President's Corner
Rose-breasted Grosebeak, Kristine Olson/Audubon Photography Awards
I recently came across the question online, “What is the point of birdwatching?” This reminded me that when I started to bird regularly I enjoyed hearing birder Chris Cooper list his seven pleasures of birdwatching in the 2012 documentary, "Birders: the Central Park Effect."
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Reports from Hog Island Educator's Week
Candice Cetinkaya and Chrissy Brownson arriving at Hog Island for Educator's Week
ASNV issued grants to send two teachers to Educator’s Week at Hog Island, Audubon’s Camp in Bremen, Maine. Here is what they had to say about their visit, the week of July 17.
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Welcoming Visitors with Native Plant Landscaping
Native plants on display at a neighborhood entrance, Jane Kirchner
The big signs that welcome visitors to neighborhoods are usually framed by conventional ornamental shrubs, grasses, and annual flowers. Last year, Northern Virginia communities were invited to apply for matching mini-grants to spruce up their entranceways using only Virginia native plants.
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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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The Incredible Abilities of Dragonflies with Dr. Jessica Ware
Dr. Jessica Ware
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Join us for a lively talk on dragonflies and damselflies (Odonata), some of the oldest insects on the planet. Learn about dragonflies’ flying abilities, which make them the most efficient predators on earth. Dr. Ware will lead us on a journey through the past 400 million years of their evolution. You will learn more about their life cycles, reproductive behaviors, colorful communication techniques, and the anatomy that makes them such successful predators.
When: Tuesday, September 6, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Where: Virtual
Member ticket: $15
Non-member ticket: $25
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Fall Butterfly ID with Larry Meade
Variegated Fritillary, David Ilig
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The sight of butterflies fluttering around on a warm day is one of the most iconic signs of summer, but they can still be found well into the fall months. These beautiful insects usually live for only 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. Larry Meade will walk us through the common species and help us differentiate some of the trickier look-a-like species. Participants are encouraged to register for the North American Butterfly Association (NABA) Survey to be held on September 17, 2022.
When: Thursday, September 15, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Where: Virtual
Member Ticket: $10
Non-member Ticket: $15
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NABA Butterfly Count
Variegated Fritillary, David Ilig
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The Butterfly Count is an ongoing program of the North American Butterfly Association (NABA) to census the butterflies of North America (United States, Canada and partially Mexico) and to publish the results. Volunteer participants are assigned a count area with a 15-mile diameter. The volunteers conduct a one-day census of all butterflies sighted within that circle. Volunteers can either sign up for a live butterfly identification webinar with Larry Meade on Thursday, Sept 15 or request a video from last session for free by emailing [email protected].
When: Saturday and Sunday, September 17-18, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Where: Alexandria, VA area
Suggested donation: $3
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Hawk Mountain Day Trip with Dr. Tom Wood
Red-tailed Hawk, Gregory Ball/APA
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Quick, before it sells out! Only 16 participants will get to join Tom Wood, ASNV Board Member and George Mason University Professor, on a guided tour of Hawk Mountain this month. Dr. Wood has years of experience leading groups of students and adults to enjoy the spectacle and wonder of the hawk migration at this site. The morning will begin with an up-close look at a captive hawk before the group walks to the best viewing sites. Expect to walk about 2-3 miles of moderately difficult terrain. In addition to this exclusive 5-hour guided experience, the course includes a 60-minute pre-trip webinar to introduce you to the migration event and the mountain’s unique geography/geology, and to prepare you to identify various species of raptors.
When: Sunday, September 18, 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Where: Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, Kempton, PA
Members: $75
Non-members: $85
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Restoring the Little Things that Run the World
Doug Tallamy
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Join noted entomologist, ecologist and conservationist Doug Tallamy for a talk on the alarming decline of insects from our environment. He’ll remind us of the essential roles insects play and describe some of the simple changes we can make in our landscapes and attitudes to restore them to our environment. After Professor Tallamy’s talk, panelists from ASNV’s Audubon at Home, Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy, Prince William Conservation Alliance, and Plant NOVA Natives will discuss programs in Northern Virginia to effect the changes that will help save the little things that run the world.
When: Sunday, September 25, 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Where: Virtual
Tickets: $10
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Fall Warblers Field Outing with Phil Silas
Blackpoll Warbler, William Higgins
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Join Phil Silas for an educational field trip focused on fall warblers. Priority given to those who registered for Bill Young's class, but open to all. Will take place near Woodbridge, VA, exact location shared with registrants.
When: Sunday, September 25, 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Where: Woodbridge, VA area
Member Tickets: $15
Non-member Tickets: $25
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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. NOTE: The previously scheduled September 5 bird walk has been cancelled.
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You Can Help Stop the Spread of Invasive Plants
English Ivy, Wikimedia Commons
What do English ivy, barberry, butterfly bush, and mimosas (the tree, not the drink) have in common? They are all invasive plants in Northern Virginia.
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Be Nice to your Trees
Tree canopy, Felix Mittermeier via Pixabay
We all try to stay in the shade in hot weather, competing for the parking spaces under trees. What we may not realize is that tree-lined neighborhoods are cooler not just because of the shade but because the trees themselves act as air conditioners.
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Appreciating Hummingbirds
Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Patrick Carney/APA
This summer I traveled to San Diego for the first time and a highlight of the trip was the San Diego Zoo. The park’s thoughtful landscaping serves the animal exhibits but also attracts wild visitors, including a variety of hummingbirds.
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Observations from Meadowood
Hummingbird Clearwing, 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
Red-winged Blackbird, Brian Rice/APA
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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Maximize Your Impact
Green Heron, Jay Stout/Audubon Photography Awards
Help ASNV build its nest egg through planned giving. Learn how here.
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