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.
Galls: Winter Evidence of Insects to Come
Live insects are challenging to find at this time of year. But signs of them remain in the form of galls, a swelling growth of plant tissue.
Wildlife Sanctuary Almanac: Use - and Lose - Nandina
It’s a beautiful plant - evergreen, red berries, soft foliage - but evil lurks in its heart. Nandina, a.k.a. Heavenly Bamboo or Nandina domestica, is a woody shrub native to Asia. It is not a true bamboo but, just like its namesake, it is a real problem in the landscape.
Birds, Belief and Balance: Native Wisdom for Modern Birders
Long before modern birding, native peoples across North America watched, listened, and learned from the birds that shared their homelands. For them, birds were not merely part of the scenery: they were kin, teachers and messengers between worlds.
Virginia’s Data Centers and Our Environment
The Commonwealth’s nearly 600 data centers make it one of the largest concentrations in the world. It is estimated that 70% of the world's internet traffic passes through Virginia.
A Winter Resident Returns: The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
The return of Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers in northern Virginia coincides with the re-appearance of Halloween decorations in mid-October, and, like the trick-or-treaters who arrive October 31, they seek sweets.
“Junk Trees” and the Native Understory
Berries that grow on native trees and shrubs are wildlife powerhouses. Despite that, some of the best producers are labeled “junk trees” in today’s gardening and landscaping industries because they aren’t someone’s idea of what a yard tree should look like.
A Closer Look: Nature All Around Us, November 2025
Judy Gallagher is an NVBA 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: Grow a Winter Bird Feeder
Now is the time to clean and fill the feeders to help birds make a living when other food sources are scarce. It’s also time to think about providing next year’s winter bird food by planting more native plants, including native grasses, wildflowers, and woody plants, such as shrubs, vines and trees, that provide sustenance all winter long.
Fake Spiderwebs: A Hidden Halloween Hazard for Birds
As Halloween approaches, one decoration deserves to stay on the store shelf: synthetic spiderwebs. While these stretchy strands might seem like harmless fun, they're creating a serious threat to birds in our communities.
Fall 2025 Cape May Field Trip Recap
On Saturday, October 4, 22 birders awoke before sunrise, loaded into vans, and began our journey from Northern Virginia to Cape May, NJ, our eyes set on this faraway destination perfectly aligned with the Atlantic Flyway, one of the four “avian superhighways” in North America.
Birding is for Every Body: Birdability Week, October 20-26
Have you ever paused to think about how many people might want to join us in birding but can’t?
My Time at Hog Island Camp
I’m looking forward to sharing all that I’ve learned with the educators that I support in Arlington Public Schools and applying new strategies with my students.
Help Our Migrating Songbirds
We’re in the middle of fall migration season. For birdwatchers, fall migration can be challenging because the warblers are drabber, but, of course, it’s even more challenging for the birds!
Be Very Brave: Plant a New Native Shrub This Fall
So, it's the right time of year to plant, and native plants are easier to find than ever before. But . . . something is still stopping you. Hmm. What could that be?
Remember to Vote for Conservation
It’s important to keep up with the actions (or inaction) of our federal lawmakers, but it’s equally important to take care to vote for conservation in the upcoming Virginia races.
Why Some Flies Eat Poop (and Some Don’t)
Flies and their food choices play an important role in our environment. It's ironic that I was brought up to think of flies as being dirty, yet without flies, the world would be a much dirtier place. Let's hear it for the flies!
Wildlife Sanctuary Almanac: It's Time for Goldenrods
One hallmark of autumn is the appearance of goldenrods along roadsides and in wild spaces; however, until recently, goldenrods have rarely been used deliberately in gardens.
Wildlife Sanctuary Almanac: Growing Virginia Native Plants from Seed
Fall is coming and gardeners’ thoughts may turn to collecting seeds for planting next spring.
Hispanic Heritage Month and the World of Birds
From September 15 to October 15, Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates the histories, cultures, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino communities in the United States.
Expanded Polystyrene Foam Now Banned in Takeout Containers in Virginia
If you have ever participated in a trash cleanup along a shoreline, creek or road, you’ll undoubtedly have come across pieces of expanded polystyrene foam (EPS), popularly known by one of its brand names, Styrofoam.