When it comes to natural beauty, there’s no place like coastal Virginia, and Camp Cardinal has tons of wildlife to take in.
From the shores of the Severn River to the tips of the trees, here’s some of the creatures you might see – and hear! – during your stay.
Herons
Virginia is home to the Great Blue Heron, a large waterbird that makes its home on the shores of rivers and open water. This majestic bird is identifiable by its blue-gray feathers and the long beak it uses to snap up fish. Keep your eyes out for the coastline or the trees to catch a glimpse.
Osprey
Ospreys are warm-weather birds that make their home on the coast of Virginia during the summer months. These “fish hawks” – a nickname derived from their exclusive diet of live fish – can be identified by their white heads, thick eye stripes that continue down the neck and back, and white belly.
Crabs
The Severn River and its surrounding waterways are home to dozens of species of crab. The most iconic is the blue crab, named for its blue-tinted shell. Keep your eyes out for fiddler crabs; these tiny crabs are identifiable by their large claw. If you’re lucky, you may even come across a horseshoe crab – these living fossils have existed for almost 300 million years!
Frogs
The night has fallen, which means the frogs have come out to sing! At Camp Cardinal, you’ll find – or hear – a variety of frog species, such as the Eastern Cricket Frog can be identified by the triangle between its eyes and the stripe or Y-figure on its back, or the Eastern American Toad, a large and warty frog known for its high-pitched trill.
Dolphins
Did you know you could see dolphins in the waterways surrounding Camp Cardinal? The Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin lives in the Chesapeake Bay and often makes its way into the rivers that feed into the bay. Keep an eye out for the triangle-shaped dorsal fin peeking out of the water!
Bald Eagles
At Camp Cardinal, bald eagles are a common sight! These majestic and iconic birds of prey – recognizable by their white heads, brown bodies, and yellow beaks – can often be found hunting for fish in the river. You can also find them soaring through the sky or nesting in the trees.
