When you think of urban wildlife, critters like rats, pigeons, and raccoons may come to mind – but what about bats? Bats have a scary reputation, but play an important role in ecosystems and face serious conservation threats. Dr. Ela-Sita Carpenter will discuss her study of bats in Baltimore, as well as ways we can all support these special creatures in our neighborhoods. Presented by Audubon Naturalist Society.
https://fairfaxmasternaturalists.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Big-Brown-Bat-Photo-01-1600x1200-1-e1633888305233.jpeg9001200Janet Quinnhttps://fairfaxmasternaturalists.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/VMN-Fairfax-cmyk_w223h156.jpgJanet Quinn2021-10-10 17:54:372021-10-10 17:54:39Urban Bats: Studying and Protecting our Wildlife Neighbors, October 26th
Join Kristina Motley, Senior Environmental Specialist, to examine why the Poplar Island project is such a successful model of reuse. This environmental restoration project located in the Chesapeake Bay in Talbot County, Maryland, relies on dredged material collected from the approach channels to the Baltimore Harbor to restore lost remote island habitat within the Chesapeake Bay. This results in restoration of almost 400 acres of wetland habitat where more than 400 different species of wildlife have been documented and more than 30 different birds have been confirmed as nesting. Join Audubon Naturalist Society to learn about this unique story of continuing habitat victories.
https://fairfaxmasternaturalists.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/poplar-island.png392392Janet Quinnhttps://fairfaxmasternaturalists.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/VMN-Fairfax-cmyk_w223h156.jpgJanet Quinn2021-10-10 17:28:432021-10-10 17:34:34Poplar Island: An Innovative Model of Habitat Creation through Reuse, October 19th
Join Audubon Society of Northern Virginia for an exciting new series with Oak Spring Garden Foundation that focuses on native and heritage trees. The first workshop will be led by Eliza Greenman, a fruit explorer, horticultural historian, designer, and implementer of agroforestry. Learn more about Eliza and her work here.
Eliza will lead participants in a one-hour online class, followed by a half-day field trip to Oak Spring Garden Foundation. They will be outdoors and walking in the field. Please wear comfortable clothing and appropriate shoes.
https://fairfaxmasternaturalists.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Persimmons.jpg390488Mary Ann Bushhttps://fairfaxmasternaturalists.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/VMN-Fairfax-cmyk_w223h156.jpgMary Ann Bush2021-09-27 15:50:362021-09-27 15:50:53Fruit Talks and Field Walks: Persimmons with Eliza Greenman – November 11
Tuesday, October 12, 2021 7 pm Online session. Register here.
Enjoy a night of mystery and intrigue with the Capital Naturalist Alonso Abugattas. During this talk, attendees will enjoy learning some of the lesser-known natural phenomena in our region and their influence on our culture. You don’t want to miss this opportunity to engage with one of Audubon Naturalist Society‘s most dynamic speakers!
https://fairfaxmasternaturalists.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/unnamed.jpg443474Janet Quinnhttps://fairfaxmasternaturalists.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/VMN-Fairfax-cmyk_w223h156.jpgJanet Quinn2021-09-25 01:13:432021-09-25 01:13:56Mysterious Nature and Lore with the Capital Naturalist, October 12th
Welcome to the Neabsco Creek Boardwalk, which is part of the Neabsco Regional Park in Prince William county and the site of the latest FMN hosted CE Hike. As the name implies CE Hikes are arranged around a specific educational outdoor activity and then offered to FMN members only for Continuing Education (CE) credits. The CE walk along the Neabsco Creek Boardwalk was designed as a natural history walk to collect observations and to instruct people on how to improve their photos for iNaturalist. The event was a resounding success. It was informative, it included the exciting element of discovery, and the group had fun. The group spotted dozens of Green Tree Frogs (Hyla cinerea), identified and recorded copious plants, several katydids, a hummingbird (Archilochus colubris), dragon flies, garden spider (Argiope aurantia) with egg sac, and many other plants and creatures in the time we were there.
Barbara J. Saffir
Barbara J. Saffir
An iNaturalist project was created and participants were afforded the opportunity to join and contribute photos into the project either while in the field or later after post-processing photos at home. Some of those photos are included in this article along with views from the boardwalk.
Participants were Fairfax Master Naturalists David Gorsline, Hunter Loftin, Sharon Rhoades, Diane Bowen, Jose Martinez, Harry Iredale, and Jerry Nissley along with hike leader Barbara J. Saffir. Having a group comprised of master naturalists was value added because each member was able to contribute nuggets of learned knowledge and field experience, which enhanced the learning potential of the collective.
Be on the look out for future FMN CE Hikes announced through the FMN newsletter, Facebook, and other social media. Any announcement will include an automated enrollment function for FMN members to sign up.
Axanthic Green Tree Frog – Jerry Nissley
Green Tree Frogs – Jerry Nissley
https://fairfaxmasternaturalists.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/C672DDDF-CD69-4F96-8FDD-1841AB68ED2E.jpeg15362048Jerry Nissleyhttps://fairfaxmasternaturalists.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/VMN-Fairfax-cmyk_w223h156.jpgJerry Nissley2021-09-24 14:38:562021-10-05 10:48:09Neabsco Creek Boardwalk – CE Hike
Join Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC) during your Friday lunch hour for this free, informative webinar, including three presentations by guest speakers Jim McGlone (Virginia Department of Forestry), Tim Ohlwiler (Virginia Cooperative Extension), and David Wood (Chesapeake Stormwater Network).
Building a Garden Ecosystem – Jim McGlone Learn about the role of plants and insects in your garden and how using native plants can change your garden into a self-sustaining low maintenance garden ecosystem that grows beautiful plants and attracts pollinators like butterflies.
Solutions to Challenging Soils and Locations – Tim Ohlwiler Virginia gardeners often have problems with drought, high pH soils, compacted soils, sidewalks and other challenges with planting trees. Tim will talk about evaluating soils in difficult locations and then share some of his favorite trees for those challenging locations.
Build Your Own Rain Garden – David Wood Looking for landscaping tips that can help attract birds and pollinators and maybe even treat a bit of stormwater runoff? David will discuss how to design and build your own backyard rain garden. Learn how to boost backyard habitat and reduce nuisance flooding on your property in an environmentally friendly way.
https://fairfaxmasternaturalists.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/PEC-2.jpeg286890Janet Quinnhttps://fairfaxmasternaturalists.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/VMN-Fairfax-cmyk_w223h156.jpgJanet Quinn2021-09-24 01:06:532021-09-24 01:06:53Sustainable Landscaping Webinar, October 8th
Wednesday, October 20, 2021 7 pm Zoom Register here.
Join Friends of Dyke Marsh for Greg Butcher’s presentation on wintering waterbirds. Mr. Butcher will introduce the diversity of waterbirds that spend the winter in Northern Virginia and explain the difference between waterbirds and waterfowl. He will also review citizen science studies and conservation needs for birds and people along the Potomac River.
Mr. Butcher is Vice President of Audubon Society of Northern Virginia and Migratory Species Coordinator, the U.S. Forest Service’s International Programs.
https://fairfaxmasternaturalists.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Fairfax_Wildlife_Siskind.jpg27204083Janet Quinnhttps://fairfaxmasternaturalists.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/VMN-Fairfax-cmyk_w223h156.jpgJanet Quinn2021-09-08 10:48:032021-09-08 10:54:11Wintering Waterbirds, October 20th
Mondays and Wednesdays, October 4 – November 15, 2021 7-8 pm Field trips: October 16 (Rain Date: 23); November 6 (Rain Date: 13) Where: VIRTUAL Cost: $150 member/$175 non-member online only; $250 member/$275 non-member online and field trips More information and register here.
Are you new to birding and want to learn more or just want to dig deeper into the subject? Then this Audubon Society of Northern Virginia class is for you.
This course is designed and presented at an introductory, university level in 6 parts, with each week’s worth of classroom instruction equaling 2 hours. Fundamentals of Avian Biology, Part 1 will feature the major underpinnings to ornithology within a context of U.S. national history. Topics covered in this class encompass: the origins and then separation of amateur from professional interest in birds; form and function in the avian body; avian flight mechanics, movement, and dispersal; bird distribution and biogeography; evolutionary relationships and naming systems for birds; and standardized field methods used to study birds. Whenever appropriate, contrasting perspectives are offered, including controversial views that arose from reliance on different theories or applications. Instructional presentations will include PowerPoint slides, auditory or video supplements, and some in-class participatory exercises.
https://fairfaxmasternaturalists.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/ChrisHaney-e1631011845108.jpeg420499Janet Quinnhttps://fairfaxmasternaturalists.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/VMN-Fairfax-cmyk_w223h156.jpgJanet Quinn2021-09-07 10:51:382021-09-07 10:51:38Fundamentals of Avian Biology, the Study of Birds: Fall Session with Dr. Chris Haney, Oct. 4 – Nov. 15, 2021
Tuesday, September 14, 2021 2-3:30 pm Register here.
Join Audubon Naturalist Society for this FREE 90-minute roundtable hosted by ANS’s Taking Nature Black Conference, with sponsorship from the U.S. Forest Service’s Office of Urban and Community Forestry.
This discussion will help elevate holistic strategies that connect the green movement with second chance/re-entry programs, services, and advocacy with a focus on social supports, social and economic justice, recidivism, and prevention.
Expanding career opportunities for the re-entry community is a way to extend healing to this community and to our land.
Monday, September 20, 2021 7-9 pm Zoom Email [email protected] for the link
Fairfax Chapter of the Virginia Master Naturalists will hold their Quarterly Chapter Meeting in a remote format on Monday, September 20 from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. We’re not quite ready to hold in-person meetings yet with our county maintaining a substantial level of COVID transmission per the CDC. Keep your fingers crossed for December.
We’re going to change things up this meeting. Instead of focusing on plants or animals, we’re going to lean towards geology and learn about historic shoreline change on the Potomac River, including substantial wrecks and ruins that are now fisheries habitat. OK, we may learn a little about local fish. Our speaker, Wayne Young, has an MS in Natural Resources, is a member of the Coastal Conservation Association, and is the author of four books about fishing reefs and maritime disasters on the Chesapeake and Potomac.
https://fairfaxmasternaturalists.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/noaa-e0eHtnr7eeU-unsplash-scaled.jpg17002560Janet Quinnhttps://fairfaxmasternaturalists.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/VMN-Fairfax-cmyk_w223h156.jpgJanet Quinn2021-08-24 02:25:182021-08-24 02:25:19FMN Quarterly Chapter Meeting, September 20th
