Fall Leaves Brighten Dyke Marsh
Dyke Marsh was aflame in color on October 23, 2023, for the annual fall colors walk sponsored by the Friends of Dyke Marsh and the Potowmack Chapter of the Virginia Native Plant Society (VNPS).
Future Engineers Study Dyke Marsh Restoration
On September 20, 2023, 40 students from Catholic University’s School of Engineering visited Dyke Marsh to learn about the breakwater and sills completed in 2022 to stabilize and restore Dyke Marsh.
Photographs from FODM Members and Friends Featured in the Virginia Wildlife Annual Photography Showcase
Congratulations to three FODM members or friends whose photographs were selected for the 2023 Virginia Wildlife magazine’s annual photography showcase.
Late Summer, Early Fall Bring Blooms
Several native flowering plants stand out in Dyke Marsh in late summer and early fall.
FODM Hosted a Bat Walk and Talk
On a sultry August 20, 2023, evening, an enthusiastic group of ten joined FODM board member Deborah Hammer to learn about the bats of Dyke Marsh.
Local Bird Watcher and FODMer Observe a Bald Eagle Fight in the Marsh
![[Photo] Bald eagle attacks eagle in the water.](/images/eagle_fight_attack_2_-_julia_tanner_-_sm.jpg "[Photo] Bald eagle attacks eagle in the water.")
On July 14, 2023, Julia Tanner was bird watching with her camera in Dyke Marsh and came upon a pair of bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) appearing to fight. Julia recorded the struggle and shared her photos with the Friends of Dyke Marsh. Thank you, Julia.
Connecting in the Community
On June 17, 2023, the Friends of Dyke Marsh participated in the annual Gum Springs Community Day/Juneteenth Festival, this year celebrating 190 years since the community’s founding by West Ford.
FODM Receives Tree Planting Grant
The Friends of Dyke Marsh have received a grant of $3,250 to plant trees in the marsh to replace some of the pumpkin ash trees (Fraxinus profunda) that are dying because of the invasive emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis).
The 25th Mason Neck Eagle Festival
On May 13, 2023, FODM volunteers participated in the 25th Mason Neck State Park Eagle Festival, sponsored by a “sister” group, the Friends of Mason Neck State Park.
Nature Enthralls
Dyke Marsh had some “major attractions” in late spring 2023.
Warming Up to Ticks and Mosquitoes
On May 17, 2023, the Friends of Dyke Marsh hosted a presentation by Kasha Helget on the value of ticks and mosquitoes, how to identify them, their life cycles and eco-friendly management responses.
Owl Fascination Abounds
Spring 2023 brought a frenzy of reproduction in the natural world. Many people have stood for hours watching and photographing a barred owl (Strix varia) pair and a great horned owl (Bubo virginianus) pair raise their young. In early May, observers began to see the fledglings of both pairs exploring the immediate environs.
Friends of Dyke Marsh, Inc. is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.