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The Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge is home to about 90 species that nest either on or near the refuge. In addition to the birds that live in the area, over 250 bird species can be spotted on the refuge as they rest and refuel during migration. The refuge is made up of four distinct habitats for birds: beach, saltwater marsh, freshwater marsh, and maritime forests of pine and oak. Such a wide variety of habitat results in an extensive range of species in just about all seasons of the year.
Thousands of brant, geese, and ducks spend their winter on the refuge. Spring and fall are exciting times for birders that love to watch the migration of the shorebirds and waterfowl. Throughout the spring, summer, and fall visitors will find many herons and egrets stalking the shallow ponds for a meal.
The refuge staff at the refuge visitor center will be happy to provide you with a bird spotter's list that outlines both the species of bird and the relative frequency of their appearance on the refuge. A sample of the many birds on the refuge are seen in the photo album on the right. Click on any picture to enlarge the images.
An on-line version of the spotter's list can be had by clicking on the picture of the plover chick on the right.
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Click on the picture of the plover chick below to view the spotter's list (Adobe format).
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Wouldn't it be wonderful to enjoy birding closer to home? You can if you establish bird-friendly habitat right in your own backyard. Several pamphlets on backyard birding have been made available by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. To access these pamphlets, please click on the picture of the bird feeder below.
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| Backyard Birding Pamphlets |
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