Audubon Society of Northern Virginia

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** October 2021 ASNV HOME ([link removed]) DONATE ([link removed]) JOIN ([link removed])
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** President's Corner
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Upton Hill Nature Walk, Jill Barker

The latest census data show that five of the nine Northern Virginia localities are majority-minority. If we are going to slow the effects of climate change and stop the loss of biodiversity, it is crucial that all communities develop an appreciation of nature and become involved in protecting the environment. To that end, this spring, ASNV adopted a revised mission statement to emphasize the importance of involving people and organizations that reflect the broad diversity of Northern Virginia: our mission is now “to engage all Northern Virginia communities in enjoying, conserving, and restoring nature for the benefit of birds, other wildlife, and people.”

Read more > ([link removed])


** Important Elections Are Coming Up—MAKE SURE YOU VOTE!
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Climate Strike, Luke Franke

Early voting has already begun for the November 2 elections for Virginia’s Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, and House of Delegates. There are many ways Virginia allows you to vote, so don’t miss out.

Read more > ([link removed])


** Belize and Guatemala | Neotropical Birds and Mayan Ruins January 2022
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Boat-billed Heron, Bernard Dupont

Audubon Society of Northern Virginia invites you for an international birding opportunity in Belize and Guatemala. Participants will be seeking out resident and migratory birds as well as other wildlife in this culturally rich area.

Read more > ([link removed])


** New App Brings Awareness of ADA Requirements to Trails
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Author with Astrolabe, Steve Tzakis

“The Birdability Map is a crowdsourced map which describes the accessibility features of birding locations all over the world. This allows people with accessibility challenges to find out in advance if a birding location is one they would like to visit.” Read Steve Tzakis’s account of his mapping experience.

Read more > ([link removed])


** ASNV News
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** Take the Plastic Free Challenge! 30 Days. No Bags, Bottles, or Straw
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Photo: pasja1000 via Pixabay

350 Fairfax, a non-profit dedicated to challenging systems that lead to catastrophic climate change, is sponsoring a plastic-free, 30-day challenge from October 1 – 30. 2021.

Read more > ([link removed])


** Invitation To Celebrate Trees!
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“Mini-forest,” Meghan Fellows

This fall is for celebrating trees as well as planting them. Plant NoVa Natives is launching a PLANT NOVA TREES campaign that will continue for five years, according to Margaret Fisher, PNN’s Outreach Coordinator.

Read more > ([link removed])


** Birdability Week
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Oak Leaves, max1-2-3 via Pixabay

Birdability Week is a celebration of birders with disabilities and other health concerns, and an opportunity to share resources and ideas to help the birding community be accessible, inclusive and welcoming to everybody and every body!

Read more > ([link removed])


** Upcoming Classes and Events
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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.


** Fundamentals of Avian Biology, the Study of Birds: Fall Session with Dr. Chris Haney
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Dr. Chris Haney


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.

When: Mondays and Wednesdays, October 4 – November 15, 7:00 to 8:00 PM, Online
Field Trip: October 23
Fee, Online Instruction Only: $150 members / $75 non-members
Fee, Online Instruction and Field Trips: $250 members / $275 non-members


INFO AND REGISTRATION ([link removed])


** The Big Sit! Meadowood Special Recreation Management Area
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Kids Birding,Sean Fitzgerald


Join Meadowood SRMA and Audubon Society Northern Virginia for the most non-competitive birding event! It’s called The Big Sit! for a good reason - it’s a tailgate party for birders. Bring a chair and your binoculars. Coffee and donuts will be provided.

When: Saturday, October 9, 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Where: 10702 Harley Rd, Lorton, VA 22079

INFO AND REGISTRATION ([link removed])


** Project FeederWatch Workshop with Greg Butcher & Dixie Sommers
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Eastern Bluebird, Herbert Fechter


This FREE workshop will cover a bit of Project FeederWatch history, its purpose, tips for identifying birds, and the protocols to be followed while counting.

When: Thursday, October 28, 7:00 to 8:30 PM
Where: Online!

INFO AND REGISTRATION ([link removed])


** Fruit Talks and Field Walks: Persimmons with Eliza Greenman
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Persimmon, Bradley Keith


Join us for an exciting new series with Oak Spring Graden Foundation that focuses on native and heritage trees. The first workshop will be led by Eliza Greenman, a fruit explorer, horticultural historian, designer, and implementer of agroforestry.

Workshop:
When: Thursday, November 11, 7:00 to 8:00 PM
Where: Online!

Field Trip:
When: Saturday, November 13, 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Where: Oak Spring Garden Foundation, Upperville, VA

Workshop only: $15
Workshop and field walk: $75

INFO AND REGISTRATION ([link removed])


** Audubon Afternoon: Birds of Jamaica with Dr. Herlitz Davis
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Dr. Herlitz Davis

Join Dr. Herlitz Davis for a personal journey through Jamaica, from Cockpit Country to the Blue Mountains. Dr. Davis will introduce you to the fascinating Avifauna of Jamaica through stories of his life growing up in nature, and through his doctoral research at George Mason University and the Smithsonian Institution.

When: Sunday, November 14 3:00 to 4:30 PM
Where: Online!

INFO AND REGISTRATION ([link removed])


** Workshop for the Manassas-Bull Run Christmas Bird Count
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Black-capped Chickadee, Megan Lavoie


Join Phil Silas, the Manassas-Bull Run Christmas Bird Count compiler, and members from our Conservation Committee to learn about this long-running citizen science bird survey.

When: Thursday, December 16, 7:00 to 8:30 PM
Where: Online!
Cost: FREE!

INFO AND REGISTRATION ([link removed])


** Bird Walks
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Birders, Luke Franke


Fall is a great time to enjoy birding! The bugs and the temperatures are down. There's a chance to see migrants moving through. In October we'll visit sites with water views as well as woodland trails. Check this page ([link removed]) for upcoming walks.


** Black and Latinx Nature Walks resume at Upton Hill Park
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Upton Trails, NOVA Parks


Northern Virginia Regional Parks and Arlington NAACP are resuming their popular nature walk series in September.

Read more > ([link removed])
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Monthly Features


** Observations from Meadowood
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Leaf-cutter Bee emerging, Judy Gallagher

I was distracted by a bee flying by with a flash of green beneath it. It was a Leaf-cutter Bee, which as the name implies uses its mouthparts to cut pieces of leaves.

Read more > ([link removed])


** October Bird of the Month: Northern Harrier
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Northern-Harrier Female, Timothy Shore

While living in Humboldt County, CA, I would see Northern Harriers (Circus hudsonius) flying low with their “V” shaped wing formation hunting in the Arcata Bottom on a regular basis. Harriers were a common sight there.

Read more > ([link removed])


** Monday Nature Mystey
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Photo: Will Stuart

Here is this week’s mystery. Do you know what this is? Be sure to post your guess on our Facebook page ([link removed]) . Good Luck!

Read more > ([link removed])


** Conservation Counts
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Common Buckeye, 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]
The Bird Feeder offers 10% off for ASNV members

1675 Reston Parkway (in the Home Depot Plaza)
Reston, VA 20194
Hours: Monday – Saturday 10 AM to 6 PM, Closed Sunday

Curbside service available, call the store at 703-437-3335.

[link removed]

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Audubon Society of Northern Virginia
11100 Wildlife Center Drive
Ste. 100
Reston, VA 20190
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