link removed])


** Arlington's Nesting Ravens
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** Common Raven, David Howell
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This spring Arlington residents who have not spent enough time further away to observe the breeding and nesting cycle of the Common Raven had a rare local treat.

Read more > ([link removed])


** Say "NO" to both Mosquitoes and Mosquito Control Companies
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** Tree Swallows, John Pennell/Audubon Photography Awards
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It’s that time of year again, and, even though we’ve had a couple of cool, rainy days in May, summer is upon us. That means the dreaded mosquitoes are beginning to make their move.

Read more > ([link removed])

Monthly Features


** Observations from Meadowood
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** Slender Ant-mimic Jumping Spider, Judy Gallagher
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Judy Gallagher is a long-time participant in the Meadowood Recreation Area survey. Here are some of her findings.

Read more > ([link removed])


** Plant This, Not That: Replacing Spanish Bluebells
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Spanish Bluebells, Alyssa Ford Morel

One in a series ([link removed]) of occasional articles on how to replace invasives with beautiful native plants.
Read more > ([link removed])

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** Upcoming Classes and Events
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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 ([link removed]) for our full schedule of events.


** Audubon Afternoon and Annual Meeting
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** Red-shouldered Hawk, Peter Brannon/Audubon Photography Awards
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Join us for our annual in-person member meeting and Audubon Afternoon. All are welcome! You do not need to be an ASNV member to attend. This year’s topic is “Raptor Rehab,” presented by Secret Garden Birds and Bees. Liz Dennison will join us to talk about what rehabbers actually do to help injured or sick birds recover, how they give orphaned raptors the best chance of survival in the wild, some of the more interesting cases they’ve seen, and the physical and emotional toll of being a rehabber. Liz also will give practical information about what you can do if you find an injured wild animal. She will bring several live raptors to the program, a great opportunity to see birds of prey up-close. Bring the whole family. No registration is required, but you may wish to register ([link removed]) to get a reminder email about the event.

Come early (2:30 PM) for informal socializing. Our brief annual meeting will convene at 3:00 PM, to be followed by the main event!

When: June 4, 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Where: National Wildlife Federation Building, 11100 Wildlife Center Drive, Reston, VA 20190
Fee: FREE
MORE INFO ([link removed])


** Butterfly Identification Workshop with Leslie Ries
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
Member Ticket: $10
Non-member Ticket: $15
MORE INFO ([link removed])


** What Makes a Species? Streamertail Hummingbirds with Dr. Caroline Judy
Dr. Caroline Judy
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Dr. Caroline Judy will present a program on her work studying an unusual case of island speciation seen in Jamaican streamertail hummingbirds (Trochilus spp.). Streamertail hummingbirds are closely-related hummingbirds that are distinguished on the basis of bill color, which is bright red in the Red-billed Streamertail and jet black in the Black-billed Streamertail. Historically, they have been treated as subspecies by the North American Classification and Nomenclature Committee. However, Dr. Judy found evidence for reproductive isolation that informed the committee’s recent decision to elevate the streamertails to full species status. Her presentation also asks another intriguing question – why are hummingbirds as a genus so rich in species?

When: Thursday, June 22, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Where: Virtual
Members: $15
Non-members: $25
MORE INFO ([link removed])


** Celebrate National Moth Week! Workshop with Judy Gallagher
Io Moth, Judy Gallagher
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Join Judy Gallagher for a workshop on moths, to celebrate National Moth Week (NMW), July 22-30. Did you know that many adult moths eat nectar but others don’t eat at all as adults? “Moth-ers” of all ages and abilities are encouraged to join us to help them learn about, observe, and document moths in their backyards, parks, and neighborhoods. NMW offers everyone, everywhere a unique opportunity to become a citizen scientist and contribute scientific data about moths. Through partnership with major online biological data depositories, NMW participants around the globe can help map moth distribution and provide needed information on other aspects of their life history. Judy Gallagher is a member of the ASNV board, and, although she loves birding, she is most passionate about documenting insects and spiders and their behavior and environment through macro photography.

When: Monday, July 24, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Where: Virtual
Fee: FREE, but registration is required
MORE INFO ([link removed])


** Fall Butterfly Identification with Larry Meade
Variegated Fritillary, David Illig
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The sight of butterflies fluttering around on a warm day is one of the most iconic signs of summer, but they can still be found well into the fall months. These beautiful insects usually live for 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. Larry Meade will walk us through the common species and help us differentiate some of the trickier look-alike species. Participants are encouraged to register ([link removed]) for the North American Butterfly Association (NABA) Count to be held on September 10, 2023, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM in the Alexandria area. Larry Meade is president of the Northern Virginia Bird Club, a member of the ASNV adult education committee, and compiler of the Alexandria Circle NABA Butterfly Count.

When: Tuesday, September 5, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Where: Virtual
Member Ticket: FREE
Non-member Ticket: $10
MORE INFO ([link removed])


** Understanding the Climate Crisis with Bill Young
Bill Young
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Join us for a five-evening course to become better informed about the scope of the climate crisis and the science behind this issue. Each class will last about an hour and a half, with opportunity for discussion. Topics to be covered include an overview of climate concepts and issues, greenhouse gases, effects on birds and biodiversity, fossil fuels, and transportation and agriculture. The class will be followed on Thursday, October 5, by a free Climate Crisis Action & Advocacy Workshop ([link removed]) with Bill Young and ASNV board member Dr. Tom Wood. The workshop will provide participants (and others - all are welcome) with suggestions for action that we all can take to push back on the effects of climate change.

If you register by June 30, you save $20 off the ticket price, but hurry. There are limited slots for "early bird" prices.

When: September 19, 21, 26, 28 and October 3, 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Where: Virtual
Members: $65 ("early bird" price $45, until June 30)
Non-members: $75 ("early bird" price $55, until June 30)
MORE INFO ([link removed])


** Bird Walks
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Birding, Camila Cerea


Check this page ([link removed]) for upcoming walks! Registration is no longer required for ASNV-sponsored walks.


** Monday Nature Mystery
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** Silvery Checkerspot Butterfly, Judy Gallagher
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**
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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**
Read more > ([link removed])
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** Conservation Counts
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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.

Read more > ([link removed])

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. [link removed]
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** Maximize Your Impact
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Green Heron, Jay Stout/Audubon Photography Awards

Help ASNV build its nest egg through planned giving. Learn how here ([link removed]) .
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