The latest news and events from Audubon Society of Northern Virginia

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** January 2023 ASNV HOME ([link removed]) DONATE ([link removed]) JOIN ([link removed])
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** President's Corner
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Tundra Swans, Randy Streufert

The Tundra Swans have returned to the Great Marsh at Elizabeth Hartwell Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge after a daunting migration of as much as 3,750 miles.
Read more > ([link removed])


** State of the World's Birds 2022
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Long-tailed Ducks, Barbara Saffir/Audubon Photography Awards

Birdlife International’s State of the World’s Birds 2022 (SOTWB 2022) concludes that the world’s birds are in a fragile condition: One out of 5 of the world’s 11,000 species is threatened or near threatened with extinction.

Read more > ([link removed])


** Solar Panels vs. Trees: How to Choose?
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Shade tree, Margaret Fisher

Residents who are interested in installing solar panels often face a dilemma. Which is better for the environment, solar panels or shade trees?

Read more > ([link removed])


** Get a Boost on Waterfowl Identification
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Hooded Merganser, Matt Felperin

Now that the ducks and geese are flooding into our area for winter, make sure your identification skills are at their peak.

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.


** All About the Wildlife Center of Virginia with Ed Clarke
Ed Clarke
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The Wildlife Center of Virginia (WCV) is the leading teaching and research hospital for wildlife and conservation medicine. It trains veterinary students and professionals from every vet school in the U.S. and Canada and from nearly 40 other countries worldwide. The Center was named Conservation Organization of the Year for the entire U.S. in 2007. It produces the Emmy-nominated, weekly series “Untamed,” that appears on PBS affiliates nationwide. Ed Clark will introduce us to WCV and its important work and update us on new initiatives underway to celebrate its 40th anniversary.

When: Thursday, January 19, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Where: Virtual
Members: $15
Non-members: $25
MORE INFO ([link removed])


** Audubon Afternoon with Carla Dove
Forensic Ornithologist Carla Dove
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Join us on Sunday afternoon for our semi-annual live Audubon Afternoon at the National Wildlife Federation in Reston. We’ll gather informally starting at 2:30 so you have an opportunity to reconnect with everyone. We welcome any food and drink you would like to share with everyone during the informal portion of the program. At 3 PM, we’ll have a presentation by Forensic Ornithologist Dr. Carla Dove, a scientist with the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.

When: Sunday, January 22, 2:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Where: National Wildlife Federation Building ([link removed])
Fee: FREE; registration is requested
MORE INFO ([link removed])


** Winter Animal Tracking with Ranger Emily Jones
Ranger Emily Jones with tracks
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Winter is a great time to practice your detective skills. While many mammals are nocturnal, they do leave behind evidence of their activities such as footprints and scat. Join this informative webinar to learn how to identify tracks and scat of our common Virginia wildlife. Ranger Emily will also lead us through some interactive tracking mysteries to help us practice our observation and naturalist skills. Do you have a photo of some mystery tracks? Email it to [email protected] and we may cover it during the presentation!

When: Tuesday, January 24, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Where: Virtual
Members: $15
Non-members: $20
MORE INFO ([link removed])


** 2022 Audubon Photography Awards and 'Birds on Film' Screening
White-tailed Kites, Jack Zhi/Audubon Photography Awards 2022 Grand Prize Winner
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Join us for an evening of art appreciation. The Walker Nature Center will feature a screening of short films about birds and showcase the Video Prize winners from the 2022 Audubon Photography Awards. The Video Prize recognizes the dynamic movement and behavior of birds and the ways we view and memorialize them. After the films there will be time for attendees to view the winning photographs. Learn more about the contest here ([link removed]) .

When: Friday, January 27, 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Where: Walker Nature Center ([link removed])
Free, but donations appreciated
Registration through the Reston Association is required.
MORE INFO ([link removed])


** 2022 Audubon Photography Awards Exhibit
White-tailed Kites, Jack Zhi/Audubon Photography Awards 2022 Grand Prize Winner
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Please join us to view the 2022 Audubon Photography Awards Traveling Exhibition at Walker Nature Center in Reston, VA. Visitors can enjoy a display of the stunning winning images (and videos) and learn more about local birdlife in Virginia.

When: Sunday, January 29, 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Where: Walker Nature Center ([link removed])
Free, but donations appreciated
No registration required
MORE INFO ([link removed])


** Ducks and Waterfowl Identification with Greg Butcher
Hooded Merganser, Matt Felperin
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Join Greg Butcher, ASNV board member and recently retired migratory species coordinator for the U.S. Forest Service International Programs, for an introduction to waterfowl identification.

When: Thursday, February 2, 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Where: Virtual
Members: $10
Non-members: $15
MORE INFO ([link removed])


** Ducks and Winter Waterfowl Field Trip
Bufflehead, Christopher Baker/Audubon Photography Awards
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Are you new to birding and would like to improve your waterfowl identification skills? Join Greg Butcher and Phil Silas at Pohick Bay Regional Park to view a wide assortment of waterfowl.

When: Saturday, February 4, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Where: Pohick Bay Regional Park ([link removed])
Members: $15
Non-members: $25
MORE INFO ([link removed])


** Winter Waterfowl Count
Birders, Judy Gallagher
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The Winter Waterfowl Count is a citizen science effort organized by Audubon Society of Northern Virginia to track data about winter waterfowl.

When: Saturday and Sunday, February 11-12, 7:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Where: To be Announced
Fee: FREE
MORE INFO ([link removed])


** Sparrow Identification with Bill Young
Savannah Sparrow, Jon Boeckenstedt/Audubon Photography Awards
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Sparrows can be difficult to identify. This class will help you tell apart the sparrows you might see in northern Virginia and separate them from other small brown sparrow-like birds.

When: Wednesday, February 15, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Where: Virtual
Members: $15
Non-members: $25
MORE INFO ([link removed])


** Outreach Volunteer Orientation and Training
Audubon Burke
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Do you enjoy speaking to people about your passion for birds and the environment? We need your help! Please join us for this volunteer orientation and training if you are interested in helping us and the birds this spring.

When: Saturday, February 18, 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Where: National Wildlife Federation Building ([link removed])
Cost: FREE
Tickets: Limited to 30 participants
MORE INFO ([link removed])


** Bird Walks
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Birding, Camila Cerea


Check this page ([link removed]) for upcoming walks! Registration is no longer required for ASNV-sponsored walks.


** ASNV News
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** Memories from the Wildlife Center of Virginia
Fledgling Green Heron, Deidra Bryant
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On January 19th, ASNV is hosting a virtual event featuring Ed Clark of the Wildlife Center of Virginia. The notice of the class brought back memories for this writer.

Read more > ([link removed])


** A Brief Look at the Upcoming 2023 General Assembly
Virginia Capitol via Pixabay
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The Virginia General Assembly will convene in Richmond for its 2023 session on January 11 and adjourn around February 25. We urge you to become informed about the major conservation bills we anticipate and to talk to your state legislators before they go to Richmond.

Read more > ([link removed])

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Monthly Features


** Observations from Meadowood
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Eastern Yellow Jacket, Judy Gallagher

Judy Gallagher is a long-time participant in the Meadowood Recreation Area survey. Here are some of her findings.

Read more > ([link removed])


** Monday Nature Mystery
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American Wigeon, Alix d'Entremont/Macaulay Library

Monday Nature Mystery continues! Read on to learn who correctly identified our last mystery and see what this week's mystery holds.

Read more > ([link removed])


** Plant This, Not That
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Burning Bush, Elaine Mills

This new series by Alyssa Ford Morel offers suggestions on replacing invasive non-native plants with northern Virginia Natives.

Read more > ([link removed])


** Conservation Counts
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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.

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]
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** Maximize Your Impact
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Green Heron, Jay Stout/Audubon Photography Awards

Help ASNV build its nest egg through planned giving. Learn how here ([link removed]) .
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