The Weekly Bird Word

More in local bird and nature news: 

• For more interesting field marks: Check out the Feather Atlas, a photographic record of the flight feathers of North American birds from the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Here’s a page for the Northern Flicker’s primary feathers, but you can also view secondaries and tail feathers (retrices) for comparison.

• An environmental “win” for Fairfax City: After years of advocacy, Fairfax City Council voted not to proceed with construction of a new bike trail that would have destroyed much of the urban forest in Fairfax City. NVBA has been fighting for this outcome alongside conservation partners for years, and the process demonstrates how constant vigilance is needed to secure an environmental victory over development.

• Get ready for the Great Backyard Bird Count: This long-running citizen science project starts on February 13, and you can help with every bird sighting you report! Here’s how you can prepare and participate.

• Let’s go birding: Bundle up and join us at Huntley Meadows Park this Saturday for a guided winter bird outing.

• Raptor Rehab and Rodenticide Awareness: After your morning birding adventure, come to Reston on Saturday for an afternoon program covering the fundamentals of raptor rehabilitation with our partners Animal Education and Rescue Organization (A.E.R.O.).

• We need your help: Check out our volunteer page for all the different ways you can lend a hand! From pulling invasives to helping with tabling events and counting birds and insects, there’s something for everyone.

Stay warm and see you out there,

The Northern Virginia Bird Alliance Team