Eastern Shore of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge

The Eastern Shore of Virginia Refuge consists of 1,393 acres. Of that total acreage, 1,285 acres are located at the southern tip of the Delmarva Peninsula in Northampton County, Virginia, at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. The remaining 108 acres are located on Skidmore Island, which lies one mile east of the mainland. The Eastern Shore of Virginia Refuge contains a variety of habitats such as maritime forest, myrtle and bayberry thickets, grassland, fresh and brackish ponds, tidal salt marsh, and beach. The refuge and its adjoining woodlands are considered one of the most important migratory bird concentration points along the East Coast. This importance stems from the fact that the Delmarva Peninsula acts as a geographic funnel for migratory birds in the fall. Millions of migratory birds rest and feed on the Eastern Shore of Virginia Refuge until favorable winds assist them in crossing the Chesapeake Bay.

Fisherman Island National Wildlife Refuge

Fisherman Island is Virginia's southernmost barrier island. It is separated from the Eastern Shore of Virginia Refuge by approximately one-half mile of sea called Fisherman's Inlet. Accretion continues to expand the island's size, currently estimated at 1,850 acres. Habitat succession has formed a mosaic of vegetative communities capable of withstanding the harsh conditions present on the island. The variety of habitats combined with the geographic location of the island, the accessibility of food, protective shrub and thicket cover, and minimal human disturbance make this island an important stopover location for migratory birds. Fisherman Island, however, is not undisturbed. The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, which links mainland Virginia to the eastern shore, cuts through the western part of the island.