Fireflies and Bats Walk

How do fireflies produce their glow? Why are bats an important part of the ecosystem? Come find out on our firefly and bat walk. We'll meet at Daingerfield Island in the soccer field off of Marina Drive here.

After talking briefly about the different species of fireflies and bats, we'll take a short walk on the Mount Vernon Trail to show you our favorite locations for bat and firefly watching. You'll get to see our special bat microphone that identifies different species based on the frequency of their echolocation. The walk is about 1 mile and will end by 9:30 p.m.

For more information about the common types of bats we might see on the walk, please check out this flyer here.

Things to bring:

1. Flashlight (preferably with red light setting).
2. Reflective vest if you have one.

Inclement Weather:

In the event of rain, the event will be cancelled and notification will be sent by e-mail by 5 p.m. the day of the event.

Getting there:

By foot or bike: The meetup spot is located on the Mount Vernon Trail in the soccer field near Daingerfield Island here.

You can park bikes at the Washington Sailing Marina

By public transportation: Take DASH bus AT5 to the Slaters Ln and W Abingdon Dr stop and walk .5 miles to the meetup spot.

By car: There should be parking available in the Washington Sailing Marina Parking Lot.

Food

We will be eating at Catboat Pizza Bar ahead of the event. If you are feeling hungry, please stop by for a bite to eat before the event. Please note that Catboat Pizza Bar closes at 9pm.

Support our Work:

We're raising funds to continue to improve the Mount Vernon Trail. Donate to keep our volunteers equipped with tools and supplies at Donate to Friends of the Mount Vernon Trail.

Keep up to date with upcoming events and news about the trail by following us on our website, Facebook, Twitter, Bluesky, YouTube, and Instagram.

Also check out other Trips & Adventurous Activities in Alexandria, Meetups in Alexandria, Nonprofit events in Alexandria.