An Island Rookery

It’s late February and the osprey pair has returned to their nest at my place of work. Each year they seem to return a little earlier than the last, perhaps a sign of the warming trend we are experiencing. Tundra swans and snow geese are still resting and feeding in the Back Bay and Currituck marshlands, but the great flocks will soon return north to the arctic along with other northern migratory species. As the earth continues to wobble and tilt and allow more direct sun to warm our hemisphere, the great migrations will begin. The osprey are one of the first bird species to arrive in our area from as far as South America, but they will soon be followed by legions of other birds seeking to nest and mate in the lush wetlands in southern Virginia Beach and the nearby Carolina marshes. 

There is an island rookery not far from the mouth of the North Landing River. Soon, hundreds of pairs of wading birds will build their nests among the trees and bushes of this diminutive, isolated island. Far from predators and near to wetlands teeming with fish, the island is a haven for these long-legged birds and their chicks. Due to the small size of the island and the number of wading birds, it is common to take pictures of several species at once, and because of its isolation, human visitors are infrequent. It is quite an experience to float along on a gentle summer day with a gentle breeze and a hint of salt in the air as over a thousand wading birds prepare and care for their young.

Schedule your ecotour to explore this environmental wonderland.