The Importance of Wetlands

Photo: Mason Neck Park wetlands, Stephen Tzikas

Stephen Tzikas

My first exposure to wetlands was when I was a child in the 1960s. I frequently saw the inlet of the Raritan River filled with thousands of cattails while sitting in the backseat as my parents drove over the Victory Bridge connecting Perth Amboy and South Amboy, NJ. Much of those wetlands and floodplain around the river contained clay deposits that fueled a large terracotta industry in the 19th and 20th centuries. Some of the most interesting geological finds of these clay areas included gem grade amber with prehistoric insect inclusions. 

Later in life, as an engineer, I had some peripheral experiences with wetlands in engineering reviews of Federal construction. That took me to unique environments and terrains such as extreme cold regions, hot deserts, dams, and wetlands. But wetlands also caught my interest because of environmental concerns, which made up a significant portion of my early career.  Wetlands are protected and regulated. Many are found here in Fairfax County and local trails will bring you to them and the unique birds found within their boundaries. But before we note wetland birds, something should be said about the history behind protecting wetlands.

Wetland ecosystems protect and improve water quality, offer habitats, provide flood protection and erosion control, maintain surface water flow during dry periods, and present opportunities for recreation and aesthetic appreciation. By the way, those cattails I used to see so frequently are an iconic wetland plant found worldwide in a variety of aquatic ecosystems such as marshes, ponds, lakes, and riparian areas.  

Wetlands were considered an obstacle to development. They were often drained for farm land and construction. In the early 20th century, largely due to declining populations of ducks and geese, and the political pressure exerted by hunters, the federal government started protecting habitats for birds. The 1977 Clean Water Act was a big step forward for wetland protection. It protected waterways that resulted in protecting the wetlands that fed into them. Also in 1977, executive orders ended federal assistance for the draining and filling of wetlands.  A federal policy of “no net loss” of wetlands became the norm.  

Munsell soil test kit, Stephen Tzikas

Rutgers University has a regularly recurring one-day continuing education course at their wetlands location: the Environmental Education Center at Lord Sterling Park in Basking Ridge. The Introduction to Wetland Identification course teaches the use of Munsell soil test kits for wetlands. Although an online version of the course exists, the in-person version is better for the practical experience it delivers. Wetland soils are often grey (reduced) or dark brown to black. Use of the Munsell color system assures consistent classification. The course also makes use of dichotomous keys to identify wetland plants.

The eBird website posts bird sightings at wetlands throughout Fairfax County. Recently, as part of the Fall 2021 Fairfax Master Naturalist class, our field trip to Huntley Meadows wetlands in Alexandria recorded birds along a trail that was just under 2 miles. Birds spotted included: Canada Geese, Mallards, yellowlegs, herons, vultures, eagles, Belted Kingfishers, Northern Flickers, European Starlings, Red-winged Blackbirds, Northern Rough-winged Swallows, Ruby-crowned Kinglets and several types of hawks, woodpeckers, and sparrows. More common birds included Blue Jays, Carolina Chickadees, American Robins, Eastern Bluebirds, Carolina Wrens, crows, Tufted Titmice, and Northern Cardinals. In fact, Fairfax County Parks have documented more than 200 bird species in Huntley Meadows Park.

Huntley Meadows Wetlands, Stephen Tzikas

On another Master Naturalist field trip, we explored a different wetland at Elizabeth Hartwell Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge. While we didn’t keep count of birds on this trip, it is known to have many types of birds throughout the year including Tundra Swans, Black Ducks, Northern Pintails, Mallards, and many others. High tide is the best time to go because the birds are closer to the shore and will be feeding more actively. 

Mason Neck Wetlands, Stephen Tzakis

January 2021

Photo: Camilla Cerea

Tom Blackburn

As the holiday season draws to a close, an annual holiday tradition also is coming to a close – the National Audubon Society’s Christmas Bird Count (CBC). Since 1900, when 27 birders conducted 25 surveys and tallied 96 species, the CBC has grown in 2019 to 81,601 people who participated in surveys in 2646 count circles and tallied 672 species and nearly 43 million birds. You can learn more about the history of the CBC and the bird population statistics here.

ASNV has sponsored the Manassas-Bull Run CBC for 37 years. Our survey covers a 15 mile diameter circle around Centreville, VA.  In 2019 137 birders participated in our chapter’s CBC, more than all but 46 of the 2646 CBCs. We counted 86 species and more than 20,000 birds. Six other CBCs include portions of the ASNV service territory: Washington DC, Seneca, Fort Belvoir, Central Loudoun, Nokesville and Brooke. That gives our members a nearly-unparalleled opportunity to participate in the annual bird counts. Some of ASNV members participate in as many as four CBCs each year. 

ASNV has a long tradition of community science. In addition to the CBC, we participate in the Winter Waterfowl Count and the Great Backyard Bird Count each February, the World Migratory Bird Count in May and the Northern Virginia Bird Survey in June.  ASNV also conducts weekly butterfly and dragonfly surveys each April through October within the 15-mile diameter count circle around Occoquan National Wildlife Refuge established by the North American Butterfly Association (NABA); and year-round natural resource surveys in the same area.   

The CBC and other community scientist-driven surveys are vitally important in gathering knowledge about the status and health of wildlife. The data compiled through these surveys and through the 100 million bird sightings reported each year through the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s eBird program have helped professional ornithologists and other biologists to fully understand changes in populations of wildlife and recommend actions to protect vulnerable species. The data compiled by volunteer birders have, among other things, helped to document the loss of nearly three billion birds in North America since 1970.   

If you would like to join the army of community scientists who are working to document wildlife populations in Northern Virginia, look for information about upcoming surveys on the “Get Outside” menu on our website. Some of our surveys have been curtailed or restricted to previous participants due the pandemic, but we’ll restart them as soon as the public health situation improves.  

December 2020

Photo: Cedar Waxwings, Donald Metzner/Great Backyard Bird Count

Tom Blackburn

By now you should have received a letter or an email asking you to support ASNV with a donation during our Annual Appeal. If you’ve already responded, thank you! For those of you who haven’t, please make a generous contribution to continue protecting birds and the environment.

ASNV increased its advocacy efforts in the past year, working to protect bird habitat throughout Virginia. We also opposed the spraying of insecticides that kill insects essential for young birds; advocated for bird-safe building design; and supported clean energy legislation in Virginia.  

Our education programs went online in the spring, resulting in a significant increase in the number and diversity of people who attended our classes. We presented more than 50 hours of classes this year, many of them free. We also made grants to support student conservation-oriented projects in local area schools. We believe that encouraging students to gain knowledge and enthusiasm for nature is essential to helping them become active stewards of our environment.  

Our citizen science programs improved knowledge of bird and insect populations, helping researchers understand how to protect our changing environment. With the help of hundreds of volunteers, we conducted a Christmas Bird Count, a Winter Waterfowl Count, an International Migratory Bird Count and regular surveys of butterflies and dragonflies.  

Our Audubon at Home program provided advice to homeowners and property managers on how to make habitat improvements that attract wildlife. Volunteer AAH Ambassadors visited over 100 properties and certified 1,217 acres as Wildlife Sanctuaries. We also helped present a conference on native plants to landscape professionals; co-hosted a webinar on native plants with our partner, Green Muslims and expanded the Audubon at Home program into parts of Rappahannock and Fauquier Counties.  

Most of our efforts are fueled by donations and volunteer hours from individuals. You can read more about the work we did together in fiscal 2020 in our Annual Report. Please join our efforts by giving to our Annual Appeal. You can donate online or send a check to ASNV, 11100 Wildlife Center Drive, Reston VA 20190.

Together we can help birds thrive and work to improve the environment we all share!

November 2020

Photo: Neabsco Creek Boardwalk

Tom Blackburn

Each fall, I gravitate toward wetlands for my outdoor time. The green, gold, tan and brown of the late-season vegetation offset by the blues of wild asters and the white clouds of cattail fluff can be captivating, particularly on a sunny morning or afternoon. 

You don’t have to travel far to experience the beauty of wetlands. Northern Virginia is home to more than 10 of these unique ecosystems. While Huntley Meadows is justifiably famous for the variety of its birdlife, Julie J. Metz Neabsco Creek Wetlands Preserve is also worth the trip. The Preserve, which is part of Neabsco Creek Regional Park in Prince William County, is unique in Northern Virginia because it was created by Wetland Studies and Solutions, a for-profit company, as a wetlands mitigation bank. Developers buy credits from wetland mitigation banks to compensate for the impact of development on wetlands elsewhere. Creation of a large wetland mitigation bank also consolidates the wetlands into a larger complex, rather than creating small, fragmented wetlands that are not as hospitable to wetland birds and other wildlife. Birders have recorded more than 215 species at Julie Metz.

Wetland ecosystems are a vital part of the environment. They reduce flooding and erosion by storing rainfall and providing buffers against storms, and they capture sediment and store more carbon than other ecosystems. Tidal wetlands are also important “nurseries” for fish and provide food and livelihoods for millions of people worldwide. Wetlands are the most biologically diverse of all ecosystems and are host to millions of migrating birds each fall and winter.  

However, wetlands are increasingly vulnerable. The degradation and destruction of wetlands is occurring more rapidly than any other ecosystem due primarily to climate change, urbanization and pollution. The Global Wetland Outlook prepared by the Ramsar Convention, an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands, reports that the world is losing wetlands three times faster than natural forests.

Get out and enjoy a nearby wetland this fall and winter! But remember that the price of enjoying these unique habitats is continued vigilance and support. You can help by making a donation to ASNV during this season’s Annual Appeal, by joining a Friends group associated with a wetland and by making sure your local and state governmental officials know how important the wetlands are to you and the environment.