VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — Hunt Club Farm is a well-traveled local hot spot for birthday parties, Easter egg hunts and fall festivals, but it is currently feeling the impacts of the bird flu.

Joining their array of animals, like goats and horses, they usually keep hundreds of chickens. But as bird flu started making the rounds earlier this year, two of the birds died Jan. 23. In the coming days, it kept getting worse.

"And so then the next day, we had two birds die, and then we had zero the next day," said Randi Vogel, Hunt Club Farm co-owner. "And then on the 26th, we had five birds die. It was really alarming to me because we had a goose die, and our geese typically don't die."

Vogel said it was unusual amount of deaths. Workers with the Department of Agriculture took the four-hour trip down and tested the flock. Some were positive for bird flu, so all of them had to all be euthanized Friday.

"I would say that our chickens are the number one attraction at the club," Vogel said. "So we do a lot of different educational programs throughout the year, and we do a summer camp program and we're our petting farm, so we're open to the general public, but not right now."

This has their petting farm temporarily closed, and they do not yet know when it will reopen.

The state Department of Health told them they cannot buy more birds for another 120 days, meaning it will be months before they recoup the coop. However, they will still be able to host birthday parties throughout other parts of Hunt Club Farm and host some of their other programs.

Their advice to other chicken owners: closely monitor the health of the animals and keep their habitat as sanitary as possible.

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - Right as the $12 million renovation to the Norfolk cruise terminals are nearing completion, year-round cruises are expected to come to Norfolk.

Norfolk has designs on $12M cruise terminal renovation project

Starting in the summer of 2024, crews got to work. The overall goal of the renovation is to improve customer flow, allowing more passengers to debark at one time. During WAVY 10's visit on Tuesday, crews were putting the final touches on the massive new walkway, going from the gangway to the bottom floor.

Norfolk votes to enhance Carnival Cruise operations

"So, on Cruise Day, it's bustling," said Rehn Saunders, Director of Development and Marketing. "So, on any given Saturday, Sunday, especially when the Carnival Sunshine is in port, we'll have 3000 guests exiting or D barking the ship. They're then coming down this new ramp system and they're collecting their luggage right here."

The renovation also includes an improved space for customers to pick up their luggage before going through to the new customs checkpoint. It is all wrapping up as the Norfolk Cruise Terminal prepares to take on year-round Carnival cruises for the first time — to places like the Bahamas, Bermuda and Canada.

Carnival announces new cruises out of Norfolk for 2026-27

"We've really gotten this down to a science and it's seamless for our visitors," Saunders said. "You know, we'll have porters out front to collect the luggage. We'll have shuttles coming into the front loop and everyone's flow. And by getting on taxis, your Ubers to head out of Norfolk, or they're going to head downtown and hopefully enjoy some breakfast at one of the local restaurants or stay at a hotel to visit the attractions."

With the gangway, passenger walkway, customs checkpoint done, the rest of the renovations are expected to be complete by fall of 2025.

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — City leaders are looking for input on the plans to build an all new Maury High School to replace its current, historic structure that was built more than 100 years ago — in 1911.

A wide rendering provided by Norfolk Public Schools shows the basics of their master plan. They want to preserve the historic building and repurpose it for something else, with a new four-story school to be built to its north. Things like a new baseball field and tennis court will be set up on the eastern end.

Previously: Norfolk City Council OKs design work for new Maury High

School leaders are highlighting features such as outdoor learning spaces, new athletic facilities and a constructed wetland for flood resistance. The city considers input from Norfolk residents to be an important part of the process.

"The city wants to hear from the residents and the students who are going to be using the school," said Kelly Straub with the city of Norfolk. "So we want to make sure that we're hitting their needs and providing for them."

The meeting starts at 6 p.m. Thursday inside the Maury High School cafeteria.