Featured Species
The refuge was created to safeguard and enhance the pristine wildlife habitat of Nomans Land Island, to protect endangered and threatened species, and to provide feeding, nesting, and roosting areas for migratory birds. The refuge provides undisturbed habitat for a wide array of avian species. Seabirds including double-crested cormorants, common terns, various gull species, and Leach’s storm-petrels have been documented present on the island. Raptors including peregrine falcons, bald eagles, kestrels, and merlins, and coopers hawk, have been seen utilizing the island. Over 25 species of songbirds have been surveyed by refuge staff.
Various waterfowl species, shorebirds, and marsh birds are abundant as well, including, American black ducks, mallards, green-winged teals, American oystercatchers, black-crowned night herons and Virginia rails.
In the spring of 2019, with several conservation partners, New England cottontails were released on Nomans Land Island to establish a new population. There are no mammalian predators on the island, however, there have been sightings of river otter, muskrat, gray seals, and harbor seals. The refuge is an important stop over during migration for many species, especially the monarch butterfly.
