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The goal of refuge management is
to provide habitat for a diversity of native fish, wildlife and
plants.
The mix of wetlands, uplands and forest on the refuge are home to a
wide
variety of native birds, mammals, fish, reptiles, amphibians, insects
and
plants.
Strategically located on the
Atlantic
Flyway, the refuge manages 4,200 acres of freshwater marshes to provide
feeding and resting areas for migrating birds in particular, waterfowl
and shorebirds. Through a series of dikes and water control
structures,
the refuge lowers water levels in the spring. Lower water levels
allow the growth of annual marsh plants like wild rice, millet and
beggars
tick. It also provides a place for migrating shorebirds to feed
in
the spring and nesting areas for wading birds like black-necked stilts
in the summer. Higher water levels in the fall and winter make
the
seeds of annual plants available for the thousands of migrating ducks
and
geese. Over 100,000 snow geese and 80,000 ducks can be found at
the
refuge during peak fall migration.
The refuge has almost 2,300 acres
of tidal saltmarsh. Refuge saltmarshes are not intensively
managed
but protect a rapidly diminishing habitat type on the east coast.
Tidal saltmarsh communities are particularly important nursing grounds
for young fish and crabs.
Upland areas are a relatively
small
component of refuge habitat but are important to many species.
Most
of the refuge forests are a mix of pine, oak, hickory, poplar, and
maple
species which tolerate flooding. These forests are important to
migrating
songbirds who pass through the refuge in the Spring and Fall to fuel up
for their journey to the north. Many species of salamanders,
lizards,
turtles, frogs and toads live in refuge forests. In 1986, the
Delmarva
Peninsula Fox Squirrel was reintroduced to refuge forests. Since
then, efforts have focused on monitoring the population and enhancing
refuge
forests.
Through a combination of mowing,
farming and letting fields grow fallow, grasslands are managed to
provide
benefits to resident and migrating species. While kestrels,
red-tailed
hawks and turkey vultures patrol; quail and turkeys feed in these
fields.
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