Preventing Avian Extinctions: What Works with Dr. David Luther, January 11th

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Photo: Cerulean Warbler by Matt Felperin

Thursday, January 11, 2024
7 – 8 pm
Virtual
ASNV Members: $10
Non-members: $15
Register here.

Join Audubon Society of Northern Virginia and Dr. David Luther for a program on preventing avian extinctions. More species in the world are threatened with extinction today than at any other time in recent history. However, at the same time, a number of programs have made great strides in successfully conserving threatened species and preventing their extinctions. Dr. Luther will explore the state of birds globally, the threats they face, and what is working in the field of conservation biology to prevent the extinction of endangered bird species. The talk will focus on global and local examples of successful conservation efforts, his research on conserving endangered species in the United States and around the world, and future conservation opportunities.

David Luther is an Associate Professor in the Biology Department at George Mason University and a member of the ASNV board. He teaches courses on ornithology, community ecology, and animal behavior. His research applies principles from animal behavior and ecology to examine conservation biology problems. Current projects focus on how climate change and habitat loss are affecting birds in the Amazon as well as the mechanisms that make conservation actions succeed in preventing extinctions of threatened species.

 

Afternoon at the Smithsonian – Interpretive Tour of the Museum of Natural History

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

Tuesday, 5 Dec 2023
3:00 to 5:00PM (Tour is approximately 2 hours).
Where: National Museum of Natural History, Washington D.C.
Meet at the information desk in the rotunda beside Henry, the big elephant.
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 the 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.
  5. To claim CE hours: use All Continuing Education -> FMN All other Chapter Training

Bring paper and pencil to take notes if you desire. No recordings please.

FMN Dr. Kelmelis will guide an interpretive tour of the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History relevant to Virginia Master Naturalists.  This tour will identify the relationship of some exhibits to the natural environment of Virginia including the geologic history, mineralogy, entomology, osteology, evolution, mammalogy, and many other topics.  Some of the take-aways will include an introduction of how the NMNH’s display collection can be used to enrich the naturalist’s understanding of science, the scientific method, and some techniques that are applicable to naturalists’ domain of interests; as well as some facts related to the natural condition and history of Virginia.

Emerged, Emerging and Potential Infectious Diseases of Virginia Wildlife, December 7th

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Photo: Courtesy of the VMN Continuing Education Webinar Series

Thursday, December 7, 2023
12:00-1:00 pm

VMN Continuing Education Webinar
Registration: Pre-registration required.

As Virginians, we live in a unique, diverse but fragile ecosystem comparable to any area on earth. A realization of this is made obvious when one considers the havoc that an introduced infectious disease can have on a wildlife population. In this presentation, the biology and impact of three different infectious diseases will be presented and the roles Master Naturalists could play in recognizing and controlling these diseases. The first is an infectious disease that has emerged: white nose syndrome of bats that is devastating the bat population in our state. The second, chronic wasting disease of deer, an emerging disease that is slowly spreading through the deer population of Virginia with potential public health implications. The final disease is Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (a.k.a. Bsal) a deadly disease that has recently spread from Asia to Europe and is expected to soon be found in North America. North America has the greatest salamander diversity in the world with much of this diversity occurring along the mid-Atlantic Appalachians.  

 

Robert “Bob” Dunstan is a veterinary pathologist who has over 100 publications dealing with diseases of animals and humans in their many manifestations.  He was a full professor of pathology at Michigan State University and at Texas A&M University where he specialized in dermatopathology.   In 2004, he was recruited by Pfizer to help develop new treatments for dermatologic diseases in humans.  To do this he started using artificial intelligence to quantify the microscopic effects of emerging topical therapies. Four years later he was recruited as a distinguished investigator by Biogen, where he studied Alzheimer’s disease as well as several autoimmune diseases.  He finished his career working for Abbvie, applying deep learning methods on inflammatory bowel disease.  Retiring this year, Bob became a Master Naturalist in 2012.

 

Occoquan Tree Identification with Jim McGlone, November 18th

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Photo: Occoquan Bay NWR, Rusty Moran

Saturday, November 18, 2023
1 – 3 pm
Occoquan Bay NWR Visitor Center
14050 Dawson Beach Road, Woodbridge, VA, 22191

Free, no registration required

Join Audubon Society of Northern Virginia for a walk through Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge to learn how to identify common native trees and how you can be a good park neighbor by planting your own native trees at home. You’ll also learn why trees are so important, both in parks and the areas surrounding parks.

This program is part of our Stretch Our Parks initiative, in partnership with the staff of Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge was established in June 1998 to provide habitat for migratory birds and endangered species. The refuge’s diverse grassland, marsh, and forest habitats attract a variety of songbirds, raptors, and waterfowl that depend on the area for food, nesting sites, and a place to rest.

Jim, an urban forest conservationist and forester, recently retired from the Virginia Department of Forestry and served as founding Chapter Advisor and dendrology instructor for the Fairfax Master Naturalists.

 

Birds in Watercolor: Paint Step-by-Step with Ronna Fujisawa, November 30th

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Image: Ronna Fujisawa

Thursday, November 30
7 PM – 8:30 PM
Virtual
ASNV Members: $20
ASNV Non-members: $30
More information and registration here.

Celebrate the season and paint a watercolor of the adorable Tufted Titmouse. Birds are an excellent source of inspiration and a joy to paint. Join this live, online Audubon Society of Northern Virginia class to paint alongside Ronna Fujisawa, an experienced watercolor painter, art educator, and bird enthusiast. No prior watercolor experience is necessary for enjoying this tutorial.

Photo: Rock Pigeons, Andrew Birkey/ Audubon Photography Awards

Rock Pigeon History, Biology and Behavior with Rosemary Mosco on December 7

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Photo: Rock Pigeons, Andrew Birkey/ Audubon Photography Awards

Thursday, December 7, 2023
7:00 PM – 8:00 PM

This is virtual class.

Cost: ASNV Members: $10 (Non-members: $15)

Registration is required.

The Rock Pigeon is such a familiar sight that you may never have noticed its beautiful iridescent throat plumage. Did you know that this species was domesticated over 5,000 years ago?

The Audubon Society of Northern Virginia (ASNV) presents Rosemary Mosco, author of A Pocket Guide to Pigeon Watching, for an author talk on her book that takes a closer look at this common bird. Her travel-sized book details pigeons’ coloration, field marks, and anatomy. But it’s more than a field guide. It’s also an informative account of pigeon history, biology, and behavior, complete with Mosco’s delightful illustrations and a hefty dose of puns. Join this talk for a dive into the science, history, biology and behavior of the Rock Pigeon.

Rosemary Mosco is a science writer and naturalist who makes books and cartoons that connect people with the natural world. She has her Masters in Science Communications from the University of Vermont. She is the author of the popular webcomic Bird and Moon and has authored a number of children’s books about nature and wildlife.

 

Come to Swanfall at Mason Neck State Park, December 3

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Photo: Courtesy of Eagle Fest at Mason Neck State Park
Sunday, 03 Dec 2023
2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Gunston Hall’s Ann Mason Room,
10709 Gunston Road,
Lorton VA

Registration is required.


Get a start on the holiday celebrations with the Friends of Mason Neck State Park’s annual Swanfall event at Gunston Hall’s Ann
Mason Room, 10709 Gunston Road. The celebrations start at 2:00 with a great buffet of meats, cheeses, fruit, vegetables, and special desserts. At 2:45 PM the Friends’ own Randy Streufert will present a program on Bald Eagles.

Randy is an award-winning photographer who has presented several programs for the Friends. Bald Eagles nest in Mason Neck State Park and the adjacent Elizabeth Hartwell Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge — the first wildlife refuge in the United States that was created specifically to protect Bald Eagle nesting areas. You can learn about these iconic birds and enjoy Randy’s stunning photographs.

Swanfall is open to everyone. Members can attend and bring one guest for $15 per person. Non-members can attend for $20 per
person. You can register for Swanfall 2023 here.

 

Discovering Bats in the Night Sky, October 1st

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Article and Photos by FMN Laura Anderko

On October 1, 2023, FMN offered a hike to its members to learn about and view bats, with expert Deborah Hammerer. The group met at Dyke Marsh trail in Alexandria, VA to discover the many bats native to the area. Deb used a sonar detector to hear the bats echolocating as they hunt for insects. The group was not disappointed! We were treated to dozens of bats including Little brown bats and big brown bats. Adding to the suspense, a barred owl called out into the night while the bats were in flight, catching insects – these birds are hunters of bats….

Photo credit: FMN Laura Anderko, Bat Night 10/01/2023

Deborah offered insights and information about bats. Bats belong to a group of animals called Chiroptera (Kir-op-tera), which means “hand wing.” Bats are the only flying mammal. Using a bat puppet, she described how bats fly.  Deborah described a bat’s wing resembling a human hand — with a flexible skin membrane that extends between each long finger bone and many movable joints. This makes bats acrobatic in their flight, helping them catch insects. They also use echolocation – sending out waves of sound to locate insects during flight. Each night, bats can eat their body weight in insects, numbering in the thousands, reducing disease and helping farmers. Bats are important pollinators too – over 500 plant species rely on bats to pollinate their flowers including mango, banana, guava, and agave. Bats are incredible creatures!

The evening ended with a beautiful moonrise over the Potomac…

Photo credit: FMN Laura Anderko, Bat Night 10/01/2023

FMN Quarterly Chapter Meeting, Graduation, and Presentation by Award Winning Interpretive Manager and Naturalist Suzanne Holland: December 18 at 7:00 PM

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Photo credit: Kim Young,  Southern Flying Squirrels (Glaucomys Volans)

Join us as Naturalist and award-winning Interpretive Manager Suzanne Holland presents on Southern Flying Squirrels (Glaucomys volans) – a native of Virginia. Flying squirrels are technically not fliers, but expert gliders, using the membrane between their ribs and ankles to glide. They can cover 150 feet in a single glide!  After the presentation, we will have an opportunity to observe flying squirrels from their feeding boxes.

Suzanne Holland has served Fairfax County residents for over 30 years and was honored by the County for her outstanding contributions when she retired in November 2022. Suzanne was among the first to broaden engagement to diverse communities and to train others about the importance of nature for children and families. She partnered with the Office for Children for over a decade of “teaching the teacher” programs, leading diverse county preschool teachers on methods of teaching about nature. In addition, as a member of the Mason District Task Force on Equity, Suzanne worked with Hidden Oaks Nature Center staff to create opportunities for equity programming for local Latino and Asian communities.

Suzanne Holland and Bob Dinse with Wildlife Tree Sculpture-Photo credit: Jerry Nissley

Among the many awards Suzanne earned over the 30 years at Hidden Oaks, she received the National Association for Interpretation (NAI) S.T.A.R.S. award for outstanding interpretive work, especially in her efforts to educate interpreters for the FCPA.  Other efforts include the creation of Nature Playce (a woodland play area near the Hidden Oaks Nature Center) and the development of monarch butterfly conservation stewardship programming.

Nature Playce (a woodland play area near the Hidden Oaks Nature Center)

Kim Young, FCPS Hidden Oaks’ senior interpreter, will join the presentation. Kim has led dozens of flying squirrel presentations for the Park Authority plus a program for the Friends of Dyke Marsh. She is a flying squirrel-whisperer and will share her recommendations of encouraging these charming creatures to visit your backyard feeding station and nesting boxes. We will be raffling off a flying squirrel feeding box after the presentation!

This event will include a potluck dinner: please feel free to bring a dish to share – appetizer, main dish, or dessert.


FMN members can record one CE hour under Continuing Education – FMN: Chapter Meeting Presentations.

Location: Hidden Oaks Nature Center, 7701 Royce Street, Annandale, VA 22003
Hidden Oaks Nature Center Location

Please note: The main parking lot is in Annandale Community Park at the Packard Center, 4022 Hummer Rd.
Upon entering the park from Hummer Road, take the right fork of the driveway and park in the back of the lot adjacent to the Packard Center. Look for the arch into the woods and follow the Storybook Trail to Hidden Oaks Nature Center. This walk is on an ADA- certified paved trail and is about 75 yards. Follow the adventures of woodland creatures as you weave through the woodland to the Nature Center.

More information about Hidden Oaks: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/hidden-oaks/on-your-own

Author Talk: “What an Owl Knows” with Jennifer Ackerman, October 19th

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Image: Courtesy of the Audubon Society of Northern Virginia

Thursday, October 19, 2023
7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Virtual, hosted by Audubon Society of Northern Virginia

Fee: Members $25 (Non-members–$350

Register here.

For millennia, owls have captivated and intrigued us. With their forward gaze and quiet flight, owls are often a symbol of wisdom, knowledge, and foresight. But what does an owl really know? And what do we really know about owls? Though our fascination goes back centuries, scientists only have recently begun to understand in detail the complex nature of these extraordinary birds.

Join Jennifer Ackerman, author of The Genius of Birds, for an author talk about her latest book, in which she illuminates the rich biology and natural history of owls and reveals remarkable new scientific discoveries about their brains and behavior. What an Owl Knows is a fascinating exploration of owls across the globe and through human history, including an account of their astonishing hunting skills, communication, and sensory prowess.

Jennifer Ackerman has been writing about science and nature for almost three decades. Her New York Times bestseller, The Genius of Birds, has been translated into 25 languages and was named one of the best nonfiction books of 2016 by The Wall Street Journal, a Best Science Book by National Public Radio’s “Science Friday”, and a Nature Book of the Year by the London Sunday Times. Her other books include Birds by the Shore: Observing the Natural Life of the Atlantic Coast (2019 reissue by Penguin Press of her first book, Notes from the Shore), Sex Sleep Eat Drink Dream: A Day in the Life of Your Body, and Chance in the House of Fate: A Natural History of Heredity. Ackerman’s articles and essays have appeared in National Geographic, The New York Times Magazine, Scientific American, and many other publications. She is the recipient of numerous awards and fellowships, including a National Endowment for the Arts Literature Fellowship in Nonfiction, a Bunting Fellowship, and a grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.