Fall Waterfowl Viewing Guide

November 2007 -- Every autumn, millions of waterfowl wind their way down from northern latitudes to winter in warmer climates. The Bay watershed is lucky enough to be a major migration route, perched right in the middle of the larger Atlantic Flyway. Like clockwork, migrating waterfowl return to the Bay watershed in droves, searching for open water and foraging on underwater Bay grasses and waste-grain found in agricultural fields after the fall harvest.

Opportunities abound for Bay watershed residents to experience the beauty of these winged migrators. State parks and wildlife management areas, as well as lands that are part of the National Wildlife Refuge system, offer unlimited views of all types of waterfowl and other migratory birds that visit the Bay region during the winter months.

Chenango Valley State Park - Chenango Forks, New York

Chenango Valley State Park is an ice age wonder. Its two kettle lakes, Lily and Chenango, were created when the last glacier retreated and left behind huge chunks of buried ice, which melted to form the lakes and bog. Birdwatchers may glimpse woodpeckers, nut hatches, warblers and thrushes along woodland trails and herons, ducks and kingfishers lakeside. The park is open year round, from sunrise to sunset.

Susquehannock State Park – Drumore, Pennsylvania

Among Susquehannock State Park's primary attractions are the river overlooks, which afford panoramic views of the lower reaches of the Susquehanna River , a major corridor for migrating waterfowl. Park visitors can see large numbers of Canada geese, mallards, lesser scaup and other species that use the river. In addition, several nesting pairs of bald eagles have made the park their home and can be viewed through binoculars or the park's optical viewer.

Nanticoke Wildlife Area – Woodland, Delaware

The Nanticoke Wildlife Area is 4,415 acres of forests, fields and wetlands bordering the Nanticoke River . Along the river, visitors will be treated to the brilliant fall plumage of the drake wood duck and also be able to see American widgeon, gadwall and American black ducks. A multitude of herons, grebes, songbirds and egrets also inhabit Nanticoke Wildlife Area and make themselves available for viewing. For more information, please contact the Delaware Division of Fish & Wildlife at (302) 539-3160.

Sleepy Creek Wildlife Management Area – Berkeley Springs, West Virginia

Sleepy Creek Wildlife Management Area is mostly an oak-hickory forest covering 3,500 acres. While this portion of the Bay watershed is a bit too far west to draw many migratory waterfowl from the Atlantic Flyway, the 205-acre lake does attract limited numbers of ducks and geese. Mallards, Canada geese, wood ducks and several species of diving ducks can been seen on the lake.

Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge – Warsaw, Virginia

Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) is the newest of four refuges that comprise the Eastern Virginia Rivers National Wildlife Refuge Complex. Established in 1996, the goal of the Refuge is to protect 20,000 acres of wetlands and associated uplands along the River and its major tributaries. The vast stretches of wetlands and river frontage at the Refuge provide habitat for a multitude of species of waterfowl, including American black ducks, American widgeons, greater scaup, hooded mergansers, canvasbacks and ring-necked ducks.

Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge – Cambridge, Maryland

Perhaps the most well known place to view waterfowl in the Bay watershed, Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1933 as a refuge for migratory waterfowl. The Refuge includes more than 27,000 acres, composed mainly of rich tidal marsh characterized by fluctuating water levels and variable salinity. Other habitat types include freshwater ponds, mixed evergreen and deciduous forests, and small amounts of cropland and managed impoundments that are seasonally flooded for waterfowl use. Almost all species of waterfowl can be found at Blackwater, with over 35,000 Canada geese and over 15,000 ducks using the refuge during the peak of migration.