Entries by Janet Quinn

Clean the Bay Day, June 1st

Saturday, June 1, 2024 9 am-12 pm Various locations. More information here. This short, three-hour annual event has a massive cumulative impact. Since it began in 1989, this Virginia tradition has engaged more than 170,066 volunteers who have removed approximately 7.30 million pounds of debris from more than 8,595 miles of shoreline. Each year, on […]

The Tree Trimming Scammers

Article by Cindy Speas, Chair of the Fairfax County Tree Commission Photo: fairfaxcounty.gov The doorbell rings, and at your door is a young man who says, “Hello, I was driving by and noticed your trees need some pruning. I’ve been working at your neighbor’s house, and thought I’d stop and offer you the same deal!” […]

Build a Mini Bird Sanctuary

Article by Paula Sullivan Photo: Common Grackle by Paula Sullivan The best sanctuaries for birds are undisturbed expanses of forests and meadows. Anyone can see that those are rapidly disappearing in Northern Virginia, and where they remain, they are rapidly shrinking below the size needed for many bird species. Those in charge of any patch […]

Volunteers Needed for Earth Day Fairfax 2024, April 20th

Image: Wonder Wagon, courtesy of Fairfax County Park Authority Saturday, April 20, 2024 Various shifts Sully Historic Site 3650 Historic Sully Way, Chantilly Sign up here. Join Fairfax County’s largest official Earth Day Event! Earth Day Fairfax is a day-long extravaganza featuring workshops, vendors, and activities to help us improve our environment and health. The […]

Earth Day Fairfax, April 20th

Image:  Fairfax County Park Authority Saturday, April 20, 2024 10am – 4pm Sully Historic Site 3650 Historic Sully Way, Chantilly Free admission, parking $10 per car Discover the world around you with hands-on activities, games, entertainment and fun at Earth Day 2024. See the inaugural Wonder Wagon, Fairfax County Park Authority’s Mobile Nature Center! Enjoy […]

City Nature Challenge, April 26th – 29th

Image: citynaturechallenge.org, Washington DC metro area Friday, April 26 – Monday April 29, 2024 take photos of wild plants and animals Tuesday, April 30 – Sunday, April 5, 2024 identification of what was found Do you like observing nature? Make your observations count! The City Nature Challenge is an adventure in metropolitan areas worldwide to discover […]

Meadowlark Botanical Gardens Seeks Volunteers

Photo courtesy of Meadowlark Botanical Gardens Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna, VA has long had a native plant collection. This collection plays an important role in educating students and the general public about regional native plant conservation. During the last few years, the native plant collection did not receive the attention it needs to thrive. […]

FMN Quarterly Chapter Meeting, March 19th

Photo: Doug Tallamy by University of Delaware Tuesday, March 19, 2024 7 pm Virtual Email [email protected] for the Zoom link Fairfax Master Naturalists’ Quarterly Chapter meeting will consist of a short business meeting followed by a presentation by Doug Tallamy. The title of his presentation is: “The Nature of Oaks.” Oaks sustain a complex and […]

The Black Vultures of Langley Fork Park

Not just for Bluebirds, Langley Fork Park in Mclean is home to Black Vultures.  The large hole cavity (in photograph center) is the entrance to their extended canopy nest. Photos and article by FMN Stephen Tzikas I have been monitoring the Bluebird trails at Langley Fork Park in McLean for the last 3 years.  With […]