Birdwatching along Assateague Island is an amazing experience for many visitors. Experience the islands' wealth
of over 300 species of migratory and resident birds (see the Assateague
Bird List). You
will enjoy birdwatching
in Virginia at the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge. This is one of America's
finest places for birdwatching along the East Coast. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife
Service Refuge at Assateague (Chincoteague N.W.R.) is one of the richest birding
regions in the U.S. with outstanding year-round birding. Assateague Island now
has a healthy bald eagle population also.
Summer
is a good time to see large numbers of migrating shore birds, warblers, and other
birds invade Assateague. A variety of species are visible along
the National Seashore at various times of the year. In the fall, waterfowl arrive in massive numbers. Assateague
Island is a vital link in the life cycle of migrating waterfowl in the Atlantic
Flyway. Visitors to Assateague are fortunate to experience an island that teems
with a large variety of waterfowl and other bird life.
Although
an abundance of birds are found at Assateague, bird enthusiasts usually find the
best opportunities along the Virginia portion of the island, due to the Chincoteague
National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge's freshwater impoundments combine with marshes
all along Assateague's shoreline to host a variety of terns, egrets, sandpipers,
waterfowl, and more. Making one's way by boat or kayak along Assateague's extensive inland
waterway is a thrilling experience for any bird lover. Herons and terns fly out
from the edges as you proceed through vast winding narrows where you can also see crabs, fish, oysters and other food sources these birds feed on.
Limited
amounts of Assateague are accessible by car, so during recent times,
many bird watchers have elected to travel
by boat along the inland waters
of Assateague. A birdwatching voyage by boat offers visitors the chance
to see more of the refuge and it's wildlife which can be found along
over 37 miles of Assateague's pristine waterways. Boat excursions in
the areas around Chincoteague and Assateague take you to one of America's
most unique ecosystems, with an abundance of wildlife, islands, and
water as far as the eye can see.
