Enhancing Our Understanding of Ecology

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Enhancing Our Understanding of Ecology – By FMN Mike Mixon

National Geographic defines Ecology as, “the scientific study of how organisms interact with each other and their unique physical environments”.

As Virginia Master Naturalists we acquired a fundamental understanding of Ecology while undergoing the chapter’s basic training program. If  you would like to enhance your knowledge on this subject, I recommend you consider taking the online course offered by Universal Class entitled, “The Power of Ecology: Shaping a Sustainable Future.” I completed the self-paced course in January 2026 and was amazed at the breadth and depth of the material covered. Topics included extinction and evolution, biodiversity, conservation and adaptation, biogeography, ecosystems, and many others. The course consists of 20 learning modules, quizzes, and an end-of-course exam. Completing the course requires learners to accrue 70 percent of all possible points. Upon successful completion, a certificate was made available to me and my hours were accrued towards Universal Class continuing education. I then contacted our chapter’s Hours Committee and received approval to log 14 hours as FMN continuing education in Better Impact, using ‘Other’ as the Approved CE Organization.

Note that the online course provider—Universal Class—normally operates on a paid subscription basis. The good news is that Fairfax County Public Library cardholders can take Universal Class courses for free. If interested, you should check it out!  Universal Class offers a wide range of course topics and many of its other courses are not eligible for FMN continuing education.

If you are not familiar with the Fairfax County Public Library website, then here are steps you can follow to find the free course, “The Power of Ecology: Shaping a Sustainable Future” offered by Universal Class.
>Go to the following URL: https://fairfaxcounty.gov/library
>Under “Department Resources” click “Account | Log In”
>Login to your account
>In the far-left column, go down and find “Research Center” and click “All Databases”
>In the “Database / Key Word” search bar, search for “Universal Class”
>From the search results, click “Universal Class”
>Click “Browse Courses”
>Search “Ecology”
>From the search results, click “The Power of Ecology: Shaping A Sustainable Future” icon
>Click “+ Join This Course”
>Click “Register Now” and you are on your way.

Featured Image: “Parasitic ecology icon” by Debivort on EN wiki is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

 

DWR Living with Coyotes

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The Department of Wildlife Resources in cooperation with VMN, is offering to train Master Naturalists via a statewide program on “Living with Coyotes”.

Recordings: As with all of our VMN CE Webinar Series, this session was  recorded and posted on the CE Webinar Series page of our website. Viewing the recorded session counts as VMN CE, not as the required train-the-trainer session for VMN volunteers who want to do public presentations and outreach about coyotes using the DWR materials. Those volunteers must attend the live webinar, and in-person training at Maymont.

Description:
Trained participants will work with the Furbearer Biologist from the DWR to develop educational programming about coyotes and how to sustainably co-exist with them. Trained volunteers will decide when and where to present the material to reach the desired audience. Possible opportunities include talks for homeowners’ associations, realtors, community groups such as Ruritans, garden clubs, libraries, and government groups such as boards of supervisors.  Volunteers can also present information in a tabling/booth format at local events and festivals.

To Volunteer:
Attend the required live training with Leah Card from DWR and provide her with your name and contact information in order to be on the list of trained volunteers prepared to give Living with Eastern Coyote presentations. There will be three live trainings offered in 2026. Additional trainings will be scheduled in subsequent years according to need and presenter availability.

Reporting Service:
When reporting FMN hours to this activity, please report to E301: DWR Living with Coyotes so that we can track this service separately from other VMN education and outreach. In the Description field, include details about who you presented to and please mention the word “coyote”. In the Direct Contacts section, include the number of people with whom you directly spoke. If the service was not a presentation and instead was something like writing an article for a newsletter on the topic, you may put the circulation number for the newsletter as Indirect Contacts. In the Impacts field, include any observational or written evaluation information.

Links and Materials:
* DWR will provide educational materials to the volunteers who are trained after the live trainings

* Questions? Contact Leah Card, DWR Furbearer Biologist and lead for this activity, Leah.card@dwr.virginia.gov, 804-801-4108 or Krista Weatherford, Maymont Foundation and local lead for this activity in the Richmond area at kweatherford@maymont.org, 804-358-7166 ext 325

Featured image courtesy of Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources

Lahr Native Plant Symposium and Sale!, March 28th

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Photo: Courtesy of the Lahr Native Plant Symposium and Sale

 

Saturday, March 28th, 2026
9:00am-4:00pm

Registration link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/39th-annual-lahr-native-plant-symposium-tickets-1979987980349?aff=usna



U.S. National Arboretum in Washington, DC

 

This all-day event features a slate of expert speakers who will touch on a variety of topics, exploring themes both new to the Symposium and familiar. Join fellow participants for an engaging day of presentations and conversation as attendees delve into the world of native plants.

 

This year’s topics include:

  • Traditional ecological knowledge and the relationship between people and plants
  • The ecological link between native birds and plants at the U.S. National Arboretum
  • Regenerative gardening, agroforestry, and supporting a healthy planet
  • How to utilize native plants in designing a four-season garden
  • The intersection of native plant purism and sustainable horticulture and superior garden performers

Your ticket includes a provided lunch with gluten free and vegan options available. Additionally, the Friends of the National Arboretum Native Plant Sale will happen concurrently outside the Symposium from 8:00am-1:00pm! Come early to the Symposium or leave time during the lunch hour to shop.

Visit the registration page linked below for the full list of speakers and to secure your seat:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/39th-annual-lahr-native-plant-symposium-tickets-1979987980349?aff=usna

 

2026 Native Seedling Sale, February 19th

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Photo: Bill Hafker, Paw Paw-laden tree.

The Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District is excited to announce information about the 2026 Annual Native Seedling Sale!

Orders for the 2026 Native Seedling Sale will open on Thursday, February 19, 2026, at 10am and remain open until sold out.

If you haven’t already, you will be asked to make an account on the NVSWCD Storefront before placing your first order. You can use this account for future seedling sales and other NVSWCD events. You can create your account NOW so that you are ready to order on February 19 when the sale opens. (If you ordered seedlings from us in 2024 or 2025, you should login with the same username and password.)

**Note: We regret that we are unable to offer day-of sales or extras, so place your order when the sale opens!

The seedlings will be available for pickup at the Sleepy Hollow Bath and Racquet Club in Falls Church on Friday, March 27, from 9am-4pm and Saturday, March 28, from 9am-12pm. Please contact NVSWCD prior to the seedling sale date should you require accommodations. There will be no seedling order pickups after the sale. If your order is not collected on the pickup date, it will be donated to a reforestation project in Fairfax County. Seedling sale purchases are nonrefundable.

Link to the NVSWCD storefront.

For more details related to the seedlings as well as pricing information please click this link

Thank you for supporting NVSWCD, native plants, and local conservation efforts!

Grasses for the Masses

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Photo: Courtesy of the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation – Grasses
When:

Jan. 24, 2026. 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Additional dates:

Grasses For The Masses – Jan. 25, 2026. 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Grasses For The Masses – Feb. 7, 2026. 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Grasses For The Masses – Feb. 8, 2026. 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Where:

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


Other Details:

Standard parking or admission fee applies: No.
Extra fee: $25 cash only.
Registration required: Yes.
Children welcome: Yes.
Phone: 703-339-2385
Email Address: MasonNeck@dcr.virginia.gov

 

You can help restore the health of the Chesapeake Bay and Virginia’s rivers by participating in Mason Neck’s Grasses for the Masses program.

Volunteers in the program grow wild celery, an important underwater grass, in their homes and then plant their grasses at the park to help bolster underwater grass populations.

Combined with efforts to reduce pollution in the Bay, the grasses restoration program helps to improve the Bay’s filtering system and overall health.

To participate in the program all you need to do is to attend an orientation at the park and pick up your supplies. There is a $25 cost for the Grasses Kit, which can be paid in cash on the orientation day. All supplies must be returned to the park on Planting Day.

There is a maximum of 10 people per orientation. Registration is required. Please call the Visitor center to register, or email Ranger Meg  at meg.doppee@dcr.virginia.gov

Please call the Visitor Center at 703-339-2385 or email MasonNeck@dcr.virginia.gov if you have any questions or would like to participate but cannot make an orientation time.

 

For FMN members:

Check BI Calendar for dates. However, please call the Park to register.

FMN hours may be recorded using – ‘C015: Grasses for the Masses – DCR’

Spring Bird Counts Opportunity at Hidden Oaks Nature Center, Saturdays in February – May

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Photo: Luke High 2022 Northern Mockingbird, Virginia

Saturdays, February 14th through May 9th, 2026

Times: February 14th through March 7th will be conducted from 8:00-9:15AM, March 14th through May 9th will be conducted from 9:00-10:15AM

Hidden Oaks Nature Center in Annandale

 

Hidden Oaks Nature Center in Annandale is looking for FMN volunteers to lead and participate in their Spring migratory bird counts. The Spring counts will be taking place weekly every Saturday morning at Hidden Oaks Nature Center from February 14th through May 9th. Due to daylight savings, all counts from February 14th through March 7th will be conducted from 8:00-9:15AM and all counts from March 14th through May 9th will be conducted an hour ‘later’ from 9:00-10:15AM. The goal is to get a sense of what migratory birds stop by Hidden Oaks in Spring and to help the Nature Center shape their interpretive plan. No prior birding experience is required to participate, but some knowledge of identification is recommended. In addition to finding participants eager to learn, Hidden Oaks would like to find some more experienced individuals to lead some of the surveys. Further details can be found in the description of the sign-up genius link below. The more eyes we have looking for birds, the better!

Hidden Oaks Nature Center: HONC Spring Migratory Bird Count 2026

Anyone who is interested in leading counts should contact Eren Edwards at (erenedwardsete@gmail.com) directly, so that she may speak with them and do a short in-person training so that they know what to expect.

FOR FMN’s:

Service hours can be recorded using:
C106: FCPA Citizen Science Programs — Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA)

 

Dates will be listed on the BI calendar, but please use SignUpGenius to register.

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 .