2026 City Nature Challenge: Insect Walk with Judy Gallagher

Join us in celebrating 2026's iNaturalist City Nature Challenge by joining a insect walk, hosted by Judy Gallagher, at the beautiful Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge.

Please meet your guide at 10:00 AM outside the Visitor Information Center (VIC), located at 14050 Dawson Beach Rd, Woodbridge, VA 22191.After a brief introduction, participants will walk along the Painted Turtle Pond Loop Trail (0.43 miles) eventually viewing Painted Turtle Pond where species such as the Green Herons like to hunt. Once on the trail, the guide will determine the group’s stopping points and when to turn back to return to the VIC (within about 90 minutes).

Pre-registration is not required for NVBA Outings, but it helps us prepare and allows us to contact participants in case of last-minute cancellations (see cancellation policies below.) Otherwise, the walk will take place as scheduled.

Judy Gallagher has been an Audubon member for more than 25 years.  She loves birding, but is most passionate about documenting insects and spiders and their behavior and environment through macro photography. Judy is a Certified Master Naturalist and a charter member of the Prince William Wildflower Society.  She has a Certificate in Natural History Field Studies from Audubon Naturalist Society.  She joined ASNV's wonderful Natural Resources Survey when she retired five years ago and spends most of her free time roaming natural spaces in Northern Virginia looking for bugs.  She also participates in several Christmas Bird Counts.

Catch up on your spider identification by watching Judy's latest webinar hosted by NVBA: Spectacular Spiders with Judy Gallagher [linked here].

iNaturalist turns everyday nature-watching into community science. By sharing observations online, participants help scientists and other nature-lovers gather important data about a region's biodiversity. iNaturalist helps us all understand what species live in an area and how ecosystems are changing over time. Anyone can use iNaturalist as long as they have access to a camera and the internet. Whether you’re spotting a bird, identifying a plant, or uploading a photo, you’re contributing to a larger effort to better understand and protect nature!

iNaturalist's annual City Nature Challenge (CNC) is a global, community-powered event where people work together to observe and document wildlife in their local environments [see the project on iNaturalist at this link here]. During a few days each year, participants explore parks, neighborhoods, and even their own backyards to photograph and record plants, animals, and other living things. In short, CNC is a fun and accessible way to connect with the outdoors, support scientific research, and discover the hidden wildlife all around you.

Visit the webpage [linked here] to explore regional CNC events.

As one of NVBA’s sites, the refuge plays an important role in mitigating the region’s growing habitat challenges. The greatest cause of decline in bird populations is habitat loss, and an rapidly urbanizing area like Northern Virginia is a major contributor. NVBA’s Stretch Our Parks program focuses on taking concrete steps to help reverse that trend by supporting and enhancing critical natural spaces like Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge.

Established in June 1998, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge provides vital habitat for migratory birds and endangered species. Its grassland, marsh, and forest ecosystems attract a wide variety of songbirds, raptors, and waterfowl that rely on the area for food, nesting, and rest. The Visitor Information Center is open Thursday–Saturday, 10 AM–4 PM. Visit their website [linked here] to learn more about the site.

From Route 1 (Jefferson Davis Highway) in Woodbridge, proceed east on Dawson Beach Road for ¾ mile to reach the refuge entrance gate.

Several parking lots are available, but participants should plan to park in the first lot, where the Visitor Information Center is located. Parking is available for the duration of the event.

Everyone’s safety and enjoyment are our top priorities. Occasionally, we may need to postpone or cancel an outing to protect the well-being of participants or guides. Whenever possible, we will notify you at least 48 hours in advance; however, last-minute changes may be necessary. Outings may be canceled or postponed for reasons such as:

• Unsafe air quality
• Guide illness
• Extreme weather, including: Lightning within 10 miles of the event location, temperatures above 90°, heavy thunderstorms, snow, or hail.

If an outing must be canceled on the day of the event, we will do our best to email all registered participants as soon as possible. Thank you for your understanding and flexibility!

Questions? Contact NVBA’s Community Engagement Coordinator, McKenzie, at [email protected]. 

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Visitor Information Center at Occoquan Bay NWR, 14050 Dawson Beach Rd, Woodbridge, VA 22191, United States

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