About us
Birder = person who enjoys wild birds! We are a group of younger adult birders having fun outside and supporting conservation work in Northern Virginia. We’re targeting people 18-45, but the age range is not exclusive. Folks new to birding or curious about bird watching are very welcome.
What's the purpose of the group? To learn about, enjoy and protect birds and other wildlife in Northern Virginia, while making friends and having fun outside.
Who should join? Younger birders and the young at heart who like birds and wildlife and want to make like-minded friends. Natural resource professionals, environmental educators, all-levels of birders, naturalists, hikers, wildlife lovers, nature nerds and anyone who loves the great outdoors.
What will you do at your events? We will have birdy-happy hours to socialize, enjoy casual bird outings and picnics, go on nature walks, play bird-themed board games, play trivia games about nature and ecology, and volunteer on conservation and youth education projects. This group is sponsored by Northern Virginia Bird Alliance, formerly the Audubon Society of Northern Virginia. We invite you to join NVBA and check out NVBA's events at: https://www.nvbirdalliance.org/
If you are younger than 18 you are welcome but have to be accompanied by a parent, guardian, or responsible adult member of your family.
Featured event
NextGen Monthly Bird Outing - Jones Point Park
Starting Saturday, May 2nd NextGen will be hosting monthly bird outings on the first Saturday of the month! Locations and guides will vary per month.
For our first monthly walk, we will visit Jones Point Park in Old Town, Alexandria for a spring bird walk.
In early May, it's common to see the following at Jones Point:
- Migratory Songbirds (Warblers/Swallows): Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Prothonotary Warbler, Black and white warbler, and early spring migrants like Gray Catbirds and Baltimore Orioles.
- Raptors: Osprey (frequently fishing in the river), Bald Eagle, and the resident Peregrine Falcon.
- Waterbirds & Shorebirds: Great Blue Heron, Double-crested Cormorant, Laughing Gulls, Ring-billed Gull, and various sandpipers (e.g., Least Sandpiper).
- Year-Round Residents: Northern Cardinal, Blue Jay, Carolina Chickadee, and Downy Woodpecker.
Quick Navigation Tips
- Park Location: The park is tucked directly underneath the Woodrow Wilson Bridge.
- Entrance: The main pedestrian and vehicle entrance is at the end of South Royal Street.
To get to Jones Point Park via the DC Metro, your best route involves taking the Blue or Yellow lines to Alexandria and then completing the trip by bus or a scenic walk.
1. Take the Metro to Alexandria
- Primary Station: King St-Old Town Metrorail Station (Blue/Yellow Lines).
- Secondary Station: Huntington Station (Yellow Line).
2. Connect to the Park
Since the park is about 1.5 to 2 miles from the nearest Metro stations, you have several transfer options:
- By Bus (Recommended):
- From King St-Old Town, take the DASH Bus Line 34. It runs along South Royal Street and drops you near the southern edge of Old Town, which is a short walk to the park entrance.
- The Metrobus 11Y (Mt Vernon Express) stops at Washington Street and South Street, only a two-minute walk from the park entrance.
- By Free Trolley:
- Take the Free King Street Trolley from the King St-Old Town station to the Waterfront (at Union Street). From there, it is a scenic ~15-minute walk south along the waterfront to reach the park.
- By Walking or Biking:
- From King St-Old Town, it is roughly a 25-minute walk to the waterfront and nearly 60 minutes (approx. 2.7 miles) to the park itself.
- The Mount Vernon Trail passes directly through the park, making it a popular destination for cyclists starting from Old Town.
Upcoming events
2
NextGen Monthly Bird Outing - Jones Point Park
Jones Point Park, 1 Jones Pt, Alexandria, VA, VA, USStarting Saturday, May 2nd NextGen will be hosting monthly bird outings on the first Saturday of the month! Locations and guides will vary per month.
For our first monthly walk, we will visit Jones Point Park in Old Town, Alexandria for a spring bird walk.
In early May, it's common to see the following at Jones Point:
- Migratory Songbirds (Warblers/Swallows): Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Prothonotary Warbler, Black and white warbler, and early spring migrants like Gray Catbirds and Baltimore Orioles.
- Raptors: Osprey (frequently fishing in the river), Bald Eagle, and the resident Peregrine Falcon.
- Waterbirds & Shorebirds: Great Blue Heron, Double-crested Cormorant, Laughing Gulls, Ring-billed Gull, and various sandpipers (e.g., Least Sandpiper).
- Year-Round Residents: Northern Cardinal, Blue Jay, Carolina Chickadee, and Downy Woodpecker.
Quick Navigation Tips
- Park Location: The park is tucked directly underneath the Woodrow Wilson Bridge.
- Entrance: The main pedestrian and vehicle entrance is at the end of South Royal Street.
To get to Jones Point Park via the DC Metro, your best route involves taking the Blue or Yellow lines to Alexandria and then completing the trip by bus or a scenic walk.
1. Take the Metro to Alexandria- Primary Station: King St-Old Town Metrorail Station (Blue/Yellow Lines).
- Secondary Station: Huntington Station (Yellow Line).
2. Connect to the Park
Since the park is about 1.5 to 2 miles from the nearest Metro stations, you have several transfer options:- By Bus (Recommended):
- From King St-Old Town, take the DASH Bus Line 34. It runs along South Royal Street and drops you near the southern edge of Old Town, which is a short walk to the park entrance.
- The Metrobus 11Y (Mt Vernon Express) stops at Washington Street and South Street, only a two-minute walk from the park entrance.
- By Free Trolley:
- Take the Free King Street Trolley from the King St-Old Town station to the Waterfront (at Union Street). From there, it is a scenic ~15-minute walk south along the waterfront to reach the park.
- By Walking or Biking:
- From King St-Old Town, it is roughly a 25-minute walk to the waterfront and nearly 60 minutes (approx. 2.7 miles) to the park itself.
- The Mount Vernon Trail passes directly through the park, making it a popular destination for cyclists starting from Old Town.
12 attendees
Past events
111
Group links
Organizers
Members
642
