Article and photos by FMN Bill Hafker Last fall I was looking for some environmentally beneficial things to do as winter approached and the usual opportunities were dwindling. Then I spotted information about the Izaak Walton League’s (IWL) Salt Watch program. I was aware of the serious negative impacts that road salt can have on […]
Reviewed by FMN Stacey Remick-Simkins (2009, 229 pages) This is a masterpiece that I recommend to all, but particularly those grappling with the most difficult questions of how to live meaningfully in this challenged environmental milieu. Crows are the purveyor of the wisdom and carry us to the places of wonder that Haupt seeks to […]
Agapostemon photo by Heather Holm Saturday, March 6, 202111 amFee: $10Register here. Most insects have a positive impact in our landscapes. Native plants can be selected to attract specific bees and beneficial insects including predatory and parasitic wasps, beetles, flies, true bugs, and lacewings. Learn about the predator-prey relationships of these flower-visiting beneficial insects and […]
Photo: Dr. Chris Haney March 2,4,9,11,16,18, 23, 25, 30; April 1, 13, 15Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7:30 – 8:30 pmFee: $150/member; $175/non-memberClick here to learn more and/or register. Are you new to birding and want to learn more or just want to dig deeper into the subject? Then this class is for you! This course is […]
Thursday, February 25, 20214:00pm ESTZoom link provided upon registration For 75 years, the Blue-eyed Ground-Dove was known only from scattered records and old illustrations. In 2016, researchers in Brazil observed the ground-dove for the first time in decades, launching an international partner effort to save the Critically Endangered species. Like the Blue-eyed Ground-Dove, over a […]
Pine Siskin photo by William Kurt; text by Jessica Bigger Recently, there have been several local reports of birders finding sick and dead Pine Siskins. The likely culprit is a bacterium called Salmonellosis, which is fatal to many feeder birds. Pine Siskins, American Goldfinches, and Common Redpolls appear to be exceptionally vulnerable to the disease. Salmonellosis is usually […]
Plant Virginia Natives partners are collaborating to offer a series of 12 webinars – 6 this spring and 6 this fall. The webinars will guide you through the why and how to turn your home garden into a beautiful retreat for your family and a native habitat for birds and other wildlife. The series kicks-off on […]
Photo by J. Quinn The Audubon at Home Program will be distributing 6 one-to-one matching grants of $2,350 apiece for community associations to re-landscape their entrances using native plants. Applications are due May 31, 2021. Details and the application forms may be found here audubonva.org/neighborhood-entrances-grant.
Photo and article courtesy of Plant NOVA Natives When we think of grass in our yards, the image that arises is likely to be that of turf grass. But there are many other places for grasses in our landscapes, and many other species available besides the European turf grass that is used for lawn. Grasses […]
Reviewed by FMN Kristine Lansing In just a few weeks, nothing short of a miracle will be well underway. Birds of all sizes and shapes — from the tiniest of hummingbirds to the largest of hawks — will embark upon an incredible geographic relocation, traveling thousands and, in some cases, tens of thousands of miles […]