Entries by Mary Ann Bush

AERO Opportunities: Want to Get More Involved with Wildlife? Learn About Getting Licensed in 2026

Photo: Provided by A.E.R.O Animal Education and Rescue Organization   AERO Opportunities: Want to Get More Involved with Wildlife? Learn About Getting Licensed in 2026 Community Outreach – S213: DWR Stewardship Projects — Department of Wildlife Resources (VDWR)  AERO education events are eligible for Continuing Education hours as well. Hello A.E.R.O. Volunteers & Friends, If […]

Arlington County Department of Parks and Recreation Is Offering Two FREE Herp-related Virtual Programs – January 28th and February 24th

Photo: FMN Jerry Nissley – Red backed salamander   Arlington County Department of Parks and Recreation is offering two FREE herp-related Virtual Programs: Salamanders of Virginia Wednesday Jan. 28, 2026 7:00-8:00pm Activity #622940 Section letter (not number) ID: I This online talk will cover the common species of salamanders in Northern Virginia as well as […]

Virginia’s Amazing Vultures, March 8th

Photo: Friends of Dyke Marsh – Virginia Vultures Sunday, March 8, 2026 3:00PM FREE and In-person The Mount Vernon Government Center, 2511 Parkers Lane (between the GWM Parkway and U.S. 1) On Sunday, March 8, wildlife rehabilitator Heather Shank Givens will give a presentation on Virginia’s fascinating vultures and bring her black vulture, Dusty, a non-releasable vulture wildlife ambassador […]

Black-Footed Ferrets: The Road to Recovery, January 20th

Photo Credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Paul Marinari releases a black-footed ferret into a preconditioning pen   Tuesday, January 20, 2026 7:00pm – 8:30pm Sign up on Zoom to watch live stream or on demand Free Speaker: Paul Marinari, retired biologist of the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute Half a century ago, scientists believed […]

Ranger at the Refuge: Tundra Swans, December 28th

Photo: Tundra Swans, Randy Streufert, The Potomac Flier (The NVBA) Sunday Dec. 28, 2026. 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Other details: Standard parking or admission fee applies: No. Extra fee: No. Registration required: No. Children welcome: Yes. Phone: 703-339-2385 Email Address: MasonNeck@dcr.virginia.gov Mason Neck State Park, 7301 High Point Rd., Lorton, VA 22079. Woodmarsh Trail Observation Deck at Elizabeth Hartwell Refuge […]

Winter Fest 2026 – Mason Neck State Park, January 1, 2026

Image: Mason Neck State Park – Winterfest 2026 Jan. 1, 2026 7:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Mason Neck State Park, 7301 High Point Rd., Lorton, VA 22079. Various Locations throughout the Park   Other details: Standard parking or admission fee applies: No. Extra fee: No. Registration required: No. Children welcome: Yes. Phone: 703-339-2385 Email Address: MasonNeck@dcr.virginia.gov Bundle up and celebrate the […]

Who Wants to Talk Trees, Birds, Bugs & Beyond?

Photo by 2y.kang on Unsplash The our Speaker’s Bureau list has been yielding presenters for Arbor Row, but lately the offering has dried up —and we don’t want this wonderful nature-immersion program for seniors to stall. They would love hearing about birds, trees, butterflies, gardens—pretty much anything with wings, petals, fur, or chlorophyll. Do you have a favorite […]

SHARE YOUR PASSION FOR THE NATURAL WORLD – National Museum of Natural History Volunteer Program

Photo: FMN Jerry Nissley, Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History The Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History is putting out a general call for volunteers and is developing a training program to help increase the number of people in the different disciplinary halls. Typically 100 hours are requested per year and this is easy […]

George Mason’s Virginia Climate Center Releases First-ever Statewide Climate Assessment

Cover of the First Virginia Climate Assessment, Virginia Climate Center–George Mason University George Mason University’s Virginia Climate Center (VCC) has unveiled the commonwealth’s first comprehensive, peer-reviewed climate assessment—a landmark report that provides science-based insights into Virginia’s changing climate and its impacts on communities, infrastructure, and the economy.  This report marks the inaugural comprehensive assessment of […]

Connecting People with Nature: FMN Outreach in Action

Article and Photo by FMN Marilyn Parks Connecting People with Nature: FMN Outreach in Action Our programs could reach thousands of people and have deep impact on the community.  The Outreach Committee supports volunteer activities hosted by our partner organizations, represents the chapter at public events, and creates hands-on opportunities for county residents to experience […]