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.
![[Photo] Bald eagle attacks eagle in the water.](/images/eagle_fight_attack_2_-_julia_tanner_-_sm.jpg)
Local Bird Watcher and FODMer Observe a Bald Eagle Fight in the Marsh
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.
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.
“Sister” Group Visits Dyke Marsh
On April 14, 2023, Dan Rauch, Fisheries and Wildlife Biologist for the Washington, D.C., government, led a walk, billed as a "riverside chat," in Dyke Marsh for 13 members of the Potomac Conservancy.
The Ospreys’ Spring Return and Ritual
Many people delight in the ospreys’ spring return from their southern wintering grounds in Florida, the Caribbean and Central and South America to spots near water in Northern Virginia.
Floodwall and Levee Near Dyke Marsh Is Questioned
In June 2022, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (ACE) proposed a “tentatively selected plan” to build a floodwall and levee in the Belle Haven, New Alexandria, Belle View and River Towers areas of Fairfax County near the Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve.
