“If the chicks are up in the nest and they’re of a certain age, they are fairly vulnerable to high winds.”Ĭhicks born in the spring who can’t yet fly might be vulnerable to the many storms in late May and June that buffet the loblolly pines where egret colonies nest. “It comes down to a timing issue,” Watts said.
Spring is a difficult time for egrets, according to Bryan Watts, a William & Mary conservation biologist who studies egrets and herons in Hampton Roads. (Billy Schuerman / The Virginian-Pilot)Ī tree service cleaning debris from the storm found another pair of baby birds in an intact nest that had fallen. 16 great egrets were rescued after a storm the previous night impacted their nesting area in Portsmouth, Virginia on June 26, 2023. A great egret nestling walks through Lisa Barlow’s car. Shaw put on the waterproof garment she keeps in her car - insulated, winter waders that she hadn’t anticipated wearing on the 85-degree day - and fished the bird out of the marsh. “There was a bird that was right on the shoreline, and they were trying to flush it out, and it was going toward the water,” Shaw said.
Shaw, a certified landscape professional, wears many hats at the organization and jumped in with rescue efforts. She added she’s always accepting volunteers or donations to support her wildlife rehabilitation efforts.Ĭasey Shaw, communications director for the Elizabeth River Project, a nonprofit that works to improve the health of the river, was on scene Monday. “We’re going through minnows like there’s no tomorrow” to feed the birds, Barlow said. The goal for all the birds is to reintegrate them into the wild. They will remain in the rehabilitation center until they are old enough to fly. Three have broken wings and are scheduled for surgery. The other 15, ranging from chicks to fledglings, are with Barlow. One bird was too injured and was taken by Animal Control to be euthanized. E-Pilot Evening Edition Home Page Close Menu
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