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Quick Links
In This Newsletter
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. From April through October, surveys are conducted primarily for butterflies and dragonflies at those two locations and two others—Occoquan Regional Park and Julie J. Metz Memorial Wetlands Preserve.
Meadowood on Mason Neck
(7:30 a.m. - noon)
Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge
(7:30 a.m - noon)
Butterfly and Dragonfly Surveys
(April through October, 8:30 AM - 12:00 PM)
Meadowood Recreation Area: April 3, May 1, May 29, June 19
Metz Wetlands: April 10, May 8, (ORP instead of Metz on June 5), June 26
Occoquan Regional Park: April 17, May 15, June 5
Occoquan Bay NWR: April 24, May 22, June 12
Virginia Legislature Considers Conservation Bills
The 2020 Virginia Legislative session will end March 7. Some bills are headed to Governor Ralph Northam for signature and some have died for this session. The legislature is considering over 3,000 bills and their status can change rapidly.
- Wildlife Corridors: The Senate and House of Delegates have passed identical bills (S.B.1004 and H.B. 1695) to promote wildlife corridors. The bills would require the Departments of Game and Inland Fisheries, Transportation and Conservation and Recreation to create a Wildlife Corridor Action Plan. The bills require the agencies to submit a plan to the Senate and House by September 1, 2022, and to identify areas connecting fragmented wildlife habitats separated by human activities such as roads, and recommend wildlife crossing projects to promote driver safety and wildlife connectivity. The bills also require the Department of Transportation (i) to include in the environmental impact report for a highway construction project an assessment of the impact of the project on any wildlife corridor, and (ii) consider measures to mitigate the harm caused to wildlife by a highway in the design options for construction of the highway. The bill will likely be referred to the Governor for signature.
- Recreational Drones: By a unanimous vote, the House approved a bill (H.B. 742, as amended) that allows local subdivisions to regulate take-off and landing of private drones from or to property owned by the subdivision, such as park land. In the last session, the legislature passed a bill that prohibited any such local regulation. This year’s bill instructs the Virginia Department of Aviation (DOA) to adopt rules and regulations to govern those local restrictions by January 1, 2021 in consultation with representatives of the drone industry, localities and other stakeholders. The bill is now in the Senate Committee on Local Government.
- Unowned Cats: The House of Delegates Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Committee postponed consideration until 2021 of l H.B. 1727, a bill to legalize the operation of cat trap, neuter and return programs, programs under which people release unowned cats into the environment. Under current laws against animal cruelty, as made clear in a 2013 advisory opinion from the Virginia Attorney General, releasing a cat into the wild is an illegal abandonment. ASNV will continue to promote keeping cats indoors.
ASNV also signed letters in support of bills followed by some of its allies to address climate change:
- Solar Energy: ASNV signed a letter initiated by the Sierra Club supporting legislation to remove many of the current restrictions on local and residential solar generation facilities. The House of Delegates and the Senate have passed somewhat different bills. The Senate and House Committees on Labor and Commerce will each consider the other body’s bill and a conference committee will ultimately attempt to resolve differences between them.
- Clean Energy Economy Act: ASNV signed onto a letter initiated by the National Audubon Society supporting the Clean Energy Economy Act (H.B. 1526) and a companion bill, S.B. 851. The bills replace existing voluntary renewal energy portfolio system (RPS) goals with mandatory RPS goals requiring utilities and suppliers to produce energy from 100 percent renewable resources by 2045 or 2050, depending on the classification of the utility or supplier. Both bills also convert the existing Shoreline Resiliency Fund to the Virginia Community Flood Preparedness Fund to address both coastal and riverine flooding. In addition to legislative appropriations, the fund can include moneys from the sale of RPS emission credits. The House and Senate each passed their bills, and differences will be worked out in committees.
Bill to Restrict Spraying for Fall Cankerworms Dies in Committee
The House of Delegates Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns voted, 9-11, to not report to the full House HB 1727, a bill that would have prohibited localities from spraying pesticides on private property to kill fall cankerworms unless the property owner requests or opts in to the spraying.
ASNV has worked for several years to reduce or eliminate spraying to kill these caterpillars, which are a native species that has existed for thousands of years, because the spray kills all caterpillars at a critical time of year for migrating and breeding birds.
Delegate Kathy Tran, who represents the 42nd district, introduced the bill and worked hard to ensure its passage. Delegate Tran introduced a related bill in the last legislative session that also failed to pass. Please email her at [email protected] to thank her for her work on the bill and her support for an issue that is important to birds.
While ASNV is disappointed in the failure of the bill, we will continue our efforts at the state and local levels. You can read more about the fall cankerworm issue here.
To learn more about major conservation bills, including bills addressing plastics, litter and tree preservation, visit the Virginia Conservation Network http://www.vcnva.org/bill-tracker/.
Learn How to Approach and Talk to an Elected Official.
Join Audubon for a webinar on Tuesday, March 10 at 8:00 p.m.
All are welcome! Whether you’re just interested in getting more involved, or are already a chapter member, Audubon Ambassador, campus activist, volunteer, or staff member, you are part of a nationwide conservation movement. All you need to join is the desire to get involved and change the world for good.
Audubon is offering this webinar to anyone interested in learning how to approach an elected official, who to bring along, what you should prepare, and how you should follow up. Register for the webinar here.
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.
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Governor Northam Announces Plans to Help Birds at the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel
On February 14, Governor Ralph Northam announced plans to mitigate harm to 25,000 shorebirds whose nesting area has been destroyed to accommodate the expansion of the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel (HRBT). (Virginia Steps to Protect Migratory Birds) The Governor’s announcement came following weeks of pressure from individuals and organizations from around the country, including ASNV, the National Audubon Society and the American Bird Conservancy. A big THANK YOU to all our members and friends who wrote and emailed the Governor and the Secretary of the Interior asking them to do something to protect the birds. Your voices made a difference!
Royal Terns and Sandwich Terns that nest almost nowhere else in Virginia, as well as Black Skimmers and several species of gulls, have nested on South Island for 40 years. South Island was paved over in preparation for the expansion of the HRBT, and the birds will not be able to nest there this spring. The state’s mitigation plans include creating alternate nesting area on Rip Raps Island, a nearby artificial island, in time for the 2020 breeding season; and investigation of procuring barges that could provide additional nesting area. The Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF) will also accelerate its work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to assess the feasibility of creating an artificial island to provide a long-term habitat for the birds and will restore a portion of the nesting area on South Island after construction is complete in 2025.
While the Governor’s announcement is welcome news, the solution is not perfect. It is not certain that the birds will accept Rip Raps Island as a nesting area, and much work needs to be done on the island in the next few weeks to make it more attractive to the birds. Procuring barges as temporary nesting sites is both extremely expensive and unlikely to occur in time for this year’s nesting season. As a result, it is likely that the populations of these birds will decline despite the Governor’s actions. It also is not clear how the project will be funded or which state agencies will take responsibility for the project. ASNV has submitted a letter to the Corps of Engineers asking them to reopen the record of the Environmental Impact Statement to take into consideration new developments concerning the impact of construction on birds before issuing a permit for the construction. We’ll keep you posted on future developments and will alert you if more action is needed.
Governor Northam also announced plans to establish a permitting program for actions likely to impact bird populations. This new program was made necessary by the Trump Administration’s rollback of protections for birds under the century-old Migratory Bird Treaty Act. DGIF intends to develop draft regulations by the spring of 2020 that will provide birds in Virginia similar or the same protections that were previously provided by the MBTA. Virginia is the second state in the nation, after California, that is taking steps to put in place protections for birds that previously had been provided nationally under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. ASNV will review and comment on the draft regulations.
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President's Corner March 2020
By Tom Blackburn, ASNV President
What is the opposite of spending an enjoyable couple of hours watching birds?
If you chose “working to support conservation measures and opposing threats to the environment,” I think you might be right. Environmental advocacy involves research and writing, meetings, email communications, testifying at hearings and meeting with state and local officials. None of that work involves being outside. But that work is critical to ensuring that birds and other wildlife will be there when you can take the time to be outside. I like to think of my outdoor time as the “dessert” – a reward for working to protecting the environment.
ASNV’s mission is; “to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats for the benefit of humanity and the earth's biological diversity.” One of the ways ASNV does that is through our dedicated group of volunteers who advocate on behalf of birds, wildlife and the environment. It seems particularly important to do that now, given the threat posed by our Federal administration’s rollback of important environmental protections and conversely, the opportunity presented by the election of state and county officials who are more committed to environmental issues than in the past.
In the past few months, ASNV has worked to protect shorebirds whose nesting areas are threatened by construction at the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel; advocated for a change in Fairfax County policies concerning feral cats, which devastate bird populations; sought greater protections against spraying to kill caterpillars that are a critical food source for birds; pushed for environmentally-friendly outdoor lighting requirements; supported protection of menhaden, an important food source for shorebirds and pelagic birds; worked to ensure that new commercial buildings incorporate bird-friendly design; supported legislation that removes restrictions on solar energy; and advocated against creating a recreational scuba diving facility at a quarry that supports wintering populations of ducks, among other efforts to protect the environment.
We could do even more if you and other ASNV members volunteer to help. We can use help from people throughout the ASNV chapter territory, but we particularly need help from our members in Loudoun, Prince William, Stafford and Fauquier Counties.
As our website says, “The heart of the Audubon effort has always been in helping individuals make a difference in their communities.” If you’d like to help us make a difference, please email me at [email protected].
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Upcoming Events, Workshops and Classes
Late Winter Birds with Larry Meade
Date: Thursday, March 5, 2020
Time: 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Location: National Wildlife Federation, 11100 Wildlife Center Drive, Reston, VA 20190
Field Trip: Saturday, March 7, TBD
Cost: $30 member / $40 non-member
March can offer spectacular birding, marking a transition between winter and spring. Many of our winter birds, such as waterfowl and sparrows, are still around, but they are joined by early migrants returning to breeding territories. In this workshop, we will discuss birds that occur here at this time of year, with a special focus on species that are migrating into our region and their arrival dates. An ancillary field trip offers a chance to encounter many of these birds in their natural settings.
Larry Meade, ASNV Education Committee and President of Northern Virginia Bird Club, will lead.
Register here.
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Ornithology Topics: Avian Biology, Spring Session
(The Study of Birds)
Instructor: J. Christopher Haney Spring 2020
[email protected]
Dates: Tuesdays, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
March 24 – May 5, 2020
Location: National Wildlife Federation, 11100 Wildlife Center Drive, Reston, VA 20190
Cost: $250 members, $275 non-members
Join Dr. Chris Haney for a new class, “Ornithology Topics: Avian Biology, Spring Session.” There is no prerequisite for this course and it does not repeat our fall session of Ornithology but offers all new material.
This course is designed and presented at an introductory, university level in 6 parts, with each classroom session 2 hours long. Ornithology Topics: Avian Biology will feature major underpinnings to ornithology within the fundamental context of U.S. national history. Topics covered in Part 2 of this class will encompass: bird song; avian diet and foraging; mate selection and social behaviors of birds; breeding biology (incubation, chick-rearing, post-natal care); bird populations; and avian conservation and sustainable management. Instructional presentations will include PowerPoint slides, auditory or video supplements, and some in-class participatory exercises. Each night’s classroom lecture will be made available to all participants in PDF format by the following day.
Required textbook: Manual of Ornithology: Avian Structure and Function, 1993, Procter and Lynch, ISBN-10: 0300076193
Optional textbook: Handbook of Bird Biology (Cornell Lab of Ornithology), 3rd edition, 2016, Lovette and Fitzpatrick, ISBN-10: 1118291050
Recommended supplement: The National Geographic Society’s Field Guide to the Birds of America, The Sibley Guide to Birds, or a similar guide for field identification
SCHEDULE
Classroom 1, March 24: Avian vocal behavior; bird song, including the form and diverse functions of bird calls.
Classroom 2, March 31: Bird diets; avian nutrition, food acquisition, and foraging styles.
Field Trip 1, date TBD: Saturday field trip for late waterfowl or distinctive avian habitats (likely March 28 or April 4).
Classroom 3, April 7: Avian mate selection and social behaviors; how birds “learn” from other birds.
Classroom 4, April 21: Bird breeding biology, including the incubation of eggs, chick-rearing, and post-natal care.
Classroom 5, April 28: Avian demography; the ecology of bird populations; how bird numbers are counted, analyzed, and applied.
Field Trip 2, date TBD: Saturday field trip for spring migrant songbirds (likely May 2).
Classroom 6, May 5: Bird conservation: threats, challenges, and responses for avoiding avian extinctions.
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Spring Warblers
Get ready for spring by learning about the largest and most colorful family of birds who visit the Washington area. This 2-part class will be held at Alexandria Country Day School at 2400 Russell Road in Alexandria. Each class will start at 7:00 p.m. and last about 90 minutes.
Class 1 - Plumage and Behavior
Date: Monday, March 30, 2020
Time: 7:00 to 9:30 p.m.
Location: Alexandria Country Day School, 2400 Russell Rd, Alexandria, VA 22301
Learn about the appearance and behavior of the 30+ species of wood warblers who visit during the spring.
Class 2 - Vocalizations
Date: Wednesday, April 1, 2020
Time: 7:00 to 9:30 p.m.
Location: Alexandria Country Day School, 2400 Russell Rd, Alexandria, VA 22301
Most warblers are heard before they are seen. Learn how to identify their vocalizations so that you will be better able to find them in the field.
Instructor: Bill Young is a writer who lives in Arlington. He is the author of "The Fascination of Birds: From the Albatross to the Yellowthroat" (Dover, 2014). He is the co-creator of the MPNature.com website, which contains information about birds, plants, and other aspects of the natural history at Monticello Park in Alexandria. Bill also makes nature videos, and his YouTube channel has had close to a half a million views.
Register here.
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Upcoming Events, Workshops and Classes (continued)
 Bird Photography Workshop
Instructor: Stan Bysshe
Date: Thursday, April 23, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Location: National Wildlife Federation, 11100 Wildlife Center Drive, Reston, VA 20190
Field Trips: Sunday, April 26th and Sunday, May 3rd Locations to be determined
Cost: $75 members/$85 non-members
Join Stan Bysshe in a crash course on Bird Photography.
Have you noticed how many birdwatchers are carrying cameras into the field these days? Camera gear has become better and lighter allowing birders to carry binoculars as well as cameras on field outings. Some birders are using cameras to document bird sightings while others aim for artistic challenges. Whatever your intention, join us for a classroom session on bird photography followed by two field trips to practice techniques on how to capture bird images. This course will also cover how to enhance, share and store images. It’s appropriate for all skill levels but it would best if you were familiar with your camera prior to the course and field trips.
Stan Bysshe has been a photography enthusiast most of his life. He lived in the Caribbean for a few years and specialized in underwater photography. Now back in the USA, Stan enjoys bird and mammal photography. He prefers being outdoors watching and learning about birds and other subjects in hopes of catching that special image.
His work has been featured in several Curacao tourist and dive publications. His images have also been featured in the North America Nature Photography Association Expressions publication, Outdoor Photographer and at Nature Visions Photo Expo. His photo of a tree was the cover of the Fall issue of Outdoor Photographer.
Stan is the Past President of the Northern Virginia Photographic Society, a large camera club where he was reminded weekly of the breadth of photographic talent in our area. He especially enjoys mentoring new members.
Register here.
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BIRDING BY EAR
The early bird gets the worm and maybe lucky enough to hear the enchanting call of the Eastern Whip-poor-will! We’ll be up and in the field before sunrise to spend the morning learning bird song on the trails with expert Greg Fleming.
Some basic birding knowledge is a prerequisite. Bring a hearty snack, we'll take a break at Leesylvania State Park before finishing up our tour in southern Fairfax County searching for Grasshopper Sparrows and Eastern Meadowlarks.
This class will fill  up quickly!
Instructor: Greg Fleming
Location: Triangle, VA
(MEETING AREA TO BE DETERMINED)
Date: Sunday, April 26
Time: 5:00 to 11:00 a.m.
Limit: 15
Fee: Members $50, Non-members $60
Instructor Bio:
Greg is a wildlife biologist who has spent most of his career performing bird surveys on eight different military installations in the Eastern and Central U.S. He has recorded 780 bird species in the ABA area and over 1,600 in North America, including the first ever sighting of Cinnamon Teal in Virginia, a feat that earned him recognition by the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Throughout his career, he has had a primary interest in habitat management for at-risk birds, as well as other wildlife.
Register here. ___
Workshop: World Migratory Bird Count (WMBD)
Join us for our FREE 2020 WMBD workshop! Please register here.
Date: Thursday, May 7, 2020
Time: 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Location: National Wildlife Federation, 11100 Wildlife Center Drive, Reston, VA 20190
 Join us for the longest running annual spring bird count in Northern Virginia! Held at the height of spring migration, these counts can average over 100 species for the count circle. Teams of volunteers conduct an area search, counting species and individuals. Data is submitted for inclusion in a hemispheric database used by Partners in Flight to chart the status and population trends of resident and neotropical migratory species.
The 2020 World Migratory Bird Day conservation theme is, Birds Connect Our World. It focuses on the tracking technologies used to explore the routes of migratory birds across the globe, and how this knowledge is used to inform conservation.
Since 1993, the focus of WMBD has been on the flyways in the Americas to highlight the need to conserve migratory birds and protect their habitats. Events, programs, and activities are coordinated in Canada, the United States, Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean at protected areas, refuges, parks, museums, schools, zoos, and more. As many as 700 events and programs are hosted annually to introduce the public to migratory birds and ways to conserve them. To learn more about the history of the celebration click here. |
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Calling all Birders!
The 2020 ASNV Birdathon Competition will open on Friday, April 17!
Spring is on its way, and so is Birdathon! It’s time to organize your teams and sign up for our annual spring migration FUNdraising event. All birding levels are welcome!
The concept is simple: Participants form teams of two to five members, each team secures pledges and donations, then during any 24-hour period between April 17 and May 17 the teams search Northern Virginia to see how many bird species they can identify.
 Get your teams READY!
- Register your team here. Make sure you have a team or mascot photo ready to email once you complete the registration form.
- Once you register your team, we’ll create a team page for you where you can ask your friends, family and social media pals to support your efforts.
- Check out our guidelines. (We made some changes this year)
- Watch our website and newsletter for updates and tips on how to complete a successful Birdathon.
Go out and have a great day birding! And THANK YOU for supporting Audubon Society of Northern Virginia’s efforts to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds and other wildlife, and their habitats.
Report your Birdathon sightings by May 30 on eBird and send your list to [email protected]. Ask your supporters to visit your team page and make their donations by June 1.
Winners will be announced at our Annual Meeting on June 7!
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Don’t Miss The March 1 deadline for ASNV’s Hog Island Scholarship
 Each summer Audubon Society of Northern Virginia offers a full scholarship and transportation to “Sharing Nature: An Educator’s Week” at National Audubon Society’s Hog Island Camp in Maine. Next year’s session is July 12-17, 2020 and will feature workshops on educational techniques, a boat trip to the restored Atlantic Puffin and Tern colony on Eastern Egg Rock, intertidal explorations, and hiking through Hog Island's unspoiled spruce-fir forest.
Applicants must be classroom teachers, specialists, or school administrators working in: Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William, or Stafford counties, or Alexandria, Falls Church, Fredericksburg, Manassas, and Manassas Park cities.
Application Deadline: March 1 2020
Scholarship Announcement: March 16, 2020
Link to scholarship application: https://www.audubonva.org/hog-island-scholarship
Click here for for more information.
Questions: [email protected]. For further information about this session at Hog Island, visit https://hogisland.audubon.org/sharing-nature-educator-s-week.
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Youth Education Mini-Grants
 The Audubon Society of Northern Virginia (ASNV) is sponsoring a mini-grant program in 2020 to help teachers, schools, and non-profit organizations educate youth about birds and the environment. ASNV anticipates awarding three mini-grants, up to $500 each.
Funding may be used to support Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEEs), professional development, field trips, speakers and admission fees, equipment, transportation, trees, plants, etc. All projects must include an educational component.
You must complete the project and submit a one-paragraph summary and photos by December 31, 2020. Your summary and photos will be used in the ASNV newsletter, blog and on the website.
Application Deadline: March 15, 2020
Application: download here
Click here for more information.
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Bringing Peregrine Falcons Back to Virginia’s Mountains
 National Park Service biologist, Rolf Gubler, will give a talk on March 1, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. about the Peregrine Falcon restoration project at Shenandoah National Park.
A team brings at-risk Peregrine Falcon chicks from bridge nest sites in eastern Virginia to Virginia’s mountains, once part of their historic range. They hope the birds will imprint on the park's cliffs and return as breeding adults. This project boosts mountain peregrine populations and aids in the survival of bridge nest peregrine chicks where fledging is often difficult due to insufficient updrafts.
 Peregrine Falcons were used for hunting or falconry as early as 2000 B.C. in China and Egypt and in World War II, both the British/U.S. and the German armies had a falcon corps to intercept their opponent’s homing pigeons. Peregrines are found in rural and urban environments and on every continent except Antarctica.
This free, public meeting will be at the Mount Vernon Government Center 2511 Parkers Lane, Alexandria, near U.S. 1 and a mile from the George Washington Memorial Parkway.
The Friends of Dyke Marsh are sponsoring the program. Cosponsors are the Audubon Society of Northern Virginia and the Northern Virginia Bird Club. This is a free program and registration is not required.
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National Audubon Photography Award Winners Show comes to Northern Virginia
 Join ASNV at Huntley Meadows Park in March for the best avian photography of 2019.
In celebration of the natural connection between birding and photography, Audubon Society of Northern Virginia will co-host the 2019 Audubon Photography Awards Traveling Exhibition with Huntley Meadows Park in Alexandria between March 4 and March 25, 2020. Visitors of all ages will enjoy a display of the winning photos and learn more about our local birdlife in Northern Virginia.
 In the 10th year of the contest, winning photos and honorable mentions were selected from 2,253 entrants from all 50 states, Washington D.C. and 10 Canadian provinces and territories. The 2019 Grand Prize Winner is a photograph of a Red-winged Blackbird taken by Kathrin Swoboda in Huntley Meadows Park.
New this year, the judges introduced the Plants for Birds Prize and the Fisher Prize. The Plants for Birds Prize was awarded to the highest scoring photograph submitted in the Plants for Birds Division, featuring birds and plants native to the area the photo was taken. The Fisher Prize was awarded to the photograph depicting the most creative approach to bird photography across all divisions: Professional, Amateur, Youth and Plants for Birds.
Huntley Meadows Park will host an Open House on Sunday March 8, 2020 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. with activities in the Visitor’s Center and guided bird walks in the park.
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How To Help Birds Avoid Window Collisions
 Collisions with windows are the third greatest cause of death for birds in the United States (after habitat loss and predation by outdoor cats). Peer--reviewed conservative research estimates that about one million birds collide with windows every day—the annual estimate is 365-988 million.
To learn about this threat and how to help mitigate it at your home, Reston Association and the Audubon Society of Northern Virginia have invited Peter Saenger, President of Lehigh Valley Audubon Society, and Leigh Altadonna, President of the Wyncote Audubon Society to speak at the Walker Nature Center at 7 PM on March 19. They lead a Pennsylvania-based Bird-Window Collision Working Group that includes the Acopian Center at Muhlenberg College, Audubon Pennsylvania, and the Lehigh Valley and Wyncote Audubon Societies and have developed a “Bird-Window Collision Toolkit” which is being used by other Audubon groups.
For background on the situation with birds in Reston, see the Birds chapter in the Reston Annual State of the Environment Report.
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Creating a Wildlife Sanctuary on Your Property: The Audubon at Home Program (WAITLIST ONLY)
What can you do on your own property to attract and support wildlife? To learn how, join us at Mason Neck State Park’s Jammes House for a presentation on Saturday, March 21: “Creating a Wildlife Sanctuary on Your Property: The Audubon at Home Program.” Class is full, Waitlist only
 Betsy Martin will talk about the Audubon at Home program and Wildlife Sanctuary certification and will explain Habitat Best Practices. Betsy is an Audubon at Home Ambassador and Fairfax County Coordinator of the program. She is also a Virginia Master Naturalist, a founder and President of the Friends of Little Hunting Creek, and Chair of and Mount Vernon District representative to Fairfax County's Chesapeake Bay Exception Review Committee.
Laura Beaty will relate how she transformed her yard into a wildlife habitat with a slide program entitled: “Your Landscape as Habitat.” She will show how to support nature’s relationships in your wildlife habitat, and why it’s important to view your habitat from two perspectives: the eyes of turf-grass traditionalists and native pollinators. She’ll show you the truth behind the phrases, “The greater the plant diversity the greater the wildlife” and “Plant it and they will come.” Laura Beaty is Horticulture Chair of the Virginia Native Plant Society, Propagation/Plant Sales Chair of the Potowmack Chapter of VNPS, and represents her Fairfax County district on the Fairfax Tree Commission.
This program is cosponsored by the Friends of Mason Neck State Park and The Audubon Society of Northern Virginia. Registrants for the program have free admission to the park starting at 1:00 p.m. on March 21 and we’ll have light refreshments for you to enjoy.
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Audubon Afternoon “The Humane Gardener”
Date: Sunday, April 26, 2020
Time: 2:30 - 5:00 p.m.
Location: National Wildlife Federation, 11100 Wildlife Center Drive Reston, VA 20190
This event is FREE and open to the public.
Please bring some food or drinks to share.
 Join us as we welcome author and blogger, Nancy Lawson. We’ll learn why plants are the solution to everything. That’s the driving concept behind her Humane Gardener book, website and presentations. Whether you’re trying to resolve conflicts with wildlife or immersed in efforts to save local fauna, you’ll be more successful if you let plants lead the way. We’ll have copies of “The Humane Gardener” for sale, $25.
Nancy Lawson is the author of “The Humane Gardener: Nurturing a Backyard Habitat for Wildlife.” A columnist for All Animals magazine, she founded Humane Gardener, an outreach initiative dedicated to animal-friendly, landscaping methods. Her book and garden have been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, O: The Oprah Magazine and other media outlets.
To learn more about Nancy, Humane Gardener
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2019 MANASSAS-BULL RUN CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT SUMMARY
 The 38th Annual Manassas-Bull Run Christmas Bird Count on December 15, 2019 had the highest total of participants yet at 137 and counted over 20,000 birds of 86 avian species. The conditions were favorable, so there were many more walking miles than during the saturated conditions on last year’s count. There were also several birders twelve years old and under getting a chance to participate in the oldest and biggest citizen-science project in the world. About half of the counters stopped for a great lunch at Cabell’s Mill in Ellanor C. Lawrence Park. The overall species count is only 3 short of our all-time high of 89 set in 2014.
A 1st observation for the circle was a Wilson’s Warbler seen by the party led by Joanne & David Bauer. This bird was too quick to be photographed, but well described and documented, and approved by the regional reviewer.
Highlights also included all-time highs of Tundra Swans (28), Bufflehead (37), and a Great Egret was seen and photographed by the party led by Kristi Liercke. It was only the 2nd Great Egret observed on this count with the 1st being back in 2009. American Robin was the most abundant species with 3,673 counted. Also, all 7 of our potential wintering woodpecker species were tallied with 26 of the 42 Red-headed Woodpeckers being recorded by a team led by Phil Kenny at Bull Run Regional Park.
 There were other all-time highs for this count recorded for: Barred Owl (10); Common Raven (14); Merlin (3); Ruby-crowned Kinglet (32); and Pine Warbler (5). It was nice to see the Yellow-rumped Warbler count rebound from last year’s all-time low of just 3 to a more expected 153. Bald Eagle sightings were also back up to a little above average at 22.
Another interesting observation was of a hybrid goose photographed by Gary Myers. It was determined to be a wild bird that is a cross of Canada Goose and domestic Graylag Goose. Also tallied were 10 sparrow species which included Chipping, Savannah, Swamp, Fox, and White-crowned.
Copies of the full results for the count are available on the Audubon Society of Northern Virginia (ASNV) website, or from the compiler, Phil Silas.
We gratefully thank all the enthusiastic birders both new and returning, and especially Carolyn Williams who is stepping down as Sector 6 leader after many, many years service. We hope you all had a good time and will be back for next year’s count, which will be on Sunday, December 20, 2020.
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ASNV Birding Trip to Colombia
By Lisa Mackem
In January, thirteen ASNV participants traveled to Colombia for a birdwatching tour. Gerry Abbott, chairman of the ASNV adult education committee, worked with Holbrook Travel for travel and tour arrangements. The successful trip oversold immediately.
Local resident Bill Burton described the first lodge where the group stayed as rustic and charming, “like a bungalow.” On their first morning the group got up before sunrise and saw a “breathtaking” diversity of birds – “just one after another,” said Bill. As the group stood in the yard, Bill estimated that they saw about 50 different species of birds.
The group’s next location was Tinamou Lodge, which is owned and operated by a couple in Arlington, VA and located outside of the industrial city of Manizales. From there, they made two excursions per day toward the Indian foothills and saw about 30 different hummingbird species – “one species per minute,” said Bill, adding that they also saw 20 different varieties of brightly-colored tanagers. Other key sightings for Bill included the Torrent duck, which sits in rapids, and Antpitta, which is heard often, but rarely seen.
The sight of the Andean Condor – the world’s largest bird and Colombia’s national bird – was the highlight for both Bill and Gerry. This bird lives at high elevations in the Andes, and usually flies solo.
Colombia has about 1900 bird species – the most of any country. It also reports 170 species of hummingbirds. In comparison, the American east coast has only one native hummingbird species.  Consequently, Colombia is an excellent place for citizen science documentation, and is in high demand for birding trips. The ASNV group made daily entries in eBird and everyone who wanted to include the sightings in their individual eBird accounts did so. Collectively they saw 260 bird species and some interesting mammals, such as howler monkeys, sloths and a river otter swimming upstream.
Both Bill and Gerry commented on the friendliness of locals, who Bill noted were also enjoying the outdoors. The tour group asked their guides about sustainable development and were happy to see the Colombians’ conservation efforts.
Gerry plans to coordinate another ASNV international birding trip next year. He especially enjoys travel to warm destinations during the winter and is considering Ecuador or another Andean location. In the meantime, he recommends the ASNV adult education programs, where people have many opportunities to learn about birds and contribute to citizen science.
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Audubon at Home Ambassador’s Brunch
 Audubon at Home ambassadors gathered on February 1 for their annual – and delicious – brunch, at which AAH co-directors and county coordinators updated them on the program's progress over the past year. It has now been 10 years since AAH first certified a Wildlife Sanctuary, as of the brunch, the program has certified 683 properties on over 6,300 acres.
Guest speaker Laura Beaty spoke about introducing native plants into a landscape. A former staffer for the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, she now serves as the propagation chairperson for the Virginia Native Plant Society. Ambassadors benefited from Laura's keen observation skills and excellent story-telling about the insects and other wildlife that depend on the native plants in her own garden.
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Reston Association's Biophilic Pledge Points Residents to AAH Wildlife Sanctuary Program
 In 2018, Reston became part of the worldwide Biophilic Cities Network. To help residents identify specific actions that will protect Reston's natural resources, the Reston Association's Environmental Advisory Committee is now deploying a Reston Biophilic Pledge. Several Biophilic Pledge elements echo the Audubon at Home Healthy Yard Pledge, and the pledge element "Promoting biodiversity by supporting and creating wildlife-friendly habitat" points residents to the website for the Audubon at Home Wildlife Sanctuary Program for more information on how to create habitat.
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Bird Walks
Lake Newport/Brown’s Chapel, Reston, VA
Sunday, March 15, 7:30 to 10:30 a.m.
Linda Fuller leads this walk sponsored by The Reston Association, the Bird Feeder of Reston, and ASNV.
Getting there: From Route 7, go west on Baron Cameron Avenue and turn north on Village Road (opposite Lake Anne Village Center). Make an immediate right onto Brown’s Chapel Road and park by the ball field. 1575 Brown’s Chapel Road.
Eakin Park, Fairfax County, VA
Wednesday, March 25, 8:30 to 11:00 a.m.
Walk sponsored by Northern Virginia Bird Club and led by Jean Tatalias.
Getting there: From Route 50 outside the beltway, take Prosperity Avenue South one mile to the entrance to the parking lot on the left (east) side. 3401 Prosperity Avenue, 22031.
Royal Lake Lakeside Park, Fairfax, VA
Sunday, March 29, 7:30 to 10:30 a.m.
Join leader Robin Duska on this walk sponsored by ASNV.
Getting there: From I-495 take exit to VA-620, Braddock Road west and continue 2.36 miles. Turn left onto Route 651 Guinea Road and continue 0.64 miles. Stay straight at intersection with Commonwealth Boulevard (do not turn left to follow Guinea Road.) Go 0.4 mile and turn left on Pommeroy Drive and then turn right at the intersection with Bronte Drive to the entrance. IF gates are open, you can drive in the park driveway, down the hill, to the parking lot where we’ll meet. 5216 Pommeroy Drive, Fairfax 22032.
Bright Pond, Reston, VA
Sunday, April 5, 7:30 to 10:30 a.m.
Enjoy this lush area of Reston with Robin Duska and Laurie Lewis, leading the walk sponsored by The Reston Association, the Bird Feeder of Reston, and ASNV.
Getting there: Take the Reston Parkway north from the Dulles Toll Road or from Baron Cameron Avenue. Turn right on Bright Pond Lane and park around the cul-de-sac and along the street.
Bles Park, Sterling, VA
Wednesday, April 8, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Larry Meade and Jean Tatalias lead this walk sponsored by the Northern Virginia Bird Club.
Getting there: From the intersection of VA Route 28 and VA Route 7, travel west on Route 7 for 1.3 miles and turn right onto Loudoun County Parkway. Turn right on George Washington Boulevard, then left on Riverside Parkway. Bles Park will be on your right at the end of Riverside Parkway.
Laurel Hill Equestrian Center, Lorton, VA
Wednesday, April 15, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Enjoy the great fields and “scrub” territory of this venue on the walk led by Dixie Sommers sponsored by the Northern Virginia Bird Club.
Getting there: From I-495, take I-95 south about 13 miles to exit 163 (Lorton Road). Continue 1.4 west on Route 642 (Lorton Road). Turn left on Route 611 (Furnace Rd) and then immediately right onto Dairy Road. Proceed to the parking lot where we’ll meet.
Lower Glade Stream Valley, Reston, VA
Sunday, April 19, 7:30 to 10:30 a.m.
Joanne and David Bauer lead this stream-side walk through lovely woods. Walk sponsored by The Reston Association, the Bird Feeder of Reston, and ASNV.
Getting there: From I-66 west, take exit 60 to go north on Route 123. Turn left on Hunters Mill Road/ Route 674. Turn left on Lawyers Road, Route 673. Turn right on Twin Branches Road. Park near intersection with Glade Drive and meet leaders at the corner.
Mason Neck State Park, Lorton, VA
Sunday, April 26, 8:15 to 11:30 a.m.
STATE FEE AREA
Look for waterfowl on the bay, marshland and woodland birds on the trails. Dixie Sommers leads this walk sponsored by the ASNV.
Getting there: From I-495, take I-95 South 7 miles to Lorton exit. Go left (east) on Route 642 to Route 1. Go right (south) on Route 1 and then left (east) on Gunston Road, Route 242. In 4 miles, turn right into Mason Neck Management Area. Meet at the visitor’s center at end of the paved road. 7301 High Point Road, Lorton, VA 22079-4010.
We Could Use Your Birding Skills!
Do you have a favorite spot to bird that you’d like to share with others? Consider leading a winter or spring walk there for ASNV. Leaders don’t have to be perfect birders—it’s a group effort. Prime responsibilities are setting the date and meeting place, guiding the route, and helping new birders locate the sightings. Call or email to discuss:
Contact Jean Tatalias at [email protected] or 703-281-6099.
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Recurring Bird Walks
Several parks in the area have established year-round weekly bird walks. These walks are not run by ASNV, but may be of interest to ASNV members. They can be found here.
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WE NEED YOUR HELP!
ASNV is primarily a volunteer-driven organization. We rely on people like you to carry out most of our organization’s functions.
If you would like to volunteer your time to help support birds and the environment, check out the following opportunities. If you are interested, please send me an email at [email protected] and if you have other ideas about projects you’d like to undertake, let me know about those too.
Volunteer Coordinator: We need an enthusiastic person to help us manage our volunteers. You would keep a roster of volunteers, publicize volunteer opportunities in our newsletter and website, coordinate the volunteers’ activities, and help ensure that their volunteer experiences are good ones.
Speaker: We receive requests from time to time for speakers who can talk about birds, wildlife, habitat, and conservation. Let me know if you would like to join our Speakers Forum. ASNV can provide some training, access to photographs from the National Audubon Society website, and an already-prepared slide show of common birds that you can use or modify to suit your preferences.
Public Events Representative: ASNV attends festivals and conferences, where we set up a table with information about our organization and items to purchase such as hats and books. We also have a wide variety of children’s activities. You would pick up materials for the event from the National Wildlife Federation building in Reston and be our representative to the public, discussing ASNV’s mission and current activities and encouraging people to join.
Thanks!
Tom Blackburn
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