The Clifton Institute Presents – Warbler Song Bootcamp, April 11th

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Image: The Clifton Institute Warbler Song Bootcamp

Friday April 11th, 2025
6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
This event is Free! But if you are able, there is a suggested donation of $10.00

Virtual Event
Registration is REQUIRED.

*This is a virtual event. Registration will close at noon on April 10 to make sure everyone gets the Zoom link. If you have not received a Zoom link by that time please email Eleanor at eharris@cliftoninstitute.org. If you would like to register at that time, you can email Eleanor, but she may not see your email in time. *

Brush up on your warbler songs just before the migrants arrive in droves. You will listen to the songs of each of the migratory warblers that pass through our region in spring, while looking at spectrograms to help visual learners identify differences in similar songs. You will also briefly discuss habitats where breeding warblers can be found in our area and cover a handful of other migrants such as vireos and thrushes. This workshop will be of interest to birdwatchers of all skill levels. It will definitely be more fun than listening to a warbler song CD in your car! This event will take place over Zoom. A Zoom link will be emailed to participants shortly before the event.

Cost: Free! But if you are able, there is a suggested donation of $10. All proceeds from The Clifton Institute programs go directly to funding their education programs, restoration work, and research projects. Thank you for your support!

Age: All ages.

 

Backyard Bird ID Workshop, March 20th

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Photo: Cerulean Warbler by Matt Felperin

Thursday, March 20, 2025
7:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Virtual

Free – RSVP now and start birding!

Sign-up for this exciting backyard bird identification workshop, where you will dive into the fascinating world of local birds and seasonal visitors! Whether you’re watching from your window, patio, or garden, you’ll gain the confidence to identify and appreciate the birds around you.

During this workshop, we’ll cover:

  • Common backyard bird species you’re likely to see year-round

  • Migratory warblers that might pass through your yard this Spring

  • Essential birding tools—from field guides to apps and binoculars

  • How to use Merlin to identify unfamiliar birds

  • How to use e-bird to report birds you observe

  • Tips for creating a team and participating in Birdathon

This is also a great opportunity for Wildlife Sanctuary Program participants to brush up on how to identify the Sanctuary Species that visit their yards. You need to document 10 sanctuary species to get your certification! Board Member Betsy Martin will join workshop to speak about that program and how you can make your yards friendlier to birds.

March Green Breakfast, In Person, March 8th

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Image: Fairfax County

Saturday, March 8, 2025
9 am
Ornery Public House, 3950 University Dr., #106 Fairfax VA

Register here.

Join Sara Girello with Fairfax County Government’s Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination (OEEC) for the first in-person Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District Green Breakfast since 2019! Come learn more about climate action in Fairfax County and the county’s work to “Sustain Fairfax”. They will highlight the county’s climate plans, programs, and progress and what you can do to save money, reduce your emissions, build resilience, and help our community.

This Green Breakfast is IN-PERSON and includes actual breakfast! Please register here so NVSWCD can let the restaurant know how many people they need to plan for. The cost will be $15, payable in cash at the door.

If you have questions, please email conservationdistrict@fairfaxcounty.gov

Did you miss their last Green Breakfast? They’ve got you covered! View the recording of our January 2025 Green Breakfast with Carolyn Wilder of the Wildlife Rescue League here.

30,000 Miles in Search of Godwits with Bruce Beehar, March 18th

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Photo: Hudsonian Godwit – David Seidensticker/Audubon Photography Awards

Tuesday, March 18, 2025
7:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Virtual
FEE: $15 member; $25 non-member

REGISTRATION

Event Sponsored by the Northern Virginia Bird Alliance (NVBA)

Between 2019 and 2022, the speaker completed five field trips in search of Hudsonian Godwits. Beehler visited stop-over sites through the Great Plains; visited breeding habitat in western Alaska, Churchill, Manitoba, and the High Arctic of western Canada; and did field surveys at a famous autumn staging site in James Bay. In all, Beehler traveled solo by car more than 30,000 miles, encountering Hudsonian Godwits in 10 states and provinces. He also spent time with Marbled and Bar-tailed Godwits, and 33 additional shorebird species. Moreover, Beehler accompanied various shorebird fieldworkers as they studied godwits and other species in remote and iconic field sites. In this illustrated lecture, Beehler will recount the highlights of his more than five months in the field, from Nome and Point Barrow to Tuktoyaktuk, Moosonee, and Monomoy Island.

Bruce Beehler is an ornithologist, conservationist, and naturalist. He is currently a Research Associate in the Division of Birds at the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, and a Scientific Affiliate of the American Bird Conservancy. Beehler has spent much of his scientific career studying and conserving birds and their forest habitats. After conducting doctoral fieldwork in Papua New Guinea, Beehler worked for ten years at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, followed by stints at the Wildlife Conservation Society, U.S. Department of State, Conservation International, and the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation.

Ospreys in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed with Joanie Millward, March 11th

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PHOTO: Osprey, Doug German/Audubon Photography Awards

Tuesday, March 11, 2025
7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Virtual
 FREE

TICKETS

Ospreys are a fish-eating bird of prey that can be found all over the world. Did you know that the osprey is one of the greatest environmental success stories? Osprey numbers crashed in the early 1950s to 1970s, when pesticides poisoned the birds and thinned their eggshells. Along the coast between New York City and Boston, for example, about 90% of breeding pairs disappeared. Osprey studies provided key support for wider legal arguments against the use of persistent pesticides. Learn more about their history, the challenges this species faces today in the Chesapeake Watershed and how you can help.

Joanie Millward is the founder and Executive Director of the Virginia Osprey Foundation. The Virginia Osprey Foundation based in Colonial Beach, VA is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation, protection, and stewardship of the majestic Osprey species and their fragile habitats throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. Virginia Osprey Foundation’s mission is to foster a sustainable environment where Ospreys thrive, inspiring a harmonious coexistence between humans and wildlife.

You’re Invited! Lahr Native Plant Symposium, March 29th

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Photo: Courtesy of Plant NOVA Natives: Aromatic Aster, Muhly Grass, Rough Goldenrod

Saturday, March 29th, 2025
9:00 AM to 4:00 PM

PAY WHAT YOU CAN REGISTRATION (The suggested registration cost is $95 (or $76 for FONA members), but please pay what you can to attend starting at $50.)

U.S. National Arboretum
Washington, D.C.

 

Dear Native Plant Enthusiast,

I am thrilled to invite you to the 38th Annual Lahr Native Plant Symposium, taking place on Saturday, March 29th, from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM at the U.S. National Arboretum in Washington, D.C.

This all-day event will feature engaging presentations by seven local experts, including horticulturists, scientists, and master naturalists.

Highlights of the symposium include:

  • Discovering how a historic estate is being reimagined with native plants.
  • Exploring research on the benefits of planting straight species versus cultivars.
  • Understanding the environmental impacts of proper backyard stormwater management.
  • A live demonstration of plant-pressing and its role in agricultural research and education.
  • Insights on encouraging native pollinators in your garden.

Engaging with the concept of ethical local foraging to support native landscapes.Your ticket also includes access to the Friends of the National Arboretum Native Plant Sale, where you’ll find local native plant vendors and artisans. Free lunch and snacks will be provided, with gluten-free and vegan options available.

For the full schedule of presentations and additional details, visit our ticketing page here:  38th Annual Lahr Native Plant Symposium

Please feel free to share this invitation with friends and fellow plant enthusiasts and reach out with any questions. I hope to see you there!

Best regards,

Molly Patton
she/her/hers (what is this?)
Public Horticulture and Engagement Unit
U.S. National Arboretum
Washington, DC
(207)415-1286

Meet Virginia’s Salamanders with Leeanna Pletcher, February 27th

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Photo: Courtesy of Northern Virginia Bird Alliance, Spotted Salamander

Thursday, February 27, 2025
7:00pm – 8:00pm EST

Virtual Event

Tickets $10.00 Members of the NVBS; $29.00 Non-NVBA Members (General Public)

Registration here.

Presentation of the Northern Virginia Bird Alliance (NVBA)

Spotted Salamander by Judy Gallagher

This talk will cover the common species in Northern Virginia as well as the diversity and biology of these elusive creatures.

Leeanna Pletcher is a Park Naturalist Aide for Arlington County Parks and Recreation where she teaches about amphibians and reptiles. She has studied the population and health of Ambystomid salamanders in vernal pools in Virginia. She is a member of the Virginia Herpetological Society.

Feather Trails: A Journey of Discovery Among Endangered Birds, January, 30th

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Image Courtesy of the Northern Virginia Bird Alliance

Thursday, January 30, 2025
7:00pm – 8pm EST

Virtual Event

Tickets $15.00 Members of the NVBS; $25.00 Non-NVBA Members (General Public)

Registration here.

Presentation of the Northern Virginia Bird Alliance (NVBA)

Birds are visible, vocal sentinels that alert us to environmental harms through their declining numbers or their failure to thrive. In her new book Feather Trails—A Journey of Discovery Among Endangered Birds, Sophie Osborn shares her personal experiences reintroducing endangered Peregrine Falcons, Hawaiian Crows, and California Condors to the wild. While immersing readers in the triumphs and tribulations of being a wildlife biologist, Sophie explores the threats that imperiled these birds, and reveals that what harmed them threatens us, too. She will discuss what led to the endangerment of these three captivating species, recount the efforts of biologists to recover their populations, and read a few excerpts from her book that describe what it was like to work with these magnificent birds.

Sophie A. H. Osborn is an award-winning environmental writer and wildlife biologist whose work has included the study and conservation of more than a dozen bird species in the Americas. She contributed to reintroduction efforts for several endangered birds and served as the field manager for the California Condor Recovery Program in Arizona for four years. Her books include Condors in Canyon Country, which won the 2007 National Outdoor Book Award for Nature and the Environment. She has written articles for BirdWatching, Wyoming Wildlife, and Sojourns magazines. Sophie’s writings are also available on her website and her “Words for Birds ” Substack blog.

Winter Symposium & Central Virginia Nursery and Landscape Association Short Course Homes and Habitats, February 12th and 13th

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Image: Courtesy of the Winter Symposium & CVNLA Short Course

 

Wednesday, February 12 & Thursday, February 13, 2025
9:00 am – 3:55 pm

In-Person OR Virtually, via Zoom

Click here for more session information and ticket/registration details.

Presented by Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, Central Virginia Nursery and Landscape Association, and Virginia Cooperative Extension

Explore the intricate relationships that exist between ecosystems, communities, and humankind, focusing on the importance of the reciprocal relationships between plants, animals, and humans. Learn how, as gardeners and landscape professionals, can steward the land to support our natural ecosystems, foster biodiversity and build resiliency in our changing climate.

Join the sessions on Wednesday, February 12 and Thursday, February 13 to hear a variety of engaging experts including Silvermoon LaRose (Assistant Director of the Tomaquag Museum), Jared Rosenbaum (author of Wild Plant Culture: A Guide to Restoring Native Edible and Medicinal Plant Communities), James Golden (author of The View from Federal Twist: a New Way of Thinking about Gardens, Nature and Ourselves), Jared Barnes, Ph.D. (Associate Professor of Horticulture, Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, TX), Robert Shaut (Casey Trees), Kasey Yturralde (USDA Forest Service), Jessie Ward (Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories) and many more.

 

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12 SESSIONS

OHKEHTEAU UNNEHTONGQUATASH, PLANT STORIES
Silvermoon LaRose, Tomaguag Museum

WILD PLANT CULUTRE: RESTORING NATIVE EDIBLE AND MEDICINAL PLANT COMMUNITIES

Jared Rosenbaum,Wild Ridge Plants, LLC

THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT: MICRO PLANTINGS FOR MACRO IMPACT

Dr. Jared Barnes, Stephen F Austin State University

PLANTING TREES IN A CHANGING CLIMATE: ADAPTING TO SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SHIFTS
Robert Shaut, Casey Trees

THE VIEWFROM FEDERAL TWIST: A NEWWAY OF THINKING ABOUT GARDENS, NATURE, AND OURSELVES

James Golden, Author

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13 SESSIONS

CULTURAL CONTROL: AN IPM TOOL FOR PEST AND DISEASE MANAGEMENT
Jessie Ward, Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories

SUPPORTING RESILIENT FORESTS AND COMMUNITIES IN A TIME OF CHANGE
Kasey Yturralde, USDA Forest Service

A CELEBRATION OF ECCENTRICITIES – FAMOUS PLANT PEOPLE AND THEIR PLANTS
Tony Avent, Juniper Level Botanic Garden and Plant Delights Nursery

TINY HOMES FOR TINY INSECTS – ADVANCES IN INSECT GALL DEVELOPMENT
Sarah Melissa Witiak, Virginia State Universit

CHASING THE BLOOM IN THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS

Don Hyatt, American Rhododendron Society

 

Five Lessons We Can Learn from Plants, March 13th

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Image: Courtesy of the Clifton Institute

Thursday, March 13, 2025
7:00 – 8:00 PM

This is a virtual event

This is a free seminar.

Registration is required. Click here for registration details.

A Clifton Institue Presentation

As pet owners, bird watchers, and animals ourselves, we are very familiar with how animal bodies work and what animals need to survive. It’s easy to overlook the plants that are quietly living their lives around us all the time. But there’s a lot we can learn by paying attention to plants. In this Zoom presentation, Co-Director and plant enthusiast Eleanor Harris, Ph.D., will share some of the life lessons we can learn from plants, some of the mind-boggling ways they are different from animals, and some things we all have in common. Consider this a little Botany 101 to kickstart your relationship with plants before the growing season really gets going.