09/04/2026
If you visit the barrier islands of TNC’s Volgenau Virginia Coast Reserve, you may have noticed that most of the beach nesting bird signs have been taken down. This signals that we are at the end of the bird nesting season – since April, thousands of pairs of birds like American Oystercatchers, Piping Plovers, Common Terns, and Black Skimmers have been laying eggs and raising their young on these beaches.
The signs remind visitors about our island use policies that protect these special species and places. Our VVCR staff would like to thank all the visitors who have come to the islands this spring and summer and followed these policies, helping us to balance our efforts to protect the islands for nesting birds and also welcome beach goers.
Taking the bird nesting signs down indicates that the seasonal closure of all areas above the high tide line is being lifted. Visitors will be welcome to explore the islands that are open for public use in entirety (if you can bear the mosquitoes!). Please do recall that pets, motorized vehicles, camping and campfires are prohibited year-round on TNC protected islands out of sensitivity to this special ecosystem.
Please visit www.exploreourseaside.org to read about all Virginia barrier islands’ use policies. Contact the VVCR office (757-442-3049), or visit www.nature.org/vvcr for more information. And if you have questions about our Migratory Bird Conservation work, please email Mario at [email protected]. He loves to talk about this program!
To watch a short video about nesting bird protection on the islands, click here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JebN-OvG1bs
