Winter Crow Watch at Shirlington Roost, January 17th

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Photo of Crow by Ahmed Fahmi on Unsplash

Saturday, January 17, 2026
4:30 PM 6:00 PM

Free

Shirlington Library
4200 Campbell Avenue
Arlington, VA 22206

Join the Northern Virginia Bird Alliance and their partners at DC Bird Alliance for a Winter Crow Watch at the Shirlington roost located in Arlington, VA. You’re in for a show as the crows gather here in numbers so large it actually appears on radar!

Plan to meet around 4:30pm at the Shirlington Library, near the Harris Teeter located at 4200 Campbell Ave, Arlington, VA 22206. Here participants will listen to a brief presentation (more details to come soon) before everyone walks together to the viewing point on the top floor of the parking garage at the west end of the Village at Shirlington (about a two-minute walk.)

Here the organizers have binoculars and scopes for participants to use to view the crows as they gather for a noisy social time before heading to the roost for the night. Participants can watch the crows for about 60 minutes, depending on weather conditions and crow activity. Remember to dress warmly!

Pre-registration is not required for NVBA Bird Outings, but it helps us prepare and allows us to contact participants in case of last-minute cancellations (see cancellation policies below.) Otherwise, the outing will take place as scheduled.

For more information and details please click here.

Living With Black Bears – Wolf Trap National Park, February 1st

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Photo: Courtesy of the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, Black Bear and cubs
Sunday, February 1, 2026
11:00 am to Noon
Free
Presentation will be held Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts
“Black Bears: Cute and Curious…Learn about our local bears and how to safely co-exist with them.

Join Dr. Peter M. Mecca, Adjunct Professor, Educator, Scientist, and Fairfax Master Naturalist for a “Bare Facts” INDOOR presentation, in the beautifully renovated Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts Filene Center, on Living with Black Bears, an award-winning education and outreach initiative addressing human–bear interactions in Virginia, including locally in the DMV. This presentation is appropriate for all ages.

Gain an understanding of black bears, their behaviors and habitats, food sources, migration patterns and more. The session will offer practical, science-based strategies that can be used to reduce conflicts with black bears. Learn how to manage attractants and how to prevent interactions to help protect people, their pets, and other wildlife.

This project is a partnership between the Virginia Master Naturalist (VMN) program and the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR)and received the 2025 Outstanding Volunteer Project Award from the Alliance of Natural Resource Outreach and Service Programs (ANROSP). The award recognizes volunteer-led projects that advance natural resource management and public education. Evaluations from more than 80 presentations Statewide show that participants leave better informed and more likely to adopt bear-smart practices.

Cost: Free   For our staffing planning, please only register if you are certain you can make this event.

Meet: Presentation starts promptly at 11am.

Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts. Drive behind the Filene Center to park in Lot 1. Enter through the backstage entrance, which is on the Toll Roadside of the Filene Center building. Volunteers will guide you.

Please register through the Eventbrite posting so we have an accurate account of attendees for purposes of determining seating and volunteer support:  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/living-with-black-bears-wolf-trap-national-park-tickets-1979685929908?aff=oddtdtcreator
Attendance at this event is eligible for one of Continuing Education credit.  Record completion in your Better Impact account as “All Continuing Education – National Park Service.”

Alliance Afternoon: Searching for Lost Birds with John Mittermeier, January 25th

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Image: Imperial woodpecker This media file is in the public domain in the United States.

Sunday, January 25, 2026
2:30 PM 4:30 PM

Free

National Wildlife Federation
11100 Wildlife Center Drive Ste. 100
RestonUnited States (map)

For more presentation details and registration information please click here!

Join this presentation on Sunday, January 25th at 2:30pm for the first Alliance Afternoon of 2026! At this quarterly chapter meeting, guests will gather in the cafeteria of the National Wildlife Federation Building to mingle with other bird-lovers while enjoying snacks and drinks. Attendees are also welcome to bring additional food or beverages to share.

NVBA staff and the Board of Directors will kick off the meeting by conducting chapter business, followed by celebrations of the 2025 Christmas Bird Count and the 2026 Photo Contest Calendar. The agenda will then move into a discussion of upcoming advocacy opportunities and other chapter updates. The featured presentation will be given by guest speaker, John Mittermeier of the American Bird Conservancy, who will speak on the Search for Lost Birds. The presentation will conclude with time for audience questions before the wrap up of this quarter’s meeting around 4:30 p.m. Following the meeting, guests are welcome to stay for NVBA’s Volunteer Recruitment Fair, where NVBA staff and committee chairs will highlight upcoming volunteer opportunities for participants to explore and consider joining.

The quarterly chapter meetings are open to both NVBA members and the general public. Anyone interested in the birds of northern Virginia is welcome! This event is free, and registration is not required; however, those who RSVP will receive reminder messages.

Presentation on Searching for Lost Birds

Around the world, just over 100 species of birds are currently considered “lost” meaning that they are not considered extinct but that no one has been able to document them in the past decade or more. What are these lost birds and why can’t anyone find them? Do they matter for conservation? Join John C. Mittermeier, the Director of the Search for Lost Birds at American Bird Conservancy, to answer these questions and hear stories about the efforts to rediscover some of these mysterious species.

About John C. Mittermeier:

John C. Mittermeier, PhD, is the Director of the Search for Lost Birds at American Bird Conservancy where he helps support projects to look for lost bird species around the globe. Prior to joining American Bird Conservancy in 2020, he received a PhD in biodiversity conservation from the University of Oxford and has conducted ornithological research and fieldwork in Suriname, Papua New Guinea, Madagascar, and the Solomon Islands, among other places. Click here to learn more about The Search for Lost Birds.

Raptor Rehabilitation and Rodenticide Awareness with Dr. Belinda Burwell, January 24th

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Photo: Stacey Remick-Simkins red-tailed hawk

 

Saturday, January 24, 2026
12:00 PM 3:00 PM

General Admission: $25       Wildlife Rehabber Admission: $15

National Wildlife Federation
11100 Wildlife Center Drive
Reston, VA, 20190United States

Registration and important presentation details please click here.

Join this presentation on January 24th for an afternoon of educational lectures covering the fundamentals of raptor rehabilitation. The course will be taught by certified wildlife rehabilitator and veterinarian Dr. Belinda Burwell and will cover essential raptor rehabilitation skills geared toward at-home rehabbers. Next, participants will learn how rodenticides impact raptors negatively. This event is hosted in partnership with A.E.R.O. (Animal Education and Rescue Organization) and is open to anyone interested in attending.

The training will provide wildlife caregivers and apprentices with guidance on:

  • How to identify which raptors need intervention and which do not

  • Best practices for stabilizing and housing injured adult raptors before transport

  • Understanding normal baby raptor development and when and how to intervene

  • Practical tips for rehabbers who may be offering guidance over the phone or providing initial stabilization prior to transfer

Because the majority of raptors admitted to rehabilitation are injured adults there will be a special emphasis on safe handling, transport, and triage for adults. During the training, cadaver birds will be available to demonstrate proper bandaging and handling techniques, providing participants with valuable hands-on experience.

About Dr. Belinda Burwell

With 40 years of veterinary experience treating domestic and exotic pets, and native wildlife. She is currently in practice at Plaza Pet Clinic in Winchester, and also runs a non-profit called Wildlife Veterinary Care, an organization offering free veterinary care to injured and sick wildlife.

Her goals as a veterinarian are assuring the availability of quality veterinary care for all the animals in our community and teaching the public to care about animals.
In 1998, she was a founder of the Valley Emergency Veterinary Clinic in Winchester, and in 2000 started the Blue Ridge Wildlife Center, a 501(c)3 non-profit wildlife rescue and rehabilitation organization. When her children were young, she started the 4H Naturalist’s Club in Clarke County as an organization offering hands-on learning about nature and the environment to children.

She has been rescuing and rehabilitating wildlife since 1987 and became a Certified Wildlife Rehabilitator through the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council. As a wildlife rehabilitator, she has experience rehabilitating more than 200 different species of Virginia’s native wildlife.

She has served on the Certified Wildlife Rehabilitator Examination Board, the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries Wildlife Rehabilitation Advisory Committee, and on the Advisory Board of the Animal Rescue Fund. In addition, she is a Virginia Master Naturalist and Course Instructor.

Registration for this event is required. This program’s proceeds will be split between AERO and NVBA. Any event questions should be sent via email and to addressed to Amanda at info@nvbirdalliance.org .

 

Become a FrogWatch Monitor in 2026, A Citizen Science Opportunity

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FrogWatch is a great citizen science program opportunity for Fairfax Master naturalists. The FrogWatch volunteers currently work with Huntley Meadows (and historically with Fairfax Co. Parks) to have participants track frog populations throughout the calling season.

FrogWatch USA 2026
Southern Maryland (and surrounding DMV) Chapter

FrogWatch is a citizen science program that tracks frog populations throughout the United States. Learn more about the FrogWatch chapter here. Participants will choose a monitoring site that is easily accessible and close to where they live or work to listen to frogs that are calling throughout the warmer months. There are four indoor trainings to help orient people with the frogs that are in Southern Maryland/DMV area and their calls. Content is the same, so chose one training that fits your schedule. You can either attend in person or through TEAMS; a video link will be provided in a reminder email a week before the training.

If you have any questions, please contact Matt Neff or Kim Curren.
To register please click here: https://forms.gle/1nn1dW4Sa3X3rsGb7


2026 Trainings:

When Where Partnering Organization
Sat., Feb. 7th from 11 – 12:30pm Virtual – Teams Calvert Marine Museum
Weds., Feb. 11th from 7 – 8:30pm Virtual – Zoom Natural History Society of MD
Sun., Feb. 15th from 2 – 2:30pm Kings Landing Park Calvert Co. Parks and Rec.
Weds., Feb. 18th from 6:30 – 8pm Flag Ponds Park Calvert Co. Parks and Rec.

If you have any questions, Matt Neff be happy to answer them!

Matt Neff | Curator of Estuarine Biology
Calvert Marine Museum
14200 Solomons Island Road S
P.O. Box 97
Solomons, MD 20688
410-326-2042, ext. 8074

8th Annual Prince William Native Plant Symposium 2026, February 14th

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Photo courtesy of Plant NOVA Natives

Saturday, Feb 14, 2026
9:00am – 4:00pm EST

Cost/Tickets:

This is a hybrid event. Participants can either choose to join in-person or virtually:
General Admission Tickets:

  • Early Bird In-Person : $40 – available until Jan. 9 at 11:59pm
  • In-Person: $45 – available Jan. 9 at 11:59 pm – Feb. 10 at 11:59pm
  • At the Door: $55– lunch not guaranteed
  • Student (in person): $10 – available until Feb. 10 at 11:59pm
  • Virtual Tickets: $25 – available until Feb. 13 at 11:59pm
    Note that these prices do not include the EventBrite fee
    *Students, you will need to present your student ID at check-in. Otherwise, you will have to pay the ‘At the Door’ price.

Verizon Auditorium at George Mason University,
George Mason Circle, Manassas, VA, 20109

Click here for sign up and more information.

About

Whether you are new to native plants and what they can do for your property or you are looking for alternative landscaping ideas, this event is for you! Native plants can:

  • Create a beautiful yard
  • Save time so you can enjoy other activities
  • Create habitat for birds & pollinators
  • Save money on fertilizer & pesticides
  • Improve water quality
  • Curb Erosion

Keynote Speaker:

Bill Cullina, The F. Otto Haas Executive Director & Morris Arboretum & Gardens of the University of Pennsylvania

Sugar, Sex, and Poison: Shocking Plant Secrets Caught on Camera

Are we humans masters of our world, or are plants really the ones in charge? What they lack in locomotion, they compensate for in structure and chemistry. Celebrated author and botanist Bill Cullina, Executive Director, Morris Arboretum and Gardens, will explain why plant life is at the center of a carefully balanced natural economy that is critical to the functioning of our ecosystems. Through photosynthesis, plants produce the energy that powers the food chain. And although eaten by others, they are far from helpless prey, having evolved a dizzying arsenal of relationships to create ecologically sound landscapes.

 

Schedule (EST):

9:00am-9:45am – Registration (Doors will open at 9AM!)

9:45am-10:00am – Welcome

10:00am-11:00am – Keynote: Bill Cullina

11:00-11:30: Networking

11:30am-12:30pm – Breakout Session 1

12:30pm-1:45pm – Lunch

1:45pm-2:45pm – Breakout Session 2

3:00pm-4:00pm – Breakout Session 3

 

 

Wolf Trap National Park Service Opportunity – 2026

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Logo: Friends of Wolf Trap

 

Wolf Trap National Park has six (6) open volunteer Service positions to be Nature Event Planners for calendar 2026.

The National Park Service at Wolf Trap National Park (not to be confused with the Wolf Trap Foundation – the non-profit that runs the entertainment side of the Park) hosts ten (10) nature events each calendar year. The events are typically 90 mins long and occur on the first Sunday of each month and are typically led by a volunteer nature subject matter expert. Prior events have featured nature hikes; subject matter experts focused on birds, flowers, reptiles, insects, and mushrooms; children’s events around art in nature, bats, fireflies and more.

The Friends of Wolf Trap (FOWT) coordinate these events for the Park and will lend support and training for the volunteers.
With support from FOWT, duties would involve:

1) Selecting the topic (it could be simply a hike or a focus on a natural resource, such as reptiles, mushrooms, trees, etc.);
2) Securing a subject-matter expert (e.g., an FMN or a representative of an organization with applicable expertise);
3) Preparing and posting the Eventbrite description;
4) Sharing the Eventbrite link with Wolf Trap National Park and other “partner” organizations to drive interest and attract registrants;
5) Monitoring Eventbrite registration activity up to the date of the event;
6) Securing volunteer support in proportion to the number of registrants expected to attend. Generally, about half of Eventbrite registrants actually attend – the weather being a determining factor. Volunteer support is usually found among the FOWT members and the FMN community for handling sign-in, directing parking, answering miscellaneous questions, providing general natural resource knowledge, interacting with the participants, and ensuring safety.
7) Identifying and securing any logistical support needed by the presenter (e.g., a microphone, table and chair, covered shelter, etc., most of which are available through the Park)
8) Seeking FOWT approval for modest expenditures, if needed. (E.g., a speaking fee for an expert or a contribution to a featured organization).
Wolf Trap National Park and FOWT will provide support, suggestions and oversight, as desired, to those who volunteer for this Service assignment. A schedule that allocates monthly assignments among those who volunteer, will be developed to help ensure a manageable, meaningful experience for each volunteer. Two (2) volunteers will be assigned to each event. Volunteers will be assigned to three (3) events per year.

Volunteers will log 5-10 FMN service hours per person for each of the events they manage. The FMN Service Code is S168 – National Park Service Stewardship Projects.
This project can be done largely from home. Presence on the day of the event is helpful but not required. A year’s commitment is requested.
Please Contact Kathy Stewart: 703-403-4923; bugssite@aol.com with questions or to apply to volunteer for this Service project.

 

AERO Opportunities: Want to Get More Involved with Wildlife? Learn About Getting Licensed in 2026

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Photo: Provided by A.E.R.O Animal Education and Rescue Organization

 

AERO Opportunities: Want to Get More Involved with Wildlife? Learn About Getting Licensed in 2026

Community Outreach – S213: DWR Stewardship Projects — Department of Wildlife Resources (VDWR)

 AERO education events are eligible for Continuing Education hours as well.

Hello A.E.R.O. Volunteers & Friends,
If you’ve been thinking, “I’d love to help more” or “I wish I could work more directly with wildlife,” this is your chance. The 2026 licensing cycle with the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) is coming up soon, and it is time to reach out specifically to those of you who do not currently hold a wildlife rehabilitation license but might be interested in taking that next step.

Why Get Licensed?

Having a DWR wildlife permit allows you to:

  •   Help with hands-on wildlife care
  •   Transport/rescue injured or orphaned animals more independently
  •   Assist rehabbers in their homes or facilities
  •   Participate in hands-on trainings and free A.E.R.O. classes in 2026 at a deeper level

For many volunteer roles with A.E.R.O. – especially transport, caregiving, and in-depth training opportunities – it is strongly preferred that you hold at least a Category IV (Care Provider / Wildlife Hospital Aide) license.


Interested in Apprenticing or Getting a New License?

If you are interested in:

  •   Getting more involved
  •   Becoming permitted to work with wildlife, or
  •   Starting as an apprentice under a sponsor

  Please reply to this email and let me know. 

I’ll help you figure out which path and category makes the most sense for you.

To become an apprentice, you will need: 

  •   A formal agreement with a sponsor (Olivia)
  •   A room dedicated exclusively to wildlife care
  •   A setup that meets the state’s facility requirements (I can send you the DWR checklist)
  •   Completion of 6 hours of Continuing Education (CE)

Don’t worry if that sounds like a lot — A.E.R.O. Volunteers will walk you through each step, connect you to trainings, and help you meet the requirements.

License Categories (Quick Overview)

Here are the main volunteer-related categories:

  •   Category I – Apprentice: For beginners under sponsorship
  •   Category II – Rehabilitator: For experienced rehabbers handling most species
  •   Category IV – Care Provider / Wildlife Hospital Aide: For assisting at permitted facilities
  •   Category V – Student / Intern: For short-term training or school-related experience

If you’re not sure where you fit, just reach out — A.E.R.O. Volunteers can talk through your interests, time, and space at home.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

If you’re curious, even if you’re not 100% sure yet, please email me back and say you’re interested in learning more.
We’re happy to support you in moving from “helper” to permitted wildlife caregiver or apprentice in 2026. Our animals – and our rehab team – always need more good people.

Thank you for all you already do for A.E.R.O. and Virginia’s wildlife.

 — Olivia

EMAIL: olivia@aeroanimalrescue.org

President, A.E.R.O

Animal Education and Rescue Organization

Arlington County Department of Parks and Recreation Is Offering Two FREE Herp-related Virtual Programs – January 28th and February 24th

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Photo: FMN Jerry Nissley – Red backed salamander

 

Arlington County Department of Parks and Recreation is offering two FREE herp-related Virtual Programs:

Salamanders of Virginia

Wednesday Jan. 28, 2026
7:00-8:00pm
Activity #622940
Section letter (not number) ID: I

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

A Year in the Life of a Box Turtle

Tuesday Feb. 24, 2026
7:00-8:00pm
Activity #622940
Section letter (not number) ID: O

A naturalist will discuss life history through the seasons, the threats facing turtle populations, and what you can do to be a friend to box turtles!

Park Naturalist Aide and VHS member, Leeanna Pletcher, will be giving these talks. You do not need to live in Arlington County to register. In-county registration begins today, Dec. 4th. Out of county registration begins on Dec. 10th. To register for these free classes, you need an Arlington Parks and Recreation account. Go to registration.arlingtonva.us to login or establish an account. Once you are logged in, the easiest way to locate and enroll in the talk is to go to Quick Enroll and enter the Activity # and Section ID (listed in the program description above) to add it to your cart.

Confirmations are sent via email, the day they are processed. An email reminder with the Microsoft Teams link will be sent a few days before the program. If you already have an account but have forgotten your user ID and password, contact the main registration office (703.228.4747 option 1 or registration@arlingtonva.us).

Sincerely,
Kelly Geer
Chair, Community Outreach Committee
Virginia Herpetological Society

 

Virginia’s Amazing Vultures, March 8th

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Photo: Friends of Dyke Marsh – Virginia Vultures

Sunday, March 8, 2026
3:00PM

FREE and In-person
The Mount Vernon Government Center, 2511 Parkers Lane (between the GWM Parkway and U.S. 1)

On Sunday, March 8, wildlife rehabilitator Heather Shank Givens will give a presentation on Virginia’s fascinating vultures and bring her black vulture, Dusty, a non-releasable vulture wildlife ambassador for which she holds federal and state permits.

Vultures are a critical component of the ecosystem but are often misunderstood and maligned. The presentation will explore the natural history of vultures in Virginia, the unique biology and ecology of vultures, global conservation concerns and human–vulture conflicts and mitigation strategies. Every year, the Wildlife Center of Virginia treats from 50 to 60 injured black and turkey vultures.

Heather is a volunteer wildlife rehabilitator with the Blue Ridge Wildlife Center and a wildlife educator.

This free, in-person-only meeting will be at 3 p.m. at the Mount Vernon Government Center, 2511 Parkers Lane (between the GWM Parkway and U.S. 1).

Sponsors:  Friends of Dyke Marsh, Northern Virginia Bird Alliance, Friends of Huntley Meadows Park and the Northern Virginia Bird Club