Downtown Colonial Beach is planning a new festival, one they hope will be appealing to everyone, will stand the test of time and become a lasting tradition. 

 Do you have any Osprey nests near you? 

Downtown Colonial Beach, Inc. is sponsoring an “Osprey Festival,” which will include bird walks, bird talks, a bird-themed scavenger hunt and both bus and golf cart tours of the Osprey nests around town April 13th. The group is asking folks to respond on Colonial Beach Nextdoor to post locations you are aware of that have Osprey nests.   

Carl Thor announced at the January Council meeting, “I think it has been widely known that we have initiated the plans for a First Annual Osprey Festival. We have every other kind of festival, we don't have an Osprey Festival.”

Colonial Beach has been home to a growing number of Osprey over the years. Adding nesting platforms throughout the town along the water ways and on buoys, the town has managed to attract many new birds of prey including Bald Eagles. 

Thor said, “There are a lot of people out there who are interested in birds and we are a bird sanctuary. There are a lot of unusual birds around here...and that is not a pun, that is the flying creatures.” 

The details of the event are still unfolding and more information will be forthcoming as it becomes available. 

“We will have on April 12, 13 and 14 a conclave, where we are hoping a great number of bird enthusiasts will come to Colonial Beach, take various tours and attend lectures.” 

“We're in contact on the technical side with the superintendent of Caladone park, he's going to help us and we have some other people waiting in the wing to help us.” Thor quipped. 

Thor said the great bulk of activity will be on Saturday the 13th. On the twelfth, the April First Friday Art Walk will feature bird inspired art. On the 14th there will be special events both out of town and in the parks and around. 

Thor asked the council for their support, “I hope all of you will be enthusiastic supporters of the First Annual Osprey Festival.”

Osprey are large birds of prey who live mostly on fish, but have been known to hunt small mammals. They nest high up near water and often adjust well to man-made platforms securely placed atop telephone poles or on top of buoy markers out in the river. 

To learn more about Osprey check out these 21 facts about Osprey from livingwithbirds.com.