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Northern Virginia Bird Alliance

Who We Are
Our Mission
Diversity and Inclusion
NVBA Staff and Board
Partners and Benefactors
Territory
What We Do
Classes and Events
Online Programs
Annual Symposium
Community Outreach
Calendar
Scholarships and Grants
Volunteer with NVBA
Shop NVBA
The Potomac Flier
FY 2025 Annual Report
Birdathon 2026
Register Your Team
Guidelines
2026 Team List
Backyard Birdathon
How You Can Help
Get Outside
Birding in Northern Virginia
Bird Outings
Bird Counts and Surveys
Butterfly and Dragonfly Surveys
Natural Resource Surveys
News
Take Action
Current Issues
Environmental Advocacy
How to be an Effective Advocate
Ongoing Local Efforts
Important Bird Areas
Volunteer
Wildlife Sanctuary Program
Wildlife Sanctuary Program
Sanctuary Species
Creating Wildlife Habitat
Native Plants for Wildlife
Wildlife Sanctuary Almanac
Plant This Not That
Human-made Hazards to Wildlife
Ambassador Tool Kit
Contact the Wildlife Sanctuary Program
Presentations
Stretch Our Parks
Bird Safe NOVA
About Bird Safe NOVA
Lights Out for Birds
Contact
Join Us
Español
DONATE
October 14, 2025
News
Jess Michetti
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.

Fall 2025 Cape May Field Trip Recap
October 6, 2025
News
Jess Michetti
Help Us Write the Potomac Flier

Will you volunteer to help us write our monthly newsletter, the Potomac Flier?

Help Us Write the Potomac Flier
Jess Michetti
January 30, 2025
News

Community Associations and Environmental Leadership

Jess Michetti
January 30, 2025
News
Community Associations and Environmental Leadership

Community associations are positioned to play a transformative role in ecosystem rejuvenation and health, acting on their common land and inspiring residents to do the same on theirs.

Tagged: Plant Nova Natives, Native Planting, Native Landscaping, Community Associations

Jess Michetti
January 30, 2025
News

The Short-eared Owl, Another Winter Visitor

Jess Michetti
January 30, 2025
News
The Short-eared Owl, Another Winter Visitor

Some observant DC-area birders were fortunate to catch sight of Short-eared Owl in the DC-northern Virginia urban core late in December and early in January.

Tagged: Owls, Short-eared Owl

Jess Michetti
January 30, 2025
News

A Closer Look: Nature All Around Us, February 2025

Jess Michetti
January 30, 2025
News
A Closer Look: Nature All Around Us, February 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.

Tagged: Meadowood, Survey, Wildlife Survey, Observations from Meadowood, A Closer Look

Jess Michetti
January 30, 2025
News

Wildlife Sanctuary Almanac: Winter Bird Feeders and Bird Baths

Jess Michetti
January 30, 2025
News
Wildlife Sanctuary Almanac: Winter Bird Feeders and Bird Baths

When it’s a snowy, icy and cold winter, there’s little gardening you can or want to do in the yard. But there are a few steps you can take to supplement the work you have already done by providing natural food sources and shelter.

Tagged: Wildlife Sanctuary Almanac, Bird Feeders, Bird Baths

Jess Michetti
January 29, 2025
News

Monday Mystery - January 27, 2025

Jess Michetti
January 29, 2025
News
Monday Mystery - January 27, 2025

Monday Nature Mystery continues! Read on to learn who correctly identified our last mystery.

Tagged: Monday Mystery, Facebook, Nature Trivia, Contest

Jess Michetti
December 29, 2024
President's Corner

President's Corner

Jess Michetti
December 29, 2024
President's Corner
President's Corner

On December 17, 2024 the NVBA board and staff were delighted to welcome Amanda Robinson as our new Executive Director! 

Tagged: President's Corner

Jess Michetti
December 29, 2024
News

It’s Official: The Bald Eagle Is Our National Bird

Jess Michetti
December 29, 2024
News
It’s Official: The Bald Eagle Is Our National Bird

On December 24 President Joe Biden signed S. 4610, making it official that the Bald Eagle is the national bird of the United States.

Tagged: Bald Eagles, Legislature

Jess Michetti
December 29, 2024
News

Native Americans and Birds

Jess Michetti
December 29, 2024
News
Native Americans and Birds

U.S. laws to protect eagles and migratory birds include exceptions from bans on possessing bird feathers for Native Americans for cultural and religious activities. The exceptions strike a balance between protection of birds and protection of the cultural heritage of Native Americans.

Tagged: Conservation, Native Americans

Jess Michetti
December 29, 2024
News

Let Dead Plant Material Lie

Jess Michetti
December 29, 2024
News
Let Dead Plant Material Lie

Dead native plant material is integral to a healthy ecosystem. An essential support for the populations of pollinators and other animals upon which we all depend, nothing comes close to replacing its role in the health of a diverse ecosystem.

Tagged: Plant Nova Natives, Native Plants, Leave the leaves, Habitat Restoration

Jess Michetti
December 29, 2024
News

Snowy Owl, An Occasional Winter Visitor

Jess Michetti
December 29, 2024
News
Snowy Owl, An Occasional Winter Visitor

Although the Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) is no longer classified as in a separate genus (Nyctea) from typical owls, like the Great Horned Owl, there’s a lot about it that is unique.

Tagged: Conservation, Snowy Owl

Jess Michetti
December 29, 2024
News

Help Us Write the Potomac Flier

Jess Michetti
December 29, 2024
News
Help Us Write the Potomac Flier

Are you interested in writing about conservation and northern Virginia’s birds? We could use your help.

Tagged: Volunteer, Potomac Flier

Jess Michetti
December 29, 2024
News

Observations from Meadowood: January 2025

Jess Michetti
December 29, 2024
News
Observations from Meadowood: January 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.

Tagged: Meadowood, Survey, Wildlife Survey, Observations from Meadowood

Jess Michetti
December 29, 2024
News

Wildlife Sanctuary Almanac: Sanctuary for Chickadees

Jess Michetti
December 29, 2024
News
Wildlife Sanctuary Almanac: Sanctuary for Chickadees

Chickadees need a yard full of native plants. How can that be? Chickadees eat seeds, so why do they need native plants?

Tagged: Wildlife Sanctuary Almanac, Native Plants, Doug Tallamy

Jess Michetti
December 29, 2024
News

Monday Mystery - December 30, 2024

Jess Michetti
December 29, 2024
News
Monday Mystery - December 30, 2024

Monday Nature Mystery continues! Read on to learn who correctly identified our last mystery.

Tagged: Monday Mystery, Facebook, Nature Trivia, Contest

Jess Michetti
December 16, 2024
News

Please DONATE TODAY to help northern Virginia's birds: A Note from Our President

Jess Michetti
December 16, 2024
News
Please DONATE TODAY to help northern Virginia's birds: A Note from Our President

Birds are under increasing threat from continued habitat loss and changing climate. Please help us protect them, other wildlife, and the natural habitat they need. 

Tagged: Annual Appeal

Jess Michetti
November 30, 2024
President's Corner

Board Notes

Jess Michetti
November 30, 2024
President's Corner
Board Notes

Meet Eileen Ellsworth, NVBA board member, secretary and chair of the fundraising committee.

Tagged: President's Corner, Conservation, Board Notes

Jess Michetti
November 30, 2024
News

Apply Now for the 2025 Educator Scholarship

Jess Michetti
November 30, 2024
News
Apply Now for the 2025 Educator Scholarship

Each year NVBA offers a full scholarship and transportation to “Sharing Nature: An Educator’s Week” at National Audubon Society's Hog Island Camp in Maine.

Tagged: Hog Island, Scholarships and Grants, Educators

Jess Michetti
November 30, 2024
News

Swanfall

Jess Michetti
November 30, 2024
News
Swanfall

The Tundra Swans are back in town! Between 200 and 400 of these magnificent birds are spending the winter in the Great Marsh of Belmont Bay and will leave in mid-March for their breeding grounds in the tundra of far northern Canada near the Arctic Ocean.  

Tagged: Tundra Swan, Migration

Jess Michetti
November 30, 2024
News

Mini-grants for Invasive Removal Completed

Jess Michetti
November 30, 2024
News
Mini-grants for Invasive Removal Completed

We selected applications with the most effective and reasonable plans to address threats from invasives and involving property containing habitat of value where invasive removal efforts would provide a visible demonstration of educational value to congregants, residents, and passersby. 

Tagged: Invasive Species Removal, Mini-grants, Wildlife Sanctuary Program, Faith Communities

Jess Michetti
November 30, 2024
News

Protect The Wildlife You Attract

Jess Michetti
November 30, 2024
News
Protect The Wildlife You Attract

Elements of the landscape may pose serious hazards to the very wildlife that we’ve attracted. Are we drawing them closer, only to have them harmed by an avoidable threat to their health and wellbeing?

Tagged: Habitat Restoration, Wildlife Sanctuary, Native Landscaping, Protect Wildlife

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Northern Virginia Bird Alliance, 11100 Wildlife Center Drive, Reston, VA, 20190, United Statesinfo@nvbirdalliance.org

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Northern Virginia Bird Alliance
11100 Wildlife Center Drive, Ste. 100
Reston, VA 20190

P: 703-438-6008
info@nvbirdalliance.org