Photo: Fairfax County Park Authority

Hidden Oaks Fall Migratory Bird Count – Citizen Science Opportunity, September Through The Month of October!

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Photo: Hidden Oaks, Fairfax County Park Authority

Saturdays, September 5th through October 31st, 2026
8:00-9:15 AM
Hidden Oaks Nature Center

Please click here for additional information and sign-up details!

 

Join FMN volunteers as they assess the migratory birds passing through the park!

As the fall season arrives, we are interested in identifying and recording the types and numbers of birds migrating through Hidden Oaks!

Time and Location:

Bird Counts will take place on Saturdays from 8-9:15 AM at Hidden Oaks Nature Center, though the month of October. Volunteers will meet in front of the native garden by the main parking lot. Please arrive about 15 minutes before the start time.

It is recommended that all participants use the restroom prior to arrival, as there will be no building access. There is a restroom located down by the restored stream near the playground.

Additonal Parking:

If the parking lot is full, additional parking can be found by the Packard Center. If you park in the Packard Center lot, take the Storybook Trail to the nature center.

Weather:

In the case of rain or heavy wind, the program will be canceled. Laura will email you the night before if this is the case.

Can I join if I’m a beginner?

Yes! All are welcome to participate. The more eyes out searching, the more likely folks will find birds. You’re likely to pick up several tips and tricks along the way from others.

Minimum age to participate: 12

Children under 15 MUST be accompanied by a registered adult

FMN members can get citizen science hours using C106: FCPA Citizen Science Programs — Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA)

Recommended Materials:

Wear appropriate footwear and dress for the weather. Long pants and bug spray are recommended.

Bring your binoculars if you have them. Organizers do have a few binoculars and field guides that you are welcome to use for the duration of the count.

It is recommended that all participants download the ‘Merlin’  and ‘eBird’ app, as they have several ID tools that are very helpful. Volunteers will also be using Cornell’s website ‘Birdcast’ to determine migration patterns and the birds you are most likely to see.

Questions or concerns?

Contact Laura Anderko – dr.laura.anderko@gmail.com

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

VDoF Acorn Collection 2026 – Part 2

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The VA Department of Forestry (VDoF) Acorn and Seed Collection Program was established to sustain the native tree population in Virginia by collecting native tree seeds, raising trees on farms, and reforesting areas that may have been destroyed by fire or disease. For 2026, Virginia Master Naturalists has again partnered with VDoF to collect various acorns and tree seeds. Please check-out VDoF’s sustainability program link for collection hints, a seed identification chart, and details of seed types being collected for 2026:

Acorn and Nut Sustainability Program : Virginia Department of Forestry

Collection period for 2026 is September 8 thru October 11.

Process Changes for 2026:

Each FMN collection site will have a manager. Please contact the listed manager with questions or to help administer the site (monitor bin or transport seeds).  Otherwise simply drop off acorns in appropriate containers as they are collected.

Notably, the Fairfax County Government Center (Herrity building) is NOT a drop spot for 2026. Due to this reduction in collection capacity we are asking FMN to please REDUCE the donation of Black Walnut nuts (drupes) this year. Because the Herrity Building is not available, our smaller bins and transport resources may be stressed by the volume created by walnut donations. This will be a test year for that. Please focus on donating acorns for any of the 15 types of oak and chestnut species listed on the VDoF site.

FMN Collection Bin Locations:

Fairfax City Composting Center – Sophia Chapin, Stewardship Coordinator 703.223.5054, Sophia.chapin@fairfax.gov

Hidden Oaks Nature Center – Kristina Watts – Kristina.watts@fairfaxcounty.gov

Mt Vernon District Governmental Center – Jerry Nissley – jerry14niss@gmail.com

Vienna Community Center – Maryam Dadkhah – Maryamdad@yahoo.com

Walker Nature Center – Charles Colby – Charles.L.colby@gmail.com

Collection bags will not be provided, so please use sturdy paper, cloth, or canvas bags.

VDoF Collection requirements:
1. Please DO NOT collect acorns or any seed in plastic bags. They will mildew and spoil.

2. Please separate different seed types into separate bags and include a leaf from the tree to help with positive identification.

3. Please label the bag with type of seed, collection date, collection site (zip code at least) and approximate weight.

4. Acorns need to be clean (no holes). Holes indicate that a grub has bored into the acorn. If an acorn floats on water, it is not viable and cannot be used by VDoF – please toss it.

Record FMN service Hours: S400: VDoF Acorn and Seed Collecting — (VDoF)

Jerry Nissley

VDoF Acorn and Seed Collection – 2026

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The VA Department of Forestry (VDoF) Acorn and Seed Collection Program was established to sustain the native tree population in Virginia by collecting native tree seeds, raising trees on farms, and reforesting areas that may have been destroyed by fire or disease. For 2026, Virginia Master Naturalists has again partnered with VDoF to collect various acorns and tree seeds. Please check-out VDoF’s sustainability program for an identification chart and seed types being collected for 2026:

Acorn and Nut Collection link : Virginia Department of Forestry

Process Changes for 2026:

Each FMN collection site will have an FMN manager. Please contact the manager (TBD) with questions or to help administer the site (monitor bin or transport seeds).  Otherwise simply drop off seeds in appropriate containers as they are collected.

Notably, the Fairfax County Government Center (Herrity building) is NOT a drop spot for 2026.

FMN Collection Bin Locations have not all been confirmed for 2026. Sites will be announced via a Listserv message very soon. The DoF link above indicates detail will be announced in early September. At the time of this article, FMN is waiting for final process details from DoF.

Collection requirements:
1. Please DO NOT collect acorns or any seed in plastic bags. They will mildew and spoil.
2. Please separate different seed types into separate bags and include a leaf from the tree to help with positive identification.
3. Please label the bag with type of seed, collection date, collection site (zip code at least) and approximate weight.

Record FMN Hours: S400: VDoF Acorn and Seed Collecting — (VDoF)

Jerry Nissley

Native Meadow Seeding Events – Various Dates in October

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Photo: FMN Jerry Nissley – Bubble bee and Hummingbird moth
Sustainability Matters plants native meadows to create habitat for pollinators, and this fall they are gearing up for four major seeding events in Sterling and Ashburn. If you live in the Herndon/Reston area, they will not be too far away from you! These seeding parties are family-friendly, joyful events, with snacks provided.
Join volunteers from Sustainability Matters on various dates throughout October, at 10:00 a.m. to make history bloom! Together, volunteers will plant a native wildflower meadow in the historic W&OD corridor at Trailside Park.

Bring your butterfly wings, scatter seeds, and dance them into the earth! These joyful community planting parties are a chance to create beautiful habitat for pollinators while having fun with family, friends, and neighbors.

All ages are welcome – come celebrate, plant, and help our meadows bloom!

If interested, please register at the links below or by visiting the Sustainability Matters website. I would love to get a good group out to these events! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at paige@sustainabilitymatters.earth.

 

Help Survey Butterflies and Dragonflies, September 23rd

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Photo credit: Tricia Rowlison

September 23
8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Dyke Marsh, Belle Haven Park parking lot
Alexandria, VA 22307

Help count butterflies and dragonflies in Dyke Marsh. Surveyors do not need experience or specialized knowledge. Meet in the south Belle Haven Park parking lot. Wear sturdy shoes, bring water, sun and insect protection and a snack. Binoculars, camera phone or a camera are helpful.

Additional details can be found on the Friends of the Dyke Marsh website.

 

 

Jerry Nissley

Tidy our Shores and Trails, September 26th

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Photo credit: Jerry Nissley

Sept. 26, 2026
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Mason Neck State Park
7301 High Point Rd.
Lorton, VA 22079

Become a steward of nature while building your local community and connecting with the people near you that share a passion for the outdoors. Meet with rangers at the Mason Neck State Park Visitor Center for a short talk about conservation and to get supplies to clean up the trash that washes onto the shoreline or is left and scattered along the trails and recreational areas. Clean-Up days are self-paced, so come clean our shoreline for as much time as you can spare to make a difference at the park.

Please bring water, dress for the weather, and expect to get wet and a little dirty. All supplies (gloves and bags) will be provided by the park.

Additional details can be found on the Virginia State Parks website.

 

Fall Kayak Clean Up, September 20th

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Photo: Courtesy of the Northern Virginia Conservation Trust

September 20, 2026
3:30 PM – 5:30 PM

Registration and additional information click here.

Porto Vecchio Condominiums
1250 S Washington St
Alexandria, VA 22314

Help Northern Virginia Conservation Trust and the Potomac Conservancy clean up the Hunting Creek watershed adjacent to Interstate 495! The trash and debris that pile in from the Potomac River and Cameron Run harms the environment and hinders outdoor activity around the area. Organizers hope you’ll jump in a single or double kayak and join them for the annual cleanup.

Please fill out one registration form for each participant. If the participant is under the age of 16, they must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at the event and in a kayak. Please have their parent or guardian fill out their waiver at the cleanup.

Please let organizers know if you are no longer available to make the event so they can open a spot from the waitlist. They have a limited amount of boats.  Once they fill that capacity they will be placing registrants on the waitlist. If you need a boat and register after all the boats have been filled, they will contact you to notify you that you have been placed on the waitlist and will be in touch if a spot opens up.

All participants must complete waivers at the event! Reach out to Amelia Wilt at awilt@nvct.org with any questions.

Funding for this clean-up is provided by the Virginia Outdoors Foundation.

Soldiers to Scientists – First Activity

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Hello FMN volunteers – nature sojourners, citizen scientists, outdoor enthusiasts, and nature journalists.

FMN recently added Soldiers to Scientists as a chapter partner and created two activity codes to record support hours for relevant projects (E170: Soldiers to Scientists Educational Projects and S170: Soldiers to Scientists Service Activities, under Community Outreach).

Nature Journal example

Through SciStarter ,  S2S recently connected with Metropolitan Washington MENSA and they would like to hold a bioblitz at Dora Kelley Nature Park in Alexandria on Saturday, September 26th (roughly 8:30 – 12:00). After exploring the park in small groups with VMN support (both ARMN and FMN volunteers), S2S would like to conclude with reflections and nature journaling. Dora Kelly Nature Park runs along Holmes Run Stream Valley adjacent to the Buddie Ford Nature Center.

S2S created a SignUp Genius soliciting 12 volunteers interested in education and outreach, nature journaling, and working with a youth audience, and/or citizen science contributions to iNaturalist.

Please join together with S2S, SciStarter, VMN, and MENSA on this uniquely cooperative project.

ARMN Project Lead – Terri McPalmer terrimcpalmer@gmail.com
ARMN Chapter Contact – Laura Gilmore 240-205-1355 lauritagilm@gmail.com

FMN Chapter Contacts – Jerry Nissley jerry14niss@gmail.com  // John Goodin johntgoodin@gmail.com

 

FMN Milestones – January through June 2026

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As many read in the recent VMN Newsletter, the VMN State Program office recognizes volunteers who complete 250, 500, 1,000, 2,500, and 5,000 hours of service. These are cumulative volunteer hours starting when a volunteer joins the program. Volunteers may start recording hours as soon as they are accepted into the program… even while in training.

An FMN cub reporter extracted the names of 14 FMN volunteers who achieved these milestones between January and June 2026. These FMN names are listed below as an extra thank you for service hour to our Chapter.

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, VMN logo – photo FMN Jerry Nissley

The list is based on hours recorded in our Better Impact volunteer management system.

250 hours:

Bev Horton, Noel Kaplan, Steve Maceda, Dan Schulke, Andreas Seiter, Darlene Thom

500 hours:

Sylvia Bocskor, Kerry Gilpin, Monica Hoffman, Rob Shapiro, Kristina Watts

1000 hours:

Barbara Heubner, Kat Ochs Dyer, Karen Young

Help Tackle Invasive Plants at the Dyke Marsh Nature Preserve- Dates throughout August and into the Fall

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Photo:  by Ned Stone, Dyke Marsh inlet

REGISTRATION REQUIRED

Help protect native plants by pulling and clipping invasive plants. Volunteers will receive plant identification training for the five or so target plants. Please do not bring your pets. Invasive plants can threaten and outcompete native plants.

Bring gloves, hand clippers and water. Organizers will supply instructions, examples and trash bags. Wear long sleeves and pants and sun protection. There will be some tools to share. Event will be cancelled if lightning or severe storms are anticipated.

Meet at the Haul Road trail entrance bench. If it is raining one hour before a scheduled session, we will cancel it.

Haul Road Trail directions and parking: 

GPS coordinates: 38.777739, -77.050540 South of Alexandria off the GW Memorial Parkway at the sign for Dyke Marsh Nature Preserve and Belle Haven Marina, turn east onto the road toward the Potomac River. Take the first left and park in the Belle Haven Park lot. Walk back to the marina road and turn east, toward the river. Walk 30 yards. On your right is a Dyke Marsh sign and the entrance to the Haul Road trail.

Date(s):

  • July 25, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
  • August 8, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
  • August 22, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
  • September 5, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
  • September 19, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
  • October 3, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
  • October 17, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
  • October 31, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
  • November 14, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
  • November 28, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
  • December 12, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
  • December 26, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.