PVAS offers monthly programs that are free and open to the public.
These presentations feature expert speakers on a variety of natural history and conservation topics with in-person programs.
In 2020, we adapted our Monthly Programs into Zoom presentations to continue bringing engaging monthly programs to the public from the comfort of their own homes- safely. While we are now back in-person, we still have a few of our past programs available to view online, via the links below.
If you are a Master Naturalists, these programs count towards your ongoing education hours.
Potomac Valley Audubon Society’s Monthly Program: Raptors in Flight Wednesday, May 12, 2022
Matt Orsie will lead a fascinating discussion about the identification of hawks and eagles on the wing as well as information about the timing of migration. Click HERE for the video recording.
PVAS Monthly Program: Recycling Trends in Our Area Wednesday, March 9, 2022
Clint Hogbin talks about the trends in the Berkeley County recycling and litter control programs and discuss Entsorga; a mechanical and biological treatment plant located in Martinsburg, WV. Click HERE for the video recording.
PVAS Monthly Program: Coexisting with Beavers Wednesday, February 9, 2022
Presenter: Alison Zak, founder of the Human-Beaver Coexistence Fund (HBCF)
Alison Zak presents “Coexisting with Beavers: A Dam Worthy Challenge”. Everyone is welcome to join PVAS for our (Virtual) February Monthly Program where Alison Zak discusses a little beaver ecology and behavior, a lot about the benefits beavers provide for people/other species/the environment, and most applicably, how to coexist with beavers! Click HERE for the video recording.
2021 Programs
Randy Robinson, USFWS, presents Bald Eagles of the Potomac Valley. Randycoordinates the NCTC Eaglecam project in partnership with the Outdoor Channel and the Friends of NCTC to support conservation education. During this presentation, he will give an in-depth look at the bald eagles of the Potomac Valley. Randy will use photos and video clips to discuss bald eagle behavior, biology, nest history and some of the technology needed to keep the eagle nest video streaming to our homes and school classrooms. Click HERE for the video recording.
October 2021:“When Birds Collide” Feather Identification at the Smithsonian Institution
Marcia Heacker, Program specialist with the Feather Identification lab at the Smithsonian Institute National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC, presented at our Oct. Monthly Program. In her work, Marcia focuses on identifying bird species using whole-feather and microscopic plumulaceous feather structure. The majority of her work is for bird-aircraft collisions (“bird strikes”) for the U.S. military and civil aviation. The Lab also frequently examines feather material in anthropological items, prey remains, and wildlife law enforcement cases.
During our September Program, Dr. Siegel, with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, discussed the ecology and conservation of our local turtles and how the WV state regulations have changed, including how many WV reptiles and amphibians are completely protected now from collection and possession without a permit from the state. Jim Siegel spends time answering questions and sharing information pertinent to our local area.
March 2021: Fascinating Fireflies
This video will be uploaded in the near future
At PVAS’s March 10th Monthly Program, Ariel Firebaugh shared a wealth of information and interesting facts during her presentation on ‘Fireflies’. Fireflies bring magic to our summer evenings, entertaining and bringing joy to all ages. Ariel Firebaugh is the Director of Scientific Engagement at Blandy Experimental Farm, a UVA research facility and arboretum located near Winchester, VA. As part of her graduate studies in the Department of Environmental Sciences at UVA, she studied how landscape changes associated with urbanization might impact firefly communication and populations.
January 2021: The Invasive Spotted Lanternfly
This video will be uploaded in the near future
On January 13th, we joined Dr. Leskey’s for their presentation on ‘The Invasive Spotted Lanternfly: Ecological and Agricultural Impacts and Potential Solutions.’
The spotted lanternfly is native to China, India and Vietnam. This invasive species was first detected in Berks County, PA in 2014. Since that time it has spread to additional states including WV, VA, DE, MD, NY, NJ, CT and OH. Learn more about the life history, ecology and behavior of this invader and what researchers are doing to combat the threat it poses to agroecosystems and to develop sustainable long-term solutions. Dr. Tracy Leskey, is the Research Leader and Station Director of the USDA-ARS Appalachian Fruit Research Station. She has over 20 years of experience developing behaviorally-based monitoring tools and sustainable management tactics for invasive and persistent native insect pests of temperate fruit production such as brown marmorated stink bug, plum curculio and more recently, the spotted lanternfly.
Due to technical difficulties that evening, the recording was split into multiple videos and may be missing pieces.
November 2020: Road Warriors
This video will be uploaded in the near future
On November 11th, Susan Fluharty, Master Naturalist and retired teacher, and Ellen Murphy teamed up to produce ‘Road Warriors’, PVAS’s November Program. Mrs. Fluharty researched and compiled information on our local roadside weeds found along secondary roads as well as I-81, and together, Ellen and Susan have produced ‘Road Warriors’. Mrs. Murphy discusses those common weeds in the November Monthly Program.
