Board Notes

Yellow-rumped Cacique, Ad Konings via iNaturalist

It’s not all about the birds for me. My connection is with nature in general, an all-encompassing love and passion for Pachamama, Mother Earth in the Aymara language of my ancestors. 

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Tell Us Your Thoughts (by October 15) on Keeping or Changing Our Name

King Rails, John James Audubon

Upcoming Classes and Events

All are free to join us (no cost!) on October 5 for a discussion with Bill Young and ASNV board member Dr. Tom Wood on suggestions for actions they can take to address the climate crisis. The last half of the class will be an open forum for people to present their ideas, concerns, and experiences. For anyone interested in becoming more deeply involved, ASNV is offering a free advocacy workshop on October 21 to provide information about how to do political action regarding climate and other environmental issues.

When: October 5, 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Where: Virtual
Fee: FREE

For millennia, owls have captivated and intrigued us. With their forward gaze and quiet flight, owls are often a symbol of wisdom, knowledge, and foresight. But what does an owl really know? And what do we really know about owls? Though our fascination goes back centuries, scientists only have recently begun to understand in detail the complex nature of these extraordinary birds. 

Jennifer Ackerman, author of The Genius of Birds, will join us for an author talk about her latest book, in which she illuminates the rich biology and natural history of owls and reveals remarkable new scientific discoveries about their brains and behavior. What an Owl Knows is a fascinating exploration of owls across the globe and through human history, including an account of their astonishing hunting skills, communication, and sensory prowess. 

When: Thursday, October 19, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Where: Virtual
Fee: Members, $25; Non-members, $35

Join the Audubon Society of Northern Virginia, Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions, and the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy for an afternoon of advocacy training. Attendance is free, but you need to register. The workshop will build your knowledge, skills and confidence to get elected officials on your side of the issues. 

Virginia Delegate Ken Plum will give the keynote address. The training will consist of three panel discussions: 

1. How does a local governing board make policy? 

2. How to be an effective advocate 

3. What can we learn from successful and unsuccessful advocacy efforts? 

We'll finish the training with a discussion of what’s ahead in the Virginia General Assembly.  

When: Saturday, October 21, 1:00 PM – 4:30 PM
Where: National Wildlife Federation Building, 11100 Wildlife Center Drive, Reston, VA 20190
Fee: FREE, but registration is required

Are you a strong birder or experienced naturalist? Join us for this orientation session and become a volunteer bird walk leader for Audubon Society of Northern Virginia. You can help us introduce birding and nature to more people in the region! The more people who care about birds, the more people who will want to help us protect them. Current ASNV bird walk leaders are also welcome and may find the discussion helpful, especially regarding eBird and BirdCast.

We are looking for people with at least 2 years of birding experience, who feel comfortable identifying most of the birds in our region by sight and at least 10-15 species by sound. We also want to find volunteers who have expertise in other natural resources, such as plants, animals, fungi, flowers, and geology, who are interested in leading nature walks. We ask that nature walk leaders have 2+ years of experience with their subject matter topic and at least 1 year of experience with birding. Successful walk leaders also will feel comfortable speaking to a group of people, welcoming diverse participants, helping new birders use binoculars and scopes, and reporting observations via eBird.

Classroom work will be followed by a short bird walk together.

When: Saturday, October 28, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Where: National Wildlife Federation Building, 11100 Wildlife Center Drive, Reston, VA 20190
Fee: FREE, but registration is required

Join us for an author event and learn about the man behind the ground-breaking, 1918 Migratory Bird Treaty Act. It’s one of the country’s first and most important conservation laws and has saved billions of birds.

Will McLean Greeley will provide an overview of his new biography, A Connecticut Yankee Goes to Washington: Senator George P. McLean, Birdman of the Senate. This is the story of how Connecticut’s George P. McLean helped establish lasting legal protections for birds that is still in effect today. Greeley, McLean’s great-great-nephew, puts McLean’s victory for birds in the context of his distinguished forty-five-year career marked by many acts of reform during a time of widespread corruption and political instability. 

When: Thursday, November 2, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Where: Virtual
Fee: Members, $10; Non-members, $15

Join us for a walk through Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge to learn how to identify common native trees and how you can be a good park neighbor by planting your own native trees at home. You’ll also learn why trees are so important, both in parks and the areas surrounding parks.

This program is part of our Stretch Our Parks initiative, in partnership with the staff of Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge was established in June 1998 to provide habitat for migratory birds and endangered species. The refuge's diverse grassland, marsh, and forest habitats attract a variety songbirds, raptors, and waterfowl that depend on the area for food, nesting sites, and a place to rest.

When: Saturday, November 18, 1:00 - 3:00 PM
Where: Occoquan Bay NWR Visitor Center, 14050 Dawson Beach Rd, Woodbridge, VA 22191
Fee: FREE

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