A Letter to Our Members
Pileated Woodpeckers. Photo: Jan Nickols/Audubon Photography Awards
For the last four years it has been a pleasure and an honor to be NVBA’s president. I want to take this opportunity to thank the great folks on our board, on our staff, in our volunteer ranks, and among our members and communities – and to highlight how, working with these groups, NVBA has been able to strengthen and grow its bird and nature conservation efforts.
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Bad Feather Days: Molt in Backyard Birds
Northern Cardinal. Photo: Kent Blumberg
Why is that Northern Cardinal bald? We all have bad hair days. Birds have bad feather weeks every late summer as they go through molt. Some, like Northern Cardinals, take the process to the extreme.
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Results of the 2026 Winter Waterfowl Count
American Wigeon. Photo: Walker Golder/Audubon Photography Awards
The 2026 Winter Waterfowl Survey, sponsored by NVBA, was conducted on February 14 and 15. Nearly 70 participants monitored areas along the Potomac River from western Loudoun County to Quantico Marine Base in Prince William County.
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Plant the Slant: Tips for Gardening on Slopes
Creeping Phlox. Photo: Margaret Fisher
Depending on its position and angle, planting a slope isn’t always easy. But the rewards can be considerable.
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The Gray Catbird
Gray Catbird. Photo: Kathy Sidles/Audubon Photography Awards
One of my favorite sights (and sounds) of spring is my first Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) of the season. I’ve always found them elegant-looking, with a sleek, slaty body, jaunty black cap and rusty patch under the tail.
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A Closer Look: Nature All Around Us
Curculio species. Photo: Judy Gallagher
Judy Gallagher is an NVBA board member and a regular surveyor of local wildlife who also captures photos of what she sees, in particular the less common species.
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Wildlife Sanctuary Almanac: Native Dogwoods are Better for Birds
Flowering Dogwood. Photo: ForestWanderer.com, CC BY-SA 3.0 US, via Wikimedia Commons
There are both native and non-native dogwoods available in the nursery trade, as well as hybrid crosses. It is important to know that all dogwoods are not created equal when it comes to their value to wildlife.
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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. We are always adding events so be sure to check our calendar for the latest schedule.
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Ornithology 101 with Kiersten Newtoff
Tree Swallows. Photo: Arielle Smith/NVBA Photo Contest
Our Ornithology 101 course continues! This beginner-friendly, 4-part virtual course is designed for bird lovers of all backgrounds. Join us for one (or both) of our remaining two sessions. Session 3 on Monday, 6/1 will focus on bird breeding, and session 4 on Monday, 6/8 will be all about bird conservation.
When: Mondays from 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM, June 1 and June 8
Where: Virtual, with optional in-person field trips
Member ticket: $40 per session
Non-member ticket: $50 per session
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Discussion with David Bulova, VA Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources
Baltimore Orioles. Photo: Eric Nie/Audubon Photography Awards
Join us for a conversation with David Bulova, VA Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources and a longtime northern Virginia environmental leader, about Governor Spanberger’s administration’s priorities for wildlife conservation, habitat restoration, and resilience. The discussion will include a particular focus on northern Virginia and bird conservation.
When: Tuesday, June 2, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Where: Online
Fee: Free, but registration is required
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Alliance Afternoon: Raptors in a Changing World and Annual Membership Meeting
Red-tailed Hawk. Photo: Melissa Haylock/Audubon Photography Awards
Our quarterly Alliance Afternoon features a presentation by Liz Dennison from Secret Garden Birds and Bees on how raptors use their wits and abilities to survive climate change, toxins in the environment, loss of habitat and emerging diseases. There will be live birds on hand!
We’ll gather at 2:30 to mingle and enjoy snacks and drinks (which attendees are welcome supplement with contributions), followed by a short membership meeting to vote on NVBA business and celebrate our 2026 Birdathon teams.
When: Sunday, June 7, 2:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Where: National Wildlife Federation Building, 11100 Wildlife Center Drive, Reston, VA 20190
Fee: FREE; registration is requested
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Waterfowl Rehabilitation Day with A.E.R.O.
Mallards. Photo: Danny Brown/Audubon Photography Awards
Join NVBA and our partners at A.E.R.O. (Animal Education and Rescue Organization) for an afternoon of bird-related educational sessions with a focus on waterfowl.
When: Sunday, June 14, 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Where: National Wildlife Federation Building, 11100 Wildlife Center Drive, Reston, VA 20190
Members: $20
Wildlife Rehabbers: $15
Nonmembers: $25
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Butterfly Identification with Larry Meade
Variegated Fritillary. Photo: David Illig
Butterflies usually live for only a few weeks as adults, but they make quite an impression while they are in their full glory. Larry Meade will walk us through the common species in our area and help us differentiate some of the trickier look-a-like species.
When: Tuesday, June 16, 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Where: Virtual
Fee: suggested $5 donation; registrationi is required
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Bird Outings
Birding, Camila Cerea
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Check our Bird Outings page for upcoming events! Registration is requested for NVBA-sponsored outings to help our leaders prepare and communicate with participants.
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Volunteer with Us!
Volunteers are at the heart of everything we do at NVBA, and we have many opportunities for you to get involved. Check our Volunteer page for a list of ongoing efforts and to fill out our general volunteer interest form. Watch our recorded Volunteer Orientation video to see the different kinds of volunteer activities we have available and learn how to get started. See you out there!
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National Audubon Society Action Network
The National Audubon Society invites all Auduboners to join its action 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.
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Too many emails? Now you can update your profile to let us know how often you'd like to receive email communications from NVBA.
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