Friends of Dyke Marsh

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National Park Service Proposes to Restore Dyke Marsh

Restoration Flyer The Problem: Dyke Marsh is eroding six to eight feet or 1.5 to 2 acres per year on average. At this rate, Dyke Marsh could be gone in 30-40 years, concluded the U.S. Geological Survey in a landmark study. The flyer describes how and why Dyke Marsh is eroding.
The U.S. National Park Service proposed four restoration options and accepted public comments ending June 20.
You can review the options at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/gwmp.

DC Surfriders Clean Up Dyke Marsh

On Sunday March 17, a group of about 20 members of the DC Surfriders came to Dyke Marsh for a waterborne cleanup. Teams worked on both the northern islands in the Marsh and removed some 50 bags of trash and other debris on a cold and grey day. Special thanks should go to Cheryl Norcross of the Surfriders for organizing the cleanup, and to George Stevens and the Belle Haven Marina staff for providing a motor skiff for transporting volunteers to and from the islands. - Ned Stone. Photo: DC Surfriders with the day's haul.

Virginia's Wetlands

FODM President Glenda Booth has written an article published in the September-October 2012 Virginia Wildlife magazine titled "Virginia's Watery Wonderlands" describing wetlands in Virginia. Read the entire article.

Sunday morning bird walks

Northern Cardinal The weekly Sunday morning bird walks are held every Sunday morning all year. Meet at 8 a.m. in the south parking lot of the Belle Haven picnic area. Walks are led by experienced birders and all are welcome.

The Arthropods of the Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve – Overt and Covert


	Eastern Amberwing, a species found in Dyke Marsh. Photo by Chris Hobson.

    Join the Friends of Dyke Marsh and the Georgetown Center for the Environment for an arthropod adventure on Saturday, July 27, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. to see many interesting arthropods other biota. There are over 6,000 arthropods in Dyke Marsh. Arthropods are invertebrate animals with an external, jointed skeleton, usually known as a carapace. This phylum includes insects, crustaceans, centipedes, millipedes, spiders, scorpions and horseshoe crabs.
    Dr. Edd Barrows, Insect Ecologist, Professor of Biology and Director of the Center for the Environment at Georgetown University, will lead a walk and introduce us to many of the natural wonders in the Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve that we often overlook. Meet at Haul Road entrance.
    Dress for the weather. The walk will take place unless there is heavy rain or thunderstorms.
    Information at: http://biodiversity.georgetown.edu/

Whooping Cranes - September 11 Program


	Whooping Crane. Photo by Laura Erickson.

Ken Lavish from Patuxent Research Refuge’s Wildlife Research Center will discuss the refuge’s whooping crane project to re-establish migrating flocks of whooping cranes, North America’s tallest bird and a species that was nearly wiped out when, in 1941, there were only around 22. The cranes are bred and hatched at Patuxent then transferred to Wisconsin. Scientists are leading cranes from Wisconsin to Florida with ultralight airplanes.
Cosponsored by the Audubon Society of Northern Virginia and the Northern Virginia Bird Club, the meeting will be at 7:30 p.m. at the Huntley Meadows Park Visitor Center.

A local Brownie troop visited the marsh on April 8. They were guided by National Park Service Ranger David Lassman. In the photo (right) Ranger Lassman leads the troop in a pledge to protect the park. Photo by Glenda Booth.