Board Notes

Gadwall, Gary Robinette/Audubon Photography Awards

This month, hear from ASNV board member Andreas Seiter on what makes us birders.

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2024 Educator Scholarship Application Now Open

Atlantic Puffins, Walker Golden

The Audubon Name: An Update on Our Survey

Tundra Swan, John James Audubon

Some Ways to Donate to ASNV: Planned Giving

Barn Swallows, Alan Peterson/Audubon Photography Awards

Upcoming Classes and Events

Please join us for a preview of what issues we expect to see during the 2024 General Assembly session. ASNV is sponsoring this event with the Sierra Club Great Falls Group and Virginia Conservation Network. We’re providing breakfast and the opportunity to learn about the issues we expect to see during the 2024 General Assembly session. The cost is $20, but if you register early, you can get a free pass using the Promo Code RESTON. There also is an option to attend virtually for free, or at other locations in the area, but, however you sign up, we encourage you to donate $20, which supports our partner VCN. 

When: Saturday, December 2, 9:15 AM - 11:00 AM
Where: 11100 Wildlife Center Drive, Reston 20190 (map)
Fee: $20, Free with Promo Code RESTON for those registering early

Overuse of pesticides, urban sprawl, habitat destruction, and invasive species all are major threats to birds in the Western Hemisphere. Birds also die from collisions with windows and predation by cats. Join Steve Holmer, Vice-President of Policy for American Bird Conservancy, for a discussion of opportunities to advance bird conservation through advocacy. Steve will highlight pending federal bills and regulations, as well as legislation in Virginia that citizens can support to better protect the birds they love. 

American Bird Conservancy is a national non-profit membership organization with the mission of conserving wild birds and their habitats throughout the Americas. 

When: Tuesday, December 5, 2023, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Where: Virtual
Fee: FREE, but registration is required

The Rock Pigeon is such a familiar sight that you may never have noticed its beautiful iridescent throat plumage. Did you know that this species was domesticated over 5,000 years ago?

Join us for an author talk with Rosemary Mosco, author of A Pocket Guide to Pigeon Watching, a book that takes a closer look at this common bird. Her travel-sized book details pigeons’ coloration, field marks, and anatomy. But it’s more than a field guide. It’s also an informative account of pigeon history, biology, and behavior, complete with Mosco’s delightful illustrations and a hefty dose of puns. Join this talk for a dive into the science, history, biology and behavior of the Rock Pigeon.

When: Thursday, December 7, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Where: Virtual
Members: $10
Non-members: $15

Early December is prime time for waterfowl in northern Virginia, and Occoquan Bay NWR is one of the best places to see them. Greg Butcher, the walk leader, will have a spotting scope, but bring yours if you have one. 

When: Sunday, December 10, 2023, 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Where: Meet at the Visitors’ Center, Occoquan Bay NWR 14050 Dawson Beach Road Woodbridge, VA, 22191 (map)
FREE, but registration is required

The Manassas-Bull Run Christmas Bird Count (CBC) will be on Sunday, December 15. 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 17, 2023, 8:00 AM 12:00 PM
Where: Centreville, VA (map) 

Join us Sunday afternoon, January 7, for a virtual Audubon Afternoon that features the first of our Stretch Our Parks Lectures featuring Dr. Charles Nilon, an ecologist and professor from the University of Missouri. 

Dr. Nilon’s decades of research and service have combined two of his lifelong passions – understanding how to safeguard urban biodiversity and making conservation biology more inclusive. He has been a lead researcher on projects combining data from more than 150 of the world’s cities to assess how ecological and socioeconomic factors influence birds in urban environments. He will share his ideas about what actions cities and towns might take to protect biodiversity as human density increases, and why making conservation efforts more diverse, inclusive, and just is paramount to their success. 

When: Sunday, January 7, 2023, 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Where: Online
Fee: FREE, but registration is required

Join Dr. David Luther for a program on preventing avian extinctions. More species in the world are threatened with extinction today than at any other time in recent history. However, at the same time, a number of programs have made great strides in successfully conserving threatened species and preventing their extinctions. Dr. Luther will explore the state of birds globally, the threats they face, and what is working in the field of conservation biology to prevent the extinction of endangered bird species. The talk will focus on global and local examples of successful conservation efforts, his research on conserving endangered species in the United States and around the world, and future conservation opportunities.

When: Thursday, January 11, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Where: Virtual
Members: $10
Non-members: $15

With over 1,900 avian species — more than any other country in the world — Colombia is a birder’s paradise waiting to be discovered. This 9-day program focuses on the country’s northern highlights, including the Caribbean region and the Santa Marta Mountains, famed for their high level of endemic species. Explore high-elevation mountains, dry forest, and coastal habitats in search of an array of tropical avifauna, including flycatchers, hummingbirds, tanagers, toucans, and more. Throughout your journey, meet members of the local community and learn about conservation efforts to use birding as a sustainable development resource.

When: Saturday, January 13, 2024 - Sunday, January 21, 2024 9:00 AM
Where: Colombia
Fee: See registration page through Holbrook Travel for pricing information