Virginia Master Naturalists (VMN) are volunteer educators, citizen scientists and stewards helping Virginia conserve and manage natural resources and public lands. Our Chapter serves Culpeper, Fauquier, Greene, Madison, Orange and Rappahannock counties.
Class XII News:
Birding Presentation to Local Madison Group Judy and Alan Edmunds, Training Class XII members, recently provided a birding presentation to a local Madison church group. The Edmunds, Madison County residents, are enthusiastic birders and have fostered bird habitat on their property using feeders and planting native food sources, birdbaths, pollinator gardens and beneficial changes to tree clearing along power lines by the power company. 
Alan and Judy developed a PowerPoint presentation for this group entitled “Introduction to Birds of Virginia.” The presentation featured an overview of our Master Naturalist organization and Alan's Virginia bird-knowledge quiz and the basics of bird identification. Judy highlighted ways to attract birds to your home by encouraging food sources in nature and providing water and shelter.
Written by Charlene Uhl |
What Birds Did We See on this Year's Great Backyard Bird Count?
ORMN was an active participant in the 26th Great Backyard Bird Count sponsored by the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, the Audubon Society and Birds Canada.
On February 18, the Siegen Forest team (cosponsored by the Central Rappahannock MN chapter) and the Sycamore Grove Farm team identified and reported a substantial number of species on eBird: 18 at Siegen and 24 at Sycamore Grove. Both sites had numerous woodpeckers, including pileated, hairy, and red-bellied woodpeckers. We also had bluebirds, titmice, chickadees, white-throated sparrows, dark-eyed juncos and nuthatches. See ORMN's GBBC 2023 photos HERE. The Siegen team spotted a bald eagle in its nest above the Rapidan River, while the Sycamore Grove team recorded eastern meadowlarks, which are found in grasslands. If you didn’t get to participate this year, mark your calendar now: the 2024 GBBC starts on February 16! While one location canceled due to weather, Learn about the Great Backyard Bird Count HERE. 
Bald eagle in nest at Siegen Forest; Great Backyard Bird Count, 2/18/23; Photo: Deanne Lawrence
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Recent MadRapp Articles:
Bluebirds Were on the Brink of Extinction -- Charlene Uhl, ORMN, March 2023
Be Careful Out There -- Charlene Uhl, ORMN, February 2023
What Do Animals Do When It's Cold Outside? -- Charlene Uhl, ORMN, January 2023
Bluebirds Were on the Brink of Extinction -- Charlene Uhl, ORMN, March 2023
Be Careful Out There -- Charlene Uhl, ORMN, February 2023
What Do Animals Do When It's Cold Outside? -- Charlene Uhl, ORMN, January 2023
Nature Photos by Members...
click here to submit photos--and be sure to include the date, caption, location and photographer!
click here to submit photos--and be sure to include the date, caption, location and photographer!
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The Old Rag Master Naturalists chapter is organized as a non-profit §501(c)(3) organization under the Internal Revenue Service Code.
The Old Rag Master Naturalists chapter is organized as a non-profit §501(c)(3) organization under the Internal Revenue Service Code.