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.
Help Trees Thrive: Tear Up Some Turf
It’s fairly common in residential neighborhoods to see trees surrounded by grass or by small mulch beds, often heaped high like a volcano. But did you know that your trees would be healthier and grow faster if you replaced that turf and those mulch volcanos with a 2-4” deep ring of mulch that extends out to the tree’s drip line or even beyond?
Resolve to Help the Birds in 2024!
New year’s resolutions about more exercise and a better diet are traditional for this time of year, because those actions can help us live better, happier lives. But another way to improve your quality of life is by helping the birds.
Monday Mystery - January 1, 2024
Monday Nature Mystery continues! Read on to learn who correctly identified our last mystery.
2024 Educator Scholarship Application Now Open
Each year ASNV offers a full scholarship to Sharing Nature: An Educator's Week at Hog Island Audubon Camp in coastal Maine. Applications are open now!
The Audubon Name: An Update on Our Survey
Earlier this fall, we conducted a survey to learn how our members and friends feel about the possibility of changing the name of the Audubon Society of Northern Virginia. If you participated, thank you!
Some Ways to Donate to ASNV: Planned Giving
Many people review and plan their charitable giving at this time of year. Making a donation typically may involve writing a check or using a credit card, but there are other options for planned giving, some of which can provide tax advantages for the donor.
A Combined Effort to Stretch Monticello Park
On the Sunday before Thanksgiving more than 30 volunteers came together for a service project at Monticello Park in Alexandria.
Controlling English Ivy Saves Trees and Combats Climate Change
Unfortunately, many people think English Ivy is a benign plant that grows in the shade where nothing else grows.
Christmas Bird Count 2023
The 124th Audubon Christmas Bird Count (CBC) will take place between this December 14 and January 5, 2024.
Observations from Meadowood: December 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.
Monday Mystery - November 27, 2023
Monday Nature Mystery continues! Read on to learn who correctly identified our last mystery.
Echele un vistazo a nuestro nuevo sitio web en español
Note que tenemos una nueva sección en nuestra página web y es en español.
Take a Look at Our New Spanish Language Pages
Take a look at the new Spanish section of our website!
Christmas Bird Count
The 124th Audubon Christmas Bird Count (CBC) will take place between this December 14 and January 5, 2024.
ASNV and Plant NOVA Natives Award Ten Mini-Grants for Invasive Removal
This year, the Fairfax County Tree Preservation and Planting Fund (TPPF) gave Audubon at Home and Plant NOVA Natives a grant to fund mini-grants for invasive plant removal on community association or faith community common open space.
Meet Our Volunteer of the Year: Bill Young
At ASNV’s Volunteer Appreciation and Service Event on October 22, board member Judy Gallagher presented Bill Young with the Volunteer of the Year award.
ASNV’s Trip to Cape May, New Jersey
On the weekend of October 7-8, 24 birders traveled with ASNV to Cape May, New Jersey, a prime spot for birders, for an adventure witnessing fall migration.
ASNV Co-Hosts an Advocacy Forum
ASNV’s Advocacy Committee co-hosted an Advocacy Forum with the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy and the Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions on October 21, an event that attracted close to 50 people.
Fall cleanup in two easy steps
Here is an executive summary of eco-friendly yard maintenance recommendations for fall: 1: Watch the pretty leaves flutter down from above. 2: Do as little as possible to disturb those leaves or the flower stalks.
After a Long Hot Summer, It’s Time to Plant Trees!
Autumn is a perfect time for trees to go in the ground. Instead of facing a long, hot summer, trees have time to get acclimated to their new space, and then they cheerfully spend the winter in a dormant state.