NVBA NEWS BLOG
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A Year in Photos from Wildlife Surveys
Even though COVID disrupted regular wildlife surveys this year, individual survey members still took to the field. Here’s a stunning set of photographs that represents a small sample of what they saw in 2020.
By Judy Gallagher
In normal years, Jim Waggener leads regularly scheduled general Wildlife and Butterfly/Dragonfly surveys. Because of COVID, official surveys are not being conducted. However, individual survey members have still been viewing wildlife, collecting data and taking pictures. Here is a sample of what they saw in 2020.
Click on any image for a larger view.
Pictures in this article are protected by copyright. If you'd like to use an image, please contact ASNV and we’ll connect you with the photographer for permission.
January
This Leconte's Sparrow was photographed by Ed Eder at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge on the regularly scheduled wildlife survey in January.
February
Su Kim's picture of Ring-necked Ducks at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge was taken in February, just prior to the cancellation of the rest of the year's surveys.
March
March's picture is an Eastern Fence Lizard, resplendent in breeding colors, seen at Meadowood by Gary Myers.
April
The Garter Snake was seen in intimate detail by Judy Gallagher at Meadowood in April.
May
Rusty Moran captured this Golden-backed Snipe Fly at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge in May.
June
June's picture is of Jim Waggener's favorite damselfly, the Ebony Jewelwing, taken by Michael Ready at Occoquan Regional Park.
July
Ana Arguelles provided this ethereal picture Eastern Tailed-blue butterflies on Short-toothed Mountain Mint at Meadowood's Pollinator Garden in July.
August
In August Margaret Fisher contributed a Least Skipper at Julie Metz Wetlands.
September
Ken Larson took an action shot of Blue Dashers at Meadowood in September.
October
October's picture is a fabulous dew-covered Wandering Glider at Mason Neck West, taken by Fred Siskind.
November
Gary Myers took this amazing close-up of a Carolina Wren at Veteran's Park in November.
December
We round out the year with Bob Blakney's excellent Hooded Merganser picture from Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge.
Want to get involved? Learn more about Butterfly and Dragonfly Surveys and Natural Resource Surveys that normally take place throughout the year.
Citizen Science at ASNV
On September 22, ASNV awarded James (Jim) Waggener National Audubon Society’s prestigious Great Egret Award in recognition of his outstanding citizen science contribution. Jim is only the second person from ASNV to receive this award. He is a naturalist, who began the Occoquan Monitoring Program 30 years ago after retiring from foreign service.
Photo: Great Egret, Gregory Seitz, Audubon Photography Awards
By Lisa Mackem
On September 22, ASNV awarded James (Jim) Waggener National Audubon Society’s prestigious Great Egret Award in recognition of his outstanding citizen science contribution. Jim is only the second person from ASNV to receive this award. He is a naturalist, who began the Occoquan Monitoring Program 30 years ago after retiring from foreign service. His survey draws volunteers from across the region who help document the presence and abundance of birds, butterflies, dragonflies, and first bloom dates of plants in the Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Julie Metz Memorial - Neabsco Creek Wetlands Preserve, and Meadowood Special Recreation Management Area.
Jim Waggener and ASNV President Tom Blackburn, photo by Laura McDonald
The September 22 Audubon Afternoon focused on citizen science. Speakers, Leslie Ries and Elise Larsen, from the Georgetown University Ries Laboratory of Butterfly Informatics, summarized the history of citizen science. Leslie started with Frank Chapman, who began Christmas bird counts in 1900. In those early days, Chapman had to promote the idea of counting birds rather than shooting them. In the 1950’s, Fred Urquhart became interested in monarch migration and engaged the public to tag them. Chip Taylor took over this program in 1992. Both speakers cited Ernie Pollard, who developed a method for surveying butterflies in England in the 1970’s. His surveys accounted for fluctuating abundances throughout the season and for weather sensitivity. Pollard developed the most common survey protocol for butterflies and Pollard Walks and counts continue today.
Jim Waggener has also developed survey protocols. His Occoquan Monitoring Program was one of the first general butterfly monitoring programs, and anticipated a trend toward multi-species surveys. Leslie Ries learned about Jim’s surveys through Laura McDonald, ASNV Program Manager, and has begun to digitize the surveys’ data.
Occoquan data has been added to eBird, Cornell Ornithology Lab’s online data base for bird observations. Leslie Ries noted promising trends in suburbs – when people planted native plants and stopped using pesticides they saw butterflies return.
Jim Waggener credited digitization, application of INaturalist, the daily work of volunteers in the field, and resources of the Northern Virginia Audubon Society for his survey’s success.
Occoquan Monitoring Program, the Christmas Bird Count, Birdathon, and other wildlife counts continue regularly and always need volunteers.