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.
Historic River Farm Property in Peril
River Farm, a historic 25-acre property on the Potomac River, may be sold to private developers. The American Horticultural Society (AHA), the owner of the property, has issued a request for proposals to purchase the property to create an endowment for the organization.
Plastic is One of the Largest Culprits Harming Birds and Wildlife Today
Zach Huntington used to guide fishing tours out on the Potomac. While floating along the river in his kayak, he started noticing a significant amount of habitat loss and a glaring volume of garbage washing up on the shores and islands of the Potomac.
Capturing the Natural Beauty of Birds
Bird and native plant photographers should consider entering the 2021 Audubon Photography Awards. Next year will be the contest’s 12th year.
Virtual Bird Walk at Oak Spring Garden
If you missed the virtual birding Facebook Premier with our friends at the Oak Spring Garden Foundation, you can view the recorded session.
Yellow Eyes in Moonless Skies: Researching the population status of the enigmatic Northern Saw-whet Owl
There’s something truly delightful about autumn nights. The crispness of the air, the sound of the trees rustling in the wind, and catching a glimpse of fluttering owls from deep within the woods. Northern Saw-whet Owl migration kicks off in late October which means another season of observing these elusive raptors!
November Bird of the Month
The Brown Creeper gets its name from its foraging behavior. It generally feeds on the trunks of mature evergreen and deciduous trees, especially trees with deep furrowed bark.
Monday Mystery - October 19
Monday Nature Mystery continues! Read on to learn who correctly identified this bird (common AND latin names), and see our most recent mystery.
Volunteer: ASNV Finance Committee
The Audubon Society of Northern Virginia (ASNV) is looking for additional members for its Finance Committee to help advise the Board on investment allocations.
Observations from Meadowood: September
Judy Gallagher continues to survey Meadowood Recreation Area during the pandemic. Here are some findings from her most recent survey.
How to Prevent Bird Window Collisions: Watch this Video
Oakton High school student and passionate birder, Elliot Frank was concerned about how to reduce the high number of bird fatalities caused by window strikes. He decided to tackle the issue for his Eagle Scout project.
October 2020
Goldfinches always make me smile. The male birds’ bright yellow plumage and black wings with white racing stripes liven up our garden as the flowers are starting to fade away. Goldfinches are the circus acrobats of our garden as they balance on our coneflowers while pulling them apart to reach the seeds.
ASNV Praises Aventon Holdings I, LLC for Bird-friendly Development Project
A little over two years ago, Aventon Holdings I, LLC approached neighboring communities in the Mount Vernon District in Virginia to get residents’ input on what kind of development they envisioned at Aventon’s proposed building site.
Happy Autumn
Depending on where you live, you might start to notice a drop in temperature as the foliage from your shrubs and trees starts to change color. Cool breezes are also starting to pick up, leaving stray twigs and small branches on your lawn.
Audubon at Home Certifies 87-acre property
Audubon at Home resumed in-person visits to homes with masks and safe social distancing on July 1 and interest came roaring back. Since then AAH has had 63 requests with 47 visits reported. The most notable property to be certified is the JK Black Oak Wildlife Sanctuary.
October Bird of the Month
One bird in particular, the male House Finch, can range in color from yellow to bright red based on the food he eats.
Monday Mystery
Monday Nature Mystery continues! Read on to learn who correctly identified this bird (common AND latin names) last week, and see our most recent mystery.
Monday Mystery Continues
Monday Nature Mystery continues! Read on to learn who correctly identified this nest (common AND latin names) last week, and see our most recent mystery.
September 2020
“It is not only a sin to kill a mockingbird, it is also a crime.” With those words, referencing Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, a federal court judge has invalidated a U.S. Department of the Interior memorandum that eliminated more than 100 years of protection for migratory birds
Observations from Meadowood: August
During the pandemic we’ve had to cancel our regular wildlife surveys but some long-time participants are going out individually on an ad hoc basis to continue collecting data. Judy Gallagher is one of those folks who also captures photos of what she sees, in particular the less common species.
Sweet Options When Selecting Woody Plants for your Home Habitat
The dog days of summer are behind us, and as our avian migrants prepare for their long and arduous journey towards their wintering grounds, you might wonder what things you and your family can do for your native bird habitat to facilitate their journey.