Capital Nature

(VA) (Friends of Dyke Marsh) Join FODM for a bird walk every Sunday at 8 a.m. The Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve is a freshwater, tidal marsh on the Virginia side of the Potomac River in Fairfax County. It is a unit of the George Washington Memorial Parkway, U.S. National Park Service.

(VA) (Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy) Join naturalist Jake van Schilfgaarde on this winter walk at Balls Bluff Regional Park to discover and discuss animals’ and plants’ survival strategies in Virginia winters. We will look for signs we find along the trails, which have moderate, rocky slopes and could be muddy or icy. We will enjoy a beautiful time out of doors ...

(VA) (Friends of Huntley Meadows) The Monday Morning Bird Walk is sponsored by the Friends of Huntley Meadows Park and takes place every Monday at 8 a.m. Following the walk, members of the group gather at the nearby Denny’s for breakfast and to compile the morning’s bird list. All are welcome.  

(DC) (National Park Service) We invite you to join National Park Service volunteer and expert birder Molly Hermann for an engaging bird walk at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens. This event is open to all, including those new to birding. We encourage participants to bring water, sunscreen, and binoculars if available. A limited number of binoculars are available for loan with a photo ID. ...

(VA) (Arlington Parks) Our ponds may be frozen, but they're still full of life. Come learn about our winter pond dwellers, and find out where the critters you don't see in winter have gone. Families.

(VA) (Arlington Parks) The natural world is constantly changing… yearly, monthly, daily and even hourly. The only way to see it all is to go out on a regular basis and explore. Every 2nd and 4th Wednesday, join a naturalist to briefly meet one of our nature center critters (living or preserved) then go for a walk to see what ...

(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Are you interested in birding? Do you want to be part of a national community science project? Then, join us for Project FeederWatch. Project FeederWatch is a seasonal community science project, where participants count the different species of birds that flock to a bird feeder. All levels of birders are welcome. This project meets weekly on Thursdays ...

(DC) (Smithsonian Associates) Bundle up, go outside, and take photos that stand apart from the pack. The low sun angles bring long shadows, snow and ice provide uniqueness, and leaves don’t obscure the character of trees. Before you head out, discuss potential exposure, focusing and battery issues, and gear concerns. Exploring classic winter scenes such as ice-skating rinks, sledding, local ...

(DC) (Rock Creek Park) Come and enjoy a ranger-led program in the only planetarium in the National Park Service! The Stellar Star Show will be a 30-minute ranger-led program about the planets and the night sky.   

(MD) (Capital Photography Center) Join us on Maryland’s Eastern Shore with Kim Kelly as we explore Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge. This sanctuary has over 32,000 acres of diverse habitats attracting waterfowl and other birds along the Atlantic Flyway. Winter months can be awesome for photographing birds and wildlife in the DMV area. At this time of year, the eagles are ...

(VA) (Fairfax County Parks) Woodpeckers are keystone species which help many other forest animals by excavating holes in trees. Learn about our six local species, their lifestyles and adaptations. The two sessions include a hike, natural history information, drawing tips, journal page ideas and making a whimsical woodpecker creation. Ages 16 +. This is Session 2 of a two-part program.

(VA) (Arlington Parks) iNaturalist is an awesome tool to document and learn about the natural world around us. Come learn how to use the phone/tablet app and explore observations on the website, then put it into practice with a walk outside! Teens ages 12+ are welcome to attend with a registered adult.

(VA) (Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy) Birds of prey numbers increase dramatically each winter in the county as our resident birds are joined by many others. Join Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy to search for winter raptors. We will drive the back roads of Loudoun until dusk with frequent stops to find and identify the many hawks, hopefully an owl or two, and any ...