NVBA News Blog
American Robin. Photo: Mick Thompson/Audubon Photography Awards
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.
Proposed Alpine-X Indoor Ski Resort Detrimental to Grassland Bird Habitat
People don’t typically think of landfills as birding hotspots, but southeastern Fairfax County’s Lorton I-95 Landfill Complex is one.
World Shorebirds Day
World Shorebirds Day, an event sponsored by the Shorebird Conservation Society, was September 6th. Around this time people around the world celebrate the planet’s shorebirds, including by participating in the Global Shorebird Count.
Wildlife Rescue
Do you know what to do if you find an injured wild animal? When ASNV receives calls about injured or orphaned birds, we refer the calls to the Wildlife Rescue League.
Monday Mystery - September 26
Monday Nature Mystery continues! Read on to learn who correctly identified our last mystery.
Turn Your Lights Out to Protect Fall Migrants
Fall migration is expected to peak from September 15 to November 3 in the northern Virginia area. You can help protect the hundreds of millions of birds that are expected to fly over our area by turning off or dimming non-essential lighting during critical migration periods.
UPDATED: How to Set Up a Mosquito Larvae Trap and New Mini Trap
Just updated with questions and answers and new photos! Here’s an effective alternative to harmful mosquito spraying, as suggested by Doug Tallamy. Jill Spohn takes us through the steps of building your own mosquito larva traps at home.
Reports from Hog Island Educator’s Week
ASNV issued grants to send two teachers to Educator’s Week at Hog Island, Audubon’s Camp in Bremen, Maine. Here is what they had to say about their visit, the week of July 17.
Welcoming Visitors with Native Plant Landscaping
The big signs that welcome visitors to neighborhoods are usually framed by conventional ornamental shrubs, grasses, and annual flowers. Last year, Northern Virginia communities were invited to apply for matching mini-grants to spruce up their entranceways using only Virginia native plants.
You Can Help Stop the Spread of Invasive Plants
What do English ivy, barberry, butterfly bush, and mimosas (the tree, not the drink) have in common? You can find them in most Northern Virginia neighborhoods, and you can buy them at many local nurseries, garden shops and big box stores. But they are all invasive plants in Northern Virginia.
Be Nice to your Trees
We all try to stay in the shade in hot weather, competing for the parking spaces under trees. What we may not realize is that tree-lined neighborhoods are cooler not just because of the shade but because the trees themselves act as air conditioners.
Appreciating Hummingbirds and Their Aerial Acrobatics
This summer I traveled to San Diego for the first time and a highlight of the trip was the San Diego Zoo. The park’s thoughtful landscaping serves the animal exhibits but also attracts wild visitors, including a variety of hummingbird species.
Observations from Meadowood: September 2022
Judy Gallagher continues to survey Meadowood Recreation Area. Here are some findings from her most recent survey.
Monday Mystery - August 29
Monday Nature Mystery continues! Read on to learn who correctly identified our last mystery.
ASNV’s Birdathon Fundraiser Results in Record Donations and Number of Bird Species
Our chapter’s annual Birdathon competition raised a record amount of money and found a record number of birds this year.
Audubon’s 2022 Photography Awards
Prepare to spend some time in front of your computer or on your phone looking over Aubudon’s 2022 Photography Awards, both still photos and videos.
Nextgen Birders for Conservation: A New Program Targeting Younger Birders
ASNV is excited to announce the official launch of Nextgen Birders for Conservation (Nextgen). This new program aims to cultivate the next generation of birders and conservationists by providing opportunities for younger birders to meet, socialize, learn, and bird together.
Member Spotlight: Andreana J. Lin, Age 22
Andreana is a member of the Audubon Society of Northern Virginia’s recently launched Nextgen Birders for Conservation meetup group, part of a new initiative to engage younger birders.
My ASNV Internship
I started working as an intern for ASNV this May, and I believe my experiences will help me pursue a career in conservation.
Free trees for communities
As community associations around Northern Virginia ramp up their native tree planting efforts, they are looking around to find ways to make it affordable.
Monday Mystery - July 18
Monday Nature Mystery continues! Read on to learn who correctly identified our last mystery.