Activities and Volunteer Events
Bird Walks
FODM hosts bird walks every Sunday at 8 a.m., except during the annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count. Meet in the Belle Haven Park south parking lot. We will cancel walks if weather conditions are unsafe, such as lightning, ice or heavy rain or snow.
Parking Alert
The U.S. Park Police are now ticketing vehicles parked on either side of the Marina Road. While the signage may be confusing, an officer on May 6, 2023, told us that except for the two marked handicapped parking spots near the Mount Vernon Trail, only vehicles with attached trailers can park on the sides of the Marina Road.
Help Tackle Invasive Plants
Help protect native plants by pulling and clipping invasive plants. We will train volunteers to identify the five or so target plants. We kindly ask that you not bring pets. Invasive plants can threaten and outcompete native plants.
Bring gloves, hand clippers and water. We will supply instructions, examples and trash bags. Wear long sleeves and pants and sun protection. We will have some tools to share. We will cancel if lightning or severe storms are anticipated.
Meet at the Haul Road trail entrance bench. If it is raining one hour before a scheduled session, we will cancel it.
Date(s):
July 19, 9 a.m. - 11 a.m.
August 2, 9 a.m. - 11 a.m.
August 16, 9 a.m. - 11 a.m.
August 30, 9 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Bat Walk
Join us on August 23 at 8 p.m. for a bat walk led by FODMer Deborah Hammer and learn about these often misunderstood superheroes of the night. Meet at the Haul Road Trail entrance. Bring a flashlight (red light preferred) and insect repellent. So everyone can hear and learn, this walk is limited to 20 people. The event will be postponed in case of rain.
Date(s):
Butterfly Walk
Join FODMers August 30, 1 p.m., for a butterfly and dragonfly walk with Larry Meade. Meet at the south Belle Haven Park parking lot. Limited to 20 people. Bring water and wear sturdy shoes and sun protection.
Date(s):
Ecology Walk
Join naturalist and biologist Charles Smith on September 6, 10 a.m. on an ecology walk and learn all about tidal marsh ecology, vegetative communities, system stressors, seasonality of vegetation and wildlife and ecosystems’ importance. So everyone can hear and learn, we have to limit the walk to 20 people. Meet at the Haul Road Trail entrance. Bring water, wear sturdy shoes and sun protection.
Date(s):
Raptor Rapture
On October 18, 1 p.m., come to Fort Hunt Park, Pavilion A, to see live raptors like owls and hawks up close. Sponsored by the Friends of Dyke Marsh, the National Park Service and Secret Gardens Birds. Free. Registration is not required.
Beaver Business
Save the Date. Join us on October 22, 7 p.m., for a Zoom presentation by Alison Zak, the Human-Beaver Coexistence Fund, on beaver ecology, behavior and human interactions. Register here after August 14.
Haul Road Trail directions and parking:
GPS coordinates: 38.777739, -77.050540 South of Alexandria off the GW Memorial Parkway at the sign for Dyke Marsh Nature Preserve and Belle Haven Marina, turn east onto the road toward the Potomac River. Take the first left and park in the Belle Haven Park lot. Walk back to the marina road and turn east, toward the river. Walk 30 yards. On your right is a Dyke Marsh sign and the entrance to the Haul Road trail.
