Photo: Prairie Warbler, Matt Felperin
Join us for a workshop or class! Here are a few of our upcoming offerings. Check our calendar often for updates.
Beginner Birding at Occoquan Bay NWR
Bird guide training. Photo: McKenzie Ingram
Join NVBA naturalist Andreas Seiter at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge for an introduction to birdwatching and a guided walk to seek out some of the refuge’s diverse waterfowl species.
When: Friday, April 3, 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Where: Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, 14050 Dawson Beach Rd, Woodbridge, VA 22191
Fee: FREE, but registration is appreciated
In-person Art Class: Sketching Birds 101 with Jess Michetti
Bird sketches, Jess Michetti
In the spirit of Draw A Bird Day, join Jess Michetti in Reston where you will use pencils, pens and copy paper to draw an American Robin. Learn what materials to use and useful techniques. This event celebrates drawing birds as a way to enjoy the challenge of putting pencil to paper and learn something about our subject along the way. Absolutely no experience is required and all skill levels are welcome.
When: Wednesday, April 8, 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Where: National Wildlife Federation Building, 11100 Wildlife Center Drive, Reston, VA 20190
Members: $12
Nonmembers: $23
Springtime Bird Rehabilitation and Education Day with A.E.R.O.
Red-winged Blackbirds. Photo: Dixie Sommers/NVBA Photo Contest
Join NVBA and our partner A.E.R.O. (Animal Education and Rescue Organization) for an afternoon full of bird-related educational sessions. With Spring Migration in full-swing, we want everyone to be prepared the next time they find an injured or lost bird!
When: Sunday, April 12, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Where: National Wildlife Federation Building, 11100 Wildlife Center Drive, Reston, VA 20190
Members and Wildlife Rehabbers: $18
Nonmembers: $23
2026 Birdathon Kickoff: Introduction, Team Building and Q&A
Prairie Warbler. Photo: Matt Felperin
Register for this virtual event hosted by Northern Virginia Bird Alliance, to learn about our upcoming annual Birdathon! We will begin with an introduction to Birdathon and include details on how to form a team, sign up, set up your fundraising page, and track your sightings. We’ll also cover important deadlines, how teams will submit observations through eBird, and tips for making the most of your 2026 Birdathon experience!
When: Monday, April 13, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Where: Online
Fee: FREE, but registration is required
Reducing Bird Collisions: Practical Solutions for Building Glass and Light Pollution
Purple Martins. Photo: Keith Kingdon/Audubon Photography Awards
Join us on April 15 to find out how important it is to reduce outdoor lighting, particularly during bird migration. Hear from our speakers Joelle Gehring and Jo Anna Lutmerding, both with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, on how outdoor lights affect bird migration and birds’ health and reproduction throughout the year.
When: Wednesday, April 15, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Where: Online
Fee: FREE, but registration is required
Beyond the Spray: Protecting Wildlife and Biodiversity with Safer Mosquito Control Solutions
Tiger Swallowtail butterfly on Ironweed. Photo: Betsy Martin
Join us for a free program on mosquito control solutions that avoid pesticides. Learn about the harm to wildlife from broadcast spraying and safer and more effective alternatives.
When: Saturday, April 25, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Where: Mount Vernon Unitarian Church, 1909 Windmill Lane, Alexandria, VA 22307Virtual
Fee: FREE, but registration is required
iNaturalist City Nature Challenge Insect Walk with Judy Gallagher
Jagged Ambush Bug Nymph. Photo: Randy Streufert/NVBA Photo Contest
Join us in celebrating the 2026 iNaturalist City Nature Challenge with an insect walk hosted by Judy Gallagher, NVBA board member and author of our monthly insect-focused column “A Closer Look.” Judy will guide participants on a short hike, looking for and identifying insects along the way. The City Nature Challenge is a global, community-powered event where people work together to observe and document wildlife in their local environments.
When: Saturday, April 25, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Where: Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, 14050 Dawson Beach Road, Woodbridge, VA 22191
Fee: FREE, but registration is requested
You can also join us for a Bird Outing, Natural Resource Survey or Butterfly and Dragonfly survey.
Online Programs
Many of our programs are offered online, and we will provide recordings of as many of these events as possible and make them available here. Check back often, as we will add videos and resources as we receive them. Please enjoy!