Wildlife at Blackwater National Wildlife
Refuge:
The varied habitats of Blackwater, from open water to dense
woodlands,
produce a diversity of wildlife that change in numbers and species with
the seasons.
Birds
The best time for viewing waterfowl is between mid-October
and mid-March.
Wintering species include tundra swans, Canada
and snow geese, and over
20 ducks species. The most common ducks found here are mallards, black
ducks, blue-winged teal, green-winged teal, widgeon, and pintails.
Although
most waterfowl migrate north in the spring, some remain through the
summer,
using the protected areas of the Refuge to raise their young. These
nesting
waterfowl include Canada geese, mallards, black ducks, wood ducks, and
blue-winged teal. Other large resident birds include the great blue
heron
and the bald eagle. Sightings of eagles are fairly common, as
Blackwater
is the center of the greatest nesting density of bald eagles in the
eastern
United States north of Florida. The golden eagle is also frequently
sighted
on the Refuge. Over 85 species of birds breed in the refuge woodlands
and
surrounding habitat.
Numerous marsh and shore birds arrive in the spring and fall,
searching
for food in the vast mud flats and shallow waters of the Blackwater
River.
Ospreys, or "fish hawks," are common spring through fall and
conspicuously
use nesting platforms that have been placed throughout the marsh.
Osprey
and eagle interactions are interesting due to their competition for
fish
resources. 
The Refuge woodlands provide year-round homes for owls,
towhees, woodpeckers,
nuthatches, bobwhite and woodcock. Also a fast growing population of
wild
turkeys can be seen. The warmer months invite warblers, vireos,
orioles,
flycatchers, and many others to this same habitat. A bird list for the
Refuge has been compiled and is available to visitors at the Visitor
Center. Also a PDF file can be downloaded here (Blackwater
Bird List - 200KB).
Mammals
In addition to its extensive list of birds, Blackwater
harbors a variety
of mammals, including bats, raccoons, rabbits, otters, opossums,
skunks, 
and the elusive red fox. Muskrats
are common in the marsh, as is the larger
nutria, a South American rodent introduced to this country in the
1930's.
The nutria population on the Refuge has greatly increased causing
considerable
wetland damage. White-tailed deer can sometimes be seen in wooded areas
and in fields along the forest edge. Sika deer, a species native to
Asia,
that were introduced to nearby James Island in 1916, prefer the wet
woodlands
and marsh. Sika deer are more nocturnal than white-tailed deer and,
therefore,
are less likely to be seen. Both gray squirrels and the endangered
Delmarva
fox squirrels inhabit the wooded areas. A more in-depth description of the mammals found at
Blackwater can be found HERE.
Waterfowl
Refuge programs specifically designed for waterfowl include
management
of the brackish marsh to produce succulent natural foods and management
of impoundments to provide freshwater habitat. A variety of crops are
planted
and native plants encouraged, providing a array of foods to meet the
nutritional
needs of migrating and wintering waterfowl. Although waterfowl hunting
is not permitted on the Refuge, hunting is allowed on surrounding
private
lands and state wildlife management areas. For information on the
Federal Duck Stamp program, click HERE.
Furbearers
A winter
trapping program, regulated by the Refuge and accomplished by
trappers under special permit, provides protection for fragile marsh
vegetation
by reducing the impact of foraging furbearers like the nutria. All
management
programs are carefully monitored to ensure the best interests of
wildlife
resources.
Endangered Species
Endangered species are a special responsibility at
Blackwater. One of these
species is the Delmarva fox squirrel which once ranged from
southeastern
Pennsylvania, south throughout the Delmarva Peninsula. This large,
steel-gray
squirrel was declared endangered in 1967, and currently only four
counties
along Maryland's Eastern Shore support natural populations. The loss of
suitable
woodlands (due primarily to land clearing) is the major factor
in the squirrel's decline. Forest management programs at Blackwater are
designed to restore and protect forest habitats that are essential for
the long term viability of this endangered species.
Our national symbol, the bald eagle, once listed as an
endangered species,
was upgraded to threatened status in 1997. This means that they are
still
protected, but thanks to the hard work of the Fish and Wildlife Service
and a great many others, the bald eagle is making a come back at the
Refuge
and around the country. Like other birds of prey, the eagle's decline
stems
from causes endemic to our times - pesticides, pollution, irresponsible
shooting, and human encroachment. The Refuge offers constant protection
for this diminished species. Another species which utilizes
Blackwater is the recently delisted peregrine falcon, which is
occasionally observed during
migration.
Click below to review text versions of Refuge brochures
relating to the
above subjects. Copies of these brochures are available by request from
our visitor center. Please include the title of the brochure and your
mailing
address in your request.
