Photo: Tree Swallows, Arielle Smith/NVBA Photo Contest
When: Saturday, March 28, 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Where: Huntley Meadows Park, 3701 Lockheed Blvd, Alexandria, VA 22306
Fee: FREE
Join Northern Virginia Bird Alliance for a spring bird outing at Huntley Meadows Park in Alexandria, VA! Explore meadows, woodlands, and marshes alongside NVBA bird guides Arielle Smith (she/her) and Gabrielle Jennings (she/her), who will help you observe and identify bird species the group encounters.
Please plan to meet your guides at 8:00 AM at the Visitor Center trailhead, located in the main parking lot at 3701 Lockheed Blvd, Alexandria, VA 22306. We encourage participants to carpool, as parking may be limited that day. Huntington Metro Station is about a 10-minute drive away, and there is also public street parking available on Lockheed Boulevard and Harrison Road. If parking offsite, please allow extra time to walk to the trailhead.
After brief introductions, the group will follow the Cedar Trail through the woodlands and out to the boardwalk along Huntley Meadows Marsh. This is an excellent birding location for observing both waterfowl and species traveling between woodland and grassland habitats.
What should you bring?
Binoculars are helpful but not required for birding. We will have a limited number of loaner pairs available for participants to use. Guides will also be using the eBird app to record and report sightings during the outing; we encourage you to download the free app and set up an account ahead of time. Please note that trails can be muddy after heavy rain or snow. We recommend wearing comfortable, closed-toe shoes with good traction, especially for the boardwalk sections. Strollers are not permitted on the boardwalk.
About Your Bird Guides
Gabrielle always liked nature since she was a young girl, going so far as to ask Santa for bird feeders and bird seed. She started formally birding during COVID and has now joined several local organizations focused on wildlife and conservation, including the Fairfax Master Naturalist.
Arielle has always loved the outdoors and hiking, though birds were only a passing curiosity until her 30s. After repeatedly spotting black-and-white ducks near her home—and comparing them to the Atlantic Puffins she’d seen in Iceland—she finally decided to dive into birding (fun fact: those mystery ducks turned out to be buffleheads!). Since then, Arielle’s passion for birds, especially waterfowl, has taken off. She leads walks with the NextGen Birders for Conservation, a subset of NVBA, and she’s excited to keep expanding her birding knowledge while welcoming others into the community.
Additional Site Information
Huntley Meadows Park is widely regarded as one of the top birding destinations in the greater Washington, DC area, with more than 200 species documented over time. Its expansive wetlands, open meadows, and mature woodlands create diverse habitats that attract birds year-round, including both local residents and seasonal migrants. Visit the park’s website at this link here to learn more.
Tom Blackburn, describes the park as “the crown jewel of Northern Virginia public parks. Thanks to a $3 million restoration project completed in 2014, the park, which boasts wetlands, flooded forests, and dry forests, is the top birding destination in the region. Birders at Huntley Meadows have uploaded more than 17,000 bird lists to eBird, the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology’s world-wide data base of citizen-scientist bird sightings. They have recorded at least 252 bird species on the park’s four main birding trails and sites – second in Northern Virginia only to Dyke Marsh Wetlands Preserve with 270 recorded species.” [read the rest of Tom’s blog at this link here]
Cancellation Policies for NVBA Bird Outings
Everyone’s safety and enjoyment are our top priorities. Occasionally, we may need to postpone or cancel an outing to protect the well-being of participants or guides. Whenever possible, we will notify you at least 48 hours in advance; however, last-minute changes may be necessary. Outings may be canceled or postponed for reasons such as:
Unsafe air quality
Guide illness
Extreme weather, including: Lightning within 10 miles of the event location, temperatures above 90°, heavy thunderstorms, snow, or hail.
If an outing must be canceled on the day of the event, we will do our best to email all registered participants as soon as possible and/or post the cancellation on our website. Thank you for your understanding and flexibility!
Questions? Contact NVBA’s Community Engagement Coordinator, McKenzie, at mckenzie@nvbirdalliance.org.