Photo: Pileated Woodpecker, John Troth/Audubon Photography Awards
Amanda Robinson
Reflections on My First Year at NVBA
A year ago, I joined NVBA as Executive Director. I knew I was joining an organization with a strong legacy built by dedicated volunteers over many years, but I wasn't sure exactly what to expect. What I found exceeded every hope: a community that welcomed me warmly and showed me what it looks like when people truly care about birds and their environment.
The best part of this year has been meeting all of you. I've loved getting to know the patchwork of individuals and other organizations in northern Virginia that are passionate about conservation. A lot of my work this year has involved building internal systems—the kind of behind-the-scenes work that isn't glamorous but that makes everything else possible. I've been inspired by our volunteers who give so generously of their time, and by members who stop me at events to share a recent sighting or a favorite birding spot. These connections are the heart of NVBA, and building relationships across our community has been the most rewarding part of stepping into this role.
We had some wonderful wins this year, too. Birdathon brought out more teams than we've ever had, which is a testament to your enthusiasm and competitive spirit. We brought back our Bird Guide Training Program and trained 20 new bird guides this fall, including our first ever youth bird guide! We held a wildlife rehab event to give bird lovers and local rehabbers hands-on experience with birds. We also held our first annual calendar photo contest, where we learned lots for next year and enjoyed seeing the over 80 submissions from folks across the region. You can still buy your calendar here!
We also welcomed our new Community Engagement Coordinator this year. She has been instrumental in coordinating the many events NVBA supports annually and helping us reach even more people across northern Virginia. We already have over 40 events planned in 2026 - thanks McKenzie! Each of these milestones reflects what's possible when a passionate community comes together.
As I look toward year two, I'm excited to build on this momentum. We're planning our second annual regional symposium, we'll have another strong Birdathon season, we’ll be doing some really great work with Stretch Our Parks and other major NVBA programs. I'm especially excited to grow our diversity and new birder initiatives—creating more opportunities to welcome folks who are new to birding and help them discover the joy of getting outside with binoculars in hand.
Thank you for making my first year so meaningful. I'm grateful to be part of this community, and I can't wait to see what we accomplish together in the year ahead.