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.
ASNV Citizen Science Needs YOU!
As an important part of our citizen science work, we’re looking to establish some baseline bird abundance data for a pair of parks, specifically for Upton Hill Park in Arlington and Four Mile Run Park in Alexandria.
ASNV Awards Hog Island Scholarship
ASNV’s Youth Education Committee has awarded Matthew Davidson of Lynbrook Elementary School in Springfield an all-expense scholarship to “Sharing Nature: An Educator’s Week” at Hog Island Audubon Camp in coastal Maine.
Welcome Spring Migration!
Every spring, warblers and other neotropical songbirds journey north from South and Central America and fly through Virginia via the Atlantic Flyway. Observing their spring migration presents an incredible opportunity to experience the colors and sounds of the season in northern Virginia.
If You Build It, They Will Come, Maybe
I am captivated by Eastern Screech Owls. They have the qualities noted above, and they come in two colors – gray and red. They are robin-sized with cute ear tufts. But most important for me, they love nest boxes, suburban areas, and mixed woods, so that creating an environment for them is doable. If you build it, they will come!
Northern Virginia’s Winning Photographer, Amiel Hopkins
Dawn had not yet broken, but in his freezing cold bird blind Amiel Hopkins was awoken by the “booming” of Greater Prairie Chickens all around him.
Observations from Meadowood: April 2023
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: Replacing Butterfly Bush
Confession is said to be good for the soul, so here it goes: I have, while standing in someone’s garden, wimped out on telling them their Butterfly Bush (Buddleia davidii) is invasive.
Monday Mystery - March 27, 2023
Monday Nature Mystery continues! Read on to learn who correctly identified our last mystery.
Migrants at Upton Hill Regional Park
What few people know is that there is a lot of natural habitat at Upton Hill, and that habitat attracts a lot of migratory birds. In that sense, Upton Hill is a microcosm of northern Virginia – we have lots of people and lots of development, but we also have lots of birds, especially in spring and fall.
Virginia General Assembly Passes Two Bills to Deter Invasive Plants
The Virginia House of Delegates and Senate have approved two bills that can help deter the spread of invasive plants in Virginia and encourage use of native plants.
See a National Audubon Society Award-Winning Photograph by a Local Birder
Please join us at the Huntley Meadows Park Visitor Center on Saturday to view the winning photographs and videos from National Audubon Society’s 2022 photo contest.
Five Myths About Trees
It’s no myth that trees hold a special place in our collective psyche. Trees play a prominent role in myths, often symbolizing life and rebirth. Unfortunately, some of the stories about them are just plain wrong.
ASNV Welcomes New Volunteers at Training Session
On Saturday, February 18, ASNV welcomed 18 new volunteers to our team during our Outreach Volunteer Training.
Observations from Meadowood: March 2023
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: Replacing Liriope
One extremely popular plant that has recently been showing its invasive qualities and is on invasive lists in various northern Virginia jurisdictions is Liriope, commonly called Monkey Grass or Lilyturf.
Monday Mystery - February 27, 2023
Monday Nature Mystery continues! Read on to learn who correctly identified our last mystery.
Members of Workgroup Appointed by Virginia General Assembly Release Report on Managing Free-Roaming Cats
Fourteen members of a Virginia General Assembly workgroup appointed in 2021 to study problems associated with free-roaming cats have just released a comprehensive report detailing the negative impact of cats on wildlife and public health and recommending legislative solutions.
Partnerships Mean Success—Upton Hill Regional Park
In November 2020, ASNV became part of an Upton Hill Regional Park support team that has worked together to improve both habitat restoration and activities welcoming to underserved groups.
Save a Sapling: Pull Invasives
One of the most satisfying moments of invasive plant management comes when you pull the last vine off a struggling native sapling, freeing it to claim its full share of sunlight and grow without restraint.
Results of the 2022 Manassas-Bull Run Christmas Bird Count
The results are in! On December 18, 2022, nearly 100 birders counted almost 20,000 birds of 82 species in this 15-mile diameter circle.