NVBA NEWS BLOG
Welcome to the blog for Northern Virginia Bird Alliance, a wealth of resources about northern Virginia birds, wildlife, habitat conservation and restoration, native plants, wildlife-friendly gardening, advocacy and more.
Conservation Counts
Join Jim Waggener in his ongoing natural resource surveys at two of Northern Virginia's best birding spots.
Photo: Common Buckeye, Rusty Moran
Join Jim Waggener in his ongoing natural resource surveys at two of Northern Virginia's best birding spots. Surveys alternate between Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge and Meadowood Special Recreation Management Area on Mason Neck. From April through October, surveys are conducted primarily for butterflies and dragonflies at those two locations and two others—Occoquan Regional Park and Julie J. Metz Memorial Wetlands Preserve. Participation is limited. Email us to make a reservation here. More information is available here.
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.