Dueling Flickers

Ritual combat is often used among birds to settle disputes over territories or mate selection. Most of the time the postures assumed appear threatening but avoid serious contact or injury. Northern flickers (Colaptes auratus) are known for their elaborate ritual flights which involve tail flashing, bill pointing and circling as well as lunges and chase flights. Both sexes participate in ritual combat and the presence of an observer of the opposite sex intensifies the aggression, which may last for hours, with pauses.

Moving in on Mile-a-Minute

On May 6, 2019, 10 FODMers worked hard to remove and control the aggressive plant, mile-a-minute (Persicaria perfoliata), in the native plant area along the Haul Road trail in Dyke Marsh. The plant, a pesky invasive, is forming mats that overwhelm valuable native plants. Mile-a-minute is also known as Asiatic tearthumb because it has prickly little thorns on the stems.

Youngsters Delight in Dyke Marsh

Thirty enthusiastic pre-school youngsters from two St. Luke’s Day School classes had their annual field trip to Dyke Marsh on April 29, 2019. Jennifer Gough, one of the teachers, reported, “We saw a snake, which the kids were thrilled about!” They were also excited to see the bald eagle in the nest along the Haul Road trail.

Raptors Enrapture 250 Fans

On April 20, 2019, 250 people of all ages, from babies in snugglies to seniors, were wowed by raptors at the annual Friends of Dyke Marsh (FODM) Raptor Rapture event in Belle Haven Park by the Potomac River.

Liz Dennison from Secret Garden Birds and Bees brought a barred owl (Strix varia), two Eastern screech owls (Megascops asio), a red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) and a red-shouldered hawk (Buteo lineatus), birds that had been injured and cannot survive on their own.

FODMers Investigate the Habitat Quality of a Stream

On a sunny April 16, 2019, for the third year, four FODMers helped conduct habitat quality testing in an unnamed stream flowing through Mount Vernon Park into west Dyke Marsh. This effort was led by Dan Schwartz, Ashley Palmer and Ben Rhoades of the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District (NVSWCD).

65 Clean Up Trash

On April 13, 2019, 65 enthusiastic volunteers of all ages tackled trash in Dyke Marsh and along the Potomac River shoreline, as part of the annual Ferguson Foundation trash cleanup. The Friends of Dyke Marsh had check-in stations at Belle Haven Park and at the Haul Road trail entrance. Among the volunteers were Boy Scout Troop 1107 from St. John’s Lutheran Church, a group of boys from Good Shepherd Catholic Church, Loyola University alumni, Notre Dame alumni and many other eager trash collectors.

Bald Eagles Are Star Attractions

Many fans are stopping on the Haul Road trail to watch one of nature’s dramas – bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) raising their young. On April 17, 2019, FODM former president Ed Eder photographed this adult bald eagle bringing a catfish to the nest. He wrote, “After depositing the fish at the nest, two eaglets were visible. One has contour feathers and is considerably larger. The other occasionally flaps and its wings are visible. The smaller one's head is still down covered.”

Ospreys Have Returned, Aerial Combat Begins

The week of March 11, 2019, ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) returned to the Potomac River and Dyke Marsh. As documented by our excellent photographer and observer, Ed Eder, it did not take long for fights to break out over fish, with a second-year bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) causing an osprey to drop its catch. Later, the osprey sought revenge by dive-bombing the eagle.

People Care

In contrast to many who apparently don’t care about trashing our natural resources, as evidenced by the endless trash along the shoreline and in the marsh, many people do care. On March 16, 25 members and young members-to-be of the Notre Dame Club of Washington, D.C., helped clean up trash along the west side of the George Washington Memorial Parkway north of Dyke Marsh.

The Importance of Vernal Pools

Karen Sheffield explored the characteristics and importance of vernal pools to a rapt audience of 60 on March 3, 2019 at a meeting sponsored by the Friends of Dyke Marsh, Friends of Huntley Meadows Park, Friends of Mason Neck State Park and Friends of Accotink Creek. Ms. Sheffield is the manager of Huntley Meadows Park and Historic Huntley, Fairfax County Park Authority, and oversees a survey of vernal pools there.

Connecting to the Larger Community

On February 2, 2019, the Friends of Dyke Marsh again participated in Mount Vernon Supervisor Dan Storck's annual town meeting at Mount Vernon High School, at which Supervisor Storck and other officials reviewed his accomplishments and challenges facing the community. FODM had a table and materials in the exhibit hall alongside other friends’ groups. FODM volunteers greeted visitors and informed them about Dyke Marsh, the restoration project and FODM’s activities and goals.

Restoration Work Advances

In early January 2019, the Dyke Marsh restoration breakwater became more and more visible as crews from Coastal Design and Construction continued to install 50 to 55 “marine mattresses” each working day. By January 8, they had placed 2,900 in the south marsh. On January 9, crews on a work barge and a rock barge began putting armor stone on top of the mattresses near the shoreline. A surveyor on the shoreline monitors the tide level and helps ensure that the mattresses are placed at the right elevation.

What Is Dyke Marsh?