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.
The Amazing World of Fishing Spiders
I will never forget the first time I saw a large spider sprint across the surface of a pond. At the time I thought that I was seeing amazing yet aberrant behavior, but I later learned that this is normal for fishing spiders.
Wildlife Sanctuary Almanac: Violets
Common Blue Violets (Viola sororia) are blooming. You may think of them as pesky weeds growing unwanted in your lawn and pull them up, as I used to do, but they are native and of value to wildlife.
We’ve Made Your Search Easier!
Have you struggled in the past to find that great article we ran about making a mosquito larva trap? Or the Eagle Scout video showing you how to apply bird-safe protection to your home’s windows? We’ve fixed the problem with our new search feature!
Monday Mystery - March 25, 2024
Monday Nature Mystery continues! Read on to learn who correctly identified our last mystery.
A Birdathon Story of Endurance: The Board Birders
Read this account of a 2023 Birdathon team’s long but rewarding day of birding through some of northern Virginia’s best birding locations.
Weigh In On Our New Name
After deciding to move forward with changing our organization’s name, we’re asking for your suggestions on a new name.
Don’t Miss Our New Monthly Feature
We have added a new monthly feature to the Potomac Flier, the Wildlife Sanctuary Almanac.
Red-headed Woodpecker: A Species at the Tipping Point
The State of the Birds report identified five species of birds that breed in northern Virginia as at a tipping point. One of the birds at the tipping point is the Red-headed Woodpecker, a year-round resident of northern Virginia that is considered uncommon during every season.
Moon gardens: A quiet oasis for pollinators working the night shift
When planting, most people take into consideration how plants will look in the daytime, but have you ever heard of moon gardens?
Did You Know There is a Grass that has Evil Superpowers? It’s Called “Running Bamboo”
Running bamboo may not be able to leap tall buildings, but it can run underground as much as 15 feet a year, including going under a road and emerging on the other side. Running bamboo can even be found as far away as 100 feet from its parent plant.
ASNV and Partners Install a New Purple Martin Colony at Four Mile Run
As part of Stretch Our Parks, volunteers worked with the Four Mile Run Conservancy Foundation to install a Purple Martin colony at the end of February in Alexandria’s Four Mile Run Park.
Observations from Meadowood: March 2024
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.
Wildlife Sanctuary Almanac: Invasive Vines
Today (March 1) is the last day of National Invasive Species Awareness Week! Appropriately, this is the perfect time of year to remove certain invasive vines from your own yard.
Monday Mystery - February 26, 2024
Monday Nature Mystery continues! Read on to learn who correctly identified our last mystery.
The Audubon Name, Our Board’s Decision
Over the past six months, ASNV has been exploring whether we should change our chapter's name , removing its reference to John James Audubon.
Results of the 2023 Manassas-Bull Run Christmas Bird Count
The conditions were not auspicious for the 42nd annual Manassas-Bull Run Christmas Bird Count, but the results still broke some records!
The Magic of Winter Trees: Making a Deeper Connection
Dreams of warmer days are lovely, but if you have trees in your yard or if they are in a nearby park, winter might also be the time to learn how to appreciate and protect their incredible beauty.
Help Us Write Our Newsletter!
Do you like to write? Do you have ideas about bird and habitat conservation that would interest our readers? If so, we would love to have your help writing articles for the Potomac Flier.
Observations from Meadowood: February 2024
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 - January 29, 2024
Monday Nature Mystery continues! Read on to learn who correctly identified our last mystery.