Photo: Osprey, Jean Hall/Audubon Photography Awards

When: Sunday, May 4, 7:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Where: Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, 14050 Dawson Beach Rd, Woodbridge, VA 22191; meet at the shelter at the edge of the parking lot at the end of Dawson Beach Rd

Join us for a bird walk at OBNWR! This walk is geared toward beginners, but more experienced birders are welcome.

Meet at the shelter at the edge of the parking lot at the end of Dawson Beach Rd. Walk leader is Phil Silas.

No registration is required. Walk will happen unless there is heavy rain or storm. Please bring binoculars if you have them.

Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge was established in June 1998 to provide habitat for migratory birds and endangered species. The refuge's diverse grassland, marsh and forest habitats attract a variety songbirds, raptors and waterfowl that depend on the area for food, nesting sites, and a place to rest.

Photo: Garlic Mustard

When: Saturday, April 26, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Where: Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, 14050 Dawson Beach Rd, Woodbridge, VA 22191, Central Parking Lot

This program is part of our Stretch Our Parks initiative, in partnership with the staff of Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge.

On Saturday, April 26, help us remove invasive garlic mustard from a meadow in the refuge. We will partner with Refuge staff, Audubon volunteers and neighbors to make more space in the meadow for native grasses that birds love!

Garlic mustard's roots release chemicals that alter the important underground network of fungi that connect nutrients between native plants, inhibiting the growth of important native species. Luckily it can be easily removed - but there is a lot of it! Learn more about Garlic mustard here.

No experience necessary! We will show you how to identify and remove Garlic mustard. Trash bags will be provided. The area may be muddy so please bring rain boots or waterproof shoes, and gardening gloves if you have them.

Meet at the Central Parking Lot, not at the Visitor Information Center lot. Registration recommended but not required, please feel free to bring a friend!

Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge was established in June 1998 to provide habitat for migratory birds and endangered species. The refuge's diverse grassland, marsh and forest habitats attract a variety songbirds, raptors and waterfowl that depend on the area for food, nesting sites, and a place to rest.

Photo: Osprey, Jean Hall/Audubon Photography Awards

When: Saturday, April 19, 8:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Where: Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, 14050 Dawson Beach Rd, Woodbridge, VA 22191

Join us for a bird walk at OBNWR! This walk is geared toward beginners, but more experienced birders are welcome.

Meet at the large main parking lot, NOT the Information Center Parking lot. Walk leader is Larry Meade.

No registration is required. Walk will happen unless there is heavy rain or storm. Please bring binoculars if you have them.

Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge was established in June 1998 to provide habitat for migratory birds and endangered species. The refuge's diverse grassland, marsh and forest habitats attract a variety songbirds, raptors and waterfowl that depend on the area for food, nesting sites, and a place to rest.

Photo: Prairie Warbler, Darla J. Oathout/Audubon Photography Awards

When: Saturday, April 12, 8:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Where: Turquoise Trail

Join us for a bird walk along the Turquoise Trail in Reston.  We'll enter it from the west from Soapstone Drive.  Please park along Soapstone Drive near the wide pedestrian crossing south of Glade Drive before Lawyers Road.  The crossing is near a large sign on the east side of the road pointing toward Glade Drive to Walker Nature Center.

Walk leader will be Robin Duska.

No registration is required. Walk will happen unless there is heavy rain or storm. Please bring binoculars if you have them.

Photo: Osprey, Jean Hall/Audubon Photography Awards

When: Saturday, October 26, 8:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Where: Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, 14050 Dawson Beach Rd, Woodbridge, VA 22191

Join us for a bird walk at OBNWR! This walk is geared toward beginners, but more experienced birders are welcome.

Meet at the Visitor Information Center. Walk leader is Larry Meade.

No registration is required. Walk will happen unless there is heavy rain or storm. Please bring binoculars if you have them.

Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge was established in June 1998 to provide habitat for migratory birds and endangered species. The refuge's diverse grassland, marsh and forest habitats attract a variety songbirds, raptors and waterfowl that depend on the area for food, nesting sites, and a place to rest.

Photo: Osprey, Jean Hall/Audubon Photography Awards

When: Wednesday, September 4, 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Where: Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, 14050 Dawson Beach Rd, Woodbridge, VA 22191

Join us for a bird walk at OBNWR! This walk is geared toward beginners, but more experienced birders are welcome.

Meet at the Visitor Information Center. Walk leader is Andreas Seiter.

No registration is required. Walk will happen unless there is heavy rain or storm. Please bring binoculars if you have them.

Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge was established in June 1998 to provide habitat for migratory birds and endangered species. The refuge's diverse grassland, marsh and forest habitats attract a variety songbirds, raptors and waterfowl that depend on the area for food, nesting sites, and a place to rest.

Photo: Ring-necked Duck, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, John Steller/Audubon Photography Awards

This program is part of our Stretch Our Parks initiative, in partnership with the staff of Occoquan Bay NWR.

Join us for a morning bird walk on the trails of the Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Newer and seasoned birders welcome.

Your birding guide is Larry Meade, President of the Northern Virginia Bird Club and a member of the ASNV Adult Education Committee.

Meet at the Visitor Information Center, NOT the Central Parking Lot.  After you enter the refuge, turn right at the sign for the Information Center.

If you have binoculars, please bring them with you.

This walk is FREE, but registration is required.

We will be documenting the birds we see in eBird and the leader will share the ebird list with you after the walk. If you don't already have an eBird account, you can sign up for a free one here: ebird.org/home

Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge was established in June 1998 to provide habitat for migratory birds and endangered species. The refuge's diverse grassland, marsh and forest habitats attract a variety songbirds, raptors and waterfowl that depend on the area for food, nesting sites, and a place to rest.

Photo: Occoquan Bay NWR, Tina Dudley

This program is part of our Stretch Our Parks initiative, in partnership with the staff of Occoquan Bay NWR.

Join us for a family-friendly afternoon bird walk on the trails of the Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge.

Your birding guide is Andreas Seiter, an experienced local birder, member of the Board of Directors of the Audubon Society of Northern Virginia, member of the Northern Virginia Bird Club and Virginia Society of Ornithology. 

Meet at the Visitor Information Center, not the Central Parking Lot.  After you enter the refuge, turn right at the sign for the Information Center.

If you have binoculars, please bring them with you.

Registration is recommended but not required. Registrants will get a reminder about the walk and will be notified via email if the walk is canceled.

Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge was established in June 1998 to provide habitat for migratory birds and endangered species. The refuge's diverse grassland, marsh and forest habitats attract a variety songbirds, raptors and waterfowl that depend on the area for food, nesting sites, and a place to rest.

Visit our Bird Walks page for more ASNV bird walks

Photo: Osprey, Jean Hall/Audubon Photography Awards

This program is part of our Stretch Our Parks initiative, in partnership with the staff of Occoquan Bay NWR.

Join us for a morning bird walk on the trails of the Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Your birding guide is Evan Pannkuk, an Assistant Professor at Georgetown University who specializes in wildlife diseases and is also an avid birder

Meet at the Visitor Information Center.

If you have binoculars, please bring them with you.

Registration is FREE but required.

We will be documenting the birds we see in eBird and the leader will share the ebird list with you after the walk. If you don't already have an eBird account, you can sign up for a free one here: ebird.org/home

Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge was established in June 1998 to provide habitat for migratory birds and endangered species. The refuge's diverse grassland, marsh and forest habitats attract a variety songbirds, raptors and waterfowl that depend on the area for food, nesting sites, and a place to rest.

Photo: Ring-necked Duck, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, John Steller/Audubon Photography Awards

This program is part of our Stretch Our Parks initiative, in partnership with the staff of Occoquan Bay NWR.

Join us for a morning bird walk on the trails of the Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Newer and seasoned birders welcome.

Your birding guides are Larry Meade, President of the Northern Virginia Bird Club and a member of the ASNV Adult Education Committee, and Todd Kiraly, a birder with extensive experience in the local hotspots in and around the Potomac River in NOVA.

Meet at the Visitor Information Center.

If you have binoculars, please bring them with you.

This walk is FREE, but registration is required.

We will be documenting the birds we see in eBird and the leader will share the ebird list with you after the walk. If you don't already have an eBird account, you can sign up for a free one here: ebird.org/home

Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge was established in June 1998 to provide habitat for migratory birds and endangered species. The refuge's diverse grassland, marsh and forest habitats attract a variety songbirds, raptors and waterfowl that depend on the area for food, nesting sites, and a place to rest.

Photo: Occoquan Bay NWR, Tina Dudley

This program is part of our Stretch Our Parks initiative, in partnership with the staff of Occoquan Bay NWR.

Join us for a family-friendly afternoon bird walk on the trails of the Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Your birding guide is Andreas Seiter, an experienced local birder, member of the Board of Directors of the Audubon Society of Nothern Virginia, member of the Northern Virginia Bird Club and Virginia Society of Ornithology. 

Meet at the Visitor Center.

If you have binoculars, please bring them with you.

Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge was established in June 1998 to provide habitat for migratory birds and endangered species. The refuge's diverse grassland, marsh and forest habitats attract a variety songbirds, raptors and waterfowl that depend on the area for food, nesting sites, and a place to rest.

Photo: Occoquan Bay NWR, Tina Dudley

This program is part of our Stretch Our Parks initiative, in partnership with the Occoquan Bay NWR.

Meet at the Visitor Center

October is a great time for birding! Birds of all kinds are migrating south to reach their wintering grounds. In this experiential workshop at Occoquan Bay NWR, the pace will be leisurely as we learn how to spot and identify birds.

Your birding guide is Larry Meade. President of the Northern Virginia Bird Club and a member of the ASNV Adult Education Committee. He is a frequent bird walk leader and has been involved in numerous Audubon Christmas Bird Counts and North Atlantic Butterfly Association (NABA) counts. He is the compiler of the Alexandria Circle butterfly count for NABA.

This walk is FREE, but registration is required.

Photo: Occoquan Bay NWR, Tina Dudley

This program is part of our Stretch Our Parks initiative, in partnership with the staff of Occoquan Bay NWR. Our goal is to engage residents of Woodbridge to get to know the refuge.

Join us for a bird walk during fall migration. Beginners are welcome. Bring binoculars and dress in layers.

Phil Silas is an excellent birder and experienced bird walk leader who frequently leads walks for the Northern Virginia Bird Club. Phil is also our volunteer compiler for the Christmas Bird Count.

Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge was established in June 1998 to provide habitat for migratory birds and endangered species. The refuge's diverse grassland, marsh and forest habitats attract a variety songbirds, raptors and waterfowl that depend on the area for food, nesting sites, and a place to rest.

This walk is FREE, but registration is required.