Blue Ridge PRISM Summer Meeting: “These Are Not Your Grandpa’s Quail”, July 19th

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Photo Courtesy of the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources

Wednesday, July 19, 2023
11:30 am – 1:00 pm
via Zoom

Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/640679949977

The northern bobwhite aka bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus) is the only quail native to eastern North America. Its clear, whistled call was once a common sound throughout its range. You hear its call much less often now because of a steep decline in the bobwhite quail population, mostly due to habitat loss. For its Summer Meeting, Blue Ridge PRISM will welcome Marc Puckett, a certified wildlife biologist and the Small Game Project Leader for the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. He will discuss the bobwhite quail and how to manage its habitat in multiple scenarios so that these birds can thrive.

This is a free online event and includes a question & answer period with the audience. Those who register will receive access to the recording.

This event is put on by the Blue Ridge PRISM. Please direct any questions to them. https://blueridgeprism.org/

Welcome to the Fairfax County Park Authority Latino Conservation Week, July 15th

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Welcome to the Fairfax County Park Authority Latino Conservation Week, a celebration of the community’s profound connection to nature and their contributions to conservation efforts. This week-long event invites you to embark on a journey of exploration, education, and engagement, honoring the rich heritage and environmental stewardship of Latino individuals. Join the celebration with these fun-filled, family programs!

Downloadable Flyers:

In Spanish: SEMANA LATINA DE LA CONSERVACIÓN (fairfaxcounty.gov)
In English: Latino Conservation Week (fairfaxcounty.gov)

Here are some featured events:

Free Fishing at Lake Fairfax
Saturday, July 22, 2023
8:00 AM -12:00 PM

LAKE FAIRFAX LOCATION
1400 Lake Fairfax Drive
Reston, VA, 20190
Map of Lake Fairfax Park

Join our expert staff to guide fun fishing adventures. Our bilingual staff will help answer questions about rules, regulations and fishing advice. The free event includes all equipment, tackle, and bait.

Conservation Day at Frying Pan Farm Park
Saturday, July 15, 2023
10:30 AM – 12:00 PM

FRYING PAN FARM PARK LOCATION
2709 West Ox Road
Herndon, VA, 20171
Map of Park

Head on down to the farm for wagon rides, tours and fun at Frying Pan Farm Park. This free event will feature wagon rides and tours of the farm in Spanish.
Wagon Rides at 10:30 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 12 p.m.
Tours of the Farm at 11 a.m. and 12 p.m.

Native Plant Seminar
Wednesday, July 26, 2023
7-8 PM

Register today at www.plantnovatrees.org/zooms-en-espano

Explore native plants with a free Zoom seminar in Spanish. Learn how to identify and remove invasive plants with expert, Patricia Greenberg, Invasive Management Area Program Manager for the Fairfax County Park Authority.
Register today at www.plantnovatrees.org/zooms-en-espano

Ecology Walk – Hosted by the Friends of Dyke Marsh, September 16th

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Photo by Ned Stone, A Dyke Marsh inlet.

Saturday, September 16, 2023
10:00am

Meet at the Haul Road trail entrance,
Dyke Marsh, Alexandria

Join naturalist and biologist Charles Smith at 10 a.m. on an ecology walk and learn all about tidal marsh ecology, vegetative communities, system stressors, seasonality of vegetation and wildlife and ecosystems’ importance. So everyone can hear and learn, FODM will have to limit the walk to 20 people. To register, email [email protected] and put “September Ecology Walk” in the subject box. Meet at the Haul Road trail entrance. Bring water, wear sturdy shoes and sun protection. We kindly request that you not bring pets. Hosted by the Friends of Dyke Marsh.

Butterfly Walk, August 26th

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Photo by Plant NOVA Natives, Mourning Cloak Butterfly

Saturday, August 26, 2023
10:00am
Meet at the south Belle Haven Park parking lot

Dyke Marsh, Alexandria Join Friends of Dyke Marsh for a butterfly and dragonfly walk with Larry Meade. Meet at the south Belle Haven Park parking lot. Limited to 20. Register by sending an email to [email protected] and put “butterfly walk” in the subject box.

Vernal Pools: Introduction to a Unique Wetland Habitat, August 2nd

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Photo Courtesy of the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy

 

Wednesday, August 2, 2023
7:00pm

Rust Library
380 Old Waterford Rd NW
Leesburg, VA + Google Map

Learn more and register here.

Vernal pools, also known as ephemeral or seasonal pools, are an important yet often overlooked wetland. As the name suggests, they are temporary pools only holding water for a brief time each year. During that time, they are home to mysterious shrimp, developing dragonfly larvae, and are critical breeding grounds for several of our local salamander and frog species. These vernal pools are in rapid decline due to development. Join Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy’s Jenny Erickson for a look into the wildlife that utilize these pools and what we can all do to help protect these sensitive wetlands. This program is co-sponsored with the Loudoun County Public Library.

Questions: Contact [email protected].

Stream Monitoring Citizen Science & Training Opportunities

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Photo by FMN J. Quinn, Stream monitoring at Pohick Creek.

 

Difficult Run Stream Monitoring Field Training

When: Thursday, July 20, 9:00-11:30am
Where: Difficult Run Stream Valley Park, Great Falls

This field training is targeted to those pursuing the VASOS stream monitor certification and will focus heavily on protocols. This long-standing stream site has changed greatly in width, depth, and streambed composition since NVSWCD first began monitoring the site. You never quite know what you’ll find! Learn more and register for this workshop and others here.

 

Cub Run Stream Monitoring Field Training

When: Saturday, July 29, 9:00-11:30am
Where: Cub Run Stream Valley Park, Centreville

This field training is targeted to those pursuing the VASOS stream monitor certification and will focus heavily on protocols. Trainees often find a variety of interesting macroinvertebrates here, including large hellgrammites. Learn more and register for this workshop and others here.

 

Little Difficult Run Stream Monitoring Field Training

When: Thursday, August 10, 9:00-11:30am
Where: Fred Crabtree Park, Herndon

This field training is targeted to those pursuing the VASOS stream monitor certification and will focus heavily on protocols. This beautiful stream site is located a short hike into the woods and currently available for adoption by a certified stream monitor. Learn more and register for this workshop and others here.

 

Pohick Stream Monitoring Field Training

When: Saturday, August 19, 9:00-11:30am
Where: Pohick Creek Stream Valley Park, Springfield

This field training is targeted to those pursuing the VASOS stream monitor certification and will focus heavily on protocols. This site along Pohick Creek runs adjacent to the Cross County Trail and features a family- and pet-friendly walking trail in addition to cool stream critters. Learn more and register for this workshop and others here.

 

More Training and Stream Monitoring Opportunities

 

The NoVa Soil & Water Conservation teams are  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 our organization on the Clean Water Hub.

Summer Creatures of The Night, July 14

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Image: Courtesy of The Clifton Institute

Friday, July 14, 2023
7:30 – 9:30 pm
Cost: Free

Registration is REQUIRED.

The Clifton Institue
6712 Blantyre Road
Warrenton, Virginia 20187

Come join members of The Clifton Institute to look and listen for creatures of the night! Summer is an ideal time to observe several species of katydids, crickets, cicadas and birds. Participants will also look for beavers, reptiles and amphibians, and other animals! Back at the farmhouse attendees will see what kinds of moths and beetles are attracted with black lights. Hope to see you there!

Celebrate National Moth Week! Workshop with Judy Gallagher, July 24

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Photo: Io Moth by Judy Gallagher

Monday, July 24, 2023
7:00 – 8:00 PM

This is a Virtual meeting.

FREE, but registration is required

Join Judy Gallagher for a workshop on moths, to celebrate National Moth Week (NMW), July 22-30. Did you know that many adult moths eat nectar but others don’t eat at all as adults? “Moth-ers” of all ages and abilities are encouraged to join this workshop to help learn about, observe, and document moths in your backyards, parks, and neighborhoods. NMW offers everyone, everywhere a unique opportunity to become a citizen scientist and contribute scientific data about moths. Through partnership with major online biological data depositories, NMW participants around the globe can help map moth distribution and provide needed information on other aspects of their life history. Judy Gallagher is a member of the ASNV board, and, although she loves birding, she is most passionate about documenting insects and spiders and their behavior and environment through macro photography.

Butterfly Identification Workshop, July 7

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Image: Courtesy of The Clifton Institute

Friday, July 7, 2023
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Cost: Free

Registration is REQUIRED.

The Clifton Institue
6712 Blantyre Road
Warrenton, Virginia 20187

Come join members of The Clifton Institute to learn about butterfly identification and biology. Bert Harris will give a presentation on the identification of common butterflies in our area. Participants will then take a walk around the field station to look for butterflies (and perhaps some dragonflies as well.) All skill levels welcome!

Welcome Lightning Bugs! Fireflies! (Beetles who light up their bums) to Wolf Trap National Park, July 18th

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Photo: “firefly 2010 06 09 092, Photinus pyralis” by Terry Priest is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

Event Details

Use this link to register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/n…

Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts,
1551 Trap Rd, Vienna, VA, 22182Event will begin at 7:30 pm Meet behind Filene Center.

Cover your flashlights and phone with red film. Red film with be available.

Nature will provide the fireflies and music, the symphony of the nocturnal creatures.

A talk about fireflies will be given by Alonso Abugattas, The Capital Naturalist, about all of their mystery and magic.

Link to talk: http://capitalnaturalist.blogspot.com/2014/06/fireflies.html

Information about how to use artificial light at night responsibly will be provided. Artificial light at night prevents the fireflies from finding dates, to find mates to make little baby fireflies. Learn what you can do to protect them and save them from extinction.

Bring a chair, blanket, a dessert and a drink. Wear comfortable shoes suitable for walking on uneven ground. Come prepared to savor the night as Mother Nature designed it, in this treasure of Wolf Trap National Park. And most of all come to have fun dancing with the fireflies!

Event will proceed rain or shine.

More about fireflies: https://www.firefly.org/