Each fall, I gravitate toward wetlands for my outdoor time. The green, gold, tan and brown of the late-season vegetation...


** November 2020
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** In This Newsletter
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* Conservation Counts
* Observations from Meadowood
* President's Corner November 2020
* Adult Education
* ASNV Online Programs
* Pandemic Pollution: More Trash
* Historic River Farm Property in Peril
* Plastic is One of the Largest Culprits Harming Birds and Wildlife Today
* Peregrine Falcons Choose Ashburn Quarry to Raise their Young
* Capturing the Natural Beauty of Birds
* Virtual Bird Walk at Oak Spring Garden
* Yellow Eyes in Moonless Skies: Researching the population status
of the enigmatic Northern Saw-whet Owl
* Bird of the Month: Brown Creeper – The Tiny Tree Hugger
* Monday Mystery continues
* Other News

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** Conservation Counts
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Due to the ongoing covid-19 situation, all of the general wildlife and butterfly/dragonfly surveys in this series are suspended until further notice. While chances of transmission may seem slight for outdoor programs like this, it is only prudent to avoid any undue risks until data indicate it is safe to proceed. I will be giving as much notice as possible regarding resumption of the survey schedule.

In the meantime, any findings you may have from your individual outings in the survey circle would be appreciated. Take very good care of yourselves. Looking forward to seeing you all in the not too distant future.

Jim Waggener

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** Observations from Meadowood
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** Judy Gallagher
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The Common Eastern Bumble Bee has a medium-length tongue which allows it to nectar from tubular flowers like this Lobelia. A short-tongued bee would find it challenging to get nectar from this flower. Note that the bumble bee has to rub up against the flower to get to the nectar. The pollen sticks to its copious "fur" and is transferred to the next flower the bee visits. It's a mutually beneficial arrangement; the bee gets nectar and the flower may be pollinated.

Spiny Assassin Bugs wait motionless for an unsuspecting insect to approach. They then use their incredible speed to chase down the poor victim, in this case a Spotted Cucumber Beetle. The Assassin Bug stabs the victim multiple times with its piercing-sucking mouthpart, injecting enzymes that liquify the Cucumber Beetle's insides. The Assassin Bug then sucks up its Beetle smoothie.

The Common Eastern Bumble Bee was at Meadowood, and the Assassin Bug/Cucumber Beetle was at Julie Metz Wetlands.

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** E-Activist Network
Volunteers Needed
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The National Audubon Society invites all Auduboners to join its e-activist network ([link removed]) . 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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** VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR ASNV FINANCE COMMITTEE
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The Audubon Society of Northern Virginia (ASNV) is looking for additional members for its Finance Committee to help advise the Board on investment allocations. The Finance Committee meets quarterly to review financial holdings and create recommendations to the ASNV Board for allocating/reallocating investment funds based on the organization's cash needs, financial goals and risk tolerance. The Finance Committee prepares a report to the Board twice per year. Prospective Finance Committee members should be familiar with evaluating risks and returns of securities but do not need to have a professional background in a financial field. Contact Eli Garduño ([link removed]) .


** President's Corner November 2020
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** By Tom Blackburn, ASNV President
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Each fall, I gravitate toward wetlands for my outdoor time. The green, gold, tan and brown of the late-season vegetation offset by the blues of wild asters and the white clouds of cattail fluff can be captivating, particularly on a sunny morning or afternoon.

You don’t have to travel far to experience the beauty of wetlands. Northern Virginia is home to more than 10 of these unique ecosystems. While Huntley Meadows is justifiably famous for the variety of its birdlife, Julie J. Metz Neabsco Creek Wetlands Preserve is also worth the trip. The Preserve, which is part of Neabsco Creek Regional Park in Prince William County, is unique in Northern Virginia because it was created by Wetland Studies and Solutions, a for-profit company, as a wetlands mitigation bank. Developers buy credits from wetland mitigation banks to compensate for the impact of development on wetlands elsewhere. Creation of a large wetland mitigation bank also consolidates the wetlands into a larger complex, rather than creating small, fragmented wetlands that are not as hospitable to wetland birds and other wildlife. Birders have recorded more than 215 species at Julie Metz.

Wetland ecosystems are a vital part of the environment. They reduce flooding and erosion by storing rainfall and providing buffers against storms, and they capture sediment and store more carbon than other ecosystems. Tidal wetlands are also important “nurseries” for fish and provide food and livelihoods for millions of people worldwide. Wetlands are the most biologically diverse of all ecosystems and are host to millions of migrating birds each fall and winter.

However, wetlands are increasingly vulnerable. The degradation and destruction of wetlands is occurring more rapidly than any other ecosystem due primarily to climate change, urbanization and pollution. The Global Wetland Outlook ([link removed]) prepared by the Ramsar Convention, an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands, reports that the world is losing wetlands three times faster than natural forests.

Get out and enjoy a nearby wetland this fall and winter! But remember that the price of enjoying these unique habitats is continued vigilance and support. You can help by making a donation ([link removed]) to ASNV during this season’s Annual Appeal, by joining a Friends group associated with a wetland and by making sure your local and state governmental officials know how important the wetlands are to you and the environment.


** Adult Education
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Birds and Culture with Bill Young

Birds have inspired the imaginations of people from prehistoric times to the modern era. They have influenced the development of human language, religion, music, literature, art, and many other areas. Birds and Culture will examine these relationships in a 6-part course. Birders of all skill levels will be able to understand the content. Each class will begin at 7:00 PM and last about an hour. To register, click here ([link removed]) .


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 over half a million views.

ONLINE: November 16, 17, 23, 24, 30; December 1, 7:00 to 8:00 PM
(6 – 1 hour sessions)
Cost: $40
Limit: 300


** December:
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NEW!
Fireside Chats

Winter is on the way! Welcome to this new series for uplifting conversations around the Zoom fire!

Join us for stimulating conversations about our natural world with Dr. Tom Wood and guests. This is an open-forum conversation for everyone, so grab a cup of hot chocolate and settle into the cozy Zoom room! This is a great opportunity to go more in-depth with questions you might have from our recent programs or to discuss things happening in your neighborhood. Folks new to ASNV, friends, educators and anyone curious about the natural world are welcome! To register click here ([link removed]) .


** Adult Education (continued)
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December 10: We will focus on our recent fascinating conversation with Jennifer Ackerman, author of “The Bird Way” and Bill Young’s upcoming presentation on Birds and Culture in November. You never know who might show up by the fire!

ONLINE: December 10, 7:00 to 8:30 PM
Cost: FREE
Limit: 150


** January:
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Register for our January Audubon Afternoon with Dr. Sahas Barve

Join us as we’ll learn how birds stay warm in cold weather and extreme elevations. Sahas is an avian evolutionary ecologist and currently a Peter Buck Fellow at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History where he studies how birds stay warm in the high Himalayas. He is also an avid birder and hopes to see 6000 bird species by the time he is 60. Learn more about him at his website www.sahasbarve.com ([link removed]) .
To register, click here ([link removed]) .

ONLINE: January 17, 3:00 to 4:30 PM
Cost: FREE!
Limit: 300


** ASNV Online Programs
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**
Missed one of our programs?
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We’ve moved our classes and workshops to an online format due to the pandemic. We will provide recordings of as many of these events as possible and make them available here ([link removed]) , both to keep our members and community engaged while staying at home and to develop an ongoing collection of educational resources. Check back often, as we will add videos and resources as we receive them. Please enjoy!


** Pandemic Pollution: More Trash
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Anyone who has been outside recently on trails and in developed areas has noticed the increasing amount of trash on the ground. Glenda Booth, a member of our Advocacy Committee, wrote an article about this “Pandemic Pollution” for The Connection Newspapers.

“Plastic bottles, bags, stirrers, straws, six-pack rings, yoghurt cups, lighters and dental flossers; aluminum cans; cigarette butts; Styrofoam pieces; bottle caps; carryout food packaging; balloons; fishing line; bait cans. People find these along the Potomac River shoreline regularly.

And now, added to that is a torrent of pandemic trash: masks, rubber gloves, wipes and more takeout food debris.” Read more here ([link removed]) .


** Historic River Farm Property in Peril
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River Farm, a historic 25-acre property on the Potomac River, may be sold to private developers. The American Horticultural Society (AHA), the owner of the property, has issued a request for proposals to purchase the property to create an endowment for the organization.

River Farm includes the historic Manor House, extensive gardens and a four-acre meadow of native plants. Bald eagles frequent Virginia's Potomac River shoreline and observers have documented a number of nests in the area. Despite agreeing with Enid Haupt, who donated the funds to purchase the property and keep it open to the public, the AHA has extended its request for proposals to developers and private parties. AHA’s website has more information on River Farm’s history ([link removed]) and gardens ([link removed]) .

Virginia Senators Scott Surovell and Adam Ebbin, Delegate Paul Krizek and Fairfax County Supervisor Dan Storck and Chair Jeff McKay are coordinating efforts to keep River Farm open to the public. You can learn more about that effort and sign a petition urging the preservation of River Farm for public use here ([link removed]) .


** Plastic is One of the Largest Culprits Harming Birds and Wildlife Today
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** Jessica Bigger
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Zach Huntington used to guide fishing tours out on the Potomac. While floating along the river in his kayak, he started noticing a significant amount of habitat loss and a glaring volume of garbage washing up on the shores and islands of the Potomac. After four years of watching the river’s native habitat decrease and shoreline garbage accumulate, Huntington decided to take action. “I wanted to take an active role in protecting what I enjoy so much,” he explained.

Huntington is now the Clean Streams Program Manager for Clean Fairfax ([link removed]) . Clean Fairfax is a nonprofit organization whose goal is to educate Fairfax County citizens on how to prevent and reduce the amount of litter each person generates. The organization also oversees several cleanups each year. Most recently he has been monitoring ten storm drain sites to keep track of specific trash flowing into our streams and rivers that eventually flows to the Chesapeake Bay and ultimately ends in the Atlantic Ocean.

There are about one million people living in Fairfax County. It is estimated that each person generates 320 bags of garbage each year. That’s 320 million bags of garbage dumped into our landfills. In the entire state of Virginia, where we have a population of 8.5 million people, if each person contributed 320 bags of garbage per year, it would amount to more than 2.72 billion bags of trash.

The biggest culprit is plastics. Plastics, coursing through all our waterways and culminating in our oceans, harm marine animals in a variety of ways. Some of the most harmful trash found in our waterways and oceans is single-use plastics: water bottles, plastic bags from grocery stores, Styrofoam cups and containers, microbeads used in cosmetic products, straws, balloons, wrappers and plastic rings from soda and beer cans. Discarded fishing gear is another gigantic problem.

Per year, Fairfax County’s residents and workers, have used more than 965,000,000 plastic bags (only 2% recycled), 129,000,000 water bottles (23-37% recycled) and 250,000 disposable coffee cups (not recyclable), according to Clean Fairfax who pulled the data from Fairfax County in 2017. And most likely these numbers have increased.

According to the Ocean Conservancy ([link removed]) , plastics affect more than 700 marine species. 180 bird species ingest plastic from oceans and beaches and the rate of consumption is only increasing, according to the American Bird Conservancy ([link removed]) . In a study published in the Marine Pollution Bulletin ([link removed]) in 2018, researchers collected plastics from the stomach contents of 24 American Oyster Catchers between 2007 and 2015. 58% of the birds were juveniles. They found plastic pellets and smaller plastic pieces in the stomach contents of all 24 birds.

Other marine birds have also been found with microplastics in their gut: albatross species, Kelp Gulls, Red Phalaropes, Common Eiders, most shearwater species and petrels. Some researchers ([link removed]) believe that these birds, and many others, are attracted to the smell of certain plastics, mistaking the aroma for food. Plastics tend to build up and block a bird’s digestive system, making it difficult to feed, and plastics have contributed to lower body weight and reproductive ability, noted the United States Environmental Protection Agency ([link removed]) . Other birds, like Ospreys and Northern Gannets use plastic waste to line their nests, which their young get tangled in.

In particular, single-use plastic bags, 6-pack plastic holders, party balloons and discarded fishing gear have had devastating effects for all marine life but especially sea turtles, whales and most seabirds. These items have caused numerous fatalities, as marine animals get tangled up and unable to free themselves. Even locally at Dyke Marsh, a birder found several dead Great Blue Herons. One Great Blue Heron was found strangled by fishing gear, hanging by its neck in a tree. So, these events aren’t just happening in other parts of the world, they’re happening closer to home.

Although we have environmentally conscious people cleaning up our shores and waterways and reducing their own plastics use; it is impossible to keep up with the plastics output. Huntington believes that the only way to make significant progress is through local and national legislation that forces the plastic producers to not only take responsibility for their output, but to also reduce or eliminate the amount of plastics they push onto the market. “With the amount of waste that we’re creating locally and in our society in general; there is no way we can handle it. We have to cut it from the source,” concludes Huntington.

Litter Free Virginia ([link removed]) keeps track of all trash reduction legislation happening right now to help citizens stay informed and encourage them to get involved. Just this year, with the effort of numerous individuals and organizations, the state of Virginia finally raised its litter tax after 43 years. Now municipalities across the state have the option to charge a 5-cent fee for single-use plastic bags.

Want to help? You can do your part by contacting your local, state and federal representatives to express your concerns and push them to write legislation to make large plastic producing companies accountable for their actions. On the local level, you can help by getting involved in cleanups, bringing your own reusable bags, ditching plastic bags to hold your produce and drinking from a reusable water bottle (preferably stainless steel or aluminum). To learn more about getting involved, you can visit, and Friends of Dyke Marsh ([link removed]) . Let’s work towards a better future for our birds, wildlife, planet and for us.


** Peregrine Falcons Choose Ashburn Quarry to Raise their Young
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** Ashburn Magazine
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Peregrine Falcons appear to be making a comeback in Virginia. Glenda Booth wrote this article for the Ashburn Magazine about a first-time nest at Luck’s quarry.

“A narrow ledge 75 feet above the ground in a traprock quarry may sound like an inhospitable place to have and raise babies, but if you’re a peregrine falcon, it’s perfect. Last year, for the first time, a pair of falcons chose a ledge in the Luck Stone quarry just off Belmont Ridge Road in Ashburn for their home. There, the female laid four eggs, and the pair successfully raised three males and one female.” Read more here ([link removed]) .


** Capturing the Natural Beauty of Birds
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** Lisa Mackem
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Bird and native plant photographers should consider entering the 2021 Audubon Photography Awards. Next year will be the contest’s 12^th year. Winning photos are featured in Audubon ([link removed]) and Nature’s Best Photography ([link removed]) magazines and showcased in Audubon Photography Awards exhibitions hosted by Audubon chapters and centers nationwide. Walker Nature Center in Reston has presented three exhibitions of winning photos and last year Huntley Meadows Park also presented the show. Even though the 2020 award winners will not be exhibited this coming winter, you can take a virtual gallery tour here ([link removed]) .

The 2020 contest entry period ran from January 13 through April 6, 2020, and the 2021 contest entry period will probably be similar. Judges awarded six prizes to photographers including: Grand Prize ($5,000), Professional Prize ($2,500), Amateur Prize ($2,500), Youth Prize (six days at Audubon’s Hog Island Audubon Camp), Plants for Birds Prize ($2,500) and the Fisher Prize ($1,000). Introduced in 2019, the Fisher Prize recognizes an image that is as artistic as it is revealing, and the Plants for Birds Prize ([link removed].) honors the top photo that illustrates the crucial relationships between native plants and birds. All photos were judged for technical quality, originality, and artistic merit ([link removed]) .

In 2019, amateur photographer Kathrin Swoboda ([link removed]) won the grand prize for her photo of a Red-winged Blackbird seemingly blowing smoke rings (actually vapor rings) in Huntley Meadows Park in Alexandria, VA. The contest attracted 2,253 entrants ([link removed]) from throughout the United States. and Canada that year. Swoboda had not intended to enter the contest, but had posted her picture on the Facebook site “Birds of Eastern United States”, and someone suggested that she enter. In an interview for The Potomac Flier, Swoboda recommended that to take better bird pictures, “Focus on one bird or species and get to know their nature story.”

In 2020, nearly 1,800 photographers entered the contest, representing all 50 states, Washington D.C. and 7 Canadian provinces. The grand prize photographer, professional photographer Joanna Lentini ([link removed].) , captured a Double-crested Cormorant diving toward a sardine swarm in Los Islotes, Mexico. Audubon ([link removed].) featured the other category winners and honorable mentions along with Ms. Lentini’s article, “How to Snap Amazing Photos of Birds Underwater ([link removed]) .”

The Audubon Photography Awards are open to all U.S. and Canadian residents (excluding residents of Quebec) who are at least 13 years old as of the date of their submission. Audubon encourages and enforces ethical bird photography, and photos that do not adhere to Audubon’s Guide to Ethical Bird Photography ([link removed]) will be disqualified. Official rules ([link removed]) for the 2020 Audubon Photography Awards are likely to continue for the 2021 contest.


** Bird Walks
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Because the number of attendees at walks is very limited to allow social distancing whenever possible, these walks are intended for inexperienced birders. You must wear a mask for situations where distancing on trails or from other walkers may not be possible. Registration at [link removed] is required. Once you have registered, the leader will tell you where to meet.

If you cannot attend a walk for which you are registered, PLEASE cancel as soon as possible and notify the leader by email. If cancellations are at least 3 days in advance, we can fill the spot from the waiting list.
REGISTRATION REQUIRED
See the website calendar ([link removed])

Eastern Prince William County
Sunday, November 15, 8:00 to 11:00 AM
Leader is Dixie Sommers (mailto:[email protected])
Register ([link removed])


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Southern Fairfax County
Tuesday, December 8, 7:30 AM to 12:00 PM
Leaders are Larry Cartwright (mailto:[email protected]) and Laura McDonald (mailto:[email protected])
There may be an optional extension depending on the birding. You’re welcome to bring a snack or lunch if you want to join the leaders for a longer time in the field.
Register ([link removed])


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Northern Prince William County
Sunday, December 13, 8:00 to 11:00 AM
Leader is Toby Hardwick (mailto:[email protected])
Register ([link removed])


** Virtual Bird Walk at Oak Spring Garden
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If you missed the virtual birding Facebook Premier with our friends at the Oak Spring Garden Foundation, it’s available to viewhere ([link removed]) . Join Laura McDonald, ASNV Program Manager and Tom Wood, ASNV Board member and GMU professor, on a virtual morning stroll through the property’s fields and forests.


** Yellow Eyes in Moonless Skies: Researching the population status
of the enigmatic Northern Saw-whet Owl
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Deidra Bryant

There’s something truly delightful about autumn nights. The crispness of the air, the sound of the trees rustling in the wind, and catching a glimpse of fluttering owls from deep within the woods. Northern Saw-whet Owl migration kicks off in late October which means another season of observing these elusive raptors!

The Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus) is tiny, with adults averaging 8 inches long and weighing 2.8 ounces. That’s lighter than most smartphones! They can be found in the coniferous and sometimes mixed or deciduous forests of North America. However, they are very difficult to find due to their diminutive size and ability to camouflage into their environment. During my first year of graduate school I had the opportunity to observe these tiny hunters on clear nights atop South Mountain at Kings Gap Education Center in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

Each autumn, these owls migrate southward from Canada, while licensed banders and dedicated volunteers capture, band, and safely release them back into the wild. This large-scale project in PA dates back to 1997 and is coordinated by natural historian Scott Weidensaul. Project Owlnet tries to learn when saw-whet owls migrate, map their movements, and contribute to an informal data network consisting of information from at least 120 stations across the continent.

Saw-whet owls are lured into mist nets with recordings of the males’ breeding call while scientists await their arrival nearby, taking turns checking the nets every 40 minutes. Once caught, a volunteer or two will carefully remove the owl from the net and put it into a cotton drawstring bag to calm and protect it en route to a room with a licensed bander. Upon arrival, birds are weighed and everything is measured to age and sex them. This includes their wingspan (females tend to weigh more and have a longer wingspan than males), the size of their beaks, and the amount of fat they have on their bodies.

A black light is another valuable tool which is used to observe color patterns in the feathers and estimate the age of each individual. On most owls, the undersides of the remiges (flight feathers) will glow a brilliant neon magenta in the presence of ultraviolet light. This is due to porphyrins – a type of pigment that many orders of bird species use to pigment their egg shells as well as their plumage. Sunlight exposure causes porphyrins to break down. As a result, older feathers will fluoresce less brightly, showing new growth.

After measurements are documented, the birds are then banded with unique numbers on their legs and released back into the wild. Each owl differs in temperament, which adds to the whole experience. Some will puff out their feathers and clack their beaks in a menacing manner, while others will show a curiosity towards the scientists. I highly recommend anyone who’s interested in bird banding to volunteer!


** Bird of the Month: Brown Creeper – The Tiny Tree Hugger
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**
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** Jessica Bigger
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The first time I was introduced to the Brown Creeper (Certhia americana) was in my Ornithology class at Humboldt State University and it was love at first sight. However, to this day, I have not been lucky enough to spot one out in the field. But it’s no surprise, these cryptic little guys are well camouflaged by the bark they forage on.

The Brown Creeper gets its name from its foraging behavior. It generally feeds on the trunks of mature evergreen and deciduous trees, especially trees with deep furrowed bark. This little guy starts at the bottom of the tree and works its way up in a spiral formation until it reaches the top. Then it flutters back down to the bottom of the next tree to spiral its way back up again. Just one spider can give a Brown Creeper enough energy to climb 200 feet without needing to take a break. Unlike nuthatches, who can move up and down a tree, the Brown Creeper only moves in one direction – up.

Plumage is the creeper’s best defense; enabling it to blend into tree bark when there is a predator approaching. It will then spread its wings and flatten its body to the trunk, frozen in place until the threat has passed.

Here in Northern Virginia our tiny feathered friends arrive in late fall or early winter and stay through early spring. They are widespread across the continental United States in winter and in some areas year-round. Brown Creepers usually inhabit mature forests, but in winter you might also see or hear them in local parks and suburbs. Because they blend so well into their surroundings, it’s best to keep your ears peeled for their delicate call ([link removed]) , “seet, seet, seet.” Brown Creeper males sing during the breeding season and migration.

Although the Brown Creeper’s status (9 million) is stable throughout North America, their population is declining due to habitat loss, fragmentation, climate change and window collisions. But climate change seems to be their major threat. Audubon scientists have developed climate models that predict a shift in the Brown Creeper’s range in the future due to an increase in temperature. Already the species’ distribution throughout southern Canada has decreased by 57%. And the population is moving farther north, responding to temperature shifts. Another major threat to this species is spring heat waves, which can harm nestlings. In the west, wildlife managers use Brown Creepers as an indicator species to study how logging affects bird populations in the area.

So, this winter keep your ears tuned and eyes peeled for our little cryptic friends. As naturalist W.M. Tyler wrote in 1948, “The Brown Creeper, as he hitches along the bole of a tree, looks like a fragment of detached bark that is defying the law of gravitation by moving upward over the trunk, and as he flies off to another tree, he resembles a little dry leaf blown about by the wind.”



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** Monday Mystery continues
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We are pleased to announce the winner of our October 19^th Monday Nature Mystery, Tricia Booker!

We had some great guesses! Tricia was the first to post the correct answer by just three minutes: American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla). This brightly colored warbler is often referred to as the “Halloween bird.” True to its nickname, they often flash their black and orange patches to flush out their next meal. This redstart was a female, they are slightly less bright than the males. To learn more about American Redstart click here ([link removed]) .

Each Monday we’ll post a new mystery and identify the previous week’s winner who will receive an ASNV hat or tote bag.

Here is this week’s mystery audio clip ([link removed]) . Do you know who this is? Post your guess (please list both common name and Latin name) on our Facebook page (@AudubonVA ([link removed]) ) under Monday Nature Mystery.

Good Luck!

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Other News

Bird Feeder in Reston

This store offers a 10% discount to current ASNV members, good on all purchases excluding optics and sale merchandise. When you visit, just tell them you are a member of ASNV and ask for the discount.

1675 Reston Pkwy, Suite J, Reston, VA 20194. (703) 437-3335

New Hours: Monday – Saturday 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Closed Sunday
Curbside service available, call the store at 703-437-3335
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