Birds in Watercolor: Northern Flicker with Ronna Fujisawa, November 14th

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Image: Northern Flicker, courtesy Ronna Fujisawa

Thursday, November 14, 2024
7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
This is a virtual art class.

Registration is required.

Members: $25 (Non-members: $35) Northern Virginia Bird Alliance

The Northern Flicker is a woodpecker. Although it can climb up the trunks of trees and hammer on wood like other woodpeckers, the Northern Flicker prefers to find food on the ground. Flickers appear brownish overall with a white rump patch that’s conspicuous in flight and often visible when perched. The undersides of the wing and tail feathers are bright yellow, for eastern birds, or red, in western birds. With a closer look you’ll see the brown plumage is richly patterned with black spots, bars, and crescents.

In this class, students will paint a fun close-up of a Northern Flicker, learning how to mix neutral colors, as well as techniques of layering colors to create various feather patterns. Your instructor, Ronna Fujisawa of Salty Water Art, will be your guide through the step-by-step process of painting.

This is an online class open to all levels of watercolor painters. Beginners are welcome!

The suggested materials for this class:

  • Watercolor suggested colors: Cobalt Blue, Paynes Gray, Naples Yellow, Sap Green, Burnt Sienna, Raw Umber or other brown. Optional – Rich Green Gold or green gold, Transparent Pyrrol Orange. Ronna uses Daniel Smith brand tube watercolor paint.

  • 9″ x 12” or larger Arches Cold Press 140-pound watercolor paper

  • #2, #6, #12 round brushes, 1” oval wash brush

  • Graphite transfer paper for tracing (waxed surface)

  • Artist tape and board to tape paper down on all four sides for even borders (not on table)

  • Print-out of the attached photo in color to fit size of your watercolor paper (scroll down for photo, right click to save so you can print it)

  • Pencil to draw or trace, white eraser, water, paper towels

  • Computer or tablet for watching the class

Ronna Fujisawa is an avid bird watercolor artist residing in Portland, Oregon. Salt Water Art is her educational practice consisting of classes on how to paint birds and in watercolor and watercolor plein air workshops. For more information or questions, contact [email protected].

 

Nightjar Webinar, October 29th

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Tuesday, October 29, 2024
4 pm
Register here.

There was a time when woods across central and southeastern North America were filled with the mysterious nighttime song of the Whip-poor-will. Often heard but not seen, this bird’s evocative call now evokes sadness and nostalgia for many, especially as its song slowly disappears across its range.

The Whip-poor-will is a member of the nightjar family, birds known for their haunting songs and nocturnal habits. Like the Whip-poor-will, other nightjars like the Chuck-will’s-widow and the Common Nighthawk are also declining due to habitat loss and pesticide use, among other human-caused threats.

Join American Bird Conservancy for this free webinar to learn more about these enigmatic birds, their conservation status, and what ABC and our partners are doing to ensure a future for species in decline.

Winter Sparrow Identification *VIRTUAL*, November 14th

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Image: Courtesy The Clifton Institute, Winter Sparrow Workshop

Thursday, November 14, 2024
6:00 – 7:00 PM

This is a virtual event

ASNV Members-$10.00 (Non-members $15.00)

Click here for registration details.

A Clifton Institue Presentation

Get ready for winter by brushing up on sparrow identification! Every season brings its own challenges for birdwatching. In winter, similar-looking sparrows can be hard to tell apart and birding by ear becomes more difficult as birds sing less and call more. Join Executive Director and expert birder Bert Harris to learn some tips for identifying winter sparrows. Bert will walk you through the field marks of each species and use his years of birding experience to help you learn how to identify sparrows. Then in the second section of the program Bert will show sparrow photos to help you practice and test your new skills.

This program is intended for beginning and intermediate birders. We will send a Zoom link closer to the date.

Dam It: Partnering With Beavers to Restore the Planet, October 22nd

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Photo Credit: Ellyne Geurts, via iNaturalist, North American beaver, Castor canadensis.

Tuesday, Oct 22, 2024
7:00pm – 8:30pm

Webinar – Advance Registration Required 

 

Webinar presented by the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center

Can we learn to embrace the much-maligned beaver? In his book “Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter,” environmental journalist Ben Goldfarb reveals that our modern conception of a healthy ecosystem is wrong, distorted by the fur trade that once eliminated millions of beavers from North America’s waterways. The consequences were profound: Ponds drained, wetlands dried up and species from salmon to swans lost vital habitat. Today, a growing coalition of “Beaver Believers”—including scientists, farmers and passionate citizens—recognizes that ecosystems with beavers are far healthier than those without them. From the Nevada deserts to the Scottish Highlands, Believers are hard at work restoring these industrious rodents to their former haunts. In his talk on Oct. 22, Ben will discuss the history and biology of this world-changing species; how beavers can help us fight drought, flooding, wildfire and climate change; and how we can coexist with this challenging but vital rodent.

This webinar will be recorded! Closed captions will be available during the live event and on the recording. By signing up on Zoom, you’ll be able to join live and receive a link to the recording approximately 1 week after the live webinar.

Sign up on Zoom to watch live or on-demand

View more Life on a Sustainable Planet webinars

2024 Virginia Bluebird Society’s Biennial Conference, November 1st – 2nd

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Photo: By Susan Cato, Bluebird at nest box

Friday & Saturday, November 1- 2, 2024
Friday 6:00PM – 10:00PM, Saturday 8:00AM – 4:00PM

Virginia Crossings Conference Center & Hotel
Glen Allen, VA.

Registration and Conference details

The Virginia Bluebird Society is celebrating its biennial conference on November 1st and 2nd.  Whether you are an experienced Bluebird landlord or just beginning and don’t know where to start, there will be sessions for you!

Topics include Nest Box Monitoring 101, nature photography, birding with children, nature journaling and so much more!  There will be a silent auction and fun merchandise to purchase.  

Keynote Speaker Mynra Pearman, biologist, author and nature photographer, will be sharing her expertise. Learn more about Myrna at: https://www.myrnapearman.com/ 

The conference will take place at Virginia Crossings in Glen Allen, Virginia. Registration opens September 9 on the Virginia Bluebird Society website. Contact [email protected]  for more information.

 

Invitation to Participate in Save the Night! Light Pollution Awareness & Dark Skies Day, November 17th

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Photo: Fairfax County Park Authority – Dark Sky Celebration

Sunday, November 17, 2024
3:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Vienna Community Center
120 Cherry Street
Southeast Vienna, VA, 22180

DarkSky NOVA and Dark Sky Friends are hosting a Save the Night!

Join this family-friendly afternoon dedicated to exploring the effects of light pollution and how it impacts our lives and health.

Engage with astronomers, peer through telescopes, and immerse yourself in the planetarium experience. Discover how artificial light at night affects your health and that of birds, plants, insects and animals.

Light pollution, the excessive or misdirected artificial light that brightens our night skies, is a growing environmental issue with serious consequences. Discover the different forms of light pollution—such as skyglow, glare, and light trespass—and learn how they interfere with our ability to see stars and our everyday lives.

In addition to dimming our night skies, light pollution has far-reaching effects on human health, wildlife behavior, and energy consumption.

Learn how you can be part of the solution and how to stop light pollution!

Find out how you can help reduce light pollution and protect our night environment!

 

Learn How to Protect Northern Virginia’s Birds, Webinar, October 9th

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Photo: Purple Martins, Keith Kingdon/Audubon Photography Awards

Wednesday, October 9, 2024
7:30 – 9 pm
Free webinar.
Register here.

Over 100 million birds migrate through northern Virginia each spring,  and 160 million migrate through each fall. Their journeys are perilous because they can be attracted to and disoriented by brightly lit buildings, crashing into them or wasting precious energy flying around the lights.

Birds that live here risk colliding with glass and other reflective surfaces, and light pollution disrupts their feeding, sleeping and reproduction, as well as that of the plants and insects on which they depend.

Northern Virginia Bird Alliance has established a partnership with Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy, DarkSky Virginia, DarkSky NOVA, Nature Forward, the Friends of Dyke Marsh and the Friends of Little Hunting Creek to initiate a Bird Safe NOVA campaign. Join them for a free online program to learn more about the dangers our birds face and what you can do to make their lives less risky.

An Afternoon at the Smithsonian – Returns

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Smithsonian tour group – photo courtesy of FMN Ana Ka’ahanui

After a summer hiatus, the popular Smithsonian CE tour led by FMN John Kelmelis, returns in September. Speaking, of course, about the interpretive tour of the National Museum of Natural History for Virginia Master Naturalists. As a reminder, this tour is for FMN volunteers only and is limited by the Smithsonian to 6 people per tour. The tour begins at 3:00 p.m. so please plan to arrive by 2:45 for orientation. Details are described below and in the BI Calendar event description.

When: Thursday, September 26 2024 at 3:00pm
Where: Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC
Meet at the information desk inside the rotunda beside Henry, the big elephant.
How long: Approximately 2 hours.
Group limit: 6 individuals
To register:
1. Login to BI and click on your ‘Opportunities’ tab.
2. Select ‘Opportunity Calendar’ from the pull-down list.
3. Find event in the displayed calendar and click on it to display event details.
4. To sign up, Click on the ‘Sign Up’ box in the lower right. This automatically signs you up and puts the event on your calendar. Events disappear from calendar when full.
5. To claim 2 CE hours: use All Continuing Education -> FMN All other Chapter Training

Geology section National Museum of Natural History with FMN Dr. John Kelmelis. Photo FMN Susan Martel

Bring paper and pencil or E-pad to take notes if you desire. No visual or audio recordings please (Smithsonian rule).
This tour will identify the relationship of some exhibits tailored to the natural environment of Virginia including the geologic history, mineralogy, entomology, osteology, evolution, mammalogy, and many other topics.  Some take-aways include an introduction of how the display collection can be used to enrich the naturalist’s understanding of science and facts related to the natural condition and history of Virginia.

FMN Dr. John Kelmelis – photo FMN Susan Martel

Dr. Kelmelis is former Chief Scientist for Geography for the U.S. Geological Survey, former Senior Counselor for Earth Science at the U.S. Department of State, former Professor of Science, Technology and International Policy, and Founding Faculty of the School of International Affairs at Pennsylvania State University.  He holds a BA in Earth Science; MS in Engineering; and Ph.D. in Geography.  He is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and has held positions in other national and international scientific organizations.  He is a docent at the Smithsonian and a Virginia Master Naturalist in the Fairfax chapter.

Acknowledgments:
FMN Susan Martel – photos
FMN Ana Ka’hanaui – a photo from her camera
FMN Jerry Nissley – cover photo

Beyond Fossil Fuels: The Bumpy Transition to Clean Energy, Webinar, September 17th

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Photo: SERC

Tuesday, September 17, 2024
7 pm
Sponsored by Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC)
Register here.

Major transitions between technologies, like the switch from gas lights to electric lights, may seem quick when we look back on them. But transitions generally take decades. During this time, progress is inevitably punctuated by setbacks as proponents of the status quo push back against the forces of change. This bumpy path is playing out again in today’s transition from fossil fuel-based power to clean, renewable power from wind and solar. Transitioning our power system away from using fossil fuels to generate electricity will have a larger impact on reducing the future rate of climate change than any other single action, so it is crucial that we complete the transition as quickly as possible. In our September webinar, Professor Sara Via will discuss recent progress in the all-important transition to clean energy, consider some of the barriers that are impeding that progress and outline how each of us may be able to help reduce those barriers.

Fall Butterfly Identification with Larry Meade, September 3rd

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Photo: David Illig, Variegated Fritillary

Tuesday, September 3, 2024
7:00pm – 8:30pm

Webinar

Click here for registration details.

Presented By Northern Virginia Bird Alliance

The sight of butterflies fluttering around on a warm day is one of the most iconic signs of summer, but they can still be found well into the fall months. These beautiful insects usually live for only a few weeks as adults, but they make quite an impression while they are in their full glory. There is a large variety of butterfly species in our area. Larry Meade will walk students through the common species and help them differentiate some of the trickier look-a-like species.

Participants are encouraged to register for the North American Butterfly Association (NABA) Count to be held on Sunday, September 15, 2024.

A good way to prepare this program is to review Butterflies of the Mid-Atlantic, a Field Guide, by Robert Blakney and Judy Gallagher. Judy Gallagher is a member of the ASNV Board, and the field guide is available for purchase on the NVBA website.

Larry Meade is president of the Northern Virginia Bird Club and a member of the NVBA Adult Education Committee. He is a frequent bird walk leader and has been involved in numerous Audubon Christmas Bird Counts and NABA Butterfly Counts. He is the compiler of the Alexandria Circle NABA Butterfly Count.

This program is FREE for members of Northern Virginia Bird Alliance, (formerly Audubon Society of Northern Virginia) and members of the Northern Virginia Bird Club.