|
Every winter, tens of thousands of birds migrate
through the Eastern Shore of Delaware, Maryland, and
Virginia. A trio of National Wildlife Refuges offer
excellent opportunities to witness what is undoubtedly one
of the most incredible wildlife migrations on the East
Coast. Bombay Hook in Delaware, Blackwater in Maryland, and
Chincoteague in Virginia, are all great places to get up
close and personal with wonderful winter wildlife. The next
two months are the peak of the migration: what might you
see?
Geese
Snow and Canada geese travel the Atlantic Flyway by
the tens of thousands every year. The start to arrive in
October and usually peak in late November, but can be seen
as late as December and early January. Both species are
found in abundance at all three National Wildlife Refuges.
Also, each refuge has a sizable resident population of
Canada geese.
Tundra swans
Tundra
swans, migrating from Northwest Canada, usually arrive in
early November. Of the three refuges, Blackwater is probably
the best place to see tundra swans.
Bald eagles
While each
refuge has year-round populations of eagles, numbers swell
in winter as migrating eagles arrive.
Red-winged blackbirds
Blackbirds are the last of the songbird migrants to
pass through the area. They gather in great numbers in the
late fall on the Eastern Shore. They peak in October and
November.
Ducks, ducks, ducks!
Many species of ducks migrate in large
number in November and December, including gadwall, mallard,
black duck, pintail, American widgeon, wood duck, northern
shoveler, blue-winged and green-winged teal, scaup,
bufflehead, ruddy duck, red-breasted and hooded merganser.
White pelicans????
In recent years a small flock of white pelicans has
wintered at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge. White
pelicans, you say? Aren't white pelicans a West Coast
species? You betcha! Maybe they got lost, maybe they are a
breakaway colony, no one knows why. Whatever the reason,
20-25 white pelicans have been spotted every winter the past
few years. No one knows if they are here to stay
(seasonally, that is), or whether the flock will try
somewhere else this winter, but we've got our fingers
crossed that they will continue to come to the Eastern Shore
in increasing numbers!
|
About the
Author