Cindy Mosling, co-founder of the B.E.A.K.S. bird sanctuary on Big Talbot Island in Jacksonville, died on March 3 after a long career in wildlife rescue.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A pioneer in wildlife rescue in Northeast Florida has died.
Loved ones say Cindy Mosling, co-founder of the B.E.A.K.S. bird sanctuary on Big Talbot Island in Jacksonville, died on March 3. For more than 40 years, Mosling dedicated her life to rescuing and rehabilitating injured birds, caring for tens of thousands in need.
Her family says her legacy of compassion and conservation will live on.
“She was the kindest, most selfless person alive,” her daughter, Olivia, told First Coast News.
Mosling wasn’t always in wildlife rescue. She built her career as a top interior designer, helping design hospitals and Jacksonville landmarks.
But her life took an unexpected turn one day when she encountered an injured bird.
“She said she was watching the Olympics at her condo in Jacksonville just crying, begging God, like what’s my true passion? What is it?” Olivia recalled. “And then the bird showed up on her doorstep like the next week and then she just fell in love with it.”
That was the birth of the Bird Emergency Aid and Kare Sanctuary, or B.E.A.K.S., on Big Talbot Island. Mosling went on to run the sanctuary for nearly 50 years, helping birds through oil spills, storms and other crises.
“She would run that operation almost, I don’t know, 18 hours a day,” her husband of 50 years said.
The work ofte became a family affair.
“Going home from getting my prom dress with her, there’s a hurt pelican on the bridge. So obviously we pull over, and I jump into the car seat and she’s holding this pelican in the car that’s trying to flap its wings around, and all of a sudden it tries throwing up,” Olivia recalled. “My prom dress is right there behind it.”
Family members say Mosling never hesitated when a bird needed help, even if the requirements of the job would make some recoil; she approached every rescue with determination and fearlessness.
Olivia said her mother “climbed huge telephone towers — really tall ones,” to get to nests.
In November, Mosling’s family received news they never expected.
“Nobody really knew anything was wrong until November when we took her to the hospital,” a family member said. “Then we discovered that she had stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Even just a month ago we were at the farmer’s market together after she’d gone through treatment, so it’s just all been very, very sudden.”
Even near the end of her life, her loved ones say Mosling was still thinking about the birds she spent decades protecting.
“I truly think she changed the ecosystem of Northeast Florida.”
Mosling was well-known throughout the community, including by Mayor Donna Deegan.
“When I was anchoring the news, she was always the go to expert and never turned away an injured bird regardless of the day or hour,” Deegan told First Coast News. “She stayed at BEAKS, the bird sanctuary, for many years beyond when she wanted to retire because she just couldn’t bring herself to let go of her life’s mission. Jacksonville has lost a strong advocate and a wonderful human being.”
Mosling’s daughter says she hopes to one day reopen her mother’s rescue after finishing law school. For now, the family says they are holding onto the memories and stories that defined her life.
“We miss her a lot,” a loved one said. “We miss her so much.”
A visitation for Mosling will be held March 22 from 1 to 3 p.m. at Oak Lawn Cemetery. The public is welcome to attend.