The Gray Catbird

Photo: Gray Catbird, Kathy Sidles/Audubon Photography Awards

Connie Ericson

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. 

They would be endearing even if their only call was their distinctive “mew,” but they are excellent singers and mimics. They are in the same family as mockingbirds and thrashers, all in the family Mimidae. To advertise territory a male will sing phrases that Cornell's All About Birds says include “whistles, squeaks, gurgles, whines, and nasal tones,” which sometimes imitate other birds or even “frogs and mechanical sounds.” Catbirds do not repeat the phrases, unlike mockingbirds, which will repeat them three or more times, and thrashers, which will repeat a phrase once before changing. Thrashers appear to distinguish songs of catbirds from those of other thrashers by the number of repeated syllables in a sequence rather than a specific pattern. (David Sibley, The Sibley Guide to Bird Life & Behavior, p. 69) Female catbirds also sing, but less frequently and more quietly.

As the name of its genus (Dumetella or thicket) suggests, you can attract catbirds to your yard with dense plantings of shrubs and fruit-bearing native plants. As the native shrubs and flowers I have planted on the terracing in my back yard have grown up, I have seen catbirds more often. I see them flitting from the Red Oak and Eastern Dogwood trees to the chokeberry and winterberry. Like the Northern Flickers that visit my yard, the catbirds also will forage along the face of the stacked-stone walls for ants and other burrowing insects. They are somewhat shy about approaching the birdbath, but then bathe enthusiastically. 

Gray Catbird bathing. Photo: Darla J. Oathout/Audubon Photography Awards

Although both male and female catbirds may carry nesting material at first to starter nests, the female alone reportedly builds the final nest over a period of five to eight days. The nest often will be in low dense growth at the edges of woods. (Donald Stokes, Bird Behavior, vol. I, p. 207) Although I live very close to Arlington’s Glencarlyn Park, I have never seen a catbird nest in my yard. I have mixed feelings about whether having a nest there would be a good thing, because I have seen several neighborhood cats pass through regularly.

Catbirds, unlike other species in the family Mimidae, migrate from their breeding grounds and winter mostly in Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, although some winter in the southeastern United States, which allowed me to enjoy them during winter when I lived in Houston. (Sibley, page 474)

Black Catbird. Photo: Lawrence Hollar/Audubon Photography Awards

On a birdwatching trip to the Yucatán Peninsula, I also was charmed by the Black Catbird (Melanoptila glabrirostris). It is a member of the family Mimidae, but it does not mimic other birds’ songs. It’s slightly smaller than the Gray Catbird but similar in shape with a long tail and thin bill. It’s “black,” but in light it shows glossy purple and blue-green plumage. It shares a fondness for thickets, scrub, dense forest understory and edge habitat. It was one of my favorite birds of the trip. You can read more about Black Catbirds on Wikipedia,  DataZone by BirdLife, or, if you’re a subscriber, Cornell’s Birds of the World.

Birding with Purpose: Six Principles for Ethical Birding

Photo: Great Horned Owlets, Tom Muehleisen/Audubon Photography Awards

Kent Blumberg

It’s the time of year when more of us are spending time outdoors, watching and photographing birds. It’s also a good time to review the principles of ethical birding. 

First, we want to protect the birds. They live on tight energy budgets, especially when migrating and nesting. Any energy spent responding to us is energy they can’t use for survival. Second, birds and the environment are shared resources that we want to protect for the future. And third, birding itself is a shared experience, and birding ethics serve as a social contract to keep it enjoyable for all. 

In short, birding ethics protect the birds, preserve the experience, and sustain the community.

Here are six principles to keep in mind as you enjoy the birds in northern Virginia.

1. First, do no harm to birds, other wildlife or the environment. Prioritize their needs over yours. If their behavior indicates stress, back away. Avoid flash, especially with nocturnal birds, as it may harm their night vision.

2. Stay in your lane. Keep your distance from birds, using binoculars, scopes, or telephoto lenses to get closer, rather than your feet. Stay on marked trails, or on boardwalks. Keep away from nests. Don’t use drones to capture photos or videos of birds, especially near nesting sites. 

3. Be polite and considerate of others. Nurture the shared experience. At Huntley Meadows, don’t take up the entire boardwalk with your gear but leave a clear path for others to pass. If you spot a rare bird or a particularly good view of a bird, take your photos and then step aside so others can enjoy it as well. Balance your needs with the needs of others and help create space for everyone.

4. Don’t manipulate birds to get the photos you want. Avoid flushing them repeatedly, baiting them or playing recorded bird calls to attract them. Don’t approach birds to force them to fly. 

5. Respect private property and follow all restrictions on public lands. 

6. Lead by example. When you share photos and videos of birds, include how you captured the images ethically. Modeling ethical behavior can help others learn.

Most of the time, we’ll never see the results of the choices we make in the field. The bird that stays instead of flushing, the nest that remains undisturbed, the moment that unfolds naturally because we chose patience over proximity.

That quiet impact is at the heart of birding ethics and it’s also what makes birding meaningful. We head out because we’re drawn to something: beauty, curiosity, a sense of connection to the natural world. When we give birds space and put their needs first, we protect that connection.

In doing so, we often gain something better than a closer look or a sharper photo: an encounter that feels authentic. One that wasn’t taken but offered.

To learn more, check out Audubon’s Guide to Ethical Bird Photography and Videography.

Kent Blumberg is an MBA professor, passionate bird photographer and voracious reader. 

Spring in Virginia: Some Birders’ Thoughts

Photo: Blue-winged Teal, Joyce Palm/Audubon Photography Awards

Summer Delehanty

On a particularly overcast and chilly day in March, it’s hard to believe the next few months bring warmth, greenery, and a slew of migratory birds. Yet spring marks the beginning of another migration season in Virginia, with hundreds of thousands of birds making their way back from a tropical winter to their summer breeding grounds in North America. After snow flurries and a couple of cold snaps this past month, here are a couple things local birders are looking forward to in April.

Passing Migrants

Warblers, vibrant and active little birds that pass through every spring, are often a fan favorite, especially when they congregate in colorful mixed-species flocks. Many species, no bigger than the palm of your hand, pass through northern Virginia in droves, often making pit stops on the way to their breeding grounds in Canada and the northern United States. While some species stick around for the summer, many can only be found here for a few weeks of the year.

The Blue Ridge Mountains are a popular spot to look for warblers, but these birds can also be found in many local parks and even backyards, exhausted from their long-distance journey and seeking a place to rest and regain strength. One northern Virginia birder I spoke with is particularly excited for them to return to his yard. “We live in northern Virginia in otherwise boring suburbs, so the first time we saw a Palm Warbler in our backyard was a treat,” he said. Now, his backyard reliably attracts several species in the spring, including his lifer Cape May Warbler. “I just had to know what to listen for, which drove me to look more closely and spot them. There's so much variety!” He added.

Another birdwatcher, Christian McGuirk, described his favorite local warbler spot, Monticello Park in Alexandria. “It’s a small, nondescript park in Alexandria that is jam-packed with warblers and other migrants April [through] May. They come down from the high canopy to bathe in the stream that runs through the park. I don’t know what it is about that park they love so much, but I’m glad it’s there!” He added, “I’m looking forward to introducing some of my young cousins to birdwatching there and taking lots of photographs, hopefully with some lifers in the mix.” 

Spring is also a great time for passing shorebirds. Another local birdwatcher said, “In a couple of weeks, the Blue-winged Teals will be making pit stops around here, ushering in shorebird season!” Like warblers, these birds are returning to their summer breeding grounds, using Virginia as a stop along the way. Birders may spot some of the earliest migrants, like Greater Yellowlegs, when they pass through in late April, followed soon after by the rest of their shorebird friends. 

Returning Summer Residents

Prothonotary Warbler. Photo: Donald Wuori/Audubon Photography Awards

In addition to birds just passing through, keep an eye out for returning breeding residents, or birds that spend their springs and summers in northern Virginia. While these birds also migrate, Virginia is far enough north for them to stay, rather than continuing to New England or Canada. Some notable returners include Baltimore Orioles, Scarlet Tanagers, and Prothonotary Warblers, sporting fiery shades of red, orange, and yellow.

As the trees regain their foliage, many of the birds are easier heard than seen. Spring is when many birds start singing again, whether to establish territory or attract a mate, so prepare for an explosion of new voices this April. One birder commented on the joy of hearing familiar songbirds again: “It is the sounds I am most anticipating—Great-crested Flycatchers, Indigo Buntings, orioles, and pewees calling.” The birds’ musical songs can be heard in parks all across northern Virginia beginning in late April and early May, after a long hiatus through the winter months. “It is like old friends coming back from a long break,” he added.

Baltimore Oriole. Photo: Adrian Azar/Audubon Photography Awards

Birding with Friends

Finally, on the subject of friends, warmer weather often means more people will be spending time outdoors. Birding in the winter requires lots of layers, lots of patience, and a special kind of dedication. Spring brings more comfortable conditions and a wider variety of birds to find, drawing many birdwatchers back into the field. Rachel Barham, a classically-trained singer working in DC and an accomplished birder by ear, is most excited to see familiar faces again. “I can’t believe I’m hearing my introvert self say this, but I am really looking forward to connecting with our amazing birding community in person!” Barham said. “I don’t see everybody as much in the winter, and birding together is so joyful, even on slow days.” 

In the midst of pollen attacks and crushing cherry blossom crowds, it’s easy to overlook the smaller signs of spring. Whether chasing lifers, spending time with other birdwatchers, or simply enjoying the influx of returning singers birds, birders can’t wait to get outside and embrace the new season. 

Summer Delehanty is a product designer with a passion for birdwatching.

Why I Keep Coming Back: Birding and Photography Along Marumsco Creek

Photo: Great Blue Heron, Kent Blumberg

Kent Blumberg

My favorite birding spot is Veterans Memorial Park in Woodbridge. It’s close to my home and offers a variety of habitats: Marumsco Creek along the western edge of Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, cattail marsh, Osprey nests on light poles, and a small strip of forest that often hosts migrant songbirds. 

I keep coming back for the surprises that appear around every bend in the trail. 

There are several easy places to park, depending on how far you want to walk. A gravel lot sits at the corner of Featherstone Road and Bay Street, perfect if you want a longer walk along the soccer fields before heading to the creek. For a shorter visit, park near the skateboard park or at the baseball fields at the end of the road.

The trail along the creek is flat and well-maintained, making it accessible for most visitors. There’s one short section with steps near the recreation center, but otherwise it’s an easy walk.

The trail follows the creek for about a half mile. I usually walk out and back the same way. It’s always surprising how much the scenery and birds change when I turn around.

The edges of the soccer fields can be surprisingly productive. I’ve spotted migrating warblers, Ospreys feeding, and Red-bellied Woodpeckers in mid-molt, along with other surprises.

Over the years, eBird reports include more than 200 species here. Highlights of my visits include Great Blue Herons, Brown Creepers, Eastern Bluebirds, Ospreys, Wood Ducks, and many others. If you’re looking for specific species, pay attention to the tides. Low tide exposes mudflats that attract shorebirds, while high tide brings in more waterfowl.

Osprey with breakfast. Photo: Kent Blumberg.

As a photographer, I’m always looking for interesting bird behavior. One morning I spent 30 minutes watching a Great Blue Heron wrestle with a huge catfish, repositioning it again and again before finally swallowing it headfirst. On another visit, I came across an Osprey enjoying breakfast in a tree next to the soccer fields. Moments like these are why I keep coming back.

The trail runs along the west side of the creek, so morning light can be tricky. I’ve had the best luck standing in the shade of a tree and shooting north or south for better side lighting.

During warmer months, the pickleball courts near the recreation center can get noisy. If you prefer a quieter experience, visit early in the morning or on a weekday.

Restrooms are available at the recreation center and baseball fields during warmer months, along with several portable toilets. Both are typically closed in winter.

If you’re looking for a peaceful place with a surprising variety of birds, consider a visit to Veterans Memorial Park. You never know what might be waiting just around the next bend. 

Kent Blumberg is an MBA professor, passionate bird photographer and voracious reader. 

It's Time for Birdathon!

As spring arrives in northern Virginia, we’re looking forward to Birdathon 2026, our annual event where teams collect pledges from friends and family and then record how many species they can identify during any 24-hour period between April 18 and May 19. In addition to being just plain fun, Birdathon helps NVBA to support outdoor education, citizen science, habitat conservation, and programs to encourage people to plant native plants and protect native wildlife. Birdathon also helps ornithologists better understand spring migration by reporting sightings through eBird, an online database of bird observations run by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

More information is available on our Birdathon 2026 webpage. You can plan a big day route around northern Virginia, or you can even participate from your own backyard. So, gather your birding buddies and register your team today.

Team captains, and anyone curious about joining a birdathon team, are welcome to join us on April 13th for our captain kick off event, and we we will have NVBA sponsored birdathon days as well - information coming soon. 

Back for the Holidays: The White-throated Sparrow

Photo: White-throated Sparrow, Ashrith Kandula/Audubon Photography Awards

Summer Delehanty

“Oh-sweet-Canada-Canada” or “Old-Sam-Peabody-Peabody” – no matter which phrase you associate with the song of the White-throated Sparrow, northern Virginia residents can expect to hear it throughout the coming months as these little birds sing of their return from breeding grounds in Canada. As winter encroaches, White-throated Sparrows fly south into the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, and Southeast of the United States, with some also staying in coastal California. Although they are present year-round in the Northeast, that region’s summer residents head south and are replaced by northern populations.

White-throated Sparrow, Charles Carlow/Audubon Photography Awards

While most birds only sing during the breeding season, relying on chirps and other short calls to communicate the rest of the year, White-throated Sparrows sing year-round, at any time of day. Their whistled song is roughly four seconds long with even notes that can either rise or fall in pitch. Though commonly ending in three syllables, a different two-syllable “dialect” first appeared in British Columbia in 2002. See How a White-Throated Sparrow's New Tune Went Viral. The Rocky Mountains were initially predicted to confine this dialect to the West Coast. However, miraculously, the song had traveled clear to Quebec in less than 20 years, an unusually quick uptake of a new singing pattern for a bird. Biologists used geolocators to track the wintering behavior of different White-throated Sparrows, finding that an overlap in Western and Eastern populations in Texas allowed the song to spread to impressionable baby sparrows of the East. Any doublet-ending singers in Virginia can be traced back to this first variation in British Columbia. 

Though both sexes of White-throated Sparrow sing, some individuals are more likely to sing than others, and it depends on the color of their eyebrow stripe. In fact, other behavioral differences are observed not only between sexes, but between individuals with different color stripes. The classification is subtle: all White-throated Sparrows sport the same general appearance, with the tell-tale white throat, yellow lores, and black-and-pale facial markings. The difference is in the color of the pale stripes on the face. “White-striped” birds have white markings, the same color as their throat, while “tan-striped” birds are noticeably drabber. White-striped males are more aggressive and sing the most, while tan-striped females will rarely sing. Regardless of sex, tan-striped individuals are more likely to engage in parental care of their young. Interestingly, White-throated Sparrow individuals almost always mate with a bird of the opposite color morph. Their courtship patterns are complicated, with both types of males preferring white-striped females, and both types of females preferring tan-striped males. This mismatched pairing allows both stripe types to persist.

White-throated Sparrow, Dawn Phillips/Audubon Photography Awards

With such interesting songs and color variations, it’s no wonder that White-throated Sparrows are a fan-favorite, declared “one of the continent's best-studied and most familiar songbirds” by Cornell’s Birds of the World. Even if you’ve never seen one, they shouldn’t be hard to find. White-throated Sparrows congregate in most woods and brushy areas, including neighborhoods and tree-lined sidewalks. When in flocks, like other sparrows, they will often emit high-pitched “seep” calls, though their bold black-and-white facial patterns are hard to mistake for anything else. These birds aren’t picky with their friends; pay attention to the flocks they congregate in and you may also find a Song Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Carolina Wren or other small passerine. 

Though widespread and abundant, White-throated Sparrows are especially vulnerable to window collisions as they migrate through urban and suburban areas. This species has been dubbed a "super-collider," with Chicago Bird Collision Monitors recording over 4,000 individuals in a 5-year period, nearly two times as many birds as the second most common species. Because they migrate at night and rely on stars to navigate, light pollution in cities can cause them to become disoriented. It’s been suggested that their tendency to call to one another while migrating actually causes more collisions, as one confused White-throated Sparrow can lead others astray. 

Collisions don’t only happen with skyscrapers during peak migration. Studies on college campuses, like the University of Washington, have found collisions around mid-sized buildings year-round, with an uptick during winter months in that region. Reducing unnecessary light pollution at night, keeping shrubbery away from windows and treating large and reflective window facades with vinyl patterns are all effective ways to reduce collisions for birds like the White-throated Sparrow. 

In cold weather and dark evenings, this bird’s cheery song makes it a welcome winter resident in Virginia. Listen for their whistled tune this holiday season. By the time they’re heading back north, the canopy will be alive with spring birdsong again. 

Summer Delehanty is a product designer with a passion for birdwatching.

Fall 2025 Cape May Field Trip Recap

Photo: Cape May Lighthouse, Alan Kotock via Pixabay

McKenzie Ingram

Driving to Cape May. Photo: Ajani Simmons

Saturday morning was anything but cozy, sleepy, fall vibes for our birders chasing the thrill of fall migration. 22 birders, including experienced guides Tom Wood, Herlitz Davis, and Judy Gallagher in tow, awoke before sunrise, loaded into vans, and began our journey from Northern Virginia to Cape May, NJ! Our eyes were set on this far away destination because of its geography. This peninsula is perfectly aligned with the Atlantic Flyway, one of the four “avian superhighways” in North America, making it a world-renowned birding hotspot. 

Our group after arriving in Cape May via the ferry. Photo: Ajani Simmons

After our drive from Virginia, we crossed into New Jersey from Delaware via the Cape May–Lewes Ferry, which offered scenic views and unique birding opportunities along the way. Aboard the ferry, we saw Laughing Gulls, Forster's Terns, a pair of Brown Pelicans, and many other water-loving birds. Many species are in their non-breeding plumage this time of year, making identification trickier but rewarding.

Cape May Lighthouse. Photo: McKenzie Ingram

Once in Cape May, we hurried to the nearby Cape May Point State Park , where we enjoyed a quick lunch before an afternoon of birding fun under the observation of the nearby 157-foot-tall Cape May Lighthouse which has overlooked the entire peninsula since it was first lit in 1859. 

When you hear “fall migrants” one might expect to only see avian migrants such as warblers, the infamously colorful tiny birds that flood the skies on their migrations every spring and fall. However, a plethora of species are also on their way to warmer temperatures or waters this time of year - something we quickly learned during our time at the park. At Cape May Point, Monarch butterflies and dragonflies stop briefly in the park along their migration to gain their strength before crossing the Delaware Bay. 

Monarch butterfly sporting a band. Photo: Jenn Crawford

These Monarch butterflies are part of what researchers call “the monarch super generation.” Unlike their close relatives, these monarchs' reproductive cycles are on hold. They do not complete their life cycle in a mere four weeks, and they are migrating south, the opposite of what their parents or grandparents did. Some fly over fifty miles a day on their way to their winter homes in Mexico! Some guests even had the pleasure of watching a butterfly banding demonstration provided by the Monarch Monitoring Project while visiting the park. 

This monitoring project is hosted under the Cape May Bird Observatory (CMBO) founded in 1976 by NJ Audubon. The CMBO is a beacon for migratory species research such as annual counts, censuses of species, and other environmental education projects. For instance, the park’s nearby Cape May Hawkwatch, is one of many birding attractions that also conducts  conservation-driven studies through the CMBO. We were especially grateful for the expert advice given by the seasonal naturalist hired by NJ Audubon. The naturalist happily answered our questions and aided us in bird identification. On the platform we saw a male Belted Kingfisher, American Kestrels, and a Peregrine Falcon, among others. 

Sea Shells of the World exhibit at the CMBO Nature Center. Photo: McKenzie Ingram

The park’s Nature Center and Museum provided us with more educational opportunities such as seashell exhibits, live reptiles, and other information relevant to visitors. Onsite there were several trails for us to take that gave up-close views of woodland habitats, marshlands, ponds, beaches, dunes, and other habitats critical for migrants. One group even saw a Black Snake consuming a juvenile squirrel on the side of the trail. While the snake was enjoying his meal, the nest of squirrels made warning calls from the pine tree above, making this an especially memorable sighting. 

After leaving Cape May Point State Park, we traveled up to Ocean City, NJ where we enjoyed dinner at the nearby boardwalk full of Saltwater taffy shops and attractions before calling it an early night.  

The next morning we drove back down to the Avalon Seawatch. This site was chosen by NJ Audubon for its location because the northern tip of Avalon extends a mile farther out into the ocean than the coastline to the north. Southbound seabirds that are following the coastline pass very close to this beachfront. According to their webpage, there are an average of almost 800,000 seabirds counted here annually, with around 70% of all the migrant seabirds passing in a mere five week period in the fall.

Avalon Seawatch. Photo: McKenzie Ingram

On day two we were accompanied by another seasonal naturalist and local guides who are experts in identifying both local and migrant species that frequent Avalon. While there, we watched Royal Terns fly above the water while about seventy Sanderlings sat on the jetty, completely exhausted from their latest leg of their migration journey.

Here our guide Judy discussed the importance of coastal marshlands and shared her knowledge on the highly invasive marsh reed known as Phragmites australis, that line the trails and beaches we visited almost the entire journey. 

Our guide Judy Gallagher addressing the group at Avalon Seawatch. Photo: McKenzie Ingram

Our next stop was the 200-acre South Cape May Meadows preserve established by the Nature Conservancy. Along the one-mile trail loop, we saw several fall migrants such as Common Yellowthroats, Gray Catbirds, Ospreys, and more. Along the way our guides shared detailed identification tips while local guides provided historical information on the restoration projects in the region. 

For our final stop, we made our way to the CMBO Northwood Center. Here there is a plethora of field guides from around the world, birding books, spotting scopes, binoculars of all kinds, and other birding goodies available for purchase to fundraise for such programs and projects.  

From here, the group rode back across the Delaware Bay to catch last glimpses of seabirds and ponder the many brilliant sights we left behind in NJ. 

This trip was made possible in part to the Virginia Department of Wildlife and grant funding provided to support new birders enjoying the nature around us. As a result of that program, over half of our group were new birders who have never had a chance to see a migration hotspot. 

At the trip’s conclusion, we spotted over forty species of birds. These species, along with the butterflies, plants, and everything in between, reminded us that even in the midst of life’s biggest journeys, some more challenging than we ever anticipated, there are still many moments of connection, amazement, community, humor, joy, and more to look forward to. And that, to me, is what made our Fall Field Trip to Cape May, NJ truly special.

The 2025 NVBA Cape May crew. Photo: Tom Woods

Birdathon Stories: The Board Birders

The Board Birders -- Dixie Sommers, Libby Lyons and Tom Blackburn --  began our Birdathon at 6:00 AM at Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve. 

The Board Birders pose for a selfie at the start of their Birdathon.

It’s always great to start a Birdathon --- spotting the birds is exciting, and every species you see adds  to your total. We got off to a good start – 45 species in 90 minutes. The highlight was a Lesser Scaup that evidently hadn’t gotten the Migration Memo, which we spotted thanks to Ed Eder, who apparently knows every bird at Dyke Marsh personally. We also found 7 warbler species, Orchard Orioles, Baltimore Orioles and 8 Bald Eagles.  

Our next stop was Jones Point Park, under the Woodrow Wilson Bridge. We went there to find a bird that eluded us last year, the Rock Dove (pigeon). We bird in natural areas, where pigeons are in short supply, and last year we realized as it got dark that we hadn’t seen even one. We made sure that didn’t happen this year. 

The highlights at Four Mile Run were 4 Wood Ducks and the hard-to-find Willow Flycatcher. At the parking lot for Theodore Roosevelt Island, we found Cliff Swallows under the bridge, and by using a scope we spotted Purple Martins at a martin house across the river in Georgetown. Our Birdathon rules  require us to stay in Northern Virginia, but we can count any bird we see, regardless of where it is. We were also pleased to see a Black-crowned Night Heron. Monticello Park lived up to its reputation as a warbler haven: we got 10 warblers there as well as other birds. We made a brief stop at Jackson Abbott Wetlands Refuge, and were rewarded by finding Pine Warblers, which are reliably found in the pines along the water, and Yellow-throated Warblers, which we’ve logged there in other years. 

As the day wore on, it became increasingly difficult to find new species. We arrived at Meadowood Special Recreation Area at 7:00 PM, hoping to find one or two new birds as it got dark. We were delighted to find Chipping Sparrows,  Savannah Sparrows, a Yellow-throated Vireo, a Summer Tanager and Blue Grosbeaks, all new birds for the day. At our final stop at the Elizabeth Hartwell Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge, we logged our last bird of the day, the beautiful song of a Wood Thrush, but we couldn’t see it -- at 7:45 PM it was too dark to see anything.

In our 14 hours of birding (including a 20 minute lunch stop) and nearly 10 miles of walking, we birded 14 locations and found 93 species of birds, including 16 warbler species. We beat last year’s total of 84 birds and went home tired but satisfied.

Thank you very much to everyone who donated to NVBA to support our Birdathon Team!

Huntley Meadows Park Celebrates 50 Years!

Photo: Hooded Merganser, Parameswaran Ponnudurai/Audubon Photography Awards

Huntley Meadows Park, a favorite birdwatching locale for many northern Virginians, is celebrating 50 years. The park’s walking trails and boardwalk provide a good view of waterbirds, shorebirds, and songbirds throughout the year. The boardwalk and woods also attract a steady stream of photographers, many of them winning awards in the annual Audubon Photography Awards competition. The Friends of Huntley Meadows Park invite birders to join them every Monday morning for an informal birdwalk (there’s no leader), which attracts experienced and new birders alike. Make sure you check out the series of interviews with walk participants posted to the Friends’ website. 

Great Blue Heron, Kimberly Sharp/Audubon Photography Awards

So, a little history of this 1,500-acre+ natural reserve in the middle of an area of intense urban development: the parkland has been farmland and a dairy, and an entrepreneur in the 1920s dreamed of making the area’s dairy farms a dirigible base. That didn’t work out, and the federal government acquired the land. In the 1940s the Bureau of Public Roads tested asphalt road surfaces at the site, and in the 1950s the Virginia National Guard’s Battery D, 125th Gun Battalion, used the land to protect the nation’s capital from air assault. Then the U.S. Navy conducted classified radio communication research. 

Fairfax County started exploring possible uses of the property in the 1960s, while local residents used the area to walk, explore and ride motorcycles. There even was a popular racetrack in the southern part of the property. In 1971 the Navy and the Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) signed an agreement allowing citizens to use 400 acres of the property for recreation.

Red-shouldered Hawk and Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Dale Ward/Audubon Photography Awards

In 1971, President Nixon initiated the Legacy of Parks Program that allowed the federal government to transfer surplus land to state and local governments for natural, cultural, and recreational use. Fairfax County acquired the property in 1975. In 1992, FCPA acquired an additional 165 acres of adjacent wetland and upland with the assistance of Ducks Unlimited.

Work to make the park the natural reserve it is today took many years. Even in the 1970s, the meanders of the Potomac River and industrious beavers started to transform a portion of the property from meadow to wetlands. There was open water by 1981. Work in the 1980s removed much of the evidence of past federal use, including buildings and antennae. Grants paid for construction of trails, and the 1980s saw addition of a boardwalk and observation tower. The boardwalk was rebuilt in 1994 and renovated in 2011. The Navy’s access road became the Hike-Bike Trail.

Huntley Meadows Park is hosting a series of educational and volunteer events to celebrate its anniversary. The park’s website has additional information.

Birdwatching in Zimbabwe

Photo: Southern Ground Hornbill, Clay Harrison/Audubon Photography Awards

Nick Appleton

I’m a high school junior and relative newcomer to birdwatching, but I’m already hooked. I started birdwatching during my freshman year but was lucky enough to be living then in Zimbabwe, home to hundreds of species of birds, ranging from the tiniest sunbirds to the flightless guinea fowl and several species of elusive turacos. My father’s retirement returned the family to the DC area, and I was pleased to find NVBA birdwalks and classes that will help me learn the local birds.

The diversity of birds in Zimbabwe is largely due to the country's varied terrain and climate. On the northern boundary of the country lies the Zambezi River, home to Victoria Falls, and a wealth of wildlife, including the African Fish Eagle, Zimbabwe's national bird. Known for its piercing cry, sometimes deemed as the “sound of Africa,” this powerful eagle is an opportunistic hunter usually feeding on fish and scavenging when necessary.

African Fish Eagle, Marian Herz/Audubon Photography Awards

Lilac-breasted Roller, Judy LaNier/Audubon Photography Awards

Equally captivating and ever prettier is the Lilac-breasted Roller. The bird is known for its colorful plumage and as its acrobatic displays. The roller typically eats small bugs and animals and can often be found perched among the tall termite mounds that litter the river beds along the Zambezi. This is one of my personal favorites as they have a very distinct look and a wide variety of colors.

A particularly interesting native of the region is the Southern Ground Hornbill. As the largest member of the hornbill species this massive bird is quite recognizable along the river with its big black frame and distinct red face. A formidable predator, the hornbill feeds upon anything that moves, from bugs to snails, frogs, and small mammals. The Southern Red-Billed Hornbill also lives in this region and is more or less famous because it is the same species of hornbill as Zazu in The Lion King.

Southern Ground Hornbill, Clay Harrison/Audubon Photography Awards

Long-crested Eagle, Loi Nguyen/Audubon Photography Awards

The Chimanimani National Park in the mountainous region in the east of the country is home to two of my favorite Zimbabwean birds, the Long-crested Eagle and the Half-collared Kingfisher. The Long-crested Eagle, which is relatively small for an eagle, has a distinctive crest. The bird is widely distributed. I saw them in Chimanimani, but we even had a family of Long-crested Eagles living in our backyard in Harare. Some African kingfishers are among the tiniest birds in the country, but like the Lilac-breasted Roller, many species are famous for their vibrant colors. My personal favorite, the Half-collared Kingfisher, is bright cobalt blue on its back, with a buffy undercarriage.

I look forward to learning more about northern Virginia’s resident and migrating birdlife.

Bird Flu: An Update for Birdwatchers

Photo: Northern Shovelers, Steve Jessmore/Audubon Phtography Awards

Sarah Wilton

Avian influenza has been around for centuries in many strains, but the strain making the news as bird flu is a “highly pathogenic avian influenza” caused by the H5N1 virus. It’s being found in both wild birds and domestic fowl and, less commonly, in mammals, even humans. In the U.S., bird flu is being monitored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). USDA monitors incidence of the disease in domestic birds, operating a national hotline (866-536-7593). With some other agencies USDA also is surveilling incidence in waterfowl. See Implementation Plan for Avian Influenza Surveillance in Waterfowl.

The virus can infect poultry, including chickens, turkeys, pheasants, quail, ducks, geese, and guinea fowl in commercial and backyard flocks. Since the current strain of bird flu was identified in 2022, afflicted birds have been identified in 51 states, including cases on Virginia’s eastern shore as recently as January 2025. No cases of infected livestock (including cattle, swine and alpaca) have been reported in Virginia; however, nearby North Carolina had one confirmed case in 2024. Other mammals that are susceptible to infection with bird flu include rodents, racoons and cats. See Detections of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Mammals, which reports 126 cases in domestic cats since May 2022.

After living through the pandemic, people have cause to be concerned and ask questions about risks to humans, particularly for people who come in contact with birds and livestock. To date the CDC, working with state and public health departments, has reported 70 confirmed and probable human bird flu cases and one fatality since 2024, but it rates the risk of transmission to humans as low. It reports no confirmed case in Virginia and only one probable case in the Delmarva Peninsula. See H5 Bird Flu: Current Situation. No person-to-person has been diagnosed; however, influenza viruses mutate constantly, so continued monitoring is essential.

Of course, we also have concerns as birdwatchers and citizens worried about the health of wild bird populations in a world where they face serious challenges from climate change, habitat loss, and other threats. Peak migration in our area begins in April, and detections are higher within the wild bird populations in the fall and spring, because the birds spread the virus as they migrate to and from their breeding grounds. The most common victims of the virus are waterfowl, shorebirds, seabirds and raptors that may feed on carcasses of diseased birds. USDA reports 132 wild bird cases in Virginia since January 2022; six of those cases were recorded since December 2024. Given the time lag between collection and confirmation and the problems associated with wild bird sample collection, the figures are likely an understatement of the actual number of cases. 

So, what do we need to know and do as we head outdoors to observe wildlife and participate in conservation projects, or as we live and participate in other community activities?

• If you find a dead wild bird, either on your property or elsewhere, report it to your state wildlife agency or health department. In Virginia, that is the Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR). DWR particularly asks you to report by phone (855-571-9003) or email (wildlifehealth@dwr.virginia.gov) (i) five or more dead vultures, waterfowl, shorebirds, or seabirds in the same area within five days; (ii) sick or dead eagles, hawks, owls, or turkeys, excluding carcasses found on the road, or (iii) ten or more dead wild birds of any species in the same area within five days.

• If you have backyard chickens, don’t put up feeders for wild birds. Although Cornell Lab's All About Birds reports low risk to songbirds from the bird flu, it has been detected in a number of species, making it prudent to avoid encouraging poultry and wild birds to mix. Cornell recommends not putting up feeders and making sure that poultry food and water are not accessible to wild birds. Its website also includes recommendations for wildlife rehabilitators and people who maintain wild bird nest boxes. Unusual poultry illness or death should be reported in Virginia to the State Veterinarian’s Office (804) 692-0601 or at vastatevet@vdacs.virginia.gov or to USDA’s toll-free number at (866) 536-7593.

• If you dispose of a dead wild bird, make sure you use disposable gloves and disinfect your shoes and clothing afterwards. You can find guidance from the USDA flyer: Found a Dead Wild Bird? Here's What to Do Next.

• What about cats? If you have a cat, by all means keep it indoors. We have advised you to keep your cats indoors for years in order to protect wild birds from predation. Now you have even more reason to keep your cat indoors to protect it from possible bird flu infection. See the American Veterinary Medical Association article, Avian influenza A (H5N1) in cats, for recommendations for preventing infection, along with a list of symptoms and steps to take in the case of suspected infection.

Get Ready for Birdathon 2025

Photo: Birders, Camila Cerea

As spring arrives in northern Virginia, we’re looking forward to Birdathon 2025, our annual event where teams collect pledges from friends and family and then record how many species they can identify during any 24-hour period between April 19 and May 18. In addition to being just plain fun, Birdathon helps NVBA to support outdoor education, citizen science, habitat conservation, and programs to encourage people to plant native plants and protect native wildlife. Birdathon also helps ornithologists better understand spring migration by reporting sightings through eBird, an online database of bird observations run by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

More information is available on our Birdathon 2025 webpage. You can plan a big day route around northern Virginia, or you can even participate from your own backyard. So, gather your birding buddies and register your team today. If you have already registered a team, or just want more information on Birdathon, make sure you join us on Sunday, March 23 from 2:30 - 4:30 PM for our Alliance Afternoon. Matt Felperin will be giving us a warbler bootcamp to get us all ready for Birdathon. You also can watch a free webinar about competitive birding and Birdathon with ornithologist Greg Butcher. If you’re planning to gather your team in your backyard, join us March 20 for a free webinar on backyard bird identification.

Birdathon 2024

Photo: Birders, Laura McDonald

We’ll have a full report on the results of this year’s Birdathon at our June 2 Audubon Afternoon and Annual Meeting. The prize for the most contributions is based on the funds received at our office by May 31, but you can still submit donations now. Your donations recognize the hard work of our 40 Birdathon participants, who identified at least 126 species in our northern Virginia service area. Here’s a link to their team pages. No matter when your donation reaches our office, it goes to good causes: supporting a teacher at Hog Island, citizen science and habitat conservation projects, and our efforts to promote native plants to help the birds.

South Arlington’s Ravens

Photo: Common Raven, Wendy Davis/Audubon Photography Awards

South Arlington birders were thrilled last year when Common Ravens, which had been haunting the Long Branch Nature Center area, built a nest on a Route 50 abutment where the roadway crosses the W&OD Trail. Even better, they raised two chicks successfully. See last year’s story. 

So, they were doubly pleased when the Ravens returned this year to the same nest. They refurbished it a little, adding Red Fox fur from a nearby carcass, and raised four chicks. It’s a pretty big nest but looked awfully small when it held four young birds on the verge of fledging, particularly when one of the adults returned with food.

Adult Raven and four demanding youngsters, David Howell

Although some birders were surprised to see the Ravens move into such an urbanized area, Cornell’s All About Birds reports that Ravens are doing well in many urban environments. They are omnivores, and can take advantage of the food careless humans leave behind. They have certainly succeeded so far in South Arlington. Cornell reports that clutch size for Common Ravens is 3-7 eggs, so we’ll have to wait to see whether the pair expands its family further.

It’s time to get ready for Birdathon 2024!

Photo: Camila Cerea, Audubon

Birdathon, ASNV’s annual birding competition and fundraiser, is coming soon. Birdathon teams record how many species they can identify during any 24-hour period between April 20 and May 19. They line up sponsors who make pledges to support their effort, just as in a walk-a-thon. 

All birding levels are welcome. Participants can bird alone or form teams of up to five. All team members donate and/or secure pledges. Read more about how this fun and friendly event works here.

We’ll tell you more if you join us on Saturday, April 6 from 2:00 - 3:30 PM for our ASNV Spring Social. See an Eastern Screech Owl up close and personal, enjoy light refreshments and mingle with your competition. You might even find another person to add to your team! 

A Birdathon Story of Endurance: The Board Birders

Tom Blackburn

Our 2023 Birdathon was a big success. Our team included Libby Lyons, ASNV President; Gerry Abbott and me, both ASNV Board members; and Dixie Sommers, a former Board member of ASNV and current Board member of the Virginia Society for Ornithology. Dixie meticulously planned our itinerary, and Gerry drove. 

In 14 hours of birding we found 94 species – a record for our team, which has participated in ASNV’s Birdathon for four years. We began our day at Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve at 6 AM, where we started off strong with 40 species. We were pleased to see Tree, Barn, and Northern Rough-winged Swallows, and we found both the Barred Owl and the Wild Turkey that have been seen there recently. We also found the first of many Great crested Flycatchers, whose distinctive “breep-breep” calls greeted us at nearly every birding site.

Baltimore Oriole, Deborah Bifulco/Audubon Photography Awards

We next headed to Monticello Park, a renowned spot for warblers. This site was a little disappointing; we found only 7 warbler species, and couldn’t find the Louisiana Waterthrush, Northern Waterthrush, or Ovenbird, which are sighted there fairly frequently. The lack of warblers made me doubtful that we would be able to reach my ambitious target of finding 100 species. A quick 30-minute stop at Four Mile Run was productive, as we found a beautiful male Wood Duck, Least and Spotted Sandpipers, a Killdeer; and a gorgeous Baltimore Oriole perched for us in the bright sun. 

We next birded Huntley Meadows Park, whose wide variety of species makes it a mandatory stop. The highlight was seeing the resident Hooded Merganser with its 6 young. We stopped there for lunch, with 65 species under our belts in the first 6 hours. However, because we’d already knocked off most of the common species, we knew it would get harder as we went along.

Our next stop was the Fairfax County Landfill. To people who don’t birdwatch, landfills seem an odd place to find birds. But this landfill has one of the largest areas of undisturbed grassland in the area, and we included it in the hope of finding grassland birds. Our efforts were rewarded, as almost immediately we heard the buzzing call of a Grasshopper Sparrow, got a brief glimpse of an American Kestrel, and heard an Eastern Meadowlark. A few minutes later we were astonished to find a huge flock of at least 100 Bobolinks. All four species are in decline in our area due to the loss of extensive grassland habitat. We also found both the Turkey Vulture and the Black Vulture. Although both birds are common, it was a relief to see them. The Black Vulture was our nemesis in bird last year’s Birdathon – it was the last species we saw that day.

Bobolink, Caroline Samson/Audubon Photography Awards

We were all getting a little tired at this point, but we headed to Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, where we found our two target birds, the Yellow-breasted Chat and the Prairie Warbler, as well as a few others. Dixie suggested that we next try the road into Mason Neck State Park where she had heard Wood Thrushes. Sure enough, we hadn’t even stopped the car when we heard their beautiful flute-like songs. As an extra bonus, we also heard an Ovenbird’s “Tea-cher, tea-cher, tea-cher” and a Scarlet Tanager – two birds we hadn’t found yet. A stop at Meadowood Recreation Area resulted in several birds, but only one new one – a Chipping Sparrow. 

Scarlet Tanager, Charles Vickers/Audubon Photography Awards

It was getting late, but we were still trying to increase our total for the day. We headed to Burke Lake Park, where we knew would find Purple Martins at the collection of Martin houses. At that point, it was 7:30 and we debated calling it a day. Instead, we drove another 20 minutes to get a “sure thing” bird – Cliff Swallows nesting under a bridge at Bull Run Marina. There was not much light left, and the birds’ colors were fading to black, but we found 8 of them flying in and out of their nests. 

We headed back to Dyke Marsh to get our cars. Earlier in the day we had talked about walking a trail in the dark in hopes of hearing a Great Horned Owl there. But after 14 hours of birding, no one seemed all that interested in the possibility of adding another species to the 94 we had found that day. We headed home, tired but happy with our day. Perhaps we’ll find 100 species next year.

Learn more about this year’s Birdathon here. 

ASNV’s Trip to Cape May, New Jersey

Photo: Sanderling, Ron Grimes

Andreana Lin

On the weekend of October 7-8, 24 birders traveled with ASNV to Cape May, New Jersey, a prime spot for birders, for an adventure witnessing fall migration. Board member and George Mason University Professor Tom Wood, Adult Education Committee member Larry Meade, and Northern Virginia Community College Professor Herlitz Davis led the trip. 

Cape May is one of the best places in North America to witness fall migration. It is a world-renowned destination, and birders flock here to witness a natural history phenomenon of ancient origin. The first half of October is a good time to see a variety of species accumulate on the southern end of this New Jersey coastal peninsula, preparing to cross the Delaware Bay on their journey south. Hawks, passerines, shorebirds, and waterfowl all make the journey, and, under the right weather conditions, can be seen in abundance. 

ASNV birders watching migrating birds from the hawkwatch platform, Andreana Lin. 

Our group traveled together in vans from Fairfax to the ferry terminal in Lewes, Delaware, where the adventure began. We were able to sharpen our gull identification skills from the wharf and on the ferry as we crossed the Delaware Bay to Cape May. Upon landing in Cape May, we drove a short way to the Cape May Hawkwatch. The watch platform was full of birders, and together we observed Peregrine Falcons, Merlins, Sharp-shinned and Cooper’s Hawks, Bald Eagles, American Kestrels, White Ibises, and much, much more streaming south. We also walked the local trails and observed huge flocks of staging Tree Swallows fueling up on bayberries for their strenuous flight ahead. As happens most years, there was a displaced Eurasian Wigeon among a mixed group of waterfowl. 

A tagged monarch butterfly ready for release, Scott Ableman

A public demonstration at the hawkwatch pavilion gave us the chance to observe New Jersey Audubon releasing tagged monarch butterflies as part of its Monarch Monitoring Project.

At the end of this successful day of observing nature at its best, we made a stop at the Cape May Bird Observatory Northwood Center, a must-stop-shop for birders and wildlife lovers alike with a wide variety of scopes, binocular accessories, bird feeders, pollinator hotels, field wear, and nature-themed books.        

Inside the Northwood Center, Tom Wood

Bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, the Avalon Seawatch is famous for its spectacular migratory bird count, averaging nearly 800,000 seabirds each year. Photo: Andreana Lin

Day 2 of the trip brought us to the Avalon Seawatch bright and early in the morning. We walked around the beach to the official Seawatch observatory, spotting Laughing Gulls, Caspian Terns, Brown Pelicans, Double-crested Cormorants, a Parasitic Jaegar, Forster’s Terns, Green-winged Teal, and Semipalmated Sandpipers. Conspicuously late this year, we did not see any Surf or Black Scoters that are often counted in the thousands per day mid-October. 

Dolphin calf swimming with its mother. Photo: Austin & Haocong Ren.

The Avalon Seawatch also is a good location for watching dolphins, and we were treated to the sight of a bottlenose dolphin with her calf.

Our morning on the beach passed quickly, and soon it was time to leave. We brushed the sand off our boots and headed back to Cape May. Back at the hawkwatch, we saw more Sharp-shinned and Cooper's Hawks and observed raptor banding at the pavilion. 

The Nature Conservancy’s pollinator garden, Andreana Lin

Our final stop before returning home was at South Cape May Meadows. This was a special stop because of the tremendous conservation value of the land The Nature Conservancy has preserved. Its conservation projects there include stopover banding for passerines in the fall. This banding station provides data demonstrating the importance of intact natural habitat where birds can rest and refuel during migration. Skilled banders gave us a close look as they gently released Common Yellowthroats and a female Indigo Bunting caught toward the end of the day’s banding session.

After the songbird banding demonstration, we explored one of the meadow’s trails, adding a few more species to the record for our trip. You can see the complete list of sightings for the trip here.

Judy Gallagher, ASNV board member and regular contributor to the Potomac Flier, said it best: “The joy you get from discovering something new—that's the best part about trips like this.”

ASNV Cape May trip participants

eBird or Birda, or Both?

Photo: James Breeden/Audubon

Deidra Bryant

Most American birdwatchers are familiar with eBird and Merlin, products developed and managed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and launched in 2002 and 2021, respectively. But have you heard of Birda? It was developed in 2013 by a couple as a social media website and mobile application for sharing wildlife sightings in southern Africa, transitioned into a birdwatching community in 2018, and was launched as Birda in Europe and the US in 2022. It’s worth a look, even for dedicated eBird and Merlin users.

How does Birda work? Think of Facebook and Instagram, but for birders. Once you have downloaded the application you can create a profile, which requires only your name (or an alias), your location, and a species region. Then you are ready to use Birda to record and share your sightings with a selected group of friends or more globally. If you want to take a hike or walk and spot birds and record as you go, you tap the + symbol at the bottom of your screen and select “Birding Session.” If you simply want to record a one-off sighting, select “Add Sighting.” In that way, Birda is much like eBird.

In Birda’s “Birding Session” feature, simply tap “log bird,” and it will ask you what you saw. It will keep doing that until you choose to end your session. Once you are finished with your walk, you can post your experience on the app for friends and followers to see. You also can adjust privacy settings by tapping the “Profile” icon at the bottom of the screen. Birda uses a timer and GPS, so your post will display the date and time your session took place from start to finish along with bird species seen and number of sightings. You’ll be able to tag people, post notes, add photos, and even create titles for your session.

The “Add Sighting” option will ask you where you were, what you saw, and when you saw it. If you’re not sure what you saw, you can upload a picture and the Birda community will help you with identification if you choose to allow others to see your sighting. You also can help others ID birds they aren’t sure about on the “Unidentified” section of the “Feed” page. eBird users might turn to Merlin or iNaturalist for help with identification.

In Birda you can follow people overseas and see what birds they saw and where, and leave comments. You also can follow and see what your neighbors saw in your local area. That way you can try your luck spotting that same bird near you. You can create life lists and use the mapping location feature to see what birds have been recorded lately in an area. Birda also includes links to other information sources, displaying information on the natural history of the birds if you tap on the bird’s image. A species guide also is available in the “Discover” section seen at the bottom of the screen on the app.

Even if you are a committed eBird user, it’s worth your time to download and test drive Birda. Its Facebook-like features may attract more casual birders to participation in citizen science. And, although the application was not developed by a venerable institution like Cornell, it has been endorsed as a data publisher by the National Biodiversity Network, which has allowed it to contribute to the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, an international network and data infrastructure used to provide anyone and everyone open access to all types of information about life on earth. So, like eBird, the application can help scientists understand more about birds and climate change

So, give it a try! More information about Birda and its founders is available in a 2022 article by Matt Mendenhall in Birdwatching.

Arlington’s Nesting Ravens

Photo: Common Raven, David Howell

Steve Young

This spring Arlington residents who have not spent enough time further away to observe the breeding and nesting cycle of the Common Raven had a rare local treat. A pair of ravens built a nest in the Glencarlyn Park area. They appear to have raised two chicks successfully. I have enjoyed following their activities, and David Howell (whose photos appear in this article) documented the nesting process.

Until recently, Common Ravens were a rare sight in Arlington, and nesting was not confirmed. After being reduced to mountain populations, ravens began reappearing in northern Virginia in the last few years. There also have been reports of them nesting in the DC Metro area.

In Spring 2022, birders and staff at Glencarlyn Park’s Long Branch Nature Center started seeing and hearing a pair of Common Ravens frequently. They were clocked at the Nature Center and Sparrow Pond, and they showed particular interest in the Route 50/Arlington Blvd. bridge over Four Mile Run. But no one reported seeing a nest. In late winter 2022-2023, however, the ravens reappeared at the same place.

Around January 2023, we saw and heard the ravens flying over the Glencarlyn area. Frequently American Crows mobbed them aggressively. But I observed an interesting behavior evolve. I saw ravens “pop up,” make a short flight, vocalize, and then disappear into a perch before the crows could arrive. The ravens appeared to be playing mind games with the crows, and, perhaps due to raven craftiness and crow frustration, mobbing ended. I later saw a crow and raven flying together in close formation as if they were pals.

Incubating the eggs, David Howell

In February, several people observed the ravens building a nest on a bridge abutment. By mid-February a raven was on the nest, apparently brooding eggs! The female takes on this job, and the male brings her food. When walkers stopped near the bridge to observe the nest, one of the ravens, probably the protective male of the pair, often flew from one nearby tree to another, calling, likely trying to draw interest away from the nest.

Distracting viewers, David Howell

At least one of the chicks hatched around March 22, and was being fed as early as March 23. Later observations and photos showed two nestlings being fed, although the time of the second hatch is uncertain. One nestling was quite a bit larger than the other. By late April, it looked as if only one bird remained in the nest, and then there were none. Those of us who had been watching the nest exchanged anxious emails, concerned that one or both of the chicks had not survived.

Younger chick about to fledge, David Howell

But, we were wrong! The chicks’ departures from the nest had been stealthy, and no one reported seeing or hearing them on the ground. In May, we’ve seen and heard at least one and almost certainly both chicks. They’ve been perching in nearby tall trees, begging for food. One of the juveniles is a loud and persistent beggar, while the other seems content to keep a quieter profile. We’ve also seen a few awkward flights from treetop to treetop. Whether juveniles are preyed on by other birds, like American Crows, is always a concern. But, harking back to behavior I saw earlier, it may be that the crows and ravens have reached a modus vivendi, because in late May I saw a juvenile calling, perched right next to a crow, which was not harassing it.

Raven parents feed their young by regurgitating food into their mouths, and they continue to feed them for weeks after they fledge until the juveniles begin to forage on their own. As of May 20, we were still hearing lots of begging. We all have our fingers crossed that both juveniles survive and that the parents return to nest again in Arlington.

Calling All Birders: It's Time to Get Ready for Birdathon 2023!

Photo: Birders, Laura McDonald

How does it work? Like a walk-a-thon, Birdathon participants collect pledges from friends and family via our website. Then participants record how many species they can identify during any 24-hour period between April 15 and May 21. The more species they identify, the more funds they raise! 

Last year’s winning team saw 123 species in 24 hours! Wow! Can you beat it? 

Birdathon helps ASNV continue to support outdoor education, citizen science and habitat conservation, and encourages people to plant native plants and foster native wildlife. Birdathon also helps ornithologists better understand spring migration by reporting sightings through eBird, an online database of bird observations run by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

All birding levels are welcome. Participants can bird alone or form teams of up to five. All team members donate and/or secure pledges. Participants solicit general donations or ask for pledges based on the number of species or the number of individual birds sighted. Sightings and donations are due no later than June 2, 2022. Report your Birdathon sightings on eBird and email your list to info@audubonva.org.

Ready to get started? Register your team here and check out our Birdathon rules . Now go out and have a great day birding! 

All participants and their supporters are invited to join us at our Audubon Afternoon in June for our Annual Meeting, where we’ll announce the winners of the “Most Species Counted,” “Most Money Raised” and “Youth Birder” competitions. Plus our new award categories for this year - "Most Species Counted by a New Team," "Widest Age Range," and "Backyard Bounty."