President's Corner
Red Knots feeding on Horseshoe Crabs, Greg Breese/USFWS
What has nine eyes, light-sensitive organs in its tail, lays up to 120,000 eggs a year, and is an important food source for shorebirds? Answer: the horseshoe crab.
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ASNV Announces Candidates for Offices and Board of Directors
American Robin, Mick Thompson/APA
These individuals have been nominated for positions on ASNV’s board. Read on to meet the candidates.
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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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Audubon Afternoon: "A Year in the Life of an Owl"
Eastern Screech Owl, Randy Streufert
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ASNV will hold its first in-person Annual Meeting and Audubon Afternoon in 2 years! We will elect board members and directors during a brief annual meeting, then enjoy a presentation starring 4 live native owls.
When: Sunday, June 5, 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Where: National Wildlife Federation Building, 11100 Wildlife Center Drive, Reston, VA 20190
Fee: FREE. No registration required!
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Butterfly ID Workshop with Dr. Leslie Ries
Zebra Swallowtail, Emily Carter Mitchell
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The sight of butterflies fluttering around on a warm day is one of the most iconic signs of summer. These beautiful insects usually only live for a few weeks as adults, but they make quite an impression while they are in their full glory. There is a large variety of butterfly species in our area. Dr. Leslie Ries will focus on identifying the 20 most common butterflies in Northern Virginia.
When: Thursday, June 16, 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Where: Virtual
Member ticket: $10
Non-member ticket: $15
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"A World on the Wing" with Author Scott Weidensaul
Yellow Sea Shorebirds, Scott Weidensaul
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Audubon Society of Northern Virginia and the Virginia Society of Ornithology are proud to present an author talk with New York Times Bestselling Author, Scott Weidensaul!
His recent book, A World on the Wing: The Global Odyssey of Migratory Birds, has captivated birders and non-birders alike with stories of astounding discoveries about the navigational and physiological feats that enable migratory birds to cross immense oceans or fly above the highest mountains, go weeks without sleep or remain in unbroken flight for months at a stretch.
When: Tuesday, June 28, 7:00 PM - 8:15 PM
Where: Virtual
Member ticket: $20
Non-member ticket: $30
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"How do birds get their colors?" with Ivan Phillipsen
Andrean Emerald Hummingbirds, Ly Dang/APA
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One of the things we love most about birds is their wild array of plumage colors and patterns. Where does all that color come from? In this presentation, you’ll learn how pigments and microscopic structures in feathers create the kaleidoscope of beauty we find in the avian world. We’ll cover topics such as iridescence, molting and feather wear, the evolution of feather color, and the functions of feather colors.
When: July 14, 2022 at 7:00 PM
Where: Online
Member ticket: $15
Non-member ticket: $25
Registration coming soon!
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Bird Walks
Birding, Luke Franke
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Check this page for upcoming walks! Registration is no longer required for ASNV-sponsored walks.
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Last Call for Birdathon Donations
Birders, Camilla Cerea
To celebrate migration and the nesting season, please donate to an ASNV Birdathon team if you haven’t already.
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Youth Education Mini-grants Awarded
Nature Club, Arlington Master Naturalists
Each Spring ASNV awards Youth Education “mini-grants” to local schools and nonprofit organizations for projects involving youth that establish or enhance a learning experience about nature and conservation.
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Black Birders Week
Graphic courtesy of BlackAFinStem
June 1, 2022 is the fourth day of Black Birders Week, “Soaring to Greater Heights.” It continues an annual event intended to “…celebrate and highlight birding as a lifelong learning journey that is enjoyed by Black cultures across the diaspora.”
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Member Spotlight: James, age 10
Great Blue Heron, James Gallager
On a birding weekend at Chincoteague, I had the pleasure of meeting a young birder named James and his mother, Luisa. Birding has been really good for James - it was a safe activity to do during the pandemic and it also piqued his interest in nature in general.
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Let's go Birding Together
Birding, Pinar Ates Sinopoulous-Lloyd
Birding and being in nature are opportunities for everyone. Whether it’s for healing, respite, or peace, a walk in the outdoors can be especially meaningful to people who face discrimination, experience violence at higher rates, or are rejected by their families for being themselves.
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Florence McBride book now available in Spanish
Courtesy of Florence McBride
A team of ASNV volunteers has translated this resource into Spanish. As with the English version, the digital picture book on local birds, tailored to beginners, is available free of charge on the ASNV website.
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Ivy Kills!
Fallen Sycamore tree, Betsy Martin
Ivy is an invasive exotic species that destroys trees and natural habitat. Please, do not allow English ivy to grow up trees on your property, and if it has done so, take steps to remove it.
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Native Groundcovers and Trees
Native groundcovers, Margaret Fisher
Native groundcovers are becoming increasingly popular, for good reason: even if they have minimal time for gardening, people want to use native plants to support our local birds and butterflies.
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Bird of the Month: Prothonotary Warbler
Prothonotary Warbler, Edward Episcopo/APA
The Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea), is one of only two North American warblers to nest in cavities.
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Observations from Meadowood
Eyed Click Beetle, Judy Gallagher
Judy Gallagher continues to survey Meadowood Recreation Area. Here are some findings from her most recent survey.
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Monday Nature Mystery
Hanging Thief, Bill Young
Monday Nature Mystery continues! Read on to learn who correctly identified our last mystery and see what this week's mystery holds.
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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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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. https://www.audubon.org/
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