Adorned in its handsome red coat, the Northern Cardinal , Virginia's State Bird, can be seen throughout the area. Listen for the springtime duet of courting couples. Cardinals are one of the few songbirds in our area for which females, as well as males, sing. Painted Turtles with their brightly colored orange markings can often be seen sunning themselves on a warm afternoon in the Washington Channel. Beavers , which can be found on Theodore Roosevelt Island and near the Potomac Heritage Trail close to Rossyln, can live up to the age of 20 and reach weight levels of 100 pounds.
Beavers start their lives with their eyes wide open and with all their fur.
They begin swimming when only four days old. . . The caterpillar of the spectacular Zebra Swallowtail Butterfly feeds on its leaves. Dogbane , also known as Indian Hemp, was used by Native Americans to make rope. Dogbane still can be found around East Falls Church. Native Americans used Bloodroot to treat blood conditions and as a stain for their skin.