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.
Plant This, Not That: Replacing Burning Bush
For years I thought Burning Bush (Euonymus alatus) wasn’t a big problem, at least not around Northern Virginia. I wasn’t spotting it in wild areas like I was seeing other plants on Arlington’s invasive list. Then I learned.
Monday Mystery - January 1, 2023
Monday Nature Mystery continues! Read on to learn who correctly identified our last mystery.
State of the Birds 2022
The 2022 State of the Birds report gives us concern but also provides some basis for hope for the future.
Protecting Birds Improves the Lives of People
Bird conservation helps to slow the decline in bird populations, but it also contributes to human well-being in a variety of ways.
Managing larger properties for birds, butterflies, and people
The outdoor space on larger properties in Northern Virginia, whether residential or commercial, is typically divided into formal landscaping close to buildings and natural areas at the periphery.
Audubon Afternoon Live on January 22!
Join us on Sunday afternoon for our semi-annual live Audubon Afternoon at the National Wildlife Federation in Reston.
Christmas Bird Count
Would you like to help count birds and connect with other birders during the 123rd Audubon Christmas Bird Count (CBC)?
Observations from Meadowood: December 2022
Judy Gallagher is an ASNV board member and a regular surveyor of local wildlife who also captures photos of what she sees, in particular the less common species.
Plant This, Not That
This new series, “Plant This, Not That” by Alyssa Ford Morel offers suggestions on replacing invasive non-native plants with northern Virginia Natives.
Monday Mystery - November 28
Monday Nature Mystery continues! Read on to learn who correctly identified our last mystery.
Our Very Necessary Insects
People spend more time trying to kill insects than trying to save them, University of Delaware entomologist Douglas Tallamy told a Zoom gathering of 300 on September 25.
Keeping our wooded areas beautiful
If your community owns some wooded common land, or if you yourself own a wooded property, you may have noticed that the woods around here have been slowly changing, and not for the better.
Spend Some Time with the Bird Migration Explorer—You Won’t Be Sorry
Fall migration through northern Virginia is by no means over, but the numbers of birds traveling to, as well as passing over and through, our area is on the decline. Some of us may now stop obsessively checking BirdCast daily to see what we may anticipate passing through overnight.
Christmas Bird Count
The 123rd Audubon Christmas Bird Count (CBC) will take place between this December 14 and January 5, 2023.
Autumn Acoustics and Great Horned Owls
Autumn is in full swing. November and December are the best times to enjoy the beautiful sound of hooting, especially from Great Horned Owls (Bubo virginianus).
Observations from Meadowood: November 2022
Judy Gallagher continues to survey Meadowood Recreation Area. Here are some findings from her most recent survey.
Monday Mystery - October 31
Monday Nature Mystery continues! Read on to learn who correctly identified our last mystery.
The View from Hawk Mountain: Highlights from the ASNV Day Trip with Dr. Tom Wood
Fourteen participants met up at the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Visitor Center to witness and learn about a migration hawk watch.
Committing to Diversity, Inclusion, and Access
The COVID pandemic and our resultant programmatic pause allowed ASNV to reflect and act on how we engage with all communities in Northern Virginia.
Plant NOVA Trees – One Year On
September marks the first anniversary of the launch of Plant NOVA Trees, a regionwide effort by over a hundred local organizations and thousands of individuals to promote native trees and shrubs in Northern Virginia.