Potomac Flier: June 2026

The latest news and events from Northern Virginia Bird Alliance

View this email in your browser June 2026 NVBA HOME         DONATE         JOIN A Letter to Our Members Pileated Woodpeckers. Photo: Jan Nickols/Audubon Photography Awards For the last four years it has been a pleasure and an honor to be NVBA’s president. I want to take this opportunity to thank the great folks on our board, on our staff, in our volunteer ranks, and among our members and communities – and to highlight how, working with these groups, NVBA has been able to strengthen and grow its bird and nature conservation efforts.   Read more > Bad Feather Days: Molt in Backyard Birds Northern Cardinal. Photo: Kent Blumberg Why is that Northern Cardinal bald? We all have bad hair days. Birds have bad feather weeks every late summer as they go through molt. Some, like Northern Cardinals, take the process to the extreme.   Read more > Results of the 2026 Winter Waterfowl Count American Wigeon. Photo: Walker Golder/Audubon Photography Awards The 2026 Winter Waterfowl Survey, sponsored by NVBA, was conducted on February 14 and 15. Nearly 70 participants monitored areas along the Potomac River from western Loudoun County to Quantico Marine Base in Prince William County. Read more > More News Plant the Slant: Tips for Gardening on Slopes Creeping Phlox. Photo: Margaret Fisher Depending on its position and angle, planting a slope isn’t always easy. But the rewards can be considerable. Read more >   The Gray Catbird Gray Catbird. Photo: Kathy Sidles/Audubon Photography Awards One of my favorite sights (and sounds) of spring is my first Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) of the season. I’ve always found them elegant-looking, with a sleek, slaty body, jaunty black cap and rusty patch under the tail.  Read more > Monthly Features A Closer Look: Nature All Around Us Curculio species. Photo: Judy Gallagher 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.  Read more >   Wildlife Sanctuary Almanac: Native Dogwoods are Better for Birds Flowering Dogwood. Photo: ForestWanderer.com, CC BY-SA 3.0 US, via Wikimedia Commons There are both native and non-native dogwoods available in the nursery trade, as well as hybrid crosses. It is important to know that all dogwoods are not created equal when it comes to their value to wildlife. Read more > Upcoming Classes and Events   We have some exciting classes and events coming up, both virtually and in-person! Click any event to learn more and register. We are always adding events so be sure to check our calendar for the latest schedule.   Ornithology 101 with Kiersten Newtoff Tree Swallows. Photo: Arielle Smith/NVBA Photo Contest Our Ornithology 101 course continues! This beginner-friendly, 4-part virtual course is designed for bird lovers of all backgrounds. Join us for one (or both) of our remaining two sessions. Session 3 on Monday, 6/1 will focus on bird breeding, and session 4 on Monday, 6/8 will be all about bird conservation. When: Mondays from 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM, June 1 and June 8 Where: Virtual, with optional in-person field trips Member ticket: $40 per session Non-member ticket: $50 per session      MORE INFO      Discussion with David Bulova, VA Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources Baltimore Orioles. Photo: Eric Nie/Audubon Photography Awards Join us for a conversation with David Bulova, VA Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources and a longtime northern Virginia environmental leader, about Governor Spanberger’s administration’s priorities for wildlife conservation, habitat restoration, and resilience. The discussion will include a particular focus on northern Virginia and bird conservation. When: Tuesday, June 2, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM Where: Online Fee: Free, but registration is required      MORE INFO      Alliance Afternoon: Raptors in a Changing World and Annual Membership Meeting Red-tailed Hawk. Photo: Melissa Haylock/Audubon Photography Awards Our quarterly Alliance Afternoon features a presentation by Liz Dennison from Secret Garden Birds and Bees on how raptors use their wits and abilities to survive climate change, toxins in the environment, loss of habitat and emerging diseases. There will be live birds on hand!  We’ll gather at 2:30 to mingle and enjoy snacks and drinks (which attendees are welcome supplement with contributions), followed by a short membership meeting to vote on NVBA business and celebrate our 2026 Birdathon teams. When: Sunday, June 7, 2:30 PM - 4:30 PM Where: National Wildlife Federation Building, 11100 Wildlife Center Drive, Reston, VA 20190 Fee: FREE; registration is requested       MORE INFO      Waterfowl Rehabilitation Day with A.E.R.O. Mallards. Photo: Danny Brown/Audubon Photography Awards Join NVBA and our partners at A.E.R.O. (Animal Education and Rescue Organization) for an afternoon of bird-related educational sessions with a focus on waterfowl. When: Sunday, June 14, 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM Where: National Wildlife Federation Building, 11100 Wildlife Center Drive, Reston, VA 20190 Members: $20 Wildlife Rehabbers: $15 Nonmembers: $25    MORE INFO      Butterfly Identification with Larry Meade Variegated Fritillary. Photo: David Illig Butterflies usually live for only a few weeks as adults, but they make quite an impression while they are in their full glory. Larry Meade will walk us through the common species in our area and help us differentiate some of the trickier look-a-like species. When: Tuesday, June 16, 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM Where: Virtual Fee: suggested $5 donation; registrationi is required    MORE INFO      Bird Outings Birding, Camila Cerea   Check our Bird Outings page for upcoming events! Registration is requested for NVBA-sponsored outings to help our leaders prepare and communicate with participants. Volunteer with Us! Volunteers are at the heart of everything we do at NVBA, and we have many opportunities for you to get involved. Check our Volunteer page for a list of ongoing efforts and to fill out our general volunteer interest form. Watch our recorded Volunteer Orientation video to see the different kinds of volunteer activities we have available and learn how to get started. See you out there! Conservation Counts Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Rusty Moran Join Jim Waggener in his ongoing natural resource surveys at two of Northern Virginia's best birding spots. Surveys alternate between Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge and Meadowood Special Recreation Management Area on Mason Neck. Butterfly and Dragonfly counts resume in April!   National Audubon Society Action Network The National Audubon Society invites all Auduboners to join its action network. When you subscribe to the Society’s newsletter, you'll receive alerts about important congressional actions and information about how you can affect legislation by contacting your members of Congress. Too many emails? Now you can update your profile to let us know how often you'd like to receive email communications from NVBA. Copyright © 2026 Northern Virginia Bird Alliance, All rights reserved. You subscribed to this list when you joined the Northern Virginia Bird Alliance directly, joined the National Audubon Society and live in the Northern Virginia area, are an NVBA volunteer, or asked to receive our email updates. Our mailing address is: Northern Virginia Bird Alliance 11100 Wildlife Center Drive Ste. 100 Reston, VA 20190 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

Potomac Flier: May 2026

The latest news and events from Northern Virginia Bird Alliance

View this email in your browser May 2026 NVBA HOME         DONATE         JOIN A Letter to Our Members: Spring Renewal - A Call to Action for All of Us Red-winged Blackbird. Photo: Lauren Puckett/Audubon Photography Awards The equinox is a reminder that things begin again. Birds feel it before we do, returning, singing, coming back to the spaces they need. And that's exactly what I want us to think about this May during spring migration and the local nesting season: who gets to be in those spaces with them?  Read more > Uncertainty Looms at National Refuges, While Other Protected Areas in VA Expand Occoquan Bay NWR. Photo: Dixie Sommers National Wildlife Refuges are entering a period of uncertainty that could undermine the vital protections they offer to around 800 bird species across the country. Northern Virginia’s refuges are not immune from the looming pressures, but area refuges outside the federal system are thriving.  Read more > Birdathon is ON! Red-winged Blackbirds. Photo: Richard Mitterman/Audubon Photography Awards Migration season is in full swing, which means Birdathon is too. It's our favorite time of year — grab your binoculars, head outside, and turn your bird sightings into support for local conservation. Read more > Grasslands Birding Opportunity Dickcissel. Photo: Justin Griggs/Audubon Photography Awards Grasslands are one of the most threatened bird habitats in northern Virginia and across the country. In the last few years NVBA has been working both to conserve these areas and to facilitate access to these habitats for birdwatchers. Read more > More News Six Principles for Ethical Birding Great Horned Owlets. Photo: Tom Muehleisen/Audubon Photography Awards It’s the time of year when more of us are spending time outdoors, watching and photographing birds. It’s also a good time to review the principles of ethical birding. Read more >   Citizen Scientists are Down to Earth CBC participants in the morning fog. Photo: Deapesh Misra National Geographic defines citizen science as “the practice of public participation and collaboration in scientific research to increase scientific knowledge.” Projects usually do not require specialized knowledge, and volunteers often train new ones. Read more > Your Yard Can Help Save Our Streams Native plantings. Photo: Margaret Fisher Although agriculture is the largest contributor by far of nutrient and sediment loads in Virginia’s streams, rivers, and the Chesapeake Bay, urban and suburban stormwater runoff is the second largest and the fastest growing contributor of these pollutants. Read more >   Victims of Window Collisions May Help Scientists Study skins from "Lights Out - Recovering Our Night Sky." Photo: Robin Duska Sadly, many of us have come across a dead bird, whether near a window or out on a trail, often a result of its collision with a window or other object. When birds do die, can they be of use to scientists? Read more > Monthly Features A Closer Look: Nature All Around Us Small Milkweed Bug adult and nymphs with Common Milkweed seeds. Photo: Judy Gallagher 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.  Read more >   Wildlife Sanctuary Almanac: Your Neighbors' Trees English Ivy choking several trees. Photo: Margaret Fisher Once any of us becomes aware of the threat to our community’s trees from invasive vines, walking through our own neighborhoods can be a little frustrating. What if you could help those trees in a friendly, neighborly way? Read more > Upcoming Classes and Events   We have some exciting classes and events coming up, both virtually and in-person! Click any event to learn more and register. We are always adding events so be sure to check our calendar for the latest schedule.   Service Opportunity: Flower Planting at Monticello Park Monticello Park work day. Photo: Libby Lyons Meet other nature-loving individuals and help us "stretch a park." We will spend the morning planting native flowers in a backyard adjoining bird haven Monticello Park in a layout partially designed by NVBA's Wildlife Sanctuary team. When: Saturday, May 2, 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM Where: Monticello Park, 2920 Richmond Ln, Alexandria, VA 22305      MORE INFO      NextGen Trivia Night Barn Swallow. Photo: Luke High Come prepared to test your knowledge and quick thinking at a bird-themed trivia night, hosted by NextGen Birders for Conservation at NVBA's headquarters in Reston! Even if you think you know a lot about birds, nature, and wildlife, we hope that you will learn something new and have fun doing it. There will also be small prizes for the top-scoring participants! When: Friday, May 8, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM Where: National Wildlife Federation, 11100 Wildlife Center Drive, Reston, VA Fee: FREE      MORE INFO      Annual Occoquan Bay Migratory Bird Count Baltimore Oriole. Photo: Adrian Azar/Audubon Photography Awards Over this count’s history, final tallies have averaged over 100 species.  Altogether, this site’s range of habitats from open waters, wetlands and various fields and woodlands offers an extraordinary opportunity to witness the richness of spring migration and beginnings of a new breeding season. Join us! When: Saturday, May 9, 6:30 AM – 1:30 PM Where: National Wildlife Federation, 11100 Wildlife Center Drive, Reston, VA Fee: FREE, but please RSVP at the link below      MORE INFO      Bird Outing: Fairfax County I-95 Landfill Eastern Meadowlark. Photo: Mary Ellen Cross/Audubon Photography Awards NVBA has arranged a special visit to the landfill to allow our birdwatching community access to this unique restored habitat. This outing will provide the opportunity to see grassland bird species found in few places in northern Virginia. When: Saturday, May 9, 7:00 AM - 10:30 AM Where: Meet at the Landfill Office, 9850 Hagel Road, Lorton Fee: FREE, but space is limited to 18 participant; registration is required both on Eventbrite AND with Fairfax County Volunteer System      MORE INFO      Ornithology 101 with Kiersten Newtoff Tree Swallows. Photo: Arielle Smith/NVBA Photo Contest Are you fascinated by birds and eager to learn more? Join us for Ornithology 101, a beginner-friendly, 4-part virtual course designed for bird lovers of all backgrounds! Whether you’re a budding birder or simply curious about the avian world, this interactive series will introduce you to the fundamentals of bird biology, behavior, identification, and conservation - as well as ways you can get involved locally to help protect birds and their habitats!  When: Mondays from 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM, May 11 - June 8 Where: Virtual, with optional in-person field trips Member ticket: $120 for all 4 sessions Non-member ticket: $150 for all 4 sessions      MORE INFO      Wingspan Game Night with NOVA Parks: Asia Expansion Playing Wingspan. Join NVBA and NOVA Parks for a fun and engaging Wingspan Night at Potomac Overlook Regional Park! In partnership with naturalist Matt Felperin, we’ll play the popular bird-themed board game Wingspan. Learn to play the game, meet an Eastern Screech-Owl, and enjoy snacks and beverages! All are welcome. When: Wednesday, May 13, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM Where: Potomac Overlook Regional Park, Arlington, VA Fee: $25      MORE INFO      Nature's Interconnections with Alonso Abugattas Tiger Swallowtail butterfly on Ironweed. Photo: Betsy Martin Learn about “Nature’s Puzzle” at this free online program cosponsored with Friends of Dyke Marsh. Environmental educator Alonso Abugattas will discuss the interdependence of natural resources, including humans. When: Wednesday, May 13, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM Where: Online Fee: FREE, but registration is required       MORE INFO      Birds in Watercolor: Downy Woodpecker with Ronna Fujisawa Downy Woodpecker. Painting by Ronna Fujisawa In this digital art class, students will paint a Downy Woodpecker, a familiar backyard species that frequents feeders. Your instructor Ronna Fujisawa will be your guide through the step-by-step process of painting. All levels of experience welcome! When: Thursday, May 21, 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM Where: Virtual Members: $22 Non-members: $33    MORE INFO      Birding Tour of Del Ray Eastern Bluebirds. Photo: Mark Boyd/Audubon Photography Awards Identify local birds and their habitats with experienced birders who will lead a walking tour around Del Ray. Sharpen your skills before Black Birders Week! This program is presented in partnership with the Jerome "Buddie" Ford Nature Center, Arlington Regional Master Naturalists, and Northern Virginia Bird Alliance. When: Saturday, May 23, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM Where: Meet at Duncan Library, 2501 Commonwealth Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22301 Fee: FREE; registration is required    MORE INFO      Bird Outings Birding, Camila Cerea   Check our Bird Outings page for upcoming events! Registration is requested for NVBA-sponsored outings to help our leaders prepare and communicate with participants. Volunteer with Us! Volunteers are at the heart of everything we do at NVBA, and we have many opportunities for you to get involved. Check our Volunteer page for a list of ongoing efforts and to fill out our general volunteer interest form. Watch our recorded Volunteer Orientation video to see the different kinds of volunteer activities we have available and learn how to get started. See you out there! Conservation Counts Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Rusty Moran Join Jim Waggener in his ongoing natural resource surveys at two of Northern Virginia's best birding spots. Surveys alternate between Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge and Meadowood Special Recreation Management Area on Mason Neck. Butterfly and Dragonfly counts resume in April!   National Audubon Society Action Network The National Audubon Society invites all Auduboners to join its action network. When you subscribe to the Society’s newsletter, you'll receive alerts about important congressional actions and information about how you can affect legislation by contacting your members of Congress. Too many emails? Now you can update your profile to let us know how often you'd like to receive email communications from NVBA. Copyright © 2026 Northern Virginia Bird Alliance, All rights reserved. You subscribed to this list when you joined the Northern Virginia Bird Alliance directly, joined the National Audubon Society and live in the Northern Virginia area, are an NVBA volunteer, or asked to receive our email updates. Our mailing address is: Northern Virginia Bird Alliance 11100 Wildlife Center Drive Ste. 100 Reston, VA 20190 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

Potomac Flier: April 2026

The latest news and events from the Northern Virginia Bird Alliance

View this email in your browser April 2026 NVBA HOME         DONATE         JOIN A Letter to Our Members: Right Now is a Great Time to Get Rid of Your Invasive Plants Callery Pears. Photo: Tom Blackburn The Virginia Legislature has passed legislation, now awaiting the Governor’s signature, which will help combat the spread of invasive plants. But the new laws don’t do anything about the invasive plants in your own, or your neighbors’, yards. Here are a few that are at the top of my Enemies List, along with some suggestions on what to replace them with.  Read more > Thompson Wildlife Management Area in Spring Trilliums and Mayapples in bloom. Photo: Sudhir Viswarajan, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons During the transition from winter to spring, nature shows off. There are a trillion different emerging sights, but few as captivating as the trilliums (Trilliaceae family).  Read more > It's Time for Birdathon! 2025 Birdathon teams As spring arrives in northern Virginia, we’re looking forward to Birdathon 2026, our biggest and most FUN fundraiser of the year! Read more > Spring in Virginia: Some Birders' Thoughts Green-winged Teal. Photo: Joyce Palm/Audubon Photography Awards After snow flurries and a couple of cold snaps this past month, here are a couple things local birders are looking forward to in April. Read more > More News Birding and Photography along Marumsco Creek Great Blue Heron. Photo: Kent Blumberg My favorite birding spot is Veterans Memorial Park in Woodbridge. I keep coming back for the surprises that appear around every bend in the trail. Read more >   The Birds are Coming! It's Time to Turn Off the Lights Purple Martins. Photo: Keith Kingdon/Audubon Photography Awards Time to turn off your lights to help migrating birds coming to or through our area! Learn more about the importance of darkness to migrating birds. Read more > Judging a Plant by its Label Native plants at a garden center. Photo: Margaret Fisher Finding natives in commercial garden centers can be challenging. Plant labels, excepting those that Plant NOVA Native volunteers have already tagged in red as “Native,” rarely offer much information and use terms that can be confusing. Here are some definitions and tips to help you find exactly what the biodiversity of the region needs. Read more > Monthly Features A Closer Look: Nature All Around Us Palm Warbler with Katydid. Photo: Judy Gallagher 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.  Read more >   Wildlife Sanctuary Almanac: Plant a Butterfly Nursery in the Shade Canadian Serviceberry. Photo: USFWS/Southeast, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Everybody loves butterflies, but caterpillars can be less charismatic. However, without caterpillars, we don’t have butterflies. Read more > Upcoming Classes and Events   We have some exciting classes and events coming up, both virtually and in-person! Click any event to learn more and register. We are always adding events so be sure to check our calendar for the latest schedule of events.   Beginner Birding at Occoquan Bay NWR Bird guide training. Photo: McKenzie Ingram Join NVBA naturalist Andreas Seiter at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge for an introduction to birdwatching and a guided walk to seek out some of the refuge’s diverse waterfowl species.  When: Friday, April 3, 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM Where: Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, 14050 Dawson Beach Rd, Woodbridge, VA 22191 Fee: FREE, but registration is appreciated      MORE INFO      In-person Art Class: Sketching Birds 101 with Jess Michetti Bird sketches, Jess Michetti In the spirit of Draw A Bird Day, join Jess Michetti in Reston where you will use pencils, pens and copy paper to draw an American Robin. Learn what materials to use and useful techniques. This event celebrates drawing birds as a way to enjoy the challenge of putting pencil to paper and learn something about our subject along the way. Absolutely no experience is required and all skill levels are welcome. When: Wednesday, April 8, 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM Where: National Wildlife Federation Building, 11100 Wildlife Center Drive, Reston, VA 20190 Members: $12 Nonmembers: $23      MORE INFO      Springtime Bird Rehab and Education Day with A.E.R.O. Red-winged Blackbirds. Photo: Dixie Sommers/NVBA Photo Contest Join NVBA and our partner A.E.R.O. (Animal Education and Rescue Organization) for an afternoon full of bird-related educational sessions. With Spring Migration in full-swing, we want everyone to be prepared the next time they find an injured or lost bird! When: Sunday, April 12, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM Where: National Wildlife Federation Building, 11100 Wildlife Center Drive, Reston, VA 20190 Members and Wildlife Rehabbers: $18 Nonmembers: $23      MORE INFO      Birdathon Kickoff: Introduction, Team Building and Q&A Prairie Warbler. Photo: Matt Felperin Register for this virtual event to learn about our upcoming annual Birdathon! We will begin with an introduction to Birdathon and discuss how to form a team, sign up, set up your fundraising page, and track your sightings. We’ll also cover important deadlines, how teams will submit observations through eBird, and tips for making the most of your 2026 Birdathon experience! When: Monday, April 13, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM Where: Online  Fee: FREE, but registration is required      MORE INFO      Reducing Bird Collisions: Practical Solutions for Building Glass and Light Pollution Purple Martins. Photo: Keith Kingdon/Audubon Photography Awards Join us on April 15 to find out how important it is to reduce outdoor lighting, particularly during bird migration. Hear from our speakers Joelle Gehring and Jo Anna Lutmerding, both with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, on how outdoor lights affect bird migration and birds’ health and reproduction throughout the year.  When: Wednesday, April 15, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM Where: Online  Fee: FREE, but registration is required      MORE INFO      iNaturalist City Nature Challenge Insect Walk with Judy Gallagher Jagged Ambush Bug Nymph. Photo: Randy Streufert/NVBA Photo Contest Join us in celebrating the 2026 iNaturalist City Nature Challenge with an insect walk hosted by Judy Gallagher, NVBA board member and author of our monthly insect-focused column “A Closer Look.” Judy will guide participants on a short hike, looking for and identifying insects along the way. The City Nature Challenge is a global, community-powered event where people work together to observe and document wildlife in their local environments. When: Saturday, April 25, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM Where: Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, 14050 Dawson Beach Road, Woodbridge, VA 22191 Fee: FREE, but registration is requested      MORE INFO      Beyond the Spray: Protecting Wildlife and Biodiversity with Safer Mosquito Control Solutions Tiger Swallowtail butterfly on Ironweed. Photo: Betsy Martin Join us for a free program on mosquito control solutions that avoid pesticides. Learn about the harm to wildlife from broadcast spraying and safer and more effective alternatives.  When: Saturday, April 25, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM Where: Mount Vernon Unitarian Church, 1909 Windmill Lane, Alexandria, VA 22307 Fee: FREE, but registration is required      MORE INFO      Bird Outings Birding, Camila Cerea   Check our Bird Outings page for upcoming events! Registration is requested for NVBA-sponsored outings to help our leaders prepare and communicate with participants. Volunteer with Us! Volunteers are at the heart of everything we do at NVBA, and we have many opportunities for you to get involved. Check our Volunteer page for a list of ongoing efforts and to fill out our general volunteer interest form. Watch our recorded Volunteer Orientation video to see the different kinds of volunteer activities we have available and learn how to get started. See you out there! Conservation Counts Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Rusty Moran Join Jim Waggener in his ongoing natural resource surveys at two of Northern Virginia's best birding spots. Surveys alternate between Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge and Meadowood Special Recreation Management Area on Mason Neck. Butterfly and Dragonfly counts resume in April!   National Audubon Society Action Network The National Audubon Society invites all Auduboners to join its action network. When you subscribe to the Society’s newsletter, you'll receive alerts about important congressional actions and information about how you can affect legislation by contacting your members of Congress. Too many emails? Now you can update your profile to let us know how often you'd like to receive email communications from NVBA. Copyright © 2026 Northern Virginia Bird Alliance, All rights reserved. You subscribed to this list when you joined the Northern Virginia Bird Alliance directly, joined the National Audubon Society and live in the Northern Virginia area, are an NVBA volunteer, or asked to receive our email updates. Our mailing address is: Northern Virginia Bird Alliance 11100 Wildlife Center Drive Ste. 100 Reston, VA 20190 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

Potomac Flier: March 2026

The latest news and events from the Northern Virginia Bird Alliance

View this email in your browser March 2026 NVBA HOME         DONATE         JOIN A Letter to Our Members: Handling the Cold Tufted Titmouse. Photo: Catherine McEntee/Audubon Photography Awards I expect that many of you have wondered during the past frigid, snowy, and icy weeks, “How can birds survive the winter here?” That question has had me thinking too, and the answer seems to boil down to two types of responses, i.e., behavioral and physiological, or a combination of the two. Read more > Tundra Swans Tundra Swans. Photo: Kent Blumberg You still have time, if you’re lucky, to see one of our most spectacular winter visitors: the Tundra Swan. Hundreds of these graceful white birds spend the winter in the Chesapeake Bay and tidal Potomac from November through mid-March. When they gather in large flocks, the sight is unforgettable. Read more > The Latest on Avian Influenza Green-winged Teal. Photo: Gary Zahm/Audubon Photography Awards Spring migration is about to bring millions of birds north along the Atlantic Flyway, a welcome sight for Virginia bird-lovers emerging from a season of persistent cold and stubborn snowbanks. With these birds, concern is also returning about a bird flu outbreak that has been active in the U.S. since early 2022. Read more > More News Their Time to Sleep Winterberry in snow. Photo: Margaret Fisher It’s March. Spring is coming, but when you glance outside it’s still cold and dark, sometimes snowy. But the marvel of plant dormancy is once again unfolding, unseen. Read more >   Invasive Plant Legislation Moves Forward in the VA Legislature Invasive vines. Photo: Valerie Morgan The Virginia legislature appears to be intent on taking steps to slow the environmental and economic harm that invasive plants are causing. Read more >   The I-95 Landfill's Becoming 'Birdy' No-mow zone. Photo: Glenda Booth Few people find visiting a landfill enticing, but some of our avian friends do. Grassland and other birds are using a closed portion of the I-95 landfill, according to a recently released Fairfax County report. Read more >   Help Rescue Fairfax County Trees Invasive vines on trees. Photo: Fairfax County Tree Rescuers Celebrate the end of winter by helping Fairfax Tree Rescuers clip invasive vines and dig up invasive plants to save trees! Read more > Monthly Features A Closer Look: Nature All Around Us Robber fly with lady beetle prey. Photo: Judy Gallagher 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.  Read more >   Wildlife Sanctuary Almanac: It's Spring! Is it Time to Plant? Mertensia virginica. Photo: Cbaile, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons Spring arrives on March 20. Those occasional warm sunny days that occur in early spring may signal that it is time to add to your native plant gardens. But don’t move too fast! Read more > Upcoming Classes and Events   We have some exciting classes and events coming up, both virtually and in-person! Click any event to learn more and register. You can also check our calendar for our full schedule of events.   Virginia's Amazing Vultures Black Vultures. Photo: Joe Subolefsky/Audubon Photography Awards Vultures are a critical component of the ecosystem but are often misunderstood and maligned. The presentation will explore the natural history of vultures in Virginia, the unique biology and ecology of vultures, global conservation concerns and human–vulture conflicts and mitigation strategies. Wildlife rehabilitator Heather Shank Givens will give a presentation on Virginia’s fascinating vultures and bring her black vulture, Dusty, a non-releasable vulture wildlife ambassador. When: Sunday, March 8, 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM Where: Mount Vernon Governmental Center, 2511 Parkers Lane, Alexandria, VA 22306 Fee: FREE      MORE INFO      Birds in Watercolor: Pileated Woodpecker with Ronna Fujisawa Image courtesy of Ronna Fujisawa Join this virtual class to learn to paint NVBA's Bird of the Year: The Pileated Woodpecker!  When: Thursday, March 19, 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM Where: Virtual Members: $22 Non-members: $33      MORE INFO      Alliance Afternoon: Searching for Lost Birds with John Mittermeier Ivory-billed Woodpeckers. Image: John James Audubon Join us for our first Alliance Afternoon of 2026 (rescheduled from January)! Following a business meeting, the American Bird Conservancy’s John Mittermeier will speak on the Search for Lost Birds. Following the meeting guests are welcome to stay for a Volunteer Recruitment Fair. All are welcome to come early (2:00 PM) for snacks and to visit with members of our community. When: Sunday, March 29, 2:30 PM - 4:30 PM Where: National Wildlife Federation Building, 11100 Wildlife Center Drive, Reston, VA 20190 Fee: FREE      MORE INFO      Bird Outings Birding, Camila Cerea   Check our Bird Outings page for upcoming events! Registration is requested for NVBA-sponsored outings to help our leaders prepare and communicate with participants. Volunteer with Us! Volunteers are at the heart of everything we do at NVBA, and we have many opportunities for you to get involved. Check our Volunteer page for a list of ongoing efforts and to fill out our general volunteer interest form. Watch our recorded Volunteer Orientation video to see the different kinds of volunteer activities we have available and learn how to get started. See you out there! Conservation Counts Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Rusty Moran Join Jim Waggener in his ongoing natural resource surveys at two of Northern Virginia's best birding spots. Surveys alternate between Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge and Meadowood Special Recreation Management Area on Mason Neck. Read more > National Audubon Society Action Network The National Audubon Society invites all Auduboners to join its action network. When you subscribe to the Society’s newsletter, you'll receive alerts about important congressional actions and information about how you can affect legislation by contacting your members of Congress. Too many emails? Now you can update your profile to let us know how often you'd like to receive email communications from NVBA. Copyright © 2026 Northern Virginia Bird Alliance, All rights reserved. You subscribed to this list when you joined the Northern Virginia Bird Alliance directly, joined the National Audubon Society and live in the Northern Virginia area, are an NVBA volunteer, or asked to receive our email updates. Our mailing address is: Northern Virginia Bird Alliance 11100 Wildlife Center Drive Ste. 100 Reston, VA 20190 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

Potomac Flier: February 2026

The latest news and events from the Northern Virginia Bird Alliance

View this email in your browser February 2026 NVBA HOME         DONATE         JOIN A Letter to Our Members: Flickers of Hope in Winter Northern Flicker. Photo: Barbara Tomawski/Audubon Photography Awards Working to help birds, I cherish moments in the field. It's a reminder that helping science and volunteering is about more than contributing additional data. It sharpens your noticing. And suddenly you realize there are flickers of hope everywhere. Read more > NVBA Helps Preserve Urban Forest in Fairfax City View of the path of the proposed trail. Photo: Val Morgan Following a long and hard-fought campaign by environmental advocates, the Fairfax City Council voted not to proceed with constructing the George Snyder Trail, which would have destroyed much of the city’s urban forest. This victory for the environment over development is a classic demonstration of the effort needed to secure an environmental “win.”  Read more > Winter Irruptions Snowy Owl. Photo: Bernard Friel/Audubon Photography Awards An “irruption” is a large-scale movement of birds to a new area, somewhat similar to migration. However, unlike regular fall and spring migrations, irruptions are typically driven by resource availability (such as food scarcity) and thus occur more randomly, with some winters seeing big irruptions and others seeing none at all. Read more > More News Updating the VA Breeding Bird Atlas Baltimore Oriole. Photo: Mark Boyd/Audubon Photography Awards Breeding bird atlases have a long history in the United States, where they are typically conducted at the state level. Like road atlases, at their core they are centered around maps, but the maps relate to the geographic distribution and abundance of breeding bird species—that is, where they are found on the landscape and in what numbers.  Read more > The Depths of Winter: What's a Gardener to Do? Invasive English Ivy with new year snow. Photo: Ian Paterson via CC BY-SA 2.0 February is a daunting, cold month for sure. But winter dormancy is for plants, not humans, and February can be the perfect time to plan additions to your native plant garden. It is also a great time to remove some invasive, non-native species. Read more >   Our 2026 Scholarship Winner Atlantic Puffins. Photo: Walker Golder/Audubon Photography Awards This summer NVBA is sending Carrie Lombardi, science coach at Arlington’s Barrett Elementary School, to “Sharing Nature: An Educator’s Week” at National Audubon Society’s Hog Island Camp in Maine. Read more >   The 2026 Audubon Photography Awards are Now Open! Pileated Woodpeckers. Photo: Wayne Wetherbee/Audubon Photography Awards Attention photographers! National Audubon Society kicked off its 17th annual photography awards on January 15. Read more > Monthly Features A Closer Look: Nature All Around Us Tree Cattle. Photo: Judy Gallagher 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.  Read more >   Wildlife Sanctuary Almanac: Bird-Friendly Tree and Shrub Pruning American Robins. Photo: William Harris/Audubon Photography Awards Pruning can be good for the tree and good for us, but it isn’t always good for birds. Done wrong, it can disturb nesting sites, remove protective cover and prevent plants from flowering or fruiting. Here are a few tips for bird-friendly pruning this winter and spring.  Read more >   Upcoming Classes and Events   We have some exciting classes and events coming up, both virtually and in-person! Click any event to learn more and register. You can also check our calendar for our full schedule of events.   NextGen Winter Birding at Lake Fairfax and Board Game Session Mallards. Photo: Luke High Join Nextgen Birders for a fun-filled day of birding at Lake Fairfax Park followed by a board game session at the NVBA offices, both in Reston. You’re welcome to join us for the morning walk, the afternoon game session, or both. When: Sunday, February 1, 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM Where: Lake Fairfax Park and NVBA Office Fee: FREE      MORE INFO      Bird Outing: Winter Birding at Huntley Meadows Dark-eyed Junco. Photo: Lucy Franco/Audubon Photography Awards Join bird guides Arielle and Gabrielle for a winter bird walk through Huntley Meadows in Alexandria, VA! Meet at the trail entrance by the main parking lot. When: Saturday, February 7, 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM Where: Huntley Meadows Park, 3701 Lockheed Boulevard, Alexandria, VA 22306      MORE INFO      Raptor Rehabilitation and Rodenticide Awareness with Dr. Belinda Burwell Red-shouldered Hawks. Photo: Matt Strachan/NVBA Photo Contest Join us for an afternoon program covering the fundamentals of raptor rehabilitation. The course will be taught by certified wildlife rehabilitator and veterinarian Dr. Belinda Burwell and will cover essential raptor rehabilitation skills geared toward at-home rehabbers. Participants will also learn how rodenticides harm raptors. When: Saturday, February 7, 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM Where: National Wildlife Federation, 11100 Wildlife Center Drive, Reston, VA 20190 General Admission: $25 Wildlife Rehabber Admission: $15      MORE INFO      DCBA x NVBA Winter Crow Watch at Shirlington Roost Crows gathering at Shirlington roost. Photo: McKenzie Ingram Join the DC Bird Alliance and NVBA for our last crow watch this winter. It’s quite a spectacle to see to watch crows circling their roost in numbers so large it appears on radar.  When: Sunday, February 8, 5:15 PM – 6:15 PM Where: Meet outside the Shirlington Library, 4200 Campbell Avenue, Arlington, VA Fee: FREE, but registration is appreciated      MORE INFO      Bird Outing: Winter Birding at Lake Audubon Tufted Titmouse. Photo: Jocelyn Anderson/Audubon Photography Awards Join Northern Virginia Bird Alliance guides Robin and Luke for a winter birding outing at Lake Audubon! Birders of all experience levels are welcome. When: Saturday, February 21, 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM Where: Walker Nature Center, 11450 Glade Drive, Reston, VA 20191 Fee: FREE, but registration is appreciated      MORE INFO      Bird Outings Birding, Camila Cerea   Check our Bird Outings page for upcoming events! Registration is requested for NVBA-sponsored outings to help our leaders prepare and communicate with participants. Conservation Counts Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Rusty Moran Join Jim Waggener in his ongoing natural resource surveys at two of Northern Virginia's best birding spots. Surveys alternate between Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge and Meadowood Special Recreation Management Area on Mason Neck. Read more > National Audubon Society Action Network The National Audubon Society invites all Auduboners to join its action network. When you subscribe to the Society’s newsletter, you'll receive alerts about important congressional actions and information about how you can affect legislation by contacting your members of Congress. Too many emails? Now you can update your profile to let us know how often you'd like to receive email communications from NVBA. Copyright © 2026 Northern Virginia Bird Alliance, All rights reserved. You subscribed to this list when you joined the Northern Virginia Bird Alliance directly, joined the National Audubon Society and live in the Northern Virginia area, are an NVBA volunteer, or asked to receive our email updates. Our mailing address is: Northern Virginia Bird Alliance 11100 Wildlife Center Drive Ste. 100 Reston, VA 20190 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

Potomac Flier: January 2026

The latest news and events from the Northern Virginia Bird Alliance

View this email in your browser January 2026 NVBA HOME         DONATE         JOIN A Letter to Our Members Pileated Woodpecker, John Troth/Audubon Photography Awards A year ago, I joined NVBA as Executive Director. I knew I was joining an organization with a strong legacy built by dedicated volunteers over many years, but I wasn't sure exactly what to expect. Read more > Perspective on the Dreaded Spotted Lanternfly Adult Spotted Lanternfly, Cbaile19, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons Since the spotted lanternfly first made its presence known in Virginia in 2018, we have been faithfully stomping, squashing and squishing the invaders, which the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources describes as a “vampire in a black tuxedo, white shirt, and red bowtie.”   Read more > More News NVBA's Advocacy Committee and the Busy Season Ahead VA State Capitol, Wikimedia user Skip Plitt via CC BY-SA-3.0 With the 2026 Virginia General Assembly about to convene on January 14 for a fast-moving two-month session, the advocacy committee needs many volunteers to make sure its voice is heard.  Read more >   Feeding Birds in Winter Red-bellied Woodpecker, Steve Donovan/Audubon Photography Awards We can help our bird friends survive winter weather by providing them both food and water, particularly in urban and suburban areas where native habitat may be scarce. Read more > Monthly Features A Closer Look: Nature All Around Us Lovebugs, Judy Gallagher 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.  Read more >   Wildlife Sanctuary Almanac: Love Our Mighty Oaks Swamp Chestnut Oak, Betsy Martin Native species of oak trees are abundant across our region. Northern Red Oaks and White Oaks in particular are among our most dominant keystone species, contributing to the ecosystem in ways that are mighty indeed.  Read more >   Upcoming Classes and Events   We have some exciting classes and events coming up, both virtually and in-person! Click any event to learn more and register. You can also check our calendar for our full schedule of events.   NVBA's Bird of the Year: Woodpeckers with Matt Felperin Pileated Woodpeckers, Anne Bielamowicz/NVBA Photo Contest Join NVBA and special guest Matt Felperin for a virtual event on National Bird Day (January 5th) to celebrate our 2026 Bird of the Year. After a brief discussion on why NVBA chose the Pileated Woodpecker as our inaugural Bird of the Year, Matt will expand the conversation to woodpeckers as a whole. His presentation will include fun woodpecker facts, identification tips, where to find woodpeckers in Northern Virginia, and conclude with time for questions!  When: Monday, January 5, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM Where: Online Fee: FREE but registration is required      MORE INFO      The Effects of Climate Breakdown on Birds with Bill Young American Redstart, Kamala Raghavan/NVBA Photo Contest In this course, taught by Bill Young, we'll discuss how climate change affects birds--which species will adapt and which are vulnerable. The course is intended for a general audience, with no special knowledge of birds needed. When: Wednesday, January 7, 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM Where: Online Member Cost: $65 + $5.34 fee Non-member Cost: $75 + $5.93 fee Students (for adults 25 and under): $10      MORE INFO      Winter Waterfowl Watch at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge Northern Shoveler, Stan Bysshe Join us for a winter waterfowl watch at beautiful Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. On this guided walk, you’ll explore the refuge’s diverse waterfowl species with naturalist Andreas Seiter.  When: Saturday, January 17, 9:00 AM - 11:00 PM Where: Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, 14050 Dawson Beach Rd, Woodbridge, VA 22191; meet at the Visitor Information Center. Fee: FREE, but registration is appreciated      MORE INFO      Winter Crow Watch at Shirlington Roost Crows gathering at Shirlington roost, McKenzie Ingram Join NVBA and our partners at DC Bird Alliance for a Winter Crow Watch at the Shirlington roost located in Arlington, VA. You’re in for a show as the crows gather here in numbers so large it actually appears on radar! When: Saturday, January 17, 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM Where: Shirlington Library, 4200 Campbell Avenue, Arlington, VA 22206 Fee: FREE      MORE INFO      Raptor Rehabilitation and Rodenticide Awareness with Dr. Belinda Burwell Red-shouldered Hawks, Matt Strachan/NVBA Photo Contest Join us for an afternoon of program covering the fundamentals of raptor rehabilitation. The course will be taught by certified wildlife rehabilitator and veterinarian Dr. Belinda Burwell and will cover essential raptor rehabilitation skills geared toward at-home rehabbers. Participants will also learn how rodenticides harm raptors. When: Saturday, January 24, 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM Where: National Wildlife Federation, 11100 Wildlife Center Drive, Reston, VA 20190 General Admission: $25 Wildlife Rehabber Admission: $15      MORE INFO      Alliance Afternoon: Searching for Lost Birds with John Mittermeier American Kestrel, Randy Streufert/NVBA Photo Contest Join us for our first Alliance Afternoon of 2026! We will kick off the meeting by conducting chapter business, followed by celebrations of the 2025 Christmas Bird Count and the 2026 Photo Contest Calendar. The agenda will then move into a discussion of upcoming advocacy opportunities and other chapter updates. Our featured presentation will be given by guest speaker John Mittermeier of the American Bird Conservancy, who will speak on the Search for Lost Birds. When: Sunday, January 25, 2:30 PM - 4:30 PM Where: National Wildlife Federation Building, 11100 Wildlife Center Drive, Reston, VA 20190 Fee: FREE      MORE INFO      Bird Outings Birding, Camila Cerea   Check our Bird Outings page for upcoming events! Registration is requested for NVBA-sponsored outings to help our leaders prepare and communicate with participants. Conservation Counts Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Rusty Moran Join Jim Waggener in his ongoing natural resource surveys at two of Northern Virginia's best birding spots. Surveys alternate between Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge and Meadowood Special Recreation Management Area on Mason Neck. Read more > National Audubon Society Action Network The National Audubon Society invites all Auduboners to join its action network. When you subscribe to the Society’s newsletter, you'll receive alerts about important congressional actions and information about how you can affect legislation by contacting your members of Congress. Too many emails? Now you can update your profile to let us know how often you'd like to receive email communications from NVBA. Copyright © 2026 Northern Virginia Bird Alliance, All rights reserved. You subscribed to this list when you joined the Northern Virginia Bird Alliance directly, joined the National Audubon Society and live in the Northern Virginia area, are an NVBA volunteer, or asked to receive our email updates. Our mailing address is: Northern Virginia Bird Alliance 11100 Wildlife Center Drive Ste. 100 Reston, VA 20190 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

Potomac Flier: December 2025

The latest news and events from the Northern Virginia Bird Alliance

View this email in your browser December 2025 NVBA HOME         DONATE         JOIN A Letter to Our Members Northern Saw-whet Owl, Carolina Sanabria The Smithsonian Environmental Research Center in Edgewater, MD, hosts a Project Owlnet bird banding station as part of a project studying Northern Saw-whet Owl migration. I was allowed to participate as a volunteer last year, which gave me a truly memorable experience, seeing the Northern Saw-whet Owl for the first time. Read more > Mystery Arlington Bird Carried Disease First Found in Alaska Red-breasted Nuthatch with deformed beak, Alaska Science Center, USGS An enigma alighted on an Arlington birdfeeder in late July, a sparrow-sized bird with an inverted feeding style and a prodigious beak almost as long as its brown and white body. Who was this strange visitor?  Read more > NVBA Photo Calendars are Here! American Kestrel, Randy Streufert Thank you to everyone who participated in our calendar contest! Calendars are ready to purchase through our online shop and they make great holiday gifts for the bird lovers in your life. Order by the end of this week to get your order before the holidays, either via pickup at our office or USPS shipping.  Visit the NVBA Shop > More News Prepare for the Next Virginia General Assembly: Two Programs on Advocacy VA State Capitol, Wikimedia user Skip Plitt via CC BY-SA-3.0 Advocating for your legislative priorities can be intimidating. NVBA is offering two programs that will help demystify the process and provide an advance look at legislation that will be introduced in the 2026 Virginia General Assembly. Read more >   Back for the Holidays: The White-throated Sparrow White-throated Sparrow, Ashrith Kandula/Audubon Photography Awards “Oh-sweet-Canada-Canada” or “Old-Sam-Peabody-Peabody” – no matter which phrase you associate with the song of the White-throated Sparrow, northern Virginia residents can expect to hear it throughout the coming months as these little birds sing of their return from breeding grounds in Canada. Read more > How Birds Survive the Winter Mourning Dove, Danny Brown/Audubon Photography Awards How do our feathered friends survive winter? They have two options: migrate south to warmer temperatures or adapt to the winter weather. Read more > Monthly Features A Closer Look: Nature All Around Us Cynapid Wasp gall on Pin Oak , Judy Gallagher 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.  Read more >   Wildlife Sanctuary Almanac: Use - and lose - Nandina Nandina, Emóke Dénes, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons 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.  Read more >   Upcoming Classes and Events   We have some exciting classes and events coming up, both virtually and in-person! Click any event to learn more and register. You can also check our calendar for our full schedule of events.   Virginia Conservation Network General Assembly Preview Graphic courtesy of Virginia Conservation Network Join us at our offices in the Reston for a General Assembly Preview Watch Party to prepare for the upcoming General Assembly. We’ll provide breakfast, followed by a streamed presentation from experts across the Commonwealth, and an in-person discussion about local issues. You can register for the General Assembly Preview here.  When: Saturday, December 6, 9:00 AM - noon Where: National Wildlife Federation Building, 11100 Wildlife Center Drive, Reston, VA Suggested Donation: $20      MORE INFO      Wildlife Sanctuary Presentation Hosted by the Native Plant Circle Certified Wildlife Sanctuary Are you intrigued by observing wildlife in your own yard? Do you want to contribute to the environmental health of our planet? If so join us to learn about the Wildlife Sanctuary program and how you can transform your yard to create habitat, attract beneficial wildlife, and get your yard certified as a Wildlife Sanctuary. You’ll learn about habitat best practices and receive tips to help you select native trees and plants that suit the conditions in your yard. When: Saturday, December 13, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Where: Mount Vernon Unitarian Church, 1909 Windmill Lane, Alexandria, CA 22307 Fee: FREE      MORE INFO      Effective Advocacy with Delegate Kathy Tran Virginia State Capitol Building, Wikimedia user Skip Plitt via CC BY-SA 3.0 Do you want to learn how to be a more effective advocate? Join NVBA and Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy for a virtual program with the Honorable Kathy Tran, Representative for Virginia District 18 and Majority Caucus Chair for the Virginia House of Delegates. When: Tuesday, December 16, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM Where: Online Fee: FREE      MORE INFO      Manassas-Bull Run Christmas Bird Count Carolina Chickadee, Jeff Drake/Audubon Photography Awards The Manassas-Bull Run Christmas Bird Count (CBC) will be on Sunday, December 14. The center of the 15-mile diameter count circle is near the intersection of Routes 28 & 29 in Centreville. Birders of all skill levels are needed. When: Sunday, December 14, 2025, 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM Where: Centreville, VA  Fee: FREE      MORE INFO      Bird Walks Birding, Camila Cerea   Check our Bird Walks page for upcoming walks! Registration is requested for NVBA-sponsored walks to help our walk leaders prepare and communicate with participants. Conservation Counts Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Rusty Moran Join Jim Waggener in his ongoing natural resource surveys at two of Northern Virginia's best birding spots. Surveys alternate between Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge and Meadowood Special Recreation Management Area on Mason Neck. Read more > National Audubon Society Action Network The National Audubon Society invites all Auduboners to join its action network. When you subscribe to the Society’s newsletter, you'll receive alerts about important congressional actions and information about how you can affect legislation by contacting your members of Congress. Too many emails? Now you can update your profile to let us know how often you'd like to receive email communications from NVBA. Copyright © 2025 Northern Virginia Bird Alliance, All rights reserved. You subscribed to this list when you joined the Northern Virginia Bird Alliance directly, joined the National Audubon Society and live in the Northern Virginia area, are an NVBA volunteer, or asked to receive our email updates. Our mailing address is: Northern Virginia Bird Alliance 11100 Wildlife Center Drive Ste. 100 Reston, VA 20190 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

Potomac Flier: November 2025

The latest news and events from the Northern Virginia Bird Alliance

View this email in your browser November 2025 NVBA HOME         DONATE         JOIN A Letter to Our Members Bald Eagle, Matt Felperin As each November rolls around, I try to review the past year in order to acknowledge and honor the many things for which I am thankful. Read more > Birds, Beliefs and Balance: Native Wisdom for Modern Birders Common Loon (Maang), Benjamin Olson/Audubon Photography Awards 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. Read more > More News Virginia's Data Centers and Our Environment Loudoun County Data Center, Hugh Kenny/Piedmont Environmental Council 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. Read more >   A Winter Resident Returns: The Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Michael Fogleman/Audubon Photography Awards 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. Read more >   "Junk Trees" and the Native Understory Devil's Walking-stick flower, Public Domain via Wikipedia 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.  Read more > Calling All NoVA Photographers! Barn Swallow, Satonya Dews/Audubon Photography Awards We're thrilled to announce the launch of NVBA’s first annual Calendar Photo Contest. Showcase your favorite shots while supporting conservation right here in northern Virginia. Read more > Monthly Features A Closer Look: Nature All Around Us Forcepfly, Judy Gallagher 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.  Read more >   Wildlife Sanctuary Almanac: Grow a Winter Bird Feeder American Goldfinch, Barb D'Arpino/Audubon Photography Awards 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. Read more >   Upcoming Classes and Events   We have some exciting classes and events coming up, both virtually and in-person! Click any event to learn more and register. You can also check our calendar for our full schedule of events.   Birds in Watercolor: Female Northern Cardinal with Ronna Fujisawa Northern Cardinal, Darla J. Oathout/Audubon Photography Awards In this online class, students will paint a beautiful female Northern Cardinal portrait, learning how to mix neutral colors and techniques for layering colors to create various feather patterns. The class is open to all levels of watercolor painters, and beginners are welcome.  When: Thursday, November 6, 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM Where: Virtual Members: $22 Non-members: $33      MORE INFO      2026 Hog Island Scholarship Virtual Event Hog Island coastline, Kirk Treakle Calling all public school teachers: Join NVBA and last year's Hog Island scholarship recipient Deborah Hammer to hear about her experiences at camp, ask questions, and learn how to apply. When: Thursday, November 20, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM Where: Virtual Fee: FREE      MORE INFO      Italy's Birds and Conservation Efforts Eurasian Collared Dove, Beverly Hallberg/Audubon Photography Awards Learn about Italy’s birding history and conservation projects with ecotourism pioneer Marco Valtriani. You can join us in person or on Zoom! When: Monday, November 24, 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM Where: Virtual AND In-person at 11100 Wildlife Center Drive, Reston Fee: FREE      MORE INFO      Wildlife Sanctuary Presentation Hosted by the Native Plant Circle Certified Wildlife Sanctuary Are you intrigued by observing wildlife in your own yard? Do you want to contribute to the environmental health of our planet? If so join us to learn about the Wildlife Sanctuary program and how you can transform your yard to create habitat, attract beneficial wildlife, and get your yard certified as a Wildlife Sanctuary. You’ll learn about habitat best practices and receive tips to help you select native trees and plants that suit the conditions in your yard. When: Saturday, December 13, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Where: Mount Vernon Unitarian Church, 1909 Windmill Lane, Alexandria, CA 22307 Fee: FREE      MORE INFO      Manassas-Bull Run Christmas Bird Count Carolina Chickadee, Jeff Drake/Audubon Photography Awards The Manassas-Bull Run Christmas Bird Count (CBC) will be on Sunday, December 14. The center of the 15-mile diameter count circle is near the intersection of Routes 28 & 29 in Centreville. Birders of all skill levels are needed. When: Sunday, December 14,, 2025, 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM Where: Centreville, VA  Fee: FREE      MORE INFO      Bird Walks Birding, Camila Cerea   Check our Bird Walks page for upcoming walks! Registration is requested for NVBA-sponsored walks to help our walk leaders prepare and communicate with participants. Conservation Counts Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Rusty Moran Join Jim Waggener in his ongoing natural resource surveys at two of Northern Virginia's best birding spots. Surveys alternate between Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge and Meadowood Special Recreation Management Area on Mason Neck. Read more > National Audubon Society Action Network The National Audubon Society invites all Auduboners to join its action network. When you subscribe to the Society’s newsletter, you'll receive alerts about important congressional actions and information about how you can affect legislation by contacting your members of Congress. Too many emails? Now you can update your profile to let us know how often you'd like to receive email communications from NVBA. Copyright © 2025 Northern Virginia Bird Alliance, All rights reserved. You subscribed to this list when you joined the Northern Virginia Bird Alliance directly, joined the National Audubon Society and live in the Northern Virginia area, are an NVBA volunteer, or asked to receive our email updates. Our mailing address is: Northern Virginia Bird Alliance 11100 Wildlife Center Drive Ste. 100 Reston, VA 20190 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

Potomac Flier: October 2025

The latest news and events from the Northern Virginia Bird Alliance

View this email in your browser October 2025 NVBA HOME         DONATE         JOIN A Letter to Our Members Yellow-eared Parrot, León Felipe Jimenez/Audubon Photography Awards One of the perks of editing the Potomac Flier is access to National Audubon Society’s photo archive, which includes years’ worth of images from the photography awards. Read more > Birding is for Every Body: Birdability Week, October 20-26 Birdwatching from a wheelchair, USFWS Headquarters, Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons Have you ever paused to think about how many people might want to join us in birding but can’t? Read more > More News My Time at Hog Island Camp Atlantic Puffins, Michael Schmitt/Audubon Photography Awards Hear from NVBA's 2025 Hog Island Scholarship winner Deborah Hammer, Autism and Low Incidence Speech Therapist at Arlington County Schools. Read more >   Help Our Migrating Songbirds Common Yellowthroats, Gary Robinette 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! Read more >   Be Very Brave: Plant a New Native Shrub This Fall Native shrubs, Margaret Fisher 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? Read more >   Remember to Vote for Conservation Virginia State Capitol Building, Wikipedia user Skip Plitt via CC BY-SA 3.0 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. Read more > Monthly Features A Closer Look: Nature All Around Us Long-legged Fly with prey, Judy Gallagher 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.  Read more >   Wildlife Sanctuary Almanac: It's Time for Goldenrods Goldenrod blooming in Fairfax County, Famartin, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons 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. Read more >   Upcoming Classes and Events   We have some exciting classes and events coming up, both virtually and in-person! Click any event to learn more and register. You can also check our calendar for our full schedule of events.   Birdability Webinar with Executive Director Cat Fribley Boardwalk, SmellyPumpy via Pixabay Birding is for everybody and there are many practices that can make it truly accessible for all. Join NVBA and our local partner, DC Bird Alliance, to learn about inclusive birding practices from the Executive Director of Birdability, Cat Fribley (she/her).  When: Thursday, October 2, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM Where: Virtual Fee: FREE      MORE INFO      2025 Fall Field Trip to Cape May Birders at Avalon Seawach in Cape May, NJ. Photo: Andreana Lin Join experienced guides Tom Wood, Herlitz Davis and Judy Gallagher for an overnight trip to Cape May, NJ where fall migrants flock together on their journeys south to their wintering grounds. Cape May’s peninsula is perfectly aligned with the Atlantic Flyway, one of the four “avian superhighways” in North America, making Cape May famous for its numerous fall migrants. Spots are limited and sold on a first come first serve basis. When: Saturday, October 4 - Sunday, October 5 Where: Cape May, New Jersey Fee: $319.20      MORE INFO      Wildlife Rehab Bird Education Day with A.E.R.O. Rescued Barred Owlet, Jill Sphon Want to be prepared the next time you find an injured or lost bird? Join NVBA and our partners, A.E.R.O. (Animal Education and Rescue Organization) and the Blue Ridge Wildlife Center, for an afternoon of lessons on bird rehabilitation  When: Sunday, October 5, 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM Where: National Wildlife Federation, 11100 Wildlife Center Drive, Reston, VA Fee: $15; FREE for active local rehabbers, apprentices and caregivers      MORE INFO      Virtual Symposium on Spatial Approaches to Priority Setting in Conservation Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Judy Gallagher The symposium is designed for a target audience that includes conservation professionals and volunteers working in government or in non-governmental roles who are interested in how GIS analysis can help them in developing conservation priorities and strategies. When: Wednesday, October 15, 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM Where: Virtual Fee: FREE      MORE INFO      Wildlife Sanctuary Presentation Hosted by the Native Plant Circle Certified Wildlife Sanctuary Are you intrigued by observing wildlife in your own yard? Do you want to contribute to the environmental health of our planet? If so join us to learn about the Wildlife Sanctuary program and how you can transform your yard to create habitat, attract beneficial wildlife, and get your yard certified as a Wildlife Sanctuary. You’ll learn about habitat best practices and receive tips to help you select native trees and plants that suit the conditions in your yard. When: Saturday, December 13, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Where: Mount Vernon Unitarian Church, 1909 Windmill Lane, Alexandria, CA 22307 Fee: FREE      MORE INFO      Manassas-Bull Run Christmas Bird Count Carolina Chickadee, Jeff Drake/Audubon Photography Awards The Manassas-Bull Run Christmas Bird Count (CBC) will be on Sunday, December 14. The center of the 15-mile diameter count circle is near the intersection of Routes 28 & 29 in Centreville. Birders of all skill levels are needed. When: Sunday, December 14,, 2025, 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM Where: Centreville, VA  Fee: FREE      MORE INFO      Bird Walks Birding, Camila Cerea   Check our Bird Walks page for upcoming walks! Registration is no longer required for NVBA-sponsored walks. Conservation Counts Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Rusty Moran Join Jim Waggener in his ongoing natural resource surveys at two of Northern Virginia's best birding spots. Surveys alternate between Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge and Meadowood Special Recreation Management Area on Mason Neck. Read more > National Audubon Society Action Network The National Audubon Society invites all Auduboners to join its action network. When you subscribe to the Society’s newsletter, you'll receive alerts about important congressional actions and information about how you can affect legislation by contacting your members of Congress. Too many emails? Now you can update your profile to let us know how often you'd like to receive email communications from NVBA. Copyright © 2025 Northern Virginia Bird Alliance, All rights reserved. You subscribed to this list when you joined the Northern Virginia Bird Alliance directly, joined the National Audubon Society and live in the Northern Virginia area, are an NVBA volunteer, or asked to receive our email updates. Our mailing address is: Northern Virginia Bird Alliance 11100 Wildlife Center Drive Ste. 100 Reston, VA 20190 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

Potomac Flier: September 2025

The latest news and events from the Northern Virginia Bird Alliance

View this email in your browser September 2025 NVBA HOME         DONATE         JOIN A Letter to Our Members Tennessee Warbler, Ben Cvengros/Audubon Photography Awards Fall migration is starting! I saw that someone had reported a Tennessee Warbler in northern Virginia just the other day, which got me musing about this migration season -- the challenges the birds face, how to make it safer for migrating birds and how to enjoy the spectacle of migration. Read more > Hispanic Heritage Month and the World of Birds Resplendent Quetzal, Charles Gangas/Audubon Photography Awards From September 15 to October 15, Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates the histories, cultures, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino communities in the United States.  Read more >  o Lea más > More News Expanded Polystyrene Foam Now Banned in Takeout Containers in VA Scavenging Gull, Chris Downer / Mallaig 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.  Read more > Ospreys May Be In Trouble Again Osprey Nest at Belle Haven Marina, Glenda C. Booth This year has brought some troubling signs for these impressive birds. Read more >   Pollinator Pathways: Connecting Your Yard to the Bigger Picture Graphic by Carly Parker Is it possible to reconnect isolated fragments in our urban, suburban, and rural settings to benefit pollinators and the creatures that depend upon them? Read more >   Biodiversity or Mosquito Fogging: You Can't Have Both Asian Tiger Mosquito, Judy Gallagher Some of our neighbors turn to commercial-grade mosquito fogging, persuaded by marketing claims that the product is both effective and “safe.” But a closer examination of these claims reveals an ineffective process that is devastating for native bees, butterflies, fireflies, moths, and a plethora of other beneficial insects we work so hard to attract with native plants. Read more > Monthly Features A Closer Look: Nature All Around Us Horse Fly eyes, Judy Gallagher 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.  Read more >   Wildlife Sanctuary Almanac: Growing VA Native Plants from Seed Milkweed Seeds, Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Fall is coming and gardeners’ thoughts may turn to collecting seeds for planting next spring. Read more >   Upcoming Classes and Events   We have some exciting classes and events coming up, both virtually and in-person! Click any event to learn more and register. You can also check our calendar for our full schedule of events.   Fall Butterfly Identification with Larry Meade Variegated Fritillary, David Illig Larry Meade will walk us through the butterfly common species in our area and help us differentiate some of the trickier look-a-like species. Participants are encouraged to register for the North American Butterfly Association (NABA) Count to be held on Saturday, September 13, 2025. See below (NABA Butterfly Count) for more information and a registration link.  When: Tuesday, September 9, 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM Where: Virtual Fee: FREE      MORE INFO      Birds in Watercolor: Barred Owl with Ronna Fujisawa Barred Owl, Ronna Fujisawa In this online class, students of all levels (beginner to expert) will paint a portrait of a Barred Owl, learning how to mix neutral colors, as well as techniques of layering colors to create various feather patterns. Your instructor, Ronna Fujisawa of Salty Water Art, will be your guide through the step-by-step process. When: Wednesday, September 10, 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM Where: Virtual Members: $22 Non-members: $33      MORE INFO      NABA Butterfly Count Variegated Fritillary, David Illig The Butterfly Count is an ongoing program of the North American Butterfly Association (NABA). Its aim is to census butterflies across North America (United States, Canada, and parts of Mexico) and publish the results. Volunteer participants are assigned to teams to survey locations within a 15-mile diameter count area in a one-day census of all butterflies seen within that circle. When: Saturday, September 13, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM (Rain date September 14) Where: To be announced Fee:  FREE! NVBA is covering the $3 per participant donation this year.      MORE INFO      Virginia Wildlife Action Plan 2025 with Jeff Trollinger Golden-winged Warbler, Arni Stinnissen/Audubon Photography Awards Learn about the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) Wildlife Action Plan 2025 from Jeff Trollinger, who has a long career working with or for DWR. Jeff’s presentation will identify some of the 89 avian species of greatest conservation need identified in the plan and provide some examples of how the plan has resulted in successful conservation actions. When: Tuesday, September 16, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM Where: Virtual Fee: FREE      MORE INFO      Alliance Afternoon: Amazing Insects Splendid Tiger Beetle, Judy Gallagher Join us September 21 at our quarterly Alliance Afternoon to learn from NVBA Board Member and insect expert, Judy Gallagher, all about these important creatures that form the foundation of food webs that sustain the birds around us! When: Sunday, September 21, 2:30 PM - 4:30 PM Where: National Wildlife Federation Building, 11100 Wildlife Center Drive, Reston, VA 20190 Fee: FREE      MORE INFO      Virtual Symposium on Spatial Approaches to Priority Setting in Conservation Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Judy Gallagher The symposium is designed for a target audience that includes conservation professionals and volunteers working in government or in non-governmental roles who are interested in how GIS analysis can help them in developing conservation priorities and strategies. When: Wednesday, October 15, 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM Where: Virtual Fee: FREE      MORE INFO      Bird Walks Birding, Camila Cerea   Check our Bird Walks page for upcoming walks! Registration is no longer required for NVBA-sponsored walks. Conservation Counts Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Rusty Moran Join Jim Waggener in his ongoing natural resource surveys at two of Northern Virginia's best birding spots. Surveys alternate between Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge and Meadowood Special Recreation Management Area on Mason Neck. Read more > National Audubon Society Action Network The National Audubon Society invites all Auduboners to join its action network. When you subscribe to the Society’s newsletter, you'll receive alerts about important congressional actions and information about how you can affect legislation by contacting your members of Congress. Too many emails? Now you can update your profile to let us know how often you'd like to receive email communications from NVBA. Copyright © 2025 Northern Virginia Bird Alliance, All rights reserved. You subscribed to this list when you joined the Northern Virginia Bird Alliance directly, joined the National Audubon Society and live in the Northern Virginia area, are an NVBA volunteer, or asked to receive our email updates. Our mailing address is: Northern Virginia Bird Alliance 11100 Wildlife Center Drive Ste. 100 Reston, VA 20190 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

Potomac Flier: July-August 2025

The latest news and events from the Northern Virginia Bird Alliance

View this email in your browser July-August 2025 NVBA HOME         DONATE         JOIN A Letter to Our Members Common Eastern Firefly, Judy Gallagher I have been admiring the fireflies in my backyard recently. I didn’t see them there for many years, but I’ve attracted them by making several simple changes. Read more > Dyke Marsh: A Fragile Treasure A view of Dyke Marsh, Dixie Sommers The Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve, in northern Mount Vernon along the Potomac River shoreline, is the "nearest thing to primeval wilderness" in the Washington area, wrote Louis J. Halle in 1947 when he biked from the city at dawn to watch the wetland awaken.  Read More > More News Happy Bees, Happy Yard Spring Beauty Bee, Judy Gallagher Gardening to attract as many bees as possible is more than a rewarding pastime. It’s a blend of purpose, beauty and connection to something grand and greater than we are.   Read more >   The Bobolink Bobolink, Calvin Borgmann/Audubon Photography Awards The Bobolink, Dolichonyx oryaivorus, also called the rice bird or rice bunting, is yet another migrating songbird that has declined in population over the last fifty years.  Read more >   Monthly Features A Closer Look: Nature All Around Us Milkweed with several insects, Judy Gallagher 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.  Read more >   Wildlife Sanctuary Almanac: Creating Habitat for Butterflies Monarch Butterfly with Thistle, Judy Gallagher Do you want more butterflies around your home? Consider creating a butterfly habitat that will attract not just adult butterflies passing through but will support butterflies throughout their life cycles. Read more >   Upcoming Classes and Events   We have some exciting classes and events coming up, both virtually and in-person! Click any event to learn more and register. You can also check our calendar for our full schedule of events.   Butterfly and Dragonfly Surveys Tiger Swallowtail, James DeMers via Pixabay Join us for this ongoing citizen science project, which provides valuable data on butterfly and dragonfly populations and the habitat that supports them. Surveys are carried out in temperate months (April-October), normally on Friday mornings, at one of four sites around Occoquan Bay, all within the 15-mile diameter circle established for the annual North American Butterfly Association's Annual Count.  Read about the results of this year's annual butterfly count held on June 28. When: Every Friday morning, April through October See the upcoming survey schedule. Locations: In rotation at Occoquan Bay NWR, Meadowood SRMA , Metz Wetlands, and Occoquan Regional Park      MORE INFO      Bird Walks Birding, Camila Cerea   Check our Bird Walks page for upcoming walks! Registration is no longer required for NVBA-sponsored walks. Conservation Counts Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Rusty Moran Join Jim Waggener in his ongoing natural resource surveys at two of Northern Virginia's best birding spots. Surveys alternate between Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge and Meadowood Special Recreation Management Area on Mason Neck. Read more > National Audubon Society Action Network The National Audubon Society invites all Auduboners to join its action network. When you subscribe to the Society’s newsletter, you'll receive alerts about important congressional actions and information about how you can affect legislation by contacting your members of Congress. Too many emails? Now you can update your profile to let us know how often you'd like to receive email communications from NVBA. Copyright © 2025 Northern Virginia Bird Alliance, All rights reserved. You subscribed to this list when you joined the Northern Virginia Bird Alliance directly, joined the National Audubon Society and live in the Northern Virginia area, are an NVBA volunteer, or asked to receive our email updates. Our mailing address is: Northern Virginia Bird Alliance 11100 Wildlife Center Drive Ste. 100 Reston, VA 20190 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.