A woman with a braid in her hair looking through binoculars at a scrubby landscape

Birding

At Blackwater NWR, 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 species of ducks. The most common ducks found here are mallards, black ducks, blue-winged teal, green-winged teal, wigeon, 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.

Want to know what birds have been recently seen at the refuge? We suggest visiting Cornell's eBird page for Blackwater. There you can see all the bird sightings that have recently been logged by refuge visitors. Better yet, join the eBird community and contribute to the sightings list!

Road Etiquette: When stopping to view wildlife along public roads, please be sure to get as far off the road as safely possible and turn on your hazard lights. Do not park near a blind corner, and do not block traffic. This will ensure the safety of visitors and residents alike.

Update 12/28/2024: The Marsh Edge Trail and its parking lot is currently CLOSED TO ALL ENTRY because of bald eagle nesting activity.

Waterfowl Surveys

Blackwater NWR biologists and trained volunteers conduct waterfowl surveys primarily in the fall and winter.  Unless otherwise noted, these are ground surveys.  The biologists approximate the number of birds by driving a predetermined route around the refuge property.  These surveys provide a "snapshot" of the waterfowl present at the refuge during a given week. A spreadsheet of the weekly surveys can be found below.

Update March 28, 2025: With the departure of most migratory waterfowl, the March 18 survey is the last of the season. A big thanks to our volunteers, Ron Ketter, Steve Funderburk, and Steve Sorro for conducting these surveys throughout the fall and winter! A summary document for the 2024-25 migratory season can be found below.

Related Documents
Blackwater NWR Bird Checklist

A checklist of birds that may be found on Blackwater NWR, with a seasonal occurrence rating for each species.

2024-25 Survey Summary

Summary of waterfowl surveys conducted on Blackwater NWR during the fall and winter of 2024-25.

BNWR Winter 2025 Waterfowl Survey

Table of weekly waterfowl surveys at Blackwater NWR for Winter 2025. A big thanks to our survey volunteers Ron Ketter and Steve Funderburk for conducting and compiling these surveys.

2025 Midwinter Eagle Survey

Blackwater's annual eagle survey, conducted over a 30 minute time period at various locations around the refuge. This provides a snapshot of the relative abundance of eagles on the refuge.

BNWR Winter Aerial Waterfowl Survey 2025

Waterfowl survey conducted by refuge biologists via fixed-wing aircraft of inland and bay Blackwater NWR properties. Conducted on January 3, 2025.

BNWR Fall 2024 Waterfowl Survey

Table of weekly waterfowl surveys at Blackwater NWR for Fall 2024. A big thanks to our survey volunteers Ron Ketter and Steve Funderburk for conducting and compiling these surveys.

BNWR Winter 2023-24 Waterfowl Survey

Table of weekly waterfowl surveys at Blackwater NWR for the winter of 2023-24. A big thanks to our survey volunteers Ron Ketter and Steve Funderburk for conducting and compiling these surveys.

BNWR Fall 2023 Waterfowl Survey

Table of weekly waterfowl surveys at Blackwater NWR for the fall of 2023. A big thanks to our survey volunteers Ron Ketter and Steve Funderburk for conducting and compiling these surveys.