In an effort to learn more about our populations of winter waterfowl through citizen science, the Northern Neck Chapter of the Audubon Society (NNAS) is seeking people to assist in a census count of these fascinating birds on the weekend of February 5th and 6th. This Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula Winter Waterfowl Count focuses on the Lower Rappahannock-Potomac Rivers, tributaries, and adjacent lands is sponsored in 2022 by NNAS and the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula Chapters of Virginia Master Naturalists.

Hickory Hollow Natural Area Preserve near Lancaster offers one of the best nature walks in coastal Virginia and is also a place where Virginia’s earliest blooming plant, Skunk Cabbage, can be found in bloom with no foliage.

The Northern Neck Audubon Society owns Hickory Hollow and for many past years knowledgeable local naturalists have led a New Year’s Day Walk to get folks out in nature to welcome in the New Year. Last year’s walk was cancelled due to the scourge of Covid but the Audubon Board felt this year it could carefully be offered once again. And was cosponsored by the Northern Neck Chapters of the Virginia Native Plant Society and the Virginia Master Naturalists.

But sadly, because of the rapid spread of the new Omicron Covid strain reported in the last few weeks, the Audubon Board and cosponsors have reluctantly decided it is not quite the time to offer a public walk.

The Northern Neck has lost its only wildlife rehabilitator & wildlife rescue facility, I’ve been searching for information, and all I can find is a post on the Wild Bunch Wildlife Rehab Facebook page. I have copied and pasted that announcement below, which was posted on February 1, 2021.

This is divided into into two parts logically – Part 1 with intro, communities, plants clubmosses and mosses and Part 2 with fungi, lichens and animals. Look for coming announcements of a presentation.

HH Winter 2021 Part I|

HH Winter 2021 Part II

For the past several years, the Northern Neck Chapters of the National Audubon Society (NNAS), Virginia Native Plant Society (NNNPS) and the Virginia Master Naturalists (NNMN) have sponsored a New Year’s Day walk at Hickory Hollow Natural Area Preserve in Lancaster County. The walk first began with members of the NN Chapter of the Virginia Native Plant Society but has greatly expanded and been cosponsored in recent years by the three aforementioned groups. The major goal has been to get people out early in the year and see Virginia’s earliest blooming plant, Skunk Cabbage.

Virtual Hickory Hollow Skunk Cabbage Walk

Do yourself a favor: Take a break from the rampaging news cycle for some sunshine and fresh spring air. Atlasing for the VABBA2 can bring exercise and the stress-soothing mental health benefits of immersion in nature.

With the governor restricting gatherings to less than 10 folks, suspending birdwalks seems like the logical next step. With that in mind, Bird Watching can be the one thing to help us all get through these days.

The next bird walk scheduled on April 8, 2019 is at my house at 655 Mosquito Beach Lane, White Stone.  It will officially start at 0900 hours. 

If you are interested in finding out the "whys" and "wherefores" of the latest events at Hickory Hollow, please read the HHNAP Management Report 2018 on our Chapter Documents Page. 

For anyone who participates (or wants to) in the Virginia Breeding Bird Atlas 2, here is some updated information, and some resources to help you out. 

LOOK!! IT’S AN EAGLE!!!

Oh, drat, it’s just a vulture. How many times have you said that? …’just a vulture’. I admit it, I have. But, let’s find out why vulture’s aren’t ‘just vultures’. They are a seriously important part of the environmental clean-up crew.

The small, silvery, Atlantic Menhaden (Brevootia tyrannus) has been called "the most important fish in the sea" and "The Chesapeake’s Unsung Hero."

Here is a list of tools and references mentioned by Jeff Wright in his 5 Feb 2018 presentation to the NNAS General Membership Meeting.