Looking Back in Time

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By: FMN Ana Ka’ahanui (Capital Nature)

It was the day before Easter. I navigated the busy parking lot of the Springfield Costco in Newington, scanning the area for a group of outdoorsy looking people. I found them. With walking sticks, backpacks and water bottles, I saw

Accotink Gorge Rockhounds – photo Katy Johnson

a few dozen people assembled at the back of the lot, some applying several coats of insect spray. It was my first geology hike after being certified as a master naturalist and I was excited. I was greeted by one of the organizers, Katy Johnson, with clipboard in hand, asking me if I had signed a waiver. It was great to see fellow naturalists in person; many familiar faces after so many Zoom calls. This was a gathering to visit and appreciate the unique geology of the Accotink Gorge. I couldn’t believe I had lived 15 minutes away from here for over 20 years and I didn’t even know this place existed! This was the precise reason the group came together.

The Friends of Accotink Creek, along with members of the Northern VA Mineral Club (NVMC) introduced the area and gave us the lay of the land and

FMN Katy Johnson – photo Ana Ka’ahanui

history about its formation. Fairfax Master Naturalists were invited to get acquainted with the area in hopes of the gorge becoming a future stewardship activity. NVMC’s Field Trip Co-Chair, Katy Johnson (also an FMN), wrote an excellent recap of our hike, which you can read here. NVMC Hike leader Sue Marcus shared that “Every rock shows us something about its origin. For example, most of the rocks we saw in the stream bed were various types of quartz because quartz is more resistant to erosion. Iron can stain them red or orange.” I was fascinated by the variance in colors we discovered. For a deeper dive, one of the NVMC leaders, Hutch Brown, gives us an in-depth explanation of the geology of the Accotink Gorge in this article. Who knew such natural wonders existed behind the Springfield Costco? I really enjoyed the hike and hope to attend more NVMC’s events in the future.

Accotink Gorge quartz -photo Ana Ka’ahanui

Accotink Gorge Flowers – photo Ana Ka’ahanui

Accotink Gorge Beetle – photo Ana Ka’ahanui

Dragonflies From the Arctic to the Tropics, May 20th

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Photo: Dr. Jessica Ware – by Denis Finnin

Tuesday, May 20, 2025,
7:00pm – 8:30pm

Webinar
Advance Registration Required

Event Details


Dragonflies, damselflies and their ancestors were among the first creatures to fly—before birds, bats or pterosaurs. On May 20, explore the origins of the Odonata insects with Dr. Jessica Ware, an entomologist at the American Museum of Natural History. Using a large genomic dataset, scientists are unlocking their evolutionary history. By studying the tree of life of Odonata, scientists are beginning to understand how flight first evolved in these enigmatic insects. Part of the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center’s 60th anniversary webinar series.

This event will be hosted entirely online, and it will be recorded! Closed captions will be available at the live event and on the recording. By signing up on Zoom, you’ll be able to watch live and receive a link to the recording a few days after the event.

Sign up on Zoom to watch live or on demand

About The Speaker: Jessica Ware

Dr. Jessica Ware is a curator at the American Museum of Natural History, where she serves as Chair of the Division of Invertebrate Zoology. Dr. Ware’s research focuses on the evolution of behavioral and physiological adaptations in insects, with an emphasis on how these occur in Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) and Dictyoptera (termites, cockroaches, and mantises). Dr. Ware holds a B.Sc. from the University of British Columbia in Canada, and a Ph.D. from Rutgers, New Brunswick. She was awarded a PECASE medal from the U.S. government for her work on insect evolution. Dr. Ware served on the Governing Board of the Entomological Society of America for 3 years. Dr. Ware is the past president of the Worldwide Dragonfly Association and the past president of the Entomological Society of America. She is president-elect of the Society of Systematic Biologists. Dr. Ware is co-founder of Entomologists of Color and serves on the board of Black in Natural History Museums. Photo by Denis Finnin

See More

 

Community Champion – Betsy Martin

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Congratulations to FMN Betsy Martin for her recognition as a “Community Champion” in the Mount Vernon District of Fairfax County.

Betsy has been a certified Master Naturalist since 2007 with over 2950 service

Betsy Martin – courtesy of office of Mt. Vernon District Supervisor

hours under belt. She is active in the Northern Virginia Birding community and her conservation work with area ‘Friends of…’ groups, has promoted significant improvement in local wetland environments.
Please enjoy the following article from the office of Mount Vernon supervisor Dan Storck recognizing Betsy’s ‘champion’ contributions to the many communities she is involved with.

Article on Betsy from Supervisor Storck’s ‘Good News Advisor’ Newsletter, April 2025:

“The Mount Vernon District is filled with natural beauty—streams, forests and wetlands. In honor of Earth Month, this month’s Community Champion, Betsy Martin, has spent more than two decades working to protect and restore those special places, one trail, cleanup and native plant at a time.

Betsy and her husband Paul have lived along Little Hunting Creek for over 30 years. In 2002, they helped co-found the Friends of Little Hunting Creek and she now serves as President. The Friends organize annual cleanups (most recently they held their annual Earth Month Cleanup on April 5) to remove debris from the creek and raise awarenessabout watershed health. With support from neighbors and volunteers, the Friends have become a steady force for positive environmental change.

Among her many accomplishments, Betsy’s favorite is the preservationand restoration of the Little Hunting Creek Preserve, a nearly two-acre wetland site off Stockton Parkway that she helped transform from neglected land into a thriving preserve. Working with local residents, the Friends, Northern Virginia Conservation Trust and Stratford Landing Citizens Association, the area now features a trail, benches, educational signage and bird boxesand is regularly maintained by volunteers. “The preserve is becoming really lovely,” she says, “and it’s full of birds!” As someone who walks and runs along this section of Stockton Parkway, along with dozens of community members a day, its calming, natural wetlands, creek and minipark areas help center me.

In addition to her work with the Friends, Betsy is a certified Fairfax Master Naturalist and serves on the Board of Directors of the Northern Virginia Bird Alliance as co-director of the Wildlife Sanctuary Program. Whether she’s pulling invasive weeds, planting natives or tending to her own garden, Betsy’s dedication continues to inspire all of us to make a difference. Thank you, Betsy, for helping make the Mount Vernon District a greener and cleaner place for us all.”

Cover photo: Potomac River Wetland – Jerry Nissley

Get Your Early-Bird Ticket to Ornithology 101, Starting May 26

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Photo by Research Graphics at UMBC – Course Instructor, Kiersten Newtoff

When: 10 Sessions starting Monday, May 26, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Where: Virtual
Member Ticket: $160 Early Bird through 4/27; $175 after
Non-member Ticket: $185 Early Bird through 4/27; $200 after

Learn more and register here.

Are you fascinated by birds and eager to learn more? Join us for Ornithology 101, a beginner-friendly, 5-week 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!

Sign up by April 27 and you’ll benefit from the early bird price, and as a bonus you’ll get a special list of NVBA’s favorite insider birding spots to help you find migrating spring warblers during peak migration time in early May.

The course will cover the following topics:

  • Week 1: Introduction to Birding and Ornithology (Monday, May 26; Thursday, May 29)
  • Week 2: How A Bird Works, Anatomy (Monday, June 2; Thursday, June 5)
  • Week 3: Reproduction and Life Cycle (Monday, June 9; Thursday, June 12)
  • Week 4: Bird Migration: Benefits and Risks (Monday, June 16; Thursday, June 19)
  • Week 5: Habitats and Climate Change (Monday, June 23; Thursday, June 26)

Each session will be 90 minutes long, for a total of 15 course hours. This course will take place virtually. The sessions will be recorded and videos will be shared with all registrants.

The course includes several optional in-person field trips to locations in northern Virginia. Information about how to register for these is coming soon – if you are interested, please select the free ticket ‘I’m interested in local field trips’ when you check out. Dates for field trips: May 31, June 7, June 21.

Kiersten Newtoff is an associate professor of biology at Montgomery College, a community college in Maryland. Over the past 8 years, she has been teaching her students about the local avifauna, which led to the development of the campus nestbox trail where over 300 fledglings have called Montgomery College their home. Recently, Kiersten has started a PhD in Biology at UMBC to better understand the impacts of urbanization on Eastern Bluebird reproductive success. She holds a Master Banding Permit to explore her research. When she’s not working on teaching or research, she can be found doing yard work, playing boardgames (like Wingspan!), or creating a fun cocktail.

River Farm – Spring Garden Market

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American Horticultural Society (AHS) HQ at River Farm
Spring Garden Market – American Horticultural Society

Grab a rocker and take in the back porch view – photo Jerry Nissley

In 2024 AHS contacted VMN – Fairfax Chapter (FMN) specifically to help rebuild the nest boxes along their bluebird trail. FMN Susan Farmer became the liaison for this and other activities on location. She organized a team of stalwart FMN volunteers to help River Farm rebuild their bluebird box trail. Eight new boxes replaced ten sad old boxes, which were then salvaged for parts. She organized trail monitoring training and managed the seasonal monitoring schedule. The monitors observed/reported 11 eggs. Eleven volunteers reported 90+ hours in 2024 to River Farm opportunities.

Combined FMN and NVBS table – photo Jerry Nissley

In 2025, River Farm asked FMN to continue trail support, which started in March. FMN was also invited to set up a chapter table and participate with approximately 35 vendors and organizations at their annual showcase event, “River Farm Spring Garden Market” April. We were able to provide information on VMN, the bluebird trail, and Northern Virginia Bluebird Society (NVBS) in general. We emphasized the importance of native plant habitat, and enlightened the community to VMN’s mission of conservation of natural resources in Virginia, Fairfax County, and the Potomac River.

The weather could have been better but we were honored to be part of River

Walkway from house to outdoor vendor area. Photo Jerry Nissley

Farm’s showcase spring event – and the grounds were spectacular with seasonal blooms. It was encouraging to see the plant vendors offer only organic starter vegetables, Virginia native flowers, shrubs, and trees. In addition, several artisans were on site selling crafts, nature photography,  soaps, and even a mystery writer with his new novel of intrigue in Old Town Alexandria.

FMN and others will be meeting at River Farm to include species found in the new AHS native garden for The City Nature Challenge on Friday, April 25th at 10:30 followed by a picnic lunch. Contact Susan Farmer ([email protected]) for more information. All are welcome!

Thank you to the following FMNs for their continued contributions at River Farm:
Susan Farmer, Donna Stauffer, Sarah Glassco, John Fagan, Monica Hoffman, Rachel Roll, Amanda Kay, Elaine Kolish, and Jerry Nissley.

Meadowood Sensory Nature Trail Public Workshop on May 3rd

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Photo: By FMN Jerry Nissley – Fall Meadow
SATURDAY, MAY 3, 2025
9AM-NOON (EASTERN TIME)

MUSTANG TRAILHEAD
10702 HARLEY RD, LORTON, VA 22079

The Bureau of Land Management’s Lower Potomac Field Station is proposing to develop a sensory nature trail at Meadowood Special Recreation Management Area in Lorton, VA. The proposed trail would be approximately 1-mile of accessible trail with up to six sensory stations along the trail. Other amenities may include development of a small parking area with an access road, vault toilet, and signage. This sensory trail is based on the Autism Nature Trail at Letchworth State Park in New York plus other local sensory trails. The accessible trail would be designed for all ages and abilities, accommodating individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders, people with disabilities, and the general public. Sensory trails can be enjoyed by anyone, promoting engagement with nature and encouraging the use of all senses. The sensory stations will be areas that engage visitors in exercises to help stimulate senses, such as nature paths, music, motor skills, and visual features. YOUR help is needed to provide ideas and feedback on what sensory stations, amenities, and features should be proposed for this trail!
BLM office is hosting a Meadowood Sensory Nature Trail Workshop on May 3rd at 9am at Mustang Trailhead (10702 Harley Rd, Lorton, VA) to go over the proposed trail and sensory stations. The agenda of the Workshop is the following:
  • 9 am: Welcoming and Introduction
  • 9:15-10am: Guided Field Visit – The BLM will guide a tour along Mustang Loop Trail to show potential locations of the proposed trail. Please wear suitable clothing and shoes for walking and bring water and snacks. The Mustang Loop Trail is under a mile long on a mostly flat meadow with a mixture of natural trail and mowed grass.
  • 10:15-12pm: Project Feedback under the Multi-use Pavilion – We will facilitate an interactive discussion about the proposed trail and sensory stations.
This inclusive workshop is open to all including the general public, and interested groups, clubs, and organizations. If you cannot make this date, there will be future public comment periods this summer once the draft environmental planning document is available. Those interested in providing more in-depth feedback may email: BLM_ES_NSDO_PublicInquiry@blm.gov. Please include “Sensory Nature Trail” in the subject line. Registration is not required but suggested. See the attached flyer for more information about the Workshop. Our office hopes to see you at our Workshop on May 3rd! Welcome to share this email and the attached flyer. If you have any questions, reach out via email or call our office us at 703-339-8009.
Thanks,
Ryan Jackson
Outdoor Recreation Planner
Bureau of Land Management
Lower Potomac Field Station
Cell: (701) 495-3595
Office: (703) 339-3460

Birding Day Trip – Warblers of the Blue Ridge, May 6th

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Photo: Matt Felperin -Yellow-throated Warbler

Tuesday, May 6th, 2025
7:00 am return by 4:00 pm.

Walker Nature Center
11450 Glade Center Dr
Reston, VA 20191

Cost: Bus transportation and any park fees, is $50 for Reston Association members and $65 for non-members.

On Tuesday, May 6th, Reston’s Walker Nature Center has scheduled a trip to the G. Richard Thompson Wildlife Management Area in Fauquier County to search for migrating songbirds.  GR Thompson is well known for its Trillium Trail, so we will also keep an eye out for trilliums, lady slippers and other spring wildflowers.  After a morning at GR Thompson, we will head to Sky Meadows State Park for lunch and more birding. This trip includes walking on uneven terrain and gentle slopes.
 
The trip will be led by one of WNC’s naturalists and is open to Reston residents and non-residents.  Cost, which includes bus transportation and any park fees, is $50 for Reston Association members and $65 for non-members.  We will depart the Walker Nature Center (11450 Glade Drive) at 7:00 am and are scheduled to return by 4:00 pm.  The time spent birding and observing wildflowers is eligible for FMN CEUs.
 
Register by May 3rd.  If you are familiar with the reston.org WebTrac system, you can register there (search on the keyword “birding”).  Otherwise, you can contact the Walker Nature Center directly at [email protected] or 703-476-9689. 

Urban Forest Photo Contest

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Photo: Courtesy of City of Fairfax Government

Welcome to Fairfax City’s 2025 Urban Forest Photo Contest!

For Details and Submission information click here.

The Urban Forest Photo Contest is an opportunity to showcase the diversity of our urban forest through the perspective of community members.

Whether captured on a digital camera or your phone, we hope you’ll help us celebrate the powerful role trees play in making our City of Fairfax community more beautiful, healthy, and vibrant. Photographers of all skills and ages are encouraged to participate!

All photos submitted to the contest will have a chance to be featured in the future Urban Forest Master Plan. One winner from each of the four categories will receive a $50 Fairfax City Flex Card to spend at city businesses. Photos must be taken in the City of Fairfax, VA.

Categories

Each entrant can submit up to three photos per category. Each photo may only be submitted to only one category. You do not need to submit a photo to all of the categories to participate. Each individual file size must be less than 30 MB. Please do not watermark photos; credit will always be provided to the photographer. By submitting one or more photographs, you are agreeing to the terms and conditions of the contest.

Life in the Urban Forest

The urban forest includes all the trees in the city, from those in parks, yards, and other greenspaces to trees along our streets and sidewalks. Photos in this category should capture the ways people interact with and benefit from trees as we go about our daily lives. How do we live, work, and play in the urban forest? Pets welcome!

Beautiful Trees

Few things enhance a landscape like a magnificent tree. Photos in this category should celebrate the trees that you find beautiful.

Trees & Wildlife

Many wildlife species depend on trees for food, water, cover, or places to raise their young. Photos in this category should depict wildlife in forest habitats. Remember, backyard habitats and street trees are also part of the urban forest!

Treescapes

Fairfax City has been recognized as a Tree City USA since 1986. Photos in this category should highlight the tree-filled landscapes that help define our community’s unique character.

Photo Contest Terms and Conditions

All images must be taken within the City of Fairfax, VA. Images must be obtained legally. The photographer is responsible for obtaining the permission of any individuals depicted in images who are the subject of the photo and/or identifiable (or permission from their parent/guardian if they are under 18). Images must be the original art of the entrant, and the original artwork may be displayed in public and entered into the photo contest. Images do not have to be taken between April 1 and May 31, 2025, to be entered into the contest.

Please reach out to Sophia Chapin, Urban Forestry Stewardship Coordinator, at [email protected] with any questions. Thanks for participating!

 

A Different Kind of Success Story – Mother Nature Takes Center Stage at Huntley Meadows Park

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Photo: By Ron Grimes, Northern Shoveler March 2025

Narrative by Mary Ann Bush / Photos are credited below the image.

Success stories can be about a person, a community, a project, or even an event.  These stories may leave us feeling inspired, motivated, impressed, or even lucky! 

This success story is about the amazing Huntley Meadows Park and its extraordinary wildlife, some permanent and some just visiting.  Huntley Meadows Park, the largest park operated by the Fairfax County Park Authority, is home to many birds, amphibians, and reptiles. 

This story starts with the wonderful group of students in the Spring FMN Basic Training class. These students were attending their March 29th field trip to Huntley Meadows Park. This park is a uniquely suitable site for the students to explore and observe the concepts presented in the Ornithology and Herpetology classroom sessions. FMN Instructors and field trip leaders, Ron Grimes – Ornithology, and Alonso Abugattas – Herpetology, are widely respected and experienced naturalists, who coordinated and guided the students through the day’s exploration and observation activities. They are very accomplished and skillful guides who can take classroom curriculum to the field in a way that is tangible, relatable, and at times, exciting.

Huntley Meadows did not disappoint the students.  The park’s majestic forests, wildflower meadows and vast wetlands provided the students with some very memorable experiences. Instructor, Ron Grimes, and student, John Eppler, have graciously shared photographs of their observations.      

The real stars of day: Great Blue Heron, Red-winged Blackbird, Hooded Mergansers, Northern Shoveler Muskrat, White-breasted Nuthatch, Tufted Titmouse, Spotted Turtle, Southern Leopard Frog, Tree Swallows, Bald Eagle, Rusty Blackbirds, Eastern Bluebird, Common Ribbon snake, American Bullfrog, Swamp Sparrow, and Cope’s Gray Treefrog.

By Ron Grimes, Northern Shoveler March 2025

 

By Ron Grimes, Spotted Turtle March 2025

 

By Ron Grimes, Muskrat March 2025

 

By Ron Grimes, Tufted Titmouse, March 2025

 

By Ron Grimes, White-breasted Nuthatch March 2025

 

By Ron Grimes, Red-winged Blackbird March 2025

 

By Ron Grimes, Southern Leopard Frog March 2025

 

By Ron Grimes, Hooded Mergansers March 2025

 

By Ron Grimes, Great Blue Heron March 2025

 

By Ron Grimes, Eastern Bluebird, March 2025

 

By Ron Grimes, American Bullfrog, March 2025

 

By Ron Grimes, Copes Tree Frog, March 2025

 

By Ron Grimes, Tree Swallows, March 2025

 

By Ron Grimes, Swamp Sparrow “Scout” , March 2025

 

By Ron Grimes, Rusty Blackbirds, March 2025

 

By Ron Grimes, Common Ribbon snake, March 2025

 

By Ron Grimes, Bald Eagle, March 2025

 

By John Eppler,Hooded Merganaser (Lophodytes cucullatus), Male, Huntley Meadows Park, Alexandria, Virginia

 

By John Eppler, Canada Goose (Branta canadensis), Huntley Meadows Park, Alexandria, Virginia.

 

By John Eppler, Male Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus), Huntley Meadows Park, Alexandria, Virginia.

 

Stream Monitoring Citizen Science & Training Opportunities, April and May Dates Available

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Photo: By FMN J. Quinn, Stream monitoring

Are you interested in obtaining a Virginia Save Our Streams Stream Monitoring certification? This certification is not required for the workshops, but it allows you to monitor your own site if you wish. The certification consists of three parts – watching online webinars, passing an online macroinvertebrate ID exam, and taking an in-person field protocols exam. The next field protocol exam will be offered at the end of the spring monitoring season, likely in June. Please reach out to the stream monitoring coordinator, Ashley, with any questions.

 

Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District (NVSWCD) Spring stream monitoring season is in full swing! They hope you’ll be able to join them at one of the upcoming stream monitoring workshops.

Little Difficult Run Stream Monitoring Workshop

When: Sunday, April 20, 3:00-6:00pm
Where: Fred Crabtree Park/Fox Mill District Park, Herndon

This small stream is in a peaceful wooded park a short hike away from the parking area. Little Difficult Run often scores very highly on our macroinvertebrate index because its watershed lies almost completely within the protected parkland. Reaching this site requires hiking through the woods and over uneven terrain. Learn more and register for this workshop and others here.

 

Pohick Creek Stream Monitoring Workshop

When: Sunday, May 4, 9:00am-12:00pm
Where: Pohick Creek Stream Valley Park, Springfield

The stream monitoring site on Pohick Creek is located on the cross-county trail, popular with runners, dog walkers, and families. This is the largest and deepest stream monitored in these public workshops. This is an accessible stream site, which can be reached by wheelchair and/or other assistive tools over a paved path (there may be some uneven spots). Learn more and register for this workshop and others here.

 

TBD Stream Monitoring Workshop

When: Saturday, May 10, 1:00-4:00pm
Where: TBD

Organizers are holding this space as a rain date for another workshop, or perhaps to explore a new stream to add to the monitoring roster. Although they don’t have any more details yet, they wanted to share this placeholder with you, with more info to follow in the May newsletter.

 

Quander Creek/Dyke Marsh Muddy Bottom Stream Monitoring Workshop

When: Thursday, May 15, 10:00am-12:00pm(ish)
Where: Mount Vernon District Park, Alexandria

 

Volunteers will monitor a small tributary of Dyke Marsh twice this spring in partnership with the Friends of Dyke Marsh. This is NVSWCD’s only muddy bottom stream, all others use the rocky bottom protocol. This is great opportunity for new and certified monitors alike to see a different stream habitat. They also see a lot of cool crane fly larva and dragonfly larva here! Reaching this site requires walking through the woods and over uneven terrain. Space at this workshop is limited. If you’re interested in participating, please email Ashley.

 

TBD Stream Monitoring Workshop

When: Thursday, May 22, 3:00-6:00pm
Where: TBD

Organizers are holding this space as a rain date for another workshop, or perhaps to explore a new stream to add to our monitoring roster. Although the they don’t have any more details yet, they wanted to share this placeholder with you, with more info to follow in the May newsletter.

 

The NVSWCD is very excited to contribute their stream data to state and national datasets. If you’d like to see data from all the NVSWCD regional stream monitoring team’s active sites, you can find the organization on the Clean Water Hub.