Posts

Birding Day Trip – Warblers of the Blue Ridge, May 6th

/0 Comments/in , /by

Photo: Matt Felperin -Yellow-throated Warbler

Tuesday, May 6th, 2025
7:00 am return by 4:00 pm.

Walker Nature Center
11450 Glade Center Dr
Reston, VA 20191

Cost: Bus transportation and any park fees, is $50 for Reston Association members and $65 for non-members.

On Tuesday, May 6th, Reston’s Walker Nature Center has scheduled a trip to the G. Richard Thompson Wildlife Management Area in Fauquier County to search for migrating songbirds.  GR Thompson is well known for its Trillium Trail, so we will also keep an eye out for trilliums, lady slippers and other spring wildflowers.  After a morning at GR Thompson, we will head to Sky Meadows State Park for lunch and more birding. This trip includes walking on uneven terrain and gentle slopes.
 
The trip will be led by one of WNC’s naturalists and is open to Reston residents and non-residents.  Cost, which includes bus transportation and any park fees, is $50 for Reston Association members and $65 for non-members.  We will depart the Walker Nature Center (11450 Glade Drive) at 7:00 am and are scheduled to return by 4:00 pm.  The time spent birding and observing wildflowers is eligible for FMN CEUs.
 
Register by May 3rd.  If you are familiar with the reston.org WebTrac system, you can register there (search on the keyword “birding”).  Otherwise, you can contact the Walker Nature Center directly at [email protected] or 703-476-9689. 

Warbler ID Course, March 29th, 31st and April 5th, 7th

/in , /by

Photo: Ashley Bradford

Tuesday and Thursday, March 29 and 31, April 5 and 7, 7:00 – 8:00 PM
ONLINE
ASNV members: $40
Non-members: $50
Register here.

Learn how to identify warblers visiting Northern Virginia in spring migration during this Audubon Society of Northern Virginia course.

Warblers are some of the most challenging birds to identify. They are small and often fast-moving, with easily confused calls and songs. This four-part course will cover plumage, behavior, and vocalizations to help you identify the 35 species of warblers you might see this spring.

This course will be presented by Bill Young, co-creator of the MPNature.com website, which describes the natural history of Monticello Park, a hidden gem and warbler hotspot in Alexandria, VA. Bill is the author of the book “The Fascination of Birds: From the Albatross to the Yellowthroat.” He also makes nature videos, and his YouTube channel has had 850,000 views.

An optional field trip, led by Phil Silas, will be held on Sunday, April 24, 2022 at 7:30 AM for 20 Identifying Warblers participants. The field trip fee is an additional $25 for members, $35 for nonmembers. The field trip will be held in Woodbridge, VA, but the exact location will only be revealed after registration. An email with a link to register for the field trip will be sent upon registration for Identifying Warblers. The field trip is first come, first serve and there will be a waitlist.
Photo credit: American Redstart, Ashley Bradford

 

Spring Warblers, Mar. 30th and April 1st–CANCELED! All ASNV programs through April 30th are canceled or rescheduled

/in , /by

Alexandria Country Day School
2400 Russell Road, Alexandria VA
Monday, 30 March and Wednesday, 1 April 2020
7 – 9:30 pm
$40 ASNV members; $45 nonmembers

Get ready for spring by learning about the largest and most colorful family of birds who visit the Washington area. Presented by Audubon Society of Northern Virginia.

Class 1 – Plumage and Behavior (March 30th)
Learn about the appearance and behavior of the 30+ species of wood warblers who visit during the spring.

Class 2 – Vocalizations (April 1st)
Most warblers are heard before they are seen. Learn how to identify their vocalizations so that you will be better able to find them in the field.

Instructor: Bill Young is a writer who lives in Arlington. He is the author of “The Fascination of Birds: From the Albatross to the Yellowthroat” (Dover, 2014). He is the co-creator of the MPNature.com website, which contains information about birds, plants, and other aspects of the natural history at Monticello Park in Alexandria. Bill also makes nature videos, and his YouTube channel has had close to a half a million views.

Register here.