Monthly Bird Outing at Mason Neck State Park

NVBA partners with Mason Neck State Park to host regular bird outings every fourth Saturday of the month. All birding levels welcome!
About this Event

NVBA partners with Mason Neck State Park to host regular bird outings every fourth Saturday of the month from 8:00–10:00 AM. Your guide for these events will be John Colpoys, an avid birder and experienced bird guide for NVBA.

These events are free to attend and open to anyone! Please see our cancellation policy below.

Parking & What to Bring

There is a $10 parking fee per vehicle, payable upon entry to the park. If no staff member is present at the contact station, please use the honor-system envelopes provided. Upon arrival, plan to meet your guide at the Bay View Trailhead.

While not required, we recommend bringing/preparing the following items:

• Download a birding app such as or . These apps help with bird identification, allow you to track your sightings, and contribute valuable data to scientific research.
• Sturdy shoes
• Weather-appropriate clothing
• Water
• Sunscreen and/or bug repellent

A limited number of loaner binoculars will be available for guests to use during the event. If you have your own binoculars or birding gear, we encourage you to bring them.

Cancellation Policies for NVBA Bird Outings

Occasionally, we may need to postpone or cancel an outing to protect the well-being of participants or guides. Whenever possible, we will notify you at least 48 hours in advance; however, last-minute changes may be necessary. Outings may be canceled or postponed for reasons such as:

• Unsafe air quality
• Guide illness
• Extreme weather, including: Lightning within 10 miles of the event location, temperatures above 90°, heavy thunderstorms, snow, or hail.

If an outing must be canceled on the day of the event, we will do our best to email all registered participants as soon as possible and/or post the cancellation on our website.