Resources
These are websites our members find helpful or interesting, including personal nature blogs by our members. They do not represent the Virginia Master Naturalist program or its sponsors.
General
The parent organization of the James River Chapter
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Virginia Master Naturalist Facebook
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An online social network of people sharing photos and sound recordings and other biodiversity information to help each other learn about nature.
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Doug Tallamy’s grassroots call-to-action to regenerate biodiversity and ecosystem function by planting native plants in front and back yards and creating new ecological networks.​
Birds
![bluebird [Stephen]1000x.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b96594_fd4e18c8787645f6bb5330fb91e6fe24~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_0,y_119,w_803,h_762/fill/w_117,h_111,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/bluebird%20%5BStephen%5D1000x.jpg)
This non-profit works within the context of Cornell University to promote conservation, research, citizen science, and education. Check out their online courses, photo archive (Macauley Library), news, webcams, big data, population studies, etc. Hosts eBird (below)
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Audubon's mission is to protect birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow. They conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds and their habitats, for the benefit of humanity and the earth's biological diversity.
Richmond Audubon Society: Local events, field trips, and meetings.
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Affiliate of the North American Bluebird Society and a chapter of the Virginia Ornithological Society. Website hosts a wealth of information and links about bluebirds, box monitoring, and habitat.
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North American Bluebird Society
A non-profit education, conservation and research organization that promotes the recovery of bluebirds and other native cavity-nesting bird species in North America. Website has fact sheets and bird box plans.
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Free bird identification app using pictures, descriptions, and bird sounds.
Free app that archives checklists, photos, and sounds. A project of Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
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Information about birdhouses, nest monitoring, and identification of nests and eggs.
DWR Falcon Cam ​​​
Plants and Gardening
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Digital Atlas of the Virginia Flora ​
The Digital Atlas of the Virginia Flora is the online successor to the Atlas of the Virginia Flora, which was published in three hard-copy editions between 1977 and 1992. Although it is still a work in progress in many respects, the Digital Atlas contains the most comprehensive information available on the geographic distribution of vascular plants in the Commonwealth. The data provided in the Digital Atlas and its predecessors is based on the iterative evaluation of voucher specimens housed in both Virginia and out-of-state herbaria. Holdings in the herbaria of Virginia Tech (VPI), The College of William & Mary (WILLI), Longwood University (FARM), George Mason University (GMUF), Lynchburg College (LYN), Virginia Military Institute (VMIL), Old Dominion University (ODU), University of Richmond (URV), Lord Fairfax Community College (LFCC), Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), James Madison University (JMUH), Randolph-Macon College (RMWC), Radford University (RUHV), Bridgewater College (BDWR), and several smaller institutions total about 574,000 specimens. These, plus the very large Virginia holdings of the Smithsonian Institution United States National Herbarium (US), Harvard University’s Gray Herbarium (GH), the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences (PH), the New York Botanical Garden (NY), the University of North Carolina (NCU), and West Virginia University (WVA) provide the great majority of the documentation for the county distributions now mapped.​" (from the site's About page)
The Flora of Virginia Mobile App costs $19.99, but for anyone seriously interested in Virginia native plant identification, it is well worth the cost!
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Blue Ridge PRISM (Invasive Species)
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Wild Ones: Native Plants, Natural Landscapes
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Nature and Gardening Blog by Donna
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Tree Identification (VaDOF)
Common Native Trees of Virginia Identification Guide (VaDOF)
Invertebrates
The Xerces Society for Conservation of Invertebrates
Science-based non-profit dedicated to the preservation of invertebrates and their habitats. Website has many resources.
Non-profit that works with farmers, gardeners, land managers, scientists, and industry to develop tools and programs that help keep pollinators safe from pesticides, habitat loss, climate change, and other threats.
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National Native Bee Monitoring Network
The US National Native Bee Monitoring Research Coordination Network (RCN) is a USDA-funded effort to coordinate and support efforts to monitor native bee populations in the US
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Initiative of the Xerces Society to track and conserve North America's bumble bees to learn where to best direct conservation efforts.
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[The Atlas of Common Freshwater Invertebrates of Eastern North America] is a richly detailed interactive resource for learning about benthic macroinvertebrates. Has study tools, quizzes, close up photographs, etc.
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App for iPhone and Android to help identify benthic macroinvertebrates
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Reptiles and Amphibians
​Virginia Herpetological Society​
Comprehensive overview of reptiles and amphibians of Virginia with identification guides including recordings of frogs and toads.
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​Another guide to learning about reptiles and amphibians of Virginia.
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Citizen science program established in 1998 and currently operated by the Akron Zoo to provide individuals, groups and families with opportunities to learn about wetlands in their communities by reporting on the calls of local frogs and toads. Maymont provides training for our local chapter.​
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Water, Wetlands, and Soil
"Report Card" published by the James River Association summarizing indicators of the health of the James River.
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Annual report published by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation detailing 14 health indicators of the Chesapeake Bay.​
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Non-profit initiative of the Isaak Walton League which trains and certifies monitors for benthic macroinvertebrate sampling. Website explains protocols, reimburses approved equipment purchases, provides documents, and processes data submitted by monitors.
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Dedicated to protecting and restoring the James River through installing and monitoring riparian buffers. If private property qualifies for a buffer, JRA will install it with 100% of the cost covered. Volunteer programs: RiverRats and Riparian Stewards
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MONACAN SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT ​
The district directs programs for soil and water conservation in Goochland and Powhatan Counties..Provides assistance to agricultural producers, educational programs, etc. on water quality, cost share, TMDLs (Total Max Daily Load), etc.
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Thomas Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation District ​
The Soil and Water District that serves Louisa County. Provides assistance to agricultural producers, educational programs, etc. on water quality, cost share, TMDLs (Total Max Daily Load), etc.
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Part of VCU Life Sciences, that supports scholarship and student instruction in water resources, climate science, wildlife conservation and wetlands restoration. The property covers 360 acres of riparian marshes, tidal creeks and mature forests which serve as an outdoor laboratory for applied research and experiential classes. The center houses classrooms, laboratories and overnight lodging for students, faculty, visiting scholars and community groups.
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Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay
Nonprofit organization that works to protect and restore the Chesapeake Bay, its rivers, and streams.​
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Chesapeake Monitoring Cooperative
Works with water quality and benthic macroinvertebrate monitoring programs across the Bay watershed to integrate community science data into the Chesapeake Data Explorer. The CMC is supported by five partner organizations that act as the CMC service providers:
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Dickinson College’s Alliance for Aquatic Resource Monitoring (ALLARM)
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University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES)
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Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in Virginia (CBNERR-VA/VIMS)
These service providers work with local monitoring groups to start or maintain monitoring programs by providing methods review, water quality or benthic training, data integration into the Chesapeake Data Explorer, and data interpretation workshops.
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County Planning
Landowner Conservation Assistance Programs
Virginia Land Conservation Assistance Network
https://vaswcd.org/vcap provided by Soil & Water Conservation Districts (SWCD): cost-share program that provides financial incentives and technical and educational assistance to property owners installing eligible Best Management Practices (BMPs) in Virginia’s participating Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs). Application with SWCD necessary. Help provided to: Restore problem areas, Control and minimize erosion, Conserve water within the landscape, Improve riparian buffer areas, Promote wildlife habitat, Re-vegetate bare slopes, Stabilize drainage ways, Treat storm water runoff.
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Dept of Forestry Riparian Buffer Tax Credit
The Riparian Buffer Tax Credit is available to landowners for preserving riparian forest buffers along waterways during a timber harvest operation. Landowners may apply for a tax credit equal to 25% of the value of the timber (or up to $17,500) within a riparian forest buffer. A buffer must be between 35 and 300 feet wide and must be intact for at least 15 years. There is a $150 application fee, and the landowner must also have a Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF) approved stewardship management plan.
Virginia Agricultural Cost Share (VACS) SL-6 Program
Savings program available to landowners for stream exclusion and alternative watering systems. The stream exclusion fence must be setback a minimum of 35 feet. Landowners may receive up to 75% cost share, as well as a tax credit of 25% of eligible out of pocket expenses after cost share payment.
Provides technical and financial support for on-the-ground efforts related to riparian buffer tree planting, community and neighborhood tree planting, etc. Funding is available on a 50/50 match basis. This program is for projects not eligible for agricultural cost share programs. Program managed by Virginia Department of Forestry.
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Through this program, the James River Association, the Virginia Department of Forestry, and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation are working with landowners across the middle and upper James watershed to restore or create forest buffers that improve the quality of local waterways.
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The Mountains to Bay Buffer Program
Works through the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and the Virginia Department of Forestry to help landowners across the Shenandoah Valley restore or create forest buffers.
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Powhatan County Agricultural and Forestal District Program
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Powhatan County Land Use Taxation
The purpose of land use is to "preserve real estate devoted to agricultural, horticultural, forest and open space uses within its boundaries in the public interest...." This program offers a deferral of a portion of the real estate taxes for qualifying properties.
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Virginia Institute
of Marine Science
Sponsors of Virginia Master Naturalists
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​​VA Cooperative Extension
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VA Dept of Conservation and Recreation
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VA Dept of Environmental Quality
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Center for Coastal Resources Management | Virginia Institute of Marine Science
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