|
|
|
|
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. Participation is limited. Email us to make a reservation here. More information is available on the ASNV website.
Meadowood
7:30 AM to 12:00 PM, year-round
Occoquan Bay NWR
7:30 AM to 12:00 PM, year-round
- July 28
- August 25
- September 29
Butterfly and Dragonfly Surveys
April through October, 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM
- Meadowood Recreation Area: August 13, September 10
- Metz Wetlands: July 23, August 20, September 17
- Occoquan Regional Park: July 30, August 27, September 24
- Occoquan Bay NWR: August 6, September 3
Observations from Meadowood
Judy Gallagher
Social insects are fascinating. In an ant colony such as the Cocktail Ant colony pictured here, there are one or more queens, whose job is to reproduce. The large ant with wings at the right is a queen. The smaller winged ant at the top is a male. He only lives a couple of weeks, just long enough to mate with the queen. The other ants in this picture are workers, and their job is to ensure that the colony runs smoothly, procuring food, getting rid of waste, raising the young, etc. and in some ant species, laying unfertilized eggs that will become male ants.
But sometimes other insects live within the ant colony. The brown blob near the bottom right of this picture is an Eastern Ant Cricket. These crickets live in ant colonies and can't survive for long outside of one. Ants recognize members of their colony by their chemical "signatures,” hydrocarbons on the outside of their bodies. Eastern Ant Crickets disguise themselves by rubbing their bodies with ant secretions so that they smell like ants. They live off food within the ant colony and will even try to get food by massaging the ants' mouthparts. This interesting drama was seen on the June 25 wildlife survey at Julie Metz Wetlands.
|
|
|
|
|
President's Corner
Summer 2021
Tom Blackburn, ASNV President
Infill development – most of us have seen it, and many have experienced it close at hand. This practice of replacing modest houses with mansions that fill the entire lot removes the last remnants of undeveloped land. Bit by bit, our community is losing habitat vital to the existence of wildlife.
If we want to continue to hear birdsong each morning, watch monarchs and swallowtails flit through our yards, and smile nostalgically at fireflies lighting up the night, each of us has a responsibility to create and preserve as much habitat as possible. ASNV’s Audubon at Home (AAH) program can help us do just that.
AAH has a corps of volunteer naturalists who will visit your property and make recommendations to help you establish natural habitat. They visit residential backyards, schools, churches, HOA common areas and parks, giving advice on how to grow native plant species, remove invasives and replace sterile turf grass with plants that support insects, birds and other wildlife.
Creating natural habitat is not as difficult as it may appear. AAH Ambassadors can help you plan even a small garden of native plants or make suggestions on what to grow in the containers on your deck or balcony. They can also offer advice on reducing pesticides or help you chose a water feature to attract dragonflies or allow birds to bathe. Any step you take to make your property more inviting will attract insects, birds and other wildlife. It doesn’t take long. “Build it and they will come,” is an apt description of what to expect.
You can also seek certification of your property as a Wildlife Sanctuary. AAH maintains a list of 42 species that demonstrate the attractiveness of your property to wildlife. If you observe at least 10 of the species on your property and take AAH’s Healthy Yard Pledge, you can apply for certification as a Wildlife Sanctuary. If you wish, you can purchase a sign advertising your property’s attractiveness to wildlife. That might encourage your neighbors to take their own steps to create and preserve wildlife-friendly habitat – one property at a time. The wildlife and our next generation will appreciate it.
|
|
ASNV Receives a Generous Bequest from the late Marilyn G. Bernard
ASNV has received a bequest of more than $75,000 from the late Marilyn G. Bernard, who passed away on August 16, 2019. Marilyn was a teacher at Sleepy Hollow Elementary School and a librarian at Belvedere Elementary School in Falls Church. She cared deeply about animal rescue.
ASNV is grateful for Marilyn’s generosity. The ASNV Board of Directors will determine how best to use her bequest in the coming months.
|
|
Events and Classes
Celebrate National Moth Week! Workshop and Survey with Judy Gallagher
Online Workshop
Date: Thursday, July 29
Time: 7:00 to 8:00 PM
Field Trip – Waitlist only
Date: Saturday, July 31
Time: 8:30 to 10:30 PM
You all know something about butterflies but you probably don't know much about their cousins, the moths...
Did you know many adult moths eat nectar but others don't eat at all as adults? Join us to learn about the mysterious world of moths, and gain some information about identifying them.
On our outing, we'll set up a black light to attract moths and use field guides and iNaturalist to try to identify them. We'll set up an iNaturalist project to keep track of the moths we see.
Learn to identify and survey the most common butterfly species in Northern Virginia with Dr. Elise Larsen, Ries Lab of Butterfly Informatics
Date: September TBA
Time: 7:00 to 8:30 PM
Online
Survey TBA
The sight of butterflies fluttering around on a warm day is one of the most iconic signs of our warm weather months. These beautiful insects usually only live for a few weeks as adults, but they make
|
|
|
|
|
Events and Classes (continued)
quite an impression while they are in their full glory. There is a large variety of butterfly species in our area. Dr. Larsen will focus on identifying the 20 most common butterflies in Northern Virginia. Participants will then be able to sign up for our new fall butterfly count!
Instructor: Elise Larsen is a post-doctoral associate at the Ries Lab of Butterfly Informatics. Her interests include ecology, population dynamics, phenology, and disturbance. She is especially fascinated by butterfly dynamics, currently focusing on traits such as color and lifespan.
Audubon Afternoon: Mt. Cuba Native Plant Trial Gardens with Sam Hoadley
 Date: Sunday, September 26
Time: 3:00 to 4:30 PM
Online
Join us for our fall Audubon Afternoon! Our guest speaker will be Sam Hoadley, Manager of Horticultural Research at Mt. Cuba Center. We’ll learn about the amazing native plant trial gardens at Mt. Cuba, how they evaluate plants and related cultivars for horticultural and ecological value. Sam will highlight the ecosystem services that native plants provide.
Fundamentals of Avian Biology, The Study of Birds: Fall Session with Dr. Chris Haney
Dates: Mondays and Wednesdays, October 4 – November 15
Time: 7:00 to 8:00 PM
Online
(see detailed class and field trip schedule below)
 Are you new to birding and want to learn more or just want to dig deeper into the subject? Then this class is for you.
This course is designed and presented at an introductory, university level in 6 parts, with each week’s worth of classroom instruction equaling 2 hours. Fundamentals of Avian Biology, Part 1 will feature the major underpinnings to ornithology within a context of U.S. national history. Topics covered in this class encompass: the origins and then separation of amateur from professional interest in birds; form and function in the avian body; avian flight mechanics, movement, and dispersal; bird distribution and biogeography; evolutionary relationships and naming systems for birds; and standardized field methods used to study birds. Whenever appropriate, contrasting perspectives are offered, including controversial views that arose from reliance on different theories or applications. Instructional presentations will include PowerPoint slides, auditory or video supplements, and some in-class participatory exercises.
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
Dates: Monday & Wednesday, : October 4, 6, 13, 18, 20, 25, 27; November 1, 3, 8, 10, 15
Time: 7:00 to 8:00 PM
Field trips: October 16 (Rain Date: 23); November 6 (Rain Date: 13)
Online Instruction Only Fee: $150 (members); $175 (non-members)
Online Instruction and Field Trips Fee: $250 (members); $275 (non-members)
Field trips are limited to 30 students.
|
|
A Breath of Fresh Air During Black Birders Week
Deidra Bryant
Earlier this year Upton Hill Regional Park, Arlington NAACP’s Environmental Climate Justice Committee, Northern Virginia Audubon Society, and Arlington Master Naturalists (ARMN) came together and hosted their first series of Black and Latinx guided bird walks. Many people believe that there isn’t much wildlife to see in their local cities. The incentive for this series was to promo te diversity and get participants’ feet wet in the exciting hobby of bird-watching. As quarantine restrictions in Virginia were lifted and people got vaccinated, the public was still interested in how to enjoy themselves outside in new ways since summer was approaching and school was let out. The Black and Latinx bird walks at Upton Hill Regional Park were a wonderful way to have folks participate in bird and plant identification. There were three walks occurring on April 24, May 8, and June 5 led by Musa Murawih and Melody Mobley.
Born into a nomadic Bedouin family in central Sudan, Musa acquainted himself with all life found in the vast land he grew up on. His passion to conserve and protect natural resources globally took him to multiple continents throughout the world where he would eagerly look for birds. In 2010, he moved to the Northern Virginia area. He was elected to the ASNV Board of Directors this year.
Melody is a 29-year veteran of the USDA Forest Service and was the first African-American woman forester. She recently joined the Audubon Society of Northern Virginia and is currently working on a video documentary. The documentary is aptly called “The Starya Project,” after her Cherokee name, “ Starya,” which means “Stay strong.” The film discusses how her work protecting America’s public lands and navigating in a predominately white male field motivated her to help the next generation of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) biologists pursue a career in STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics.) You can also read more about her experiences in the Forest Service in this article here.
Overall, it was really nice to see people bring their families and friends to the walk. I had the opportunity to attend the walk in June during Black Birders Week (from May 30th -June 5th) when the 17-year cicada emergence was still going strong. The walk started with a few introductions and then a presentation from Melody on her work in the Forest Service. Having members from ARMN join in was especially cool because not only did participants see neighborhood birds including Eastern Towhees, Red-winged Blackbirds, Northern Mockingbirds, Common Grackles, American Robins and Fish Crows, but we also looked at invasive and native plant species, learned about land management projects occurring on site, and learned about the natural history of the Brood X cicadas. It was quite refreshing to talk about our observations, our personal goals to be better birders/naturalists, and share fun stories about our experiences in previous outdoor excursions, even after the bird walk was over.
To be honest, I can count on one hand the number of Black individuals who enjoy birding and identifying flowers and trees like I do, and this includes the people who participated in the bird/nature walk that day. Representation definitely matters and this walk was the first step of many in reaching out to people of color in the NOVA region who are searching for an activity with people who share similar goals in becoming better naturalists, where they can exchange knowledge with other people of color in the field, and can establish a network of individuals that uplifts each other. These kinds of opportunities and role models are needed these days, and not just in ornithology, but in: herpetology, geology, entomology, ichthyology, botany, forestry, mammalogy or basically any study in the natural sciences.
I would like to extend a special thanks to NOVA Regional Parks, Arlington NAACP and Jill Barker - the Upton Hill Regional Park Steward for helping make this a success. We need more visibility of BIPOC in these fields and this series was a breath of fresh air.
|
|
ASNV’s Birdathon Fundraiser Teams Set Records
A record seven teams of birders participated in ASNV’s 2021 Birdathon, a friendly competition to see which team can raise the most funds for ASNV and see the most bird species in Northern Virginia in 24 hours. Competition for bird sightings was close. Three of the teams spotted more than 80 birds each, with the Board Birders, composed of members of the ASNV Board, coming out on top with 89 species. Together, the teams logged an impressive 111 bird species.
Four members of the local birding c ommunity established a Virginia Big Day record, a competition sponsored by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to spot the largest number of bird species in Virginia in 24 hours. They birded for 24 straight hours and drove 620 miles, tallying 208 bird species. You can read more about their exploits here.
The seven Birdathon teams and the Big Day team raised more than $11,000 for ASNV, nearly double the previous Birdathon fundraising record. Special thanks to The Chipper Birders, composed of two teenage brothers from South Arlington; The Scarlet Teenagers; and Eagles Geaux Birding from Baton Rouge Louisiana.
|
|
Scientists Still Searching for Answers to the Cause of the Mysterious Illness Affecting Songbirds
Jessica Bigger
Since the first wave of songbirds started dying in May from a mysterious illness that caused neurological problems and heavy crusting over the eyes causing blindness and usually leading to death, scientists and wildlife experts have been scratching their heads over what is making these birds so sick. So far, there is still no answer. Scientists at the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, Smithsonian, University of Pennsylvania Veterinary Medicine and other experts have been running a variety of tests to rule out several diseases.
This mysterious illness has affected mostly Common Grackles, Blue Jays and European Starlings, but the disease has also  killed other species like the American Robin, Northern Cardinal, House Finch, House Sparrow, Eastern Bluebird, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Carolina Chickadee and Carolina Wren.
Initial reports came from Washington D.C., Virginia, Maryland and West Virginia. Yet there are now reports of this illness affecting songbirds in Pennsylvania, Delaware, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and other North Atlantic and Midwestern states. So, it appears that the mysterious illness is spreading.
So far, scientists have been able to rule out numerous pathogens, including influenza and West Nile Virus, salmonella, chlamydia, flaviviruses, herpesviruses, and Trichomonas parasites. Laboratories are continuing to test for additional pathogens and even toxins.
In an interview on NPR, Dr. Brian Evans, an ornithologist with the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center, talked about a possible correlation between Brood X Cicadas and the recent bird deaths. There have been several speculations that the white fungus affecting Brood X might be the culprit. However, Dr. Christine Casey, a state wildlife veterinarian for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources believes white fungus is likely not the cause.
As scientists continue to run a battery of molecular tests on eyeball and flesh tissue of deceased birds for other parasites, bacteria and fungi, they will likely not have an answer to this mystery for several weeks.
In the meantime, if you find a bird who is ill, please report it to the Virginia DWR. If you find a dead bird, use gloves, put the bird in a sealed plastic bag, and throw it in the garbage.
Also, take down your bird feeders, clean them with a 10% bleach solution and do not put them back up until this mystery is solved. Finally, keep your pets and children away from any sick birds, just as a precaution. For more information, click here.
|
|
Environmental Development on the Reston National Golf Course
Lisa Mackem
The previous Reston National Golf Course (RNGC) owners fought against Reston residents for the right to develop the golf course into a townhome community. A four-year court battle resulted in a ruling to preserve the golf course as provided in the Reston Comprehensive Plan. In 2019, new owners bought the golf course. They hired KemperSports to manage it and turn it into a must-play course for the region that also promotes native wildlife, trees, plants and pollinators.
Kris Anderson became the RNGC general manager late last year. He enjoys promoting golf in an all-inclusive way, and hopes the golf course’s environmental characteristics will enhance the golfers’ experience. He often has tried adding red, yellow, and blue plants and flowers to golf courses, to create visual variety. He notes that RNGC doesn’t have a large deer population, so his plantings don’t get eaten overnight. “Typically, you do see deer on golf courses inside the beltway,” says Kris, theorizing that Reston has other areas where deer feel safer and have more space. Kris is enthusiastic about the multi-year plans to improve RNGC. “We are fortunate to have owners Weller Development and War Horse Cities who have been passionate and aggressive in creating and implementing plans to add natural wildlife” says Kris. “They have provided considerable time, leadership and resources in setting up a 15- box bluebird trail, a riparian buffer around the large pond on hole #7, Carniolan honey bee hives for pollinating and large butterfly gardens. This is not the norm for a golf course owner.”
RNGC has been an Audubon International Cooperative Sanctuary since 2007. (Not affiliated with National Audubon Society.) It is also one of the busiest golf courses in the mid-Atlantic region. The current owners and managers hoped that Reston residents would embrace a large environmental project that promotes birds, pollinators, bees and meadows, and is congruent with the Reston plan. The challenge, Kris says, is completing the plan soon enough to have an impact in the first year. “We hope much of this work lasts for 30 years, and we want to get it done now!” As Kris hoped, volunteers helped with planting, and qualified experts managed larger projects.
A key expert partner in the native plant project is Claudia Thompson-Deahl, Reston Association’s Environmental Resource Manager for 38 years, who retired from that position last December. In January, Chuck Veatch, who collaborated with Claudia to produce The Nature of Reston, introduced her to RNGC co-owner Scott Plank. Scott is a first-time golf course owner and not a golfer, but he wanted to sho w people that there are many ways to manage a golf course. He gave Claudia free reign to improve RNGC’s habitat and ecology. “This is where my heart is,” says Claudia. “It’s more of a passion than anything else.”
Claudia asked experienced bluebird monitors, Joanne Bauer and Robin Duska, to organize a Virginia Bluebird Society Trail and they trained three teams to check the boxes weekly. She also introduced local beekeeper Zak Johnson to Asclepias Landscape Design owner Karen Prante, and planted seeds with Kris. Claudia is dedicated to improving the golf course habitat, possibly including a Chimney Swift tower and interpretive signs.
Her biggest challenge was learning about the different types of bees native to the area – mining and cellophane. Nick Dorian, who is working on a PhD about unequal cellophane bees, gave a bee tutorial and noted that few areas have these bee types. He recommended delaying a meadow planting that would have destroyed a bee habitat. Other challenges include keeping the plants free from neonicotinoids, which can poison insects, and finding native plants by the planting date to complete a large-scale design. Claudia is grateful for volunteer support, including South Lakes High School students, who were crucial in planting the first meadow.
Owner Scott Plank prioritized listening to and including Reston residents, and is proud that locals were deeply involved in RNGC’s environmental work. He reviewed years of conversation, social media posts and articles about Reston. As a student of city planning architecture, he admired Bob Simon, and wanted to give life to his vision. Scott plans to keep approximately 10 acres of golf course land in its natural state. “Stop doing stuff and animals will return”, he says. Scott will keep listening to local residents and emphasizing that we are stewards of the land and a community that includes flora, fauna, and critters as well as people.
The efforts have already paid off. Golfers see the bluebird houses, where Kris has counted 33 eggs, and Kris hears the golfers talk about other birds building nests. Golfers will see the Monarch butterfly garden and the signs explaining the garden, Monarch migration pattern and why Monarchs are endangered. The course has three beehives, but none of the bees will be near the golfers and the maintenance work will not disturb them. They will all be excellent pollinators throughout the golf course and adjoining neighborhoods, and will create a superhighway above the trees. Claudia hopes that when the golf course meadows bloom in the summer, people will get excited and add native plants to their own yards. “It’s everyone’s responsibility to spread habitat in their own spaces. I hope it’s a model and an example.”
“Reaction from the community has been fantastic,” says Kris. “They think it’s amazing that we’ve undertaken this project. I want it for everyone to see and enjoy, and live a healthy life around the golf course. My goal is to create spaces that will be here long after I leave.”
|
|
 Hog Island Scholarship Winners
Gretchen Linton of Mark Twain Middle School in Alexandria is the 2021 recipient of ASNV’s scholarship to Educator’s Week at Hog Island Audubon Camp in Maine. She joins Phoebe Riegle of William Ramsay Elementary School, the 2020 winner, whose scholarship was deferred a year due to the pandemic. Congratulations Gretchen and Phoebe!
|
|
Youth Education Mini-grant Winners
This year’s Youth Education mini grants were awarded to Knox Presbyterian Church, Ramsay Elementary School, Nativity Catholic School and Huntley Meadows’ after-school nature drawing program. Three of the grants supported efforts to plant native plants and related educational programs. The long-running drawing program at Huntley Meadows supports observation – the key to understanding nature.
|
|
Dominion Grants to Beautify Neighborhood Entrances with Native Plants
Audubon at Home partnered with Plant NOVA Natives to invite homeowners’ and civic associations to apply for funds to beautify their neighborhood entrances using low maintenance native plants. The mini-grant program was funded by Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation’s Environmental Education and Stewardship Grants Program.
AAH and Plant NOVA Natives received applications from 35 community associations and made their decisions based on the number of residents, ability to communicate with those residents, and the visibility of their new plantings. Six matching grants of $2,350 apiece were awarded to Auburn Village Condo in Arlington, Park Glen  Heights HOA in Annandale, Civic Association of Hollin Hills in Alexandria, Water’s Edge at Fair Lakes HOA in Fairfax, Cascades Community Association in Loudoun, and Dominion Valley Owner’s Association in Prince William.
Congratulations to the winners! We look forward to working with you to design a low-maintenance, wildlife-friendly, and beautifully landscaped entrance planting. Completed installations will receive a high-quality sign that says, “Native plants support birds and other wildlife.”
The funds will go toward costs of a landscape designer to create a design and recommend native plants; purchasing and installing the plants; and removal of any invasive plants such as English ivy, Japanese Barberry, Periwinkle, etc. Each community is responsible for matching funds and/or sweat equity to cover the remaining costs. Additionally, the communities are expected to conduct educational outreach with their residents on the habitat value of native plants, and commit to maintaining the plantings for five years.
We were heartened by the number of neighborhood associations responding to our invitation to apply for funds to support their entrance beautification projects. And, we hope those who did not win a mini-grant will continue their efforts by inviting an Audubon at Home Ambassador to visit the site and provide advice on suitable, low maintenance native plantings. Residents of Arlington/Alexandria, Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun, Prince William, and Rappahannock counties may submit a consultation request here.
|
|
Planting for the Picky Eaters
Plant NOVA Natives
Many insects are picky eaters, only able to eat the plants with which they evolved, meaning the plants that are native to their region. Butterflies are a good example, since although the adults can sip nectar from non-native flowers, their caterpillars depend on specific native plants. The majority of bees are more flexible than that, able to eat the pollen and nectar from a variety of species. They are known as generalist species, although even in their case they have their own favorites. The European Honeybee for example, is a generalist but chooses certain flowers in preference to others.
Of the approximately 400 native bee species in Virginia, about a fifth are plant specialists. Examples include the Spring Beauty Bee and the Blueberry Bee, which (unsurprisingly) depend on the flowers of Spring Beauties and Blueberries. These bees are short lived as adults, emerging when the plants they depend upon are in bloom and quickly gathering the pollen they need to store in their nests for their larvae, thus pollinating the plants while they are at it.
Our local ecosystem requires the full spectrum of plant/animal interactions to flourish. It is easily knocked out of balance when too many native plants are displaced by introduced species, something that has happened in many of our yards. We can restore that balance by planting a lot of native plants. One strategy could be to start with flowers that feed various specialist bees from early spring to late fall, because they will also supply food for the generalist bees. Since many of these flowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds as well, they make a winning combination. A list of popular native garden plants that feed specialist bees can be found on the Plant NOVA Natives website. It feels good to help the bees, whose numbers are in decline.
One of the many charms of native bee species is that they are highly unlikely to sting you, assuming you don’t try to grab one or otherwise threaten it. While they are foraging on a flower, you can get your face (and your camera) right up to them, and they will almost certainly ignore you. Gazing at bees brings surprises, as they come in many sizes and colors, including metallic blues and greens. It is particularly mesmerizing to watch bees on plants such as White Turtlehead, where they pry open the flowers and crawl inside, then back themselves out again, butt first. You can get a peek at those and other cute native bees on this two minute video, filmed in Fairfax County.
|
|
Speak Up – Elevate Native Plants in Public Policy
Here is an opportunity for ASNVers to promote public policies that support native plants.
ASNV is participating in a state workgroup called the Invasive Species Workgroup. The workgroup’s next meeting is July 28 at 10:00 AM, an in-person meeting in the Powhatan Dining Hall, at Pocahontas State Park. The meeting is an opportunity for ASNVers to make recommendations to discourage the sale and use of invasive plants and to promote native plants. Every meeting has a public comment period and it is critical that this workgroup not just receive comments but that they hear specific recommendations from the public.
ASNV helped pass a bill, H. J. Res. 527, sponsored by Delegate David Bulova in the 2021 Virginia General Assembly that established this workgroup. Senator David Marsden had a companion Senat e bill. You can read Delegate Bulova’s bill here.
The workgroup is tasked with making recommendations to the 2022 General Assembly “regarding statutory and regulatory changes intended to reduce or eliminate the sale and use of invasive plant species in the Commonwealth and promote the sale and use of native plants.”
The workgroup has representatives from the industry, government and conservation groups, including ASNV, which means that all viewpoints will be considered. The industry groups are the Virginia Nursery and Landscape Association; Virginia Agribusiness Council; the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation; Virginia Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects; American Hort and the Virginia Forestry Association. The conservation groups are ASNV, Virginia Native Plant Society, Blue Ridge PRISM, Garden Clubs of Virginia and the Nature Conservancy. It is unclear to what degree the various government representatives and two university representatives will participate or offer proposals.
If the workgroup does not hear from people, some members will likely assume no one cares.
For information on how to submit comments for consideration at the July 28 meeting, email Nathan Burrell, Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, at [email protected].
|
|
Bird Walks
Because the bird walks are aimed at beginning birders, the number of attendees is limited to a size that the leader can effectively guide. Registration at https://www.audubonva.org/calendar is required. Once you have registered, you will be sent the exact meeting place. Masks are required for attendees who have not had the COVID-19 vaccine.
If you cannot attend a walk for which you are registered, PLEASE cancel as soon as possible and notify us at [email protected]. If cancellations are at least 3 days in advance, we can fill the spot from the waiting list.
Southern Fairfax County
Saturday, September 18, 8:00 to 11:00 AM
Leader is Dixie Sommers; [email protected]
Northern Prince William County
Sunday, September 26, 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Leader is Toby Hardwick; [email protected]
Southern Prince William County
Sunday, October 3, 8:00 to 11:00 AM
Leader is Phil Silas; [email protected]
Southern Fairfax County
Saturday, October 16, 8:15 to 11:30 AM
Leader is Dixie Sommers; [email protected]
|
|
 Monday Nature Mystery – July 19
We are pleased to announce the winner of our July 12 Monday Nature Mystery, Michael Sheeler! Congratulations to Michael for correctly identifying the uncommon Green Milkweed (Asclepias viridiflora). This milkweed species blooms June through September and prefers full sun and dry soil. It is widely distributed across North America, but is considered endangered and threatened in some areas. “Viridiflora” literally translates to “green-flowered.”
Here is this week’s mystery. Do you know who built this nest? Post your guess on our Facebook page (@AudubonVA) under Monday Nature Mystery.
Good luck!
Each Monday we’ll post a new mystery and identify the previous week’s winner. They’ll receive an ASNV hat or tote bag.
Please note that all entries are date and time-stamped. We review each correct answer to see who commented first. If someone 'likes' your comment, it would move it up on the list, making it look like the first post. Winners are limited to one prize every 90 days.
|
|
Bird of the Month – It’s Easier to Distinguish a Brown Thrasher from a Northern Mockingbird Than You Think
With more than 1,100 song variations – some believe that number can be closer to 3,000 – the Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum) has one of the largest song repertoires of all songbirds. It even beats out the Northern Mockingbird, which can sing up to 200 different songs. Although their songs can be difficult to distinguish from a Northern Mockingbird’s, the easiest way to tell the two birds apart is to listen to their song phrases. Thrashers only repeat their phrases twice, while mockingbirds repeat their phrases three or more times.
Thrashers also sing with gusto, yet some birders do not understand their singing ability. Cornell mentioned on All About Birds that, “One early naturalist thought the Brown Thrasher’s song was underappreciated, writing “Much of the [acclaim] which has fallen to the Mockingbird is really due to the unperceived efforts of the Brown Thrasher. It is the opinion of many ornithologists that the song… is richer, fuller, and definitely more melodious than that of polyglottis” (the Northern Mockingbird).”
You may be able to hear thrashers in the spring, but they are quite elusive. They nest in thickets, hedgerows and forest edges, but males will fly up to higher branches in trees to sing. You might get a glimpse of them when they come down to forage in the leaf litter, chattering away while searching for food. If you spot one it might give you a scathing look, with its curved bill (frown) and its glaring yellow eyes.
In Gillian Field’s article in the Herald Times, she wrote about creating habitat to attract a variety of songbirds. Field had an infestation of vinca minor in her yard. So, she rolled up her sleeves and ripped out every last vine. She replaced the vines with a thick layer of leaves and laid several sticks on top to prevent the leaves from blowing away. To her surprise-two days later-a Brown Thrasher came bopping around her leaf litt er, happily chattering away while searching for food.
Some passerines, including the Brown Thrasher, will shed feathers on the underside of their body – known as an “incubation patch.” With their skin feathers free, these birds are able to use their body heat to keep their eggs warm. Feathers would impede this process. Both female and male Brown Thrashers have this patch during the breeding season, as they both share nesting duties.
Thrashers eat both insects and seeds. They also eat fruits, nuts and arthropods. Interestingly, they love acorns. They grab these large nuts in their bill and whack them on the ground to crack the nuts into more manageable pieces.
Brown Thrashers live year-round in the southeastern part of the United States, but we are blessed to see them in spring and summer as they migrate to Northern Virginia and other eastern states to breed. Although considered a bird of low concern on All About Birds, the Brown Thrasher is considered a vulnerable species according to the National Audubon Society.
Climate change is shifting the Brown Thrasher’s range further north. They are common in Georgia – they are the state bird – but as temperatures rise, the environment is becoming unsuitable for this mimicking species. They’re not the only birds feeling the effects of climate change.
As the earth continues to warm, most of the Brown Thrasher’s current habitat in the United States, both breeding and nonbreeding, will be lost. The species will be forced to move farther up into Canada. Spring heat waves and heavy rains (which can flood their nests) can endanger nestlings. They are also quite susceptible to nesting parasites, like the Brown Cowbird.
However, there is still hope. Reducing global temperatures, even now, would greatly reduce the chances of a major decline in all bird populations.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
