Activity: Bird Walk
Join us for a Bird Walk led by our very own bird whisperer, Leslie Fellows. We will be walking in the forest near the Emmanuel Church along with church members that have requested this activity.
Where: Emmanuel Christian Fellowship Church
When: Tuesday, June 17, 9:00 to 11:00, Rain date-TBD
For the third year, we are looking for a few volunteers to pick up trash along Hughlett Point.
This year we will have a late spring, mid-summer and early fall pickups.
The second pick-up will be on Monday, July 28 (low tide 8:36 a.m.)
September 5-7, 2025, in Richmond
Check the VMN site for details of the conference. http://www.virginiamasternaturalist.org/ (Also check this page for Continuing Education links)
You will see some familiar names among those presenting!
For the third year, we are looking for a few volunteers to pick up trash along Hughlett Point.
This year we will have a late spring, mid-summer and early fall pickups.
The third pick-up will be on Thursday, September 25 (low tide 7:39 a.m.)
Outreach Event: Volunteers needed.
Cat Point is a wonderful example of a Tidal Freshwater Marsh, protected by the refuge and the Rappahannock Indian Tribe. This field trip follows the April 17th NN VNPS program presented by biologist Maeve Coker on freshwater tidal marshes Join us to see the spectacular flora and fauna of a Freshwater Tidal Marsh and how critical this habitat is for all.
For the third year, we are looking for a few volunteers to pick up trash along Hughlett Point.
This year we will have a late spring, mid-summer and early fall pickups.
The first pick-up will be on Thursday, May 29 (low tide 7:58 a.m.)
Menokin Visitor Center
4037 Menokin Road
Warsaw, VA 22572
May 18, 2025 2:00 pm - ?
RSVP Please! See member Email for RSVP email and details.
We have been asked by the members of Emmanuel Christian Fellowship Church to return and help with maintenance work on their nature trail. This has been a successful joint effort with the church which is predominantly African American.
Anne Parker will assist in identifying native and non-native plants
Heather Bedford will be there for a short time to provide information about potential health benefits of the native plants
A walk at Hickory Hollow Natural Area Preserve with the Northern Neck Chapter of Virginia Native Plant Society is a wonder anytime but when the Kentucky Lady’s Slipper orchid is in bloom it is a very special sight. We believe this should be in bloom along with False Hellebore, Redring (or White) Milkweed, Large Twayblade orchid, Summer Bluet, Partridgeberry, and more!
Westmoreland State Park will have a workday for the Visitor's Center Garden on Friday, April 25th, from 9 to noon. Please come if you can. We need your help.
We will be weeding and developing the overall concept for additional plants to replace the switch grass that was removed.
Please bring basic gardening hand tools, water, and a snack. No experience needed. Heather Bedford has graciously agreed to help us identify weeds.
This project is found under Stewardship – Native Garden Maintenance in Better Impact.
Outreach Event: Volunteers needed.
Come explore vernal pools, a unique type of wetland, at the Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge. Every winter, these special pools fill up to provide a home for salamanders, fingernail clams, fairy shrimp, and more! Learn about these fascinating wetlands on a nature walk with the Refuge Biologist.
The Board of Directors of the Northern Neck Chapter will meet on April 15, 2025 at 2:00 pm. The meeting will take place in the classroom of the Warsaw Cooperative Extension office. This will be an in person meeting, and all members are invited to attend. Members are also requested to propose items for the Board to consider at this meeting. Recommendations are due by the end of the day on Wednesday, April 9.
We need volunteers to staff the outreach table at the Osprey Festival in Colonial Beach on April 12.
What: 7th Annual Virginia Osprey Festival
When: Saturday April 12, 9-4. Sign up for 2 hour shifts.
Where: Colonial Beach Town Hill (Corner of Colonial and Washington Avenues)
Rain or Shine!
Please see member email from 3/5/2025 for information on signing up.
The Virginia Osprey Foundation based in Colonial Beach, Virginia, will host the 7th Annual Virginia Osprey Festival in Colonial Beach on April 12, 2025 from 9 am to 4 pm on Town Hill, Colonial Beach, located on the beautiful Potomac River. The festival celebrates the return of its Osprey from their wintering grounds in South America.
Northern Neck Master Naturalists have partnered with the University of North Carolina for a fourth season of Caterpillars Count. This citizen science activity measures seasonal variation and abundance of important food sources for birds.
The Rappahannock River Valley Wildlife Refuge has asked the NNMN for volunteer assistance with their native plant gardens.
What:
For the second year, Northern Neck Master Naturalists are being asked to identify box turtles that they come across during the months turtles are active. Turtles will be photographed and pictures as well as additional information will be put on a form and submitted to project leaders. Last year, we identified and accumulated data from almost 100 box turtles. This year our goal is to start doing actual science!
Come explore vernal pools, a unique type of wetland, at the Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge. Every winter, these special pools fill up to provide a home for salamanders, fingernail clams, fairy shrimp, and more! Learn about these fascinating wetlands on a nature walk with the Refuge Biologist.
WHERE: Westmoreland State Park
145 Cliff Road, Montross, VA 22520
Meet at the Discovery Center. Will go on Rock Springs Pond Trail
WHEN: Saturday, March 29, 9-11 am
Purpose: The walk is an opportunity to share observations and information with the Latino community.
Volunteer assistance with a few of the native plant gardens at Westmoreland State Park, specifically the Discovery Center Gardens and the Contact Station Gardens.
Sunday March 23rd 1:00 pm
Join FODR volunteers, other FODR members, and members’ guests for our spring nature walk. We expect many of the early spring flowering plants will be emerging at this time. We welcome families with children or grandchildren.
Balls Neck Rd between Shiloh Schools and Hughlett Point
Friday, March 21, 9:00-11:00AM (Rain date Tuesday March 25)
RSVP if you want to volunteer to Camille
Upcoming Continuing Education Opportunity
Virtual Talk: Ecological Impact of Invasive Plants
6 PM Thursday March 13
The board is excited to introduce our inaugural pop-up presenter on March 12, 2025, at 6:30 pm via our chapter Zoom link. See member email for zoom link.
Judy Thomas is a 2023 BTC graduate. Her "One Small Bite" research and presentation launched her into an in-depth study of galls, and we are excited to have her as our Inaugural Pop-up Presenter. Here is a little bit about her presentation:
The next meeting of the NNMN Board of Directors will be held on March 11, 2025, in the classroom at Belle Isle State Park from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.
The board will have its regularly scheduled meeting followed by a program provided by BISP.
On Thursday February 27 NN PRISM under the NNVNPS Invasive management initiative is sponsoring a work project at the Cat Point Creek Tract of the Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge. We are looking for 10 volunteers to work with refuge staff to eradicate Autumn olive and Chinese privet shrubs along the entrance road and public trails.
The Friends of Westmoreland invite all interested volunteers as well as our ally and partner organizations to join us at Murphy Hall on 15 February for a general meeting concerning the Revitalization of Westmoreland State Park's Native Plant Gardens. See member email for details.
Lance Gardener, Environmental Specialist at VDOT, is requesting help with the relocation of a pollinator garden at VDOT’s Residency Office in Haynesville. He has proposed work to take place on the following three days: Jan. 17, 31 and Feb. 14, from 1pm to 4 each day. See member email for details.
The Annual Winter Water Fowl Count (WWC) will be on the weekend of 1 & 2 February 2025.
Teams will be out and about on both Saturday 1 FEB and Sunday 2 FEB counting in Caroline, Essex, Middlesex, Richmond, Lancaster, Northumberland, Westmoreland and King George, Mathews, Gloucester, King & Queen Counties.
Come meet your new NNMN Board and enjoy a program on "Hosting Mason Bees in Your Habitat at Home"
General Meeting:
The 2025 NNMN Executive Board will introduce themselves and discuss goals for 2025
Program:
Learn about Mason Bees and their place in our backyards, their "Habitat at Home." Paula Boundy will discuss and demonstrate how to attract and house these important members of our native environment.
photo by Kevin Howe
Start off 2025 in nature with a walk in the woods and a chance to see Virginia’s earliest blooming plant – Skunk Cabbage – yes it often is in bloom on January 1. And the best woods walk in the Northern Neck is at Hickory Hollow Natural Area Preserve near Lancaster, off Regina Road.
Naturalists Kevin Howe and Betsy Washington from the Northern Neck Chapters of National Audubon Society and Virginia Native Plant Society will again this year lead a first day of the year nature walk on New Year’s Day, meeting at 1 pm at the Hickory Hollow parking lot. This is free and open to all.
Hickory Hollow is a delightful place to welcome in the New Year and is one of the four Virginia Natural Area Preserves in the Northern Neck. “Skunk Cabbage is one of the few plants that can produce its own heat enabling it to rise above a near freezing or snow-covered ground”, said Howe. Research has found it can raise its temperature in winter to 50-70 or more degrees and maintain a high internal temperature for about two weeks”. The walk will be to the unique 22- acre Cabin Swamp, about a two-mile walk roundtrip. Sturdy shoes should be worn as the trail down to the swamp is somewhat narrow and steep.
The 254 acres at Hickory Hollow is one of the 66 state natural area preserves, all of which were created and are protected because they contain some of the rarest natural communities and unique species habitats in North America. Hickory Hollow fits that definition well as it contains one of the few globally rare natural community known as a "coastal plain basic seepage swamp” and supports a high level of biological diversity including one orchid found nor where else in Virginia.
Hickory Hollow was established in 2000 and is owned by the Northern Neck Audubon Societybut managed by the Virginia Dept of Conservation and Recreation’s, Division of Natural Heritage.
For directions, comments, or just stating intentions to attend, email nnaudubon@gmail.com.
The Virginia Master Naturalist program is open to all, regardless of age, color, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran status, or any other basis protected by law. An equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.
nnmnemail21@gmail.com
