Winter Bird Walk: Celebrate Save the Eagles Day!

Join Northern Virginia Bird Alliance (NVBA) for a bird outing at in celebration of 2026 Save the Eagles Day! Bald eagles are known to frequent the marsh, and we are hope to find some while there.

To ensure everyone can find the trail with ease, we'll meet at 9:00 AM in the nearby Mount Vernon Trail Parking lot located by the Belle Haven Picnic Area. After brief introductions, the group will take a short walk down the Mount Vernon trail until we reach the preserve's driveway. From here we'll begin our birding by walking the Dyke Marsh Trail (~2 miles). AllTrails describes the terrain as "relatively flat, packed dirt surface, with a short boardwalk at the end." We will try to spot Bald Eagles, known to frequent the marsh. The trail can get muddy after rain, please plan to dress appropriately for both the trail and weather conditions.

Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve is located along the Potomac River. Though diminished to a mere 50 acres, Dyke Marsh still remains one of the largest, freshwater, tidal wetlands in the Washington metropolitan area. The preserve's weland ecosystems are ideal for the over 200 species of birds documented in the park [learn more here]. Read NVBA's article on Dyke Marsh [linked here] written by the President of the Group, Glenda C. Booth, where she describes the value of the marsh and ongoing FODM Projects to continue learning about the preserve!

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!

Pre-registration is not required for NVBA Bird 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.

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

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve, Alexandria, VA 22307, United States

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