President's Corner

Tundra Swan illustration by John James Audubon

ASNV is adopting a proactive approach to our mission of engaging all northern Virginia communities in enjoying, conserving, and restoring nature for the benefit of birds, other wildlife, and people.

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Fight Light Pollution to Conserve Natural Resources

Hooded Warbler, Adam Brandemihl/Audubon Photography Awards

Upcoming Classes and Events

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 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

The Butterfly Count is an ongoing program of the North American Butterfly Association (NABA) to census the butterflies of North America (United States, Canada and partially Mexico) and to publish the results. Volunteer participants are assigned a count area with a 15-mile diameter. The volunteers conduct a one-day census of all butterflies sighted within that circle. Volunteers of all experience levels are welcome! Every team will be led by an expert. 

The deadline to register is Thursday, September 7 at 9:00 PM so you can be assigned to a team on Friday. Teams will each meet at their designated count locations. 

Participants are encouraged to stay with their team for the duration of the event, but those who can only participate for a portion of the day also are welcome. A tally rally will take place at 4:00 PM at Belle Haven Pizzeria at 1401 Belle Haven Road, Alexandria, Virginia 22307. 

When: Sunday, September 10, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Where: Alexandria, VA area
Fee: Suggested donation: $3

Join us for a six-evening course to become better informed about the scope of the climate crisis and the science behind the issue. Each class will last about 90 minutes, with an opportunity for questions. Topics to be covered include: an overview of climate concepts and issues; greenhouse gases; the role of fossil fuels in the crisis; alternative energy sources; proposals for removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere; effects on wildlife and biodiversity; sectors of the economy affecting the crisis, and the politics and economics of the crisis.

The class on Thursday, October 5, will be a discussion with Bill Young and ASNV board member Dr. Tom Wood to provide participants with suggestions for actions we can take to push back on the effects of climate change. The October 5 class will be free and open to all, including people not enrolled in the course.

When: September 19, 21, 26, 28 and October 3 and 5, 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Where: Virtual
Members: $65
Non-members: $75

Join us on Sunday afternoon, September 24, for our quarterly live Audubon Afternoon at the National Wildlife Federation Building, 11100 Wildlife Center Drive in Reston. We’ll gather informally starting at 2:30 so you have an opportunity to reconnect with everyone. We welcome any food and drink you would like to share with everyone during the informal portion of the program. At 3:00 PM, we’ll have a presentation by the Smithsonian’s Nathan Cooper. He will discuss his research on North America’s rarest songbird, the Kirtland’s Warbler. Over the past few decades, Kirtland’s Warblers have undergone a remarkable recovery, from just 167 males in the world in 1987 to more than 2,200 males today. In addition to having a compelling conservation story, its small population size and restricted breeding and winter ranges provide an opportunity to learn more about the fascinating and interconnected annual cycles of songbirds. Cooper will take us on a journey through the annual cycle of the Kirtland’s Warbler and share what we have learned from this rare species. 

Nathan Cooper is a Research Ecologist at the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center.

When: Sunday, September 24, 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM
Where: 11100 Wildlife Center Drive, Reston, VA
Fee: FREE

All are free to join us (no cost!) on October 5 for a discussion with Bill Young and ASNV board member Dr. Tom Wood on suggestions for actions they can take to address the climate crisis. The last half of the class will be an open forum for people to present their ideas, concerns, and experiences. For anyone interested in becoming more deeply involved, ASNV will offer an advocacy workshop later in October (date to be announced) to provide information about how to do political action regarding climate and other environmental issues.

When: October 5, 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Where: Virtual
Fee: FREE