Colonial Beach Wildlife

04/06/2026

We need some help!

We need any and all photos (this season) of Osprey with fish. Quality of the photos doesn’t matter. If you can get the fish’s tail in the photo, that would be great. We are trying to identify what species they are eating.

Every time you photograph one, please send it to us - the more the better. I promise I won’t get tired of seeing them. If you have multiple photos of the same fish, please note that they are same fish/different angle.

Photos can be posted in comments here (all spring and summer long), or sent in private message to us. I’m still working on trying to figure out how you all can post on this page vs just in comments.

Please spread the word to your photographer and birder/hobbyist friends who watch our local birds and take photos

No doubt most of you are aware that our Osprey population had taken a nosedive the past couple years. While we are happy to see many return and nests claimed, we cannot be sure the nests will be successful

I’m working with a group of researchers to understand what happened, is it continuing to happen, can we resolve it or prevent it from happening again.

We need to document as best as possible, please and thank you❤️

03/26/2026

***UPDATE: I have so much gratitude in my heart!! I woke up this morning to see that we met our goal in less than 2 days ❤️❤️❤️❤️

Thank you so much to everyone who donated or shared and everyone who cares for our wildlife.

“We’re all just walking each other home” … and that includes our feathered and furry homies ❤️❤️❤️

This will help save so many little lives who lost their way 🥲❤️❤️

Thank you all so very much ❤️
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We need your help! As we enter our second year of rehab, I realize how important it is to have a proper incubator.

With limited resources, I’ve been paying out of pocket for formula, food and other necessary supplies (not to mention hundreds of hours, countless tanks of gas and no rest during baby season - this is all volunteer!)

In order to save money, I have been using a small plastic incubator with no ability to choose temperature and no humidity control, both so important - especially for babies.

I’ve been as creative and resourceful as I can in order to supply necessary humidity (including rigging a borrowed nebulizer into it). Overflow babies have been put in carriers on heating pads if able.

Baby Warm has a wonderful program where they help wildlife rehabbers obtain the incubators we so desperately need!

But we need your help! Colonial Beach Wildlife has been available
and responding to calls to help injured and orphaned wildlife from Colonial Beach and surrounding areas for quite some time, starting with years of rescue and now following through with rehab. We have responded to countless calls from good Samaritans as well as from town, county and state officials.

But we won’t be able to continue without help.

Please consider donating towards this - any amount helps! And please share this to help get the word out ❤️

Baby season has already begun, and this incubator would be so helpful in saving hundreds of
little lives ❤️❤️❤️

We are so grateful for everyone’s continued support and to anyone who will consider donating or sharing xoxoxo

I have been doing wildlife rescue for 7 or 8 years, and it became more and more difficult to find placement for our injured and orphaned wildlife without having to travel for hours. The natural progression was to step up and fill that gap.

02/18/2026

Colonial Beach: Please be aware of likely cases of bird flu (aka avian influenza or “AI”) in town.

We have had a few isolated suspicious cases this winter, but today 3 diving ducks were found dead and I was sent this video of a gull. The gulls head movement and constant circling is a neurological symptom we’ve seen in classic AI cases.

DWR officials and biologist have been made aware, but they do not test unless there are 10 or more.

By the gull’s behavior, we are pretty certain he is positive.

As a precaution, we suggest cleaning the bottoms of your shoes before entering your house after walking on the beaches.

It’s also advisable to refrain from walking your dogs on the beach for the time being, and please keep cats indoors. AI is particularly worrisome with cats.

Avian flu mostly affects waterfowl and the raptors that eat them (so ducks, geese, gulls, eagles, hawks, vultures, owls and even crows).

We rarely see cases in songbirds.

AI usually works very quickly, often killing a bird in a day or so, so the birds are often found deceased, but looking otherwise healthy as they don’t have time to lose weight or deteriorate.

Please let us know (here or via DM) if you see any dead waterfowl, sea birds, or raptors, or any odd behavior - particularly circling as in the video, so we can monitor the situation, document and make efforts to remove.

*** Key Facts on Airborne Risk from Dead Birds:
• Environmental Persistence: Bird flu virus can survive for extended periods in carcasses, f***s, and contaminated water.
• Aerosolization: Handling, moving, or disposing of dead birds can cause the virus to become aerosolized (airborne) from feathers or dry, infected f***s.
• Inhalation Risk: People can become infected by breathing in this virus-laden dust or droplets, particularly if they are in close proximity to the carcass.
• Handling Precautions: It is advised to avoid contact with dead birds and to wear personal protective equipment (mask, gloves) if disposal is necessary.

The risk is highest when handling or standing near dead birds and their habitats, as the virus remains infectious in the environment