Winter Greens at Fred Crabtree Park

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A Walk with Jan Meyer

Fred Crabtree Park, 2801 Fox Mill Road, Herndon VA 20171

Saturday, February 10, 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM

Come to Fred Crabtree Park, a lovely park in Herndon, Virginia, with Jan Meyer to find out what grows there and what is green in winter. Jan will point out a variety of green plant life, including a lichen, a few mosses, a couple of ferns, three clubmosses, a little seep plant, and some forbs, shrubs, and trees. Learn to distinguish between Pitch Pine and Virginia Pine, which are side by side at the park.

Jan Meyer is a Fairfax Master Naturalist, member of VNPS, and also the VNPS Grass Bunch. Over the years she has adopted Fred Crabtree Park and has led invasive species removal efforts there in addition to naturalist walks.

Sponsored by the Potowmack Chapter of the Virginia Native Plant Society. Program is free and open to the public, but space on the walk is limited. Register here. To cancel your registration or ask a question, email vnps.pot@gmail.com.

Learning Opportunity: Scientific Collections in Conservation Research

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A Talk by Dr. Gary Kupnick
Thursday, February 8, 7:30 to 9 pm
Green Spring Gardens
4603 Green Spring Road
Alexandria, VA 22312

Museum collections are remarkable and irreplaceable sources of information about biodiversity and the history of life on Earth. In addition to playing a critical role in scientific studies, they serve an important role in conservation biology, including documenting occurrences of invasive species; providing data on locality change due to habitat destruction and climate change; providing material for DNA analysis and conservation genetics; providing material for pollution documentation; and, serving as a means of locating possibly extinct species  This presentation describes several case studies to illustrate and explore the way scientific collections have and will continue to contribute to conservation research.

Sponsored by the Potowmack Chapter of the  Virginia Native Plant Society, this program is free and open to the public.

Learning Opportunity: Evolution in Marsh Wrens

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Sunday, February 25th, 2:00 PM
Mount Vernon Governmental Center, 2511 Parkers Lane, Alexandria, VA 22306
Parking is available at the Governmental Center and across the street at Whitman Middle School.

 

A Dyke Marsh inlet, photo by Ned Stone.

Hear Dr. Sarah Luttrell talk about her work on evolution and speciation in the marsh wren (Cistothorus palustris).  Dr. Luttrell studies how evolution works by studying subspecies of birds.  She will examine how comparing multiple traits like plumage color, size and shape, vocal behavior, and genetics in marsh wrens has revealed an exciting pattern of evolution in this bird.  She received her Ph. D. in Biological Sciences in August 2017 from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

 

The program is sponsored by Friends of Dyke Marsh.  It is free and open to the public.

Learning opportunity: Designing green roof habitats in cities

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Join the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) and Biophilic DC as they explore emerging design practices and issues related to this new urban habitat. Both organizations will have information on hand to help you get involved. Weds, 7 February 2018 6:30–8:00 PM ASLA Center for Landscape Architecture 636 I Street Northwest Washington, DC 20001 […]

Read more

Register for Washington Area Citizen Science Regional Meeting, 9 February

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Area-wide citizen scientists are meeting at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History to discuss 2018 City Nature Challenge (CNC) and how you might get involved. Join them Friday, 9 February 2018, 9:00 am – 11:00 am.

AGENDA

Presentation by Chris Meyer, PI Moorea Biocode

2018 City Nature Challenge (CNC)

  • International and Regional Overview
  • CNC Basics: How to Get Started, Tools and Resources for participation
  • What We’re Up To – Local Projects Underway, Identification Parties, Q and A
  • Ideas and Pitches for collaboration, cool projects

Regional Network Updates

An optional 30-minute iNaturalist training will  following the meeting.

Please RSVP to: biophilicdc@gmail.com

Join the National Audubon Society, National Geographic, BirdLife International, and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in a yearlong celebration of birds

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2018 is it the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act—legislation that saves countless birds’ lives—but birds are facing many new and serious threats. Audubon has teamed up with National Geographic, BirdLife International, and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology to officially make 2018 the Year of the Bird.

Throughout the year, these partners, along with more than 100 other participating organizations, will be celebrating birds while raising awareness about their troubles across all of our channels—magazines, television, social media, and more—with new editorial, content, and programs.

Help build a better world for birds by taking a simple but meaningful action each month. Count Me In gives you options for learning about some ways to participate.

Check out the official Year of the Bird website for others.

Register for 14th annual Woods and Wildlife Conference, 24 February, Culpepper

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The 14th Annual Woods & Wildlife Conference will be held on February 24, 2018 at the Daniel Technology Center, Germanna Community College, Culpeper.  On-line and mail-in registration are open.

Pre-registration is due by 14 February. $45/person. $80/couple

Topics:

  • Scientific and social challenges of timber harvesting on private lands
  • Early successional habitat: Why and how?
  • Invasive species update
  • Forest pollinators
  • Case study: The Shenandoah National Park Fire
  • Selling timber: Panel of practitioners
  • Snags: Dead trees are good
  • Introduction to wild edibles
  • Pine savannahs: Where wildlife and pine production intersect
  • Habitat triage and congnitive mapping
  • Frogging by ear
  • Coyotes in Virginia: Here today and here to stay

View presentations from previous conference.

This conference counts toward continuing education credits for master naturalists.

Support local farmers at Frying Pan Park events in February and March

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Meet local farmers in the Fairfax County area to hear their stories about growing food to feed our communities.  Learn ways we can support each other and enjoy a sample of their harvests as we gather together.

February 11, 2018:  Jessie and Sean Baker, Day Spring Farms

March 11, 2018:  Allyson Gibson, Pocket Farms

Each program is from 2-3:30 PM at the Frying Pan Visitor Center, 2739 West Ox Road, Herndon VA  20171, (703) 437-9101

Cost: $10/person

Register: http://bit.ly/2klhmZ1

Learning opportunity on climate change, sponsored by Sierra Club

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Scientists have been researching and studying climate change for over 100 years and have come to a near-unanimous consensus that the burning of fossil fuels is the major contributor.  The Climate Reality Project presents Climate Reality Leader Paula Clements, whose slide show presentation will depict the urgency for climate action but is really a message of hope.

When:  Tuesday, January 30, 7:00-8:30 PM (snacks 6:30 PM)

Where:  Oakton Library, 10304 Lynnhaven Place, Oakton VA

Contact and RSVP:  Susan Weltz at s.weltz@yahoo.com

Sponsored by:  Sierra Club/Great Falls Group, 350.org Fairfax, Herndon Environmental Network, FACS, UUCF Climate Action Group

Attend Shenandoah Valley Plant Symposium 2018

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Waynesboro Parks and Recreation presents A Gardener’s Palette, a learning opportunity for everyone from garden hobbyist to experienced landscape architect.

Proceeds from the event support our horticulture department’s Bloom Program.

Friday, March 16, 2018 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.

Best Western Inn & Conference Center, Waynesboro, VA

Learn more and register.