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.
Letter to Our Members
As the sun slowly sank into Belmont Bay, a full moon rose behind us, lighting our way down Kane’s Creek. We paddled our kayaks back to the launch site with only the splash of our paddles to disturb the quiet of the evening.
Ospreys and the Menhaden Question
It’s always a joy when Osprey return to northern Virginia in the spring to breed after their winters in the Southern Hemisphere, but reports of increased nest failure are cause for concern.
Bird Banding at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge
During spring migration’s height, in April and May, from 6 a.m. to noon, volunteers catch and band birds in the Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge near Marumsco Creek three mornings a week, a project undertaken there every spring since 2001, except 2020, the “covid year.”
Attracting hummingbirds (and convincing them to stay a while)
With forethought and some planning, you can have a clear and frequent view of these 3.5-ounce, dive-bombing, backward-flying, shimmering, drama-obsessed, and Ferrari-engine-powered birds. If that sounds like fun, here are some tips to attract them now and get them to linger for the season.
New Study Documents Trends Using eBird Data
It’s difficult to be optimistic about the future of North American birds in the face of a relentless avalanche of news about national policy changes that can challenge conservation efforts.
An Introduction to Lacewings and Other Neuroptera
I went to North Carolina recently, searching for early season dragonflies. We searched for dragonflies by day, but at night we set up a black light to see what other insects we could attract. The highlight was a Pleasing Lacewing, an insect I had only seen once before, and it is the inspiration for this month's column.
Wildlife Sanctuary Almanac: Pollinators
Pollinators are important to our daily lives. Without insects, around 80 percent of flowering plants would not be pollinated.
Weekly Bird Word: May 26, 2025
Our new feature, the Weekly Bird Word, introduces a new bird-related vocabulary word each week.
Birdathon Stories: The Board Birders
The Board Birders started their Birdathon at 6:00 AM at Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve. Read about their Birdathon adventure and find out how many species they saw!
Letter to Our Members
Now that it is spring, NVBA’s conservation work has gone into high gear and it is this work that has taken on new meaning for me.
New Law Requires Signs: Some Plants Are Invasive
Thanks to NVBA advocates’ and many others’ efforts, Virginia has a new law that requires, by January 1, 2027, retailers to conspicuously post “in proximity to each invasive plant display” signs indicating that a plant is invasive and “encouraging consumers to ask about alternatives.”
The People Birding to Make a Difference: Stories of Birdathon
It’s that time of year again: the days are longer, you have dirt under your fingernails from planting natives, and all across the region teams of people are birding for a good cause.
Huntley Meadows Park Celebrates 50 Years!
Some history and background on a favorite birdwatching locale for many northern Virginians as Huntley Meadows celebrates its 50th year.
Five Great Reasons to Garden with Natives
As Margaret Atwood once said, “In the spring, at the end of the day, you SHOULD smell like dirt.” It’s very good for us on so many levels.
Birdwatching in Zimbabwe
I started birdwatching during my freshman year but was lucky enough to be living then in Zimbabwe, home to hundreds of species of birds, ranging from the tiniest sunbirds to the flightless guinea fowl and several species of elusive turacos.
Elusive Hairstreaks: Elfin Butterflies
I look forward to spring's arrival each year, and particularly to the start of butterfly season. Elfins are among the first butterflies to emerge each spring. They are small with about a 1-inch wingspan, are furry looking, and have brown, gray and black markings.
Wildlife Sanctuary Almanac: Backyard Birdathon!
Have you taken steps to create bird habitat in your yard? Now is your chance to see the fruits (or rather, birds) of your labor by observing how many species visit your yard in a single day.
Weekly Bird Word: April 28, 2025
Our new feature, the Weekly Bird Word, introduces a new bird-related vocabulary word each week.
Letter to Our Members
As spring transforms our northern Virginia landscape, millions of birds take to the skies in one of nature's most spectacular phenomena. This annual migration brings both opportunities for celebration through events like birdathons and responsibilities for ensuring that these travelers reach their destinations safely.
Good News at the I-95 Landfill to Help Offset Some Bad News
First, the bad news: The U.S North American Bird Conservation Initiative just released its State of the Birds 2025 report, and the birds with the most dire losses continue to be grassland birds, a 43% decline since 1970.