A Letter to Our Members
Pileated Woodpecker, John Troth/Audubon Photography Awards
A year ago, I joined NVBA as Executive Director. I knew I was joining an organization with a strong legacy built by dedicated volunteers over many years, but I wasn't sure exactly what to expect.
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Perspective on the Dreaded Spotted Lanternfly
Adult Spotted Lanternfly, Cbaile19, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Since the spotted lanternfly first made its presence known in Virginia in 2018, we have been faithfully stomping, squashing and squishing the invaders, which the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources describes as a “vampire in a black tuxedo, white shirt, and red bowtie.”
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NVBA's Advocacy Committee and the Busy Season Ahead
VA State Capitol, Wikimedia user Skip Plitt via CC BY-SA-3.0
With the 2026 Virginia General Assembly about to convene on January 14 for a fast-moving two-month session, the advocacy committee needs many volunteers to make sure its voice is heard.
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Feeding Birds in Winter
Red-bellied Woodpecker, Steve Donovan/Audubon Photography Awards
We can help our bird friends survive winter weather by providing them both food and water, particularly in urban and suburban areas where native habitat may be scarce.
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A Closer Look: Nature All Around Us
Lovebugs, Judy Gallagher
Judy Gallagher is an NVBA board member and a regular surveyor of local wildlife who also captures photos of what she sees, in particular the less common species.
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Wildlife Sanctuary Almanac: Love Our Mighty Oaks
Swamp Chestnut Oak, Betsy Martin
Native species of oak trees are abundant across our region. Northern Red Oaks and White Oaks in particular are among our most dominant keystone species, contributing to the ecosystem in ways that are mighty indeed.
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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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NVBA's Bird of the Year: Woodpeckers with Matt Felperin
Pileated Woodpeckers, Anne Bielamowicz/NVBA Photo Contest
Join NVBA and special guest Matt Felperin for a virtual event on National Bird Day (January 5th) to celebrate our 2026 Bird of the Year. After a brief discussion on why NVBA chose the Pileated Woodpecker as our inaugural Bird of the Year, Matt will expand the conversation to woodpeckers as a whole. His presentation will include fun woodpecker facts, identification tips, where to find woodpeckers in Northern Virginia, and conclude with time for questions!
When: Monday, January 5, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Where: Online
Fee: FREE but registration is required
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The Effects of Climate Breakdown on Birds with Bill Young
American Redstart, Kamala Raghavan/NVBA Photo Contest
In this course, taught by Bill Young, we'll discuss how climate change affects birds--which species will adapt and which are vulnerable. The course is intended for a general audience, with no special knowledge of birds needed.
When: Wednesday, January 7, 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Where: Online
Member Cost: $65 + $5.34 fee
Non-member Cost: $75 + $5.93 fee
Students (for adults 25 and under): $10
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Winter Waterfowl Watch at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge
Northern Shoveler, Stan Bysshe
Join us for a winter waterfowl watch at beautiful Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. On this guided walk, you’ll explore the refuge’s diverse waterfowl species with naturalist Andreas Seiter.
When: Saturday, January 17, 9:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Where: Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, 14050 Dawson Beach Rd, Woodbridge, VA 22191; meet at the Visitor Information Center.
Fee: FREE, but registration is appreciated
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Winter Crow Watch at Shirlington Roost
Crows gathering at Shirlington roost, McKenzie Ingram
Join NVBA and our partners at DC Bird Alliance for a Winter Crow Watch at the Shirlington roost located in Arlington, VA. You’re in for a show as the crows gather here in numbers so large it actually appears on radar!
When: Saturday, January 17, 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM
Where: Shirlington Library, 4200 Campbell Avenue, Arlington, VA 22206
Fee: FREE
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Raptor Rehabilitation and Rodenticide Awareness with Dr. Belinda Burwell
Red-shouldered Hawks, Matt Strachan/NVBA Photo Contest
Join us for an afternoon of program covering the fundamentals of raptor rehabilitation. The course will be taught by certified wildlife rehabilitator and veterinarian Dr. Belinda Burwell and will cover essential raptor rehabilitation skills geared toward at-home rehabbers. Participants will also learn how rodenticides harm raptors.
When: Saturday, January 24, 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Where: National Wildlife Federation, 11100 Wildlife Center Drive, Reston, VA 20190
General Admission: $25
Wildlife Rehabber Admission: $15
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Alliance Afternoon: Searching for Lost Birds with John Mittermeier
American Kestrel, Randy Streufert/NVBA Photo Contest
Join us for our first Alliance Afternoon of 2026! We will kick off the meeting by conducting chapter business, followed by celebrations of the 2025 Christmas Bird Count and the 2026 Photo Contest Calendar. The agenda will then move into a discussion of upcoming advocacy opportunities and other chapter updates. Our featured presentation will be given by guest speaker John Mittermeier of the American Bird Conservancy, who will speak on the Search for Lost Birds.
When: Sunday, January 25, 2:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Where: National Wildlife Federation Building, 11100 Wildlife Center Drive, Reston, VA 20190
Fee: FREE
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Bird Outings
Birding, Camila Cerea
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Check our Bird Outings page for upcoming events! Registration is requested for NVBA-sponsored outings to help our leaders prepare and communicate with participants.
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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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National Audubon Society Action Network
The National Audubon Society invites all Auduboners to join its action 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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Too many emails? Now you can update your profile to let us know how often you'd like to receive email communications from NVBA.
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