Instagram story viewer> @hags_clean_water> Posts

H.A.G.S. Clean Water Initiative

@hags_clean_water

134

followers

188

following

501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization
📍 East Coast, USA 🇺🇸
H 2💧 Conservation
Avid outdoorsmen 🌳
Going green ♻️
Surfers 🌊
Support us and get a fresh tee!

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

It’s been observed and studied for the past few years (links in bio) that our osprey populations in the lower Chesapeake are hurting. In fact, according to Osprey expert Bryan Watts “2026 osprey breeding performance was the worst ever recorded for the Chesapeake Bay.”
They’re arriving on time, nesting as they should, laying eggs as usual, but their chicks are starving in their nests.

What’s going on?  The smart people in the room are pointing towards one specific cause: the reduction fishery of menhaden in Virginia. Osprey chicks rely heavily on nutrient dense menhaden here in the lower Chesapeake, and for the last few years, many have observed that there just aren’t enough to go around.

Virginia still allows the large scale harvesting of this crucial yet invisible fish. While we do not harvest menhaden for food or sport, lots of our gamefish and bird species rely heavily on them for food. There are many that believe that this large scale harvesting of menhaden has been negatively affecting our fisheries for years.

What can we do to help?  The ASMFC (Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission) is currently taking public comments regarding potential new limits on the menhaden fishery.  We need to tell the ASMFC that we believe what the experts are trying to tell us: It’s time to pull back the limits on menhaden or our osprey friends of the lower Chesapeake are in serious trouble.

Do a little reading if you’re curious, shoot me a question asking about specifics, or call me crazy if you need to get that off your chest.  There’s only about two days left to leave a comment. I urge you to help these iconic birds and our ecosystem at large by dropping a comment and staying in the loop. This is our chance. taken in Virginia by @hags_clean_water

155

11

13 days ago

The osprey…where do you begin with this Hags legend? Did you know that, unlike other hawks, osprey can rotate their outer toes backwards to secure their prey. They also have barbs on the soles of their feet to help keep the fish from slipping free once they scoop them up. These raptors can fly up to 160,000 miles in their 15-20 year lifespan. The Chesapeake Bay is a massive refuge for these birds and a critical nesting ground for them. Let’s do our best to keep it clean so we don’t end up all hags like this flounder 🐟

🎥: @cody.hammer

#osprey #bird #flounder #nature #outerbanks taken in Outer Banks, North Carolina by @hags_clean_water

23

1

6 months ago

Happy Earth Day from Hags Clean Water! Make sure to always take care of her like she takes care of us 🌎 🫶🏻

#earth #day #clean #water #sunshine taken in EARTH by @hags_clean_water

12

1

6 months ago

Did you know that turkeys can fly up to 60 mph and run up to 25 mph? A turkey’s wishbone is unique and ties their ancestral history back to the T-Rex 🦖. At Hagsquarters we proudly dubbed turkeys, “Turkmenistans”. How many Menistans can you count in this clip? 🦃

#turkey #turkmenistan #conservation #virginia #birds taken in Surry County by @hags_clean_water

5

1

8 months ago

“Prothonotary Warbler” has a big name for such a little bird. These migratory song birds can be found in the spring and summer nesting in the swampy wetlands of Eastern Virginia. Despite weighing only 13 grams, every summer these warblers take flight for a journey of thousands of miles to winter in Central and South America. Perhaps even more impressive, the birds, on returning, will make their home not simply in the general area where they hatched but sometimes in the very same box or an immediately neighboring one. VCU researchers have seen this “natal fidelity” demonstrated for as many as 6-8 successive years in some of the warblers they have tracked. That being said, since the 60s due to loss of habitat and nest competition, these birds have landed themselves on the endangered list in Canada. That’s where Hags comes in, we built some boxes so they can nest safely and out of the reach of predators.

We teamed up with @smallwave_andrew on the build and he captured these awesome shots of what we’ve been up to lately. He’s been a great friend and major motivator behind the scenes, more big things to come in the future so stay tuned! As always feel free to DM us if you want to get involved and have a great summer ☀️

#birds #virginia #conservation #warbler #box taken in Virginia Beach, Virginia by @hags_clean_water

203

13

8 months ago

We’re excited for 2026! Hope everybody had a Haggy Holidays. Why not start the year off right by taking your old Christmas tree to @vaaquarium this Saturday 9-12? They will go towards stabilizing the dunes and combatting erosion in our area. What a beautiful thing!

#christmas #tree #recycle #va #aquarium taken in Virginia Beach, Virginia by @hags_clean_water

15

3

9 months ago

Don’t know what to do with your old Christmas tree this year? They can be dropped off @vaaquarium from 9am-noon on Saturday, January 10th and will be used for dune restoration in our area. We’ve already collected several trees, if you can’t make it Saturday just DM us and you can drop your tree at 1624 Dearborn Drive in Virginia Beach, VA. Merry Hagsmas and a Haggy New Year to all! 🌲

#christmas #tree #va #aquarium #recycle taken in Virginia Beach, Virginia by @hags_clean_water

27

8

9 months ago

Dolphins are highly intelligent marine mammals, not fish. They are actually more like humans, needing to breathe air. They are also incredible surfers swimming at speeds of up to 22 mph, and can dive super deep. Unlike humans, dolphins don’t need to drink water, they hydrate through the fish they eat. Dolphins always know how to have a great summer. Peep this video that our friend @cody.hammer shot on his drone of some of our dolphin brethren doing just that! Like, comment, and share this post or donate to support the cleaning of the bays and rivers that they call home. ☀️🐬

#dolphin #savethebay #conservation #hags #clean #water #atlantic #ocean #mammals #not #fish #hydration #chesapeakebay #summer #offshore #rudeeinlet #recycle #river #whistle #pod #bottlenose #hammer #orca #natgeo #cody taken in Buxton, North Carolina by @hags_clean_water

13

1

10 months ago

ATTENTION ALL!! Don’t send your Halloween pumpkins to a landfill this year! Instead you can donate them and provide crucial nutrition to wildlife as they enter into a harsh winter when food sources can be scarce. Simply just DM us and we’ll come pick them up! Or you can drop the off at 1624 Dearborn Drive in Virginia Beach, VA. Trust me the creatures of the forest will thank you 🎃

#deer #eat #pumpkins #recycle #landfill #is #too #full #nutrition #zero #waste #halloween #spooky #szn #forest #wildlife #benefit #from #our #trash taken in Virginia Beach, Virginia by @hags_clean_water

21

1

a year ago

Part of being a waterman is being willing to go for it in all types of conditions. One of the highlights of our winter that year was a massive blizzard that sent snow and pumping surf to the East Coast. These memories are what surfing is all about, scoring cold tubes with your best mates. Let’s work to preserve our precious oceans so our children’s children can enjoy them just like we have 🥶 @ryanzmuda @wavynews10

#cold #surf #wavy #10 #news #blizzard #virginia #protect #preserve #future #bestfriends #brothers #classic #interview #laughs #shredthegnar #and #always #recycle taken in Virginia Beach, Virginia by @hags_clean_water

22

8

a year ago

Our friend and Hags Ambassador @rhiannon.lizzi._ sent us this awesome photo of her living her best life! As humans it’s our duty to respect wildlife and protect the Earth they call home, Rhi is a great example of people that do just that. Go pet a duck…or donate to Hags so we can hatch some! 🐣☀️ (don’t try to pet wild ducks of course) 🤣

#ducks #conservation #nesting #boxes #prothonetarywarbler #woodduck #pool #sun #hags #clean #water #recycle #nonprofit #nature #birds #ducksunlimited #protect #birders_gallery #birdsonearth taken in Virginia Beach, Virginia by @hags_clean_water

12

2

a year ago

Remember Captain Planet? The 90’s superhero powered by five young Planeteers fighting pollution and protecting Earth. Captain Planet taught us “The power is yours!” — reminding kids that change starts with everyday choices.

If you like fishing, surfing, hunting, or just cracking a cold one by the Bay without wondering what’s floating in it — you already believe in what Captain Planet was preaching.

💬 What lesson from Captain Planet stuck with you most? ♻️☀️

#captainplanet #hags #conservation #wetlands #kids #cartoons #clean #water #recycle #beach #community #love #earth #fire #water #wind #heart #thepowerisyours #hero #pollution #downtozero taken in HAGS Global by @hags_clean_water

11

2

a year ago