The Binocular Site
Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, Virginia
Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge is located towards the end of Assateague Island that rests closest to Virginia. It is a barrier island located off the eastern coast of Maryland and Virginia.
The area is more famous for the feral Chincoteague Ponies that run wild on the island than it is for birding. However, the refuge does play host to over 320 species of birds and is cited as an Audubon hotspot for birding.
The refuge was established in 1943 is made up of over 14000 acres of sand dunes, marshes, and maritime forests, providing perfect habitats for migratory birds. Chincoteague employs a number of advanced wildlife management techniques on the refuge to protect the birds. One example is their ability to control the water levels in the park, ensuring optimum conditions at any time of year.
Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge is a haven for thousands of waterfowl that winter here, and is also the last staging area for many shorebirds migrating to South America.
There are also programs in place for restoring Bald Eagle populations. Other programs are also planned to restore threatened Piping plover colonies that nest on the beaches.
The state bird of Virginia is the Northern Cardinal and you can find a checklist for birding in Virginia here.
Photo credit to gbrunett, used with permission under the creative commons license. You can learn more about the history, habitat, and wildlife at the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge and find a listing of frequently asked questions here.If you've visited the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, please take the time to share your experience and any tips or insight you have about this Virginia bird watching location below.
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