View this email in your browser ([link removed])
** January 2025
------------------------------------------------------------
** NVBA ([link removed]) HOME ([link removed]) ([link removed]) DONATE ([link removed]) JOIN ([link removed])
------------------------------------------------------------
[link removed]
** President's Corner
------------------------------------------------------------
** Piping Plovers, Melissa Groo/Audubon Photography Awards
------------------------------------------------------------
On December 17, 2024 the NVBA board and staff were delighted to welcome Amanda Robinson as our new Executive Director!
Read more > ([link removed])
[link removed]
** It's Official: The Bald Eagle is Our National Bird
------------------------------------------------------------
** Bald Eagle, Cynthia Hansen/Audubon Photography Awards
------------------------------------------------------------
On December 24 President Joe Biden signed S. 4610, making it official that the Bald Eagle is the national bird of the United States.
Read more > ([link removed])
[link removed]
** Native Americans and Birds
------------------------------------------------------------
** Whooping Cranes, Kristine Colburn/Audubon Photography Awards
------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. laws to protect eagles and migratory birds include exceptions from bans on possessing bird feathers for Native Americans for cultural and religious activities. The exceptions strike a balance between protection of birds and protection of the cultural heritage of Native Americans.
Read more > ([link removed])
More News
** Let Dead Plant Material Lie
------------------------------------------------------------
** Winterberry and Monarda in snow, Margaret Fisher
------------------------------------------------------------
Dead native plant material is integral to a healthy ecosystem. An essential support for the populations of pollinators and other animals upon which we all depend, nothing comes close to replacing its role in the health of a diverse ecosystem.
Read more > ([link removed])
** Snowy Owl, an Occasional Visitor
------------------------------------------------------------
** Snowy Owls, Grant Eldridge/Audubon Photography Awards
------------------------------------------------------------
Although the Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) is no longer classified as in a separate genus (Nyctea) from typical owls, like the Great Horned Owl, there’s a lot about it that is unique.
Read more > ([link removed])
** Help Us Write the Potomac Flier
------------------------------------------------------------
** American Crows, Marian Bodart/Audubon Photography Awards
------------------------------------------------------------
Are you interested in writing about conservation and northern Virginia’s birds? We could use your help.
Read more > ([link removed])
Monthly Features
** Observations from Meadowood
------------------------------------------------------------
** Aphids and Acrobat Ants on Black Locust, Judy Gallagher
------------------------------------------------------------
Judy Gallagher is a long-time participant in the Meadowood Recreation Area survey. Here are some of her findings.
Read more > ([link removed])
** Wildlife Sanctuary Almanac: Santuary for Chickadees
------------------------------------------------------------
** Carolina Chickadee, Gary Robinette/Audubon Photography Awards
------------------------------------------------------------
Chickadees need a yard full of native plants. How can that be? Chickadees eat seeds, so why do they need native plants?
Read more > ([link removed])
[link removed]
**
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 ([link removed]) for our full schedule of events.
** Alliance Afternoon: Glaciers to the Open Ocean, Using eBird to Study Rare Bird Behavior
Antarctic Shag, Sunil Singh/Audubon Photography Awards
------------------------------------------------------------
Join us Sunday, January 12, for our quarterly Alliance Afternoon. We will gather informally starting at 2:30 PM in the cafeteria of the National Wildlife Federation Building, 11100 Wildlife Center Drive, in Reston. We welcome you to bring snacks and drinks to share. All are welcome! At 3:00 PM our guest speaker, Will Brooks, will describe how he used eBird data to study birds on glaciers, an enigmatic ecosystem, and birds lost offshore, a rarely observed event. He also will provide tips on how you can make your eBirding more useful for science.
When: Sunday, January 12, 2:30 PM - 4:00 PM
Where: National Wildlife Federation Building, 11100 Wildlife Center Drive, Reston, VA 20190
Fee: FREE
MORE INFO ([link removed])
** Vernal Pool Wildlife with Michael Hayslett
Vernal pool, Michael Hayslett
------------------------------------------------------------
Join this talk with Michael Hayslett to learn about vernal pools, a form of temporary, freshwater wetland that contains water for a portion of the year, but is vital habitat for a fantastic array of wildlife and plants, some specially adapted for these habitats and rare in Virginia.
When: Thursday, January 23, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Where: Virtual
Fee: $15 member; $25 non-member
MORE INFO ([link removed])
** Bird Walks
------------------------------------------------------------
Birding, Camila Cerea
Check this page ([link removed]) for upcoming walks! Registration is no longer required for NVBA-sponsored walks.
** Monday Nature Mystery
------------------------------------------------------------
** Northern Harrier, Aleksander Baba-Vulic/Audubon Photography Awards
------------------------------------------------------------
**
Monday Nature Mystery continues! Read on to learn who correctly identified our last mystery and see what this week's mystery holds.
------------------------------------------------------------
**
Read more > ([link removed])
------------------------------------------------------------
** 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.
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]
[link removed]
============================================================
** Facebook ([link removed])
** Instagram ([link removed])
** Website ([link removed])
Copyright © 2025 Northern Virginia Bird Alliance, All rights reserved.
You subscribed to this list when you joined the Northern Virginia Bird Alliance directly, joined the National Audubon Society and live in the Northern Virginia area, are an NVBA volunteer, or asked to receive our email updates.
Our mailing address is:
Northern Virginia Bird Alliance
11100 Wildlife Center Drive
Ste. 100
Reston, VA 20190
USA
Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can ** update your preferences ([link removed])
or ** unsubscribe from this list ([link removed])
.
