Burke Center Library – Pollinator Gardens

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New Stewardship opportunity –

Pollinator garden care at Fairfax County’s Burke Centre public library.
FMN Nancy Klein coordinated the initial garden project and helped plant the Pollinator Garden in 2019.
Nancy is the Youth Services Manager at Burke Centre Library and she now needs a few volunteers to help maintain the garden on a regular basis. She will be on site to provide guidance for work efforts.

All Stewardship work days are scheduled in the BI calendar under:
S256: Plant Maintenance and Restoration Projects — Fairfax County
Shifts are 10 a.m. – 12 a.m:
– Every Thursday through Oct, except Sep 12 – (check BI Calendar)
– And Every-other Saturday thru Oct – 8/10, 8/24, 9/7, 9/21, 10/5.

To register:
1. Login to BI and click on your ‘Opportunities’ tab.
2. Select ‘Opportunity Calendar’ from the pull-down menu.
3. Find the S256 event in the displayed calendar; Click it to see event details.
4. To sign up, Click the ‘Sign Up’ box in the lower right. This automatically signs you up and puts the event on your personal calendar.

A few tools will be on site but please bring your own tools.
Stewardship hours and travel time may be recorded under:
S256: Plant Maintenance and Restoration Projects — Fairfax County

For questions, please contact FMN project lead:
Nancy Klein, Youth Services Manager
Burke Centre Library
5935 Fred’s Oak Rd
Burke, VA 22015
703-249-1534
[email protected]

cover photo courtesy of Fairfax County Public Libraries

Being a VMN Volunteer – Heat and Air Quality Concerns

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Image:  New particulate pollution Air Quality Index, Virginia Department of Environmental Quality

Many VMN volunteers spend a lot of time being active outdoors, as you would expect! Part of the risk management guidelines involve keeping yourself and others safe by paying attention to the weather forecast. At this time of year, both extreme heat and air quality can be concerns. 

  • Extreme Heat – If you must be outdoors in hot weather, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that you stay hydrated, cut down on exercise, rest often in the shade, and protect yourself with a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen. CDC Extreme Heat website and resources
  • Air Quality – Learn to look up the Air Quality Index. Sometimes you can find it in a regular weather app, but AirNow.gov is a good source of information as well. Learn what the colors mean, and be aware that if it is going to be a red day (or possibly even an orange day, depending on the activity), it may be wise to cancel your outdoor VMN activities, particularly if they involve a lot of physical activity or people who are in more sensitive groups. 

Keep in mind that you have to make the decision on whether it is safe for you to participate in an event based on the weather. You may be in a sensitive group when it comes to heat or air quality, and therefore have to cancel plans when someone else might feel fine about being outdoors. That’s okay! We want you to make the right decision for you, and, if you are leading an event for others, to keep their safety in mind as well.

Monarch and More, September 22nd

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Photo by Laura Beaty

Sunday 22, 2024
1:00 pm to 2:00 pm

Registration Fee: $8.00 
Registration link: Register starting July 30

Hidden Oaks Nature Center Location
7701 Royce Street
Annandale, VA 22003

Dive into the enchanting world of monarch butterflies with this monarch migration program. Join this educational and delightful journey as participants learn about their fascinating life cycle and migration.

Friends of Mason Neck State Park 2024 “Picture the Magic” Photo Contest

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Photo: Randy Streufert

The Friends of Mason Neck State Park (FoMNSP) 2024 photography contest is now open.  They are looking for images taken in the park that highlight its magic.  Winning photos, including honorable mention, will be published in the FoMNSP newsletter, website, and social media.

Eligibility

Anyone other than Mason Neck State Park staff, Board members of the Friends and contest judges, as well as their immediate family (spouses, partners, siblings, and children) and household members is eligible to enter.

Entry Period

The “Picture the Magic” Photo Contest closes on October 15, 2024.  Late entries will not be considered. The FoMNSP will notify the prize winners by October 31, 2024.

What Subjects to Enter

Digital photographs taken in Mason Neck State Park anytime in 2022 through 2024 of: 

Park Scenery and Park Flora– images showing off the park’s landscape, trees, plants, or flowers.

Fauna – images of the park’s mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds, insects, or other critters living in the park.  Note:  Dogs, cats, and other pets/animals not native to the park do not qualify.

Aquatic activities – Visitors enjoying Belmont Bay or Kane’s Creek in canoes, kayaks, or other non-powered vessels.

Contest Rules

You can read the contest rules and download an entry form here. 

The Botany of Desire (And How I Got Hooked on Native Orchids), Webinar, August 20th

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Photo: Smithsonian Environmental Research Center

Tuesday, August 20, 2024
7 pm
Webinar by Smithsonian Environmental Research Center
Free
Register here.

How do plants make a living? That question has propelled botanist Dennis Whigham for his nearly 47-year career with the Smithsonian. Orchids were especially bewitching. Join Dennis for a journey of discovery through the orchid world. He’ll take you from their unlikely beginnings as “dust seeds,” to the microscopic fungi they depend on to thrive, to their quirky—or downright sneaky—strategies to get pollinated. He’ll also reveal some of the most shocking discoveries, including the realization that more than half our continent’s native orchids are in trouble. Discover how stewards across the continent are rallying to save native orchids through the North American Orchid Conservation Center, and what you can do to help ensure their survival.

Understanding Cephalopod Behavior, Webinar, August 26th

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Photo: Smithsonian Associates

Monday, August 26, 2024
6:45 – 8:15 pm
Smithsonian Associates Webinar
$20 members/$25 nonmembers
Register here.

Some stories that people tell about octopuses almost defy belief. These animals are said to steal from fishermen, escape from aquariums, invent tools, play with toys, make friends, and hold grudges. How many of these tales are true and how many are a result of human imagination or anthropomorphism?

Scientists have indeed documented extraordinary cognitive capacity and behavioral flexibility not only in octopuses but also in their close relatives, squids and cuttlefish. Members of this group of animals, called cephalopods, have large brains and the ability to adapt to myriad situations with creative problem-solving. They can learn quickly, remember what they’ve learned, and communicate with members of their own and other species. Biologist Danna Staaf, who has written several books about cephalopods, sorts fact from fancy and dissects the question of how intelligent they are to see what we can learn from them about our definition of intelligence.

Bird Hill Grassland Field Trip, September 7th

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Image: Courtesy of the Clifton Institute

Saturday, September 7, 2024
10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Cost: $15 ($10 for Friends of Clifton)

Registration is REQUIRED.

This program will be held at the residence of the Clifton Institute co-directors to experience a remnant prairie, a planted meadow, and a native plant garden. The remnant prairie on the property hosts a remarkable assemblage of native wildflowers and grasses over sandstone bedrock. Bert and Eleanor are managing the prairie with mowing, burning, and invasive plant control. They have also planted a one-acre meadow on an old lawn and they’ve worked with Hill House Nursery to establish a native plant garden.

This program is a case study of how landowners can manage their land to benefit native plants and animals on a relatively small property.

Location: Near Orlean, VA. Registered attendees will be emailed the address and directions.

 

Bug Fest 2024, September 28th

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Photo: FCPA, Tammy Tammy Schwab running the bug identification station at the Bug Fest at Lewinsville park.

Saturday, September 28, 2024
10:00 am – 2:00 pm

Cost: $8.00

Registration: Register starting July 30

Lake Accotink Park
7500 Accotink Park Road in Springfield
For more information, visit:
https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/lake-accotink.

Insect fans are sure to find something to enjoy at the FCPA third year of Bug Fest at a new location, Lake Accotink, on Saturday, September 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Participants will be able to enjoy bug-themed programs, activities and demonstrations. Embark on an insect safari, discover live insects, inspect insect collections, roll over logs to find creatures, play in soil stations, go on bug walks and hear critter talks. You will also have the chance to design your own bug and use technology to examine the world of insects.

Allies in Amphibian Conservation: Leveraging Partners for Success, Webinar, July 16th

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Photo: SERC

Tuesday, July 16, 2024
7 pm
Hosted by Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC)
Register here.

From frogs to salamanders, amphibians are secretive but essential to our health and the function our ecosystems. But despite their critical role, amphibians are facing a crisis: Over 40% are threatened with extinction. How can we reduce that loss? Join Kerry Wixted with the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies as SERC dives into the fascinating world of amphibian biodiversity in the eastern United States, a global amphibian hotspot. Learn about the alarming threats amphibians face, from habitat loss to climate change and disease, as well as rays of hope. Kerry will cover the inspiring efforts of Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (PARC) and their dedicated partner network working at local, regional, and national levels to combat these threats and ensure a future for our amphibians.

Beyond the Horizon: Going the Distance for Seabirds, Webinar, July 25th

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Image: American Bird Conservancy

Thursday, July 25, 2024
4 pm
Presented by American Bird Conservancy (ABC)
Register here.

Seabirds were humans’ first companions when we ventured onto the ocean. With adaptations for long flights over open waters, seabirds like the Laysan Albatross endure some of the harshest conditions on Earth. They are champions of the bird world, holding records for longest migration, deepest diver, largest wingspan, and more!

These often unseen birds are critical to marine ecosystems. For example, healthy colonies of seabirds on islands create healthier surrounding reefs, which are nurseries for the fish many people eat.

Seabirds, however, are one of the most endangered groups of birds. Their populations have dropped a staggering 70 percent globally over the past 60 years due to factors such as invasive species, unsustainable fisheries, and marine trash.

American Bird Conservancy’s Marine Program is working tirelessly with partners to safeguard the most vulnerable species both while at sea, and on land where they nest.

If you can’t make the webinar live, RSVP anyway and they’ll send you a recording to enjoy when the time is right for you.