August 2026

The SISKIN
Newsletter of the Northern Virginia Bird Club Vol. 71, No. 3 | August 2026
NVBC GENERAL MEETING TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 7 PM
The Smithsonian’s Bird Collection
Speaker: Robin Duska
Robin Duska will present “The Smithsonian’s Bird Collection.” She will highlight some of the vast collection’s contents and describe how bird specimens contribute to science. She’ll also profile some of the colorful personalities who collected specimens, many during challenging expeditions.
Robin has been volunteering at the National Museum of Natural History since 2009 and assisting scientists managing the Bird Division’s specimen collection since 2016. A Fairfax Master Naturalist, she does a variety of birdy volunteering, including leading local bird walks. She particularly enjoys the birds in her own back yard but also certainly enjoys traveling to see and listen to birds.
A sampling of the Lights Out exhibition and permanent bird collection at the Smithsonian photographed by Robin Duska. The Scarlet Tanager, victim of a window strike, was collected by Robin.
General Meeting Notes: Early bird refreshments start at 6:30 p.m. Any contributions of food or beverage will be most gratefully received. There will be a drawing for door prizes. Northern Virginia Bird Club pins will be available for members who would like to buy them ($5 each).


MEETING PLACE: St. Andrews Episcopal Church, 4000 Lorcom Lane, Arlington, 22207.
Please note earlier start time: 6:30 p.m. for early bird refreshments and 7 p.m. for program.
New Webmaster
NVBC would like to welcome Troy Barbour as our new webmaster. He had already joined our board as a director. The new contact email address is tmbarbour+nvbc@gmail.com.
We would like to thank Jeremy Beck for his service as the webmaster since 2018. He continues to serve as a director on the board.
“Swift Night Out”
Last year the club did not post the Chimney Swift watch event on the trip calendar. Instead members monitored potential sites and the board posted the proposed date, time, and location on the email Exchange and on the club’s website. A good turnout of members saw an estimated 600 swifts at the Arlington site identified by Carol Mullen on September 14, 2025.
The club plans to take the same approach this year. Assuming a good viewing location is found, expect an announcement to view the swirling Chimney Swifts descending into the chimney roost, sometime in September.
Presidential Peentings
Recent research has found that birders who bird long term actually change the structure of their brains. The neuroplasticity of the brain appears to be improving the areas of their brains involving attention, identification, perception and memory. This phenomenon likely improves brain health and may even slow overall cognitive decline later in life. It’s already well documented that birding and getting out in nature are beneficial to our emotional well-being. As members of a bird club, the social aspects are also important to us. Now it seems that we are also improving our brains as we bird.
In my birding journey, I have noticed in my over twenty years of birding that I have become more aware of my surroundings as I scan or listen for birds whenever I am outside. For me, noticing birds has become second nature. Along the way, the processes of learning to identify birds and to understand their behaviors have been especially fulfilling. To get to this point, I learned the old school way with field guides and many hours looking for and studying birds. The help and wisdom that more experienced birders provided was also crucial. I will never forget when I first identified a Wilson’s Snipe at Huntley Meadows by myself using just my field guide. I was a beginner and did not even know that such a bird existed. That’s when I felt that I was really a birder.
I wonder if overreliance on technology is hampering some people from reaching their potential as birders. If you just point your phone at a bird and ask Google Lens what it is, you are not really using your brain to figure it out. Also, if someone just walks around with Merlin on and lists everything that their phone hears, but they might not, I don’t think that they are really birding in a way that improves their skills. That said, apps are great tools and have introduced many people to birding. I sometimes use Merlin to listen for birds myself. However, if someone wants to become a good birder and possibly improve their brain health, I think apps should be supplements and not the main focus of their birding. I hope everyone gets out soon to enjoy the many benefits of birding. It’s fun and it’s good for you!
— Larry Meade
(Photo: Scarlet Tanager photographed by Larry Meade)
Magee Marsh: “The Biggest Week in American Birding”
It starts the moment you open your car door at Magee Marsh, the place announces itself immediately. The dawn chorus surrounds you, dozens of songs weaving together from every direction. Before you’ve even reached for your binoculars, a brilliant flash of orange draws your attention: a Baltimore Oriole streaking between the trees. Above the canopy, a swirling colony of Tree Swallows glides effortlessly on the morning breeze. In the tree at the edge of the parking lot, a pair of majestic Bald Eagles are feeding their young in a massive nest. It’s time to grab your gear and start exploring this magical place.
Magee Marsh hosts its celebrated event, “The Biggest Week in American Birding,” through a rare and beautiful combination of the calendar, geography and habitat. Perched on the southern shore of Lake Erie, just 36 miles east of Toledo, it sits squarely along a major spring migration corridor. Warblers heading north toward Canada arrive and face a choice: fuel up or attempt an open-water crossing on an empty stomach. For birders, that decision creates nothing short of a spectacle.
The crown jewel of Magee is its nearly mile-long elevated boardwalk, arcing through a mix of low trees, shrubs, and marshy habitat. Warblers don’t just appear here; they perform, practically at eye level, close enough to see every feather detail without so much as a spotting scope.
Don’t be put off by the crowds. A cluster of birders pressed along both railings is your signal, not a deterrent. Sidle up, ask what’s being watched, and you’ll be welcomed immediately. People are generous; they’ll step aside, point out the bird, and share the experience. Work your way to a prime viewing position and linger: another species may well pop in. Unlike typical warbler watching in Northern Virginia (tiny birds at the top of a 40-foot tree), at Magee Marsh the bushes and trees bring the warblers down close, usually less than a dozen feet away.
The variety is staggering. The Blackburnian Warbler, blazing with its extraordinary orange plumage, draws oohs and aahs every time. The Magnolia Warbler never fails to impress. On a good morning, you might find yourself comparing a Black-throated Blue and a Black-throated Green Warbler just minutes apart. Northern Yellow Warblers are everywhere, local breeders singing on their territory. Their “Sweet, Sweet, a little more Sweet!” calls fill the air and they are not afraid of humans. You may even get lucky and spot a rarity like a Connecticut Warbler.
Sign up for the real-time social media alerts so you don’t miss out when a target species turns up. It’s easy to spend a few hours on the boardwalk, and you’ll be back tomorrow to see which new arrivals appeared overnight.
Magee Marsh is the centerpiece, but the surrounding area rewards exploration. The adjacent Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge offers a Visitor’s Center, miles of walking trails, and a seven-mile wildlife drive. Not to be missed is Howard Marsh Metropark, where nearly a thousand acres of former farmland has been transformed into a thriving wetland with nice trails and amenities. Caspian Terns, Black-necked Stilts, Dunlin, Wilson’s Snipe and other shorebirds work the shallow flats and marshes. This year, a female Yellow-headed Blackbird drew a throng of admirers for over an hour.
This was our second year attending, and over eight combined days we tallied 24 different warbler species along with nearly 100 other birds, including an adorable Northern Saw-whet Owl roosting in a bush barely 3 feet away and an Eastern Whip-poor-will huddled on a log, blending in to the weathered wood.
The festival’s programming elevates the experience further. A few that we attended were:
Noted Author Kenn Kaufman gave a talk on Appreciating Female Warblers, a perspective that changes how you look at birds you thought you already knew.
Brothers Owen and Quentin Reiser, creators of the YouTube sensation Listers, signed copies of their field guide ahead of a special film screening.
Dr. Adriaan Dokter of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology delivered a fascinating lecture on BirdCast, the migration forecasting tool his team maintains.
A photography workshop led by Bruce Wunderlich, Photo Editor of BWD magazine, offered tips for capturing magazine-quality close-ups.
If you’re a Northern Virginia birder who has spent years straining at warblers in the treetops, a visit to “The Warbler Capital of the World” will feel like a revelation, and at just a day’s drive away, it’s more than worth the trip.
— Troy and Lori Barbour
(Photos: Blackburnian Warbler at Magee Marsh photographed by Troy Barbour; Canada Warbler, Northern Yellow Warbler, and Connecticut Warbler photographed by Troy Barbour)
Chincoteague Weekend Trip, May 15 – 18, 2026
Together participants found a total of one hundred and five species over our Spring Chincoteague weekend, May 15-18!
We started off Friday afternoon by going around the Wildlife Loop where we got our first taste of shorebirds. A number of Least Sandpipers were hanging out with Semipalmated Sandpipers which offered an excellent opportunity to compare the field marks between the two. Further along the drive participants enjoyed Brown-headed Nuthatches, a very cooperative Eastern Meadowlark, and a trio of Glossy Ibis showing off their beautiful iridescence in the afternoon light.
That evening we returned to the refuge, listening for Chuck-will’s-widow and were rewarded with several birds singing very close to us.
We started Saturday morning by walking the boardwalk bridge where we were treated to Hudsonian Whimbrel just a few feet away, a flock of Willet moving around making their characteristic racket and of course, the guardians of Chincoteague NWR, the Forster’s Terns that line the entrance bridge to greet visitors.
We then spent the rest of the morning working our way into the refuge through Black Duck Marsh and out Beach Road. The severe drought that Virginia has been in was evident as Black Duck Marsh was just a tiny trickle of water. Swan Cove was where much of the action was with a good assortment of shorebirds and terns and a group of White Ibis foraging in the Tom’s Cove marsh behind us. An endangered Piping Plover was certainly the star of the show, being a lifer for a good number of participants!
After lunch we all climbed aboard the Daisey’s Island Cruises boat and ventured out into the inlet in time for low tide. On the islands across from the marina we quickly found an assortment of birds including Brown Pelicans, Great Black-backed Gulls on nest, and a group of Red Knots in breeding plumage. Continuing up the inlet we encountered a number of Common Bottlenose Dolphins that came right up to the boat to check us out several times to the delight of the participants. When we got to the mudflats we had a great diversity of shorebirds and waders including Little Blue Herons, Short-billed Dowitchers, and a pair of Marbled Godwits.
Sunday morning we walked the Forest Trail searching for warblers and found eight species including Prairie, Chestnut-sided, and Canada warblers. A few lucky participants also saw and heard a quick Merlin flyby.
We finished the trip by visiting the Marsh Trail where we got good looks at a singing Yellow-breasted Chat, Western Cattle-Egrets, and small family of Orchard Orioles.
All-in-all we had a great weekend, the weather was wonderful and the birds were cooperative. Big thanks to my co-leader Cindy, and to all of our participants who helped make this weekend such a blast!
— Luke Holian
(Photos: Brown-headed Nuthatch photographed by Steve Bielamowicz; Hudsonian Whimbrel photographed by Steve Bielamowicz; Marbled Godwit photographed by Reid Williamson)
Calendar of NVBC Field Trips
August 8 – October 31, 2026 Compiled by Luke Holian
Beginning birders are welcome on all trips. When reservations are required, please call one of the trip leaders. Next-day rainy day make-up day may be possible if trip leader is available. Cancellation and make up day will be announced via NVBC email exchange and web site.
Trip Leaders
Steve Bielamowicz (gr8gosh@gmail.com)
Larry Cartwright (703-941-3142)
Toby Hardwick (703-201-1517)
Luke Holian (703-258-9432)
Ben Jesup (703-786-8265)
Ed LeGrand (908-268-6627)
Joan Mashburn (703-209-8678)
Larry Meade (571-275-2523)
Carol Mullen (571-313-9926)
Tom Nardone (703-946-7738)
Cindy Nickerson (917-825-5327)
Jim Pearson (pear4sonjp@gmail.com)
Karen Pao (karen.i.pao@gmail.com)
Dixie Sommers (703-969-7931)
Schedule
Aug 8 (Sat), 8 AM: Bombay Hook X-Trip (Members only / Registration Required) — Larry Meade, Steve Bielamowicz
Aug 22 (Sat), 7:30 AM: Huntley Meadows — Larry Meade, Carol Mullen
Aug 29 (Sat), 8 AM: Shenandoah River Campus at Cool Springs Battlefield — Ed LeGrand
Sep 2 (Wed), 8:30 AM: Long Branch Nature Center — Larry Cartwright
Sep 5 (Sat), 7:30 AM: Riverbend Park — Carol Mullen, Karen Pao
Sep 12 (Sat), 7:30 AM: Occoquan Bay NWR — Ben Jesup, Dixie Sommers
Sep 15 (Tue), 7 PM: NVBC General Meeting
Sep 16 (Wed), 8 AM: Algonkian RP — Karen Pao, Joan Mashburn
Sep 19 (Sat), 7:30 AM: Clifton Institute — Luke Holian, Joan Mashburn
Sep 23 (Wed), 8 AM: Huntley Meadows Hike/Bike Trail — Ben Jesup, Tom Nardone
Sep 26 (Sat), 7:30 AM: Leopold’s Preserve — Larry Meade
Sep 30 (Wed), 8 AM: Neabsco Regional Park Boardwalk
Oct 3 (Sat), 8 AM: Silver Lake RP — Toby Hardwick, Larry Meade
Oct 7 (Wed), 8:30 AM: Long Branch — Carol Mullen, Jim Pearson
Oct 10 (Sat), 8 AM: Bristoe Station Battlefield Park — Toby Hardwick
Oct 14 (Wed), 8 AM: Laurel Hill Equestrian Center — Karen Pao, Jim Pearson
Oct 17 (Sat), 8:15 AM: Sky Meadows SP — Steve Bielamowicz, Cindy Nickerson
Oct 21 (Wed), 8 AM: Frying Pan Farm Park — Karen Pao, Jim Pearson
Oct 24 (Sat), 8 AM: Manassas Battlefield Park (Brawner Farm) — Ed LeGrand, Toby Hardwick
Oct 28 (Wed), 8 AM: Meadowood Recreation Area – Lower Potomac Field Station — Tom Nardone, Carol Mullen
Oct 31 (Sat), 8 AM: Aquia Landing Beach Park — Luke Holian, Larry Meade
Bird Walks at Local Parks
Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve: Second Saturdays, 8 a.m. Meet at the parking lot. Online registration required via Loudoun Wildlife website.
Dyke Marsh: Sundays, 8 a.m. Visit the Friends of Dyke Marsh website.
Great Falls National Park: Sundays, 8 a.m. Meet in the main parking lot near the Park Visitor Center.
Huntley Meadows Park: Mondays, 7 a.m. (Apr–Sep) / 8 a.m. (Oct–Mar). Meet in parking lot.
Merrimac Farm: Last Sunday, 8 a.m. Meet at Merrimac Farm Stone House.
Riverbend Park: First and third Fridays, 8 a.m., beginning April 3 to October 16. Meet at the Nature Center parking lot off Jeffery Road. No fee, but call Riverbend Park at 703-759-9018 to register. Leaders: Kris Lansing and Robin Duska.
Sweet Run State Park: Fourth Saturdays, 8 a.m. Meet at Education Center. Online registration required via Loudoun Wildlife website.
Club Contacts & Information
NORTHERN VIRGINIA BIRD CLUB P.O. BOX 5812 ARLINGTON, VA 22205-0812
Founded in 1954 | Virginia Society of Ornithology
Membership Information
Northern Virginia Bird Club dues for 2026 are $15 for Individual and $25 for Family Membership. Members receive our quarterly newsletter, The Siskin. Checks for dues should be sent to Northern Virginia Bird Club, Attn: Membership, P.O. Box 5812, Arlington, VA 22205-0812.


If you miss an issue of The Siskin or need to report an address or ZIP Code change, please send an email message to lgmeade@gmail.com or email Elizabeth Fenton at emfenton@cox.net. (Note: NVBC does not exchange, give away, or sell its membership lists.)


NVBC eMail Exchange
By participating in the club’s email exchange, you can get email notices of late updates to The Siskin and the field trip schedule. To join the exchange, send an email to lgmeade@gmail.com with “EXCHANGE” in the subject field and your full name in the message area. You will receive a response from nvbc-exchange@googlegroups.com. The list is for NVBC members’ use only.
Key Dates
General Meeting Dates: September 15, and November 17, 2026.
Next Board Meeting: Thursday, August 27, 2026, 7:30 pm. To join the Zoom board meeting or to have items put on the agenda, please email lgmeade@gmail.com.
Deadline for next issue of The Siskin: The November issue will include activities through January 2027. Please send items for publication by October 1, 2026 to the editors at nvbcsiskineditor@gmail.com.
Officers and Contacts
President: Larry Meade, 571-275-2523
Vice President, Programs: Kay Bushman, 703-472-5399
Vice President, Field Activities: Luke Holian, 703-258-9432
Secretary: Cindy Nickerson, cnandcats@gmail.com
Treasurer: Karen Pao, karen.i.pao@gmail.com
Directors: Lori Barbour (703-785-8673), Troy Barbour (703-400-2085), Jeremy Beck (703-517-1816), Joan Mashburn (703-209-8678)
Directors Emeritus: Charlotte Friend, Diane Marton, Elton Morel, Jean Tatalias, and Joanna Taylor
Membership: Elizabeth Fenton, emfenton@cox.net
Webmaster: Troy Barbour, tmbarbour+nvbc@gmail.com
Editors, The Siskin: Pat and Neal Gause, nvbcsiskineditor@gmail.com, 703-476-3903
Administrator, NVBC Facebook Group: Allie Guidry (please contact through Facebook page)
NVBC email: lgmeade@gmail.com
Photo Captions & Addenda Features
Birds of Magee Marsh and Nearby Hotspots (Photographed in May 2026 unless otherwise noted)
American Redstart at Magee Marsh photographed by Troy Barbour
Bay-breasted Warbler at Magee Marsh photographed by Troy Barbour
Cape May Warbler at Magee Marsh photographed by Troy Barbour
Chestnut-sided Warbler at Magee Marsh photographed by Neal Gause (May 2024)
Black-throated Green Warbler at Magee Marsh photographed by Troy Barbour
Blackpoll Warbler at Magee Marsh photographed by Neal Gause (May 2023)
American White Pelicans at Magee Marsh photographed by Troy Barbour
Caspian Terns at Howard Marsh Metropark photographed by Neal Gause
Eastern Phoebe at Maumee Bay State Park photographed by Neal Gause
Eastern Whip-poor-will at Magee Marsh photographed by Troy Barbour
Black-necked Stilt at Howard Marsh Metropark photographed by Troy Barbour
Sandhill Cranes at Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge photographed by Neal Gause
Additional Chincoteague Birds
Yellow-breasted Chat photographed by Cindy Nickerson
Brown-headed Nuthatch photographed by Steve Bielamowicz
Hudsonian Whimbrel photographed by Steve Bielamowicz
Marbled Godwit photographed by Reid Williamson
Black-bellied Plover photographed by Luke Holian
Ruddy Turnstone photographed by Steve Bielamowicz
Little Blue Heron photographed by Steve Bielamowicz
American Oystercatcher photographed by Cindy Nickerson
Snowy Egret photographed by Steve Bielamowicz