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Supawna Meadows National Wildlife Refuge |
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| 197 Lighthouse Road Pennsville, NJ 08070 E-mail: Howard_Schlegel@fws.gov Phone Number: 609-463-0994 |
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| Visit the Refuge's Web Site: http://northeast.fws.gov/nj/spm.htm |
Tidal Wetlands at Supawna Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, Pennsville, NJ | ||
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Supawna Meadows National Wildlife Refuge Supawna Meadows National Wildlife Refuge is a part of the Cape May National Wildlife Refuge Complex in Cape May Court House, NJ. Supawna Meadows NWR is located along the Delaware River estuary just north of the Salem River in Salem County, NJ. The Delaware Bay and estuary is recognized as a wetlands of international importance and an international shorebird reserve. The refuge currently owns approximately 3,000 acres within the 4,600 acre approved boundary. The brackish tidal marshes that make up nearly 80 percent of the refuge provide waterfowl with an important feeding and resting area, particularly during the fall and spring migrations. Black ducks, mallards and northern pintails are common winter visitors. Sandpipers and other shorebirds use the refuge marshes as a feeding area during the summer as well as during the spring and fall migrations. Delaware's nearby Pea Patch Island Rookery hosts over 6,000 pairs of nine species, making it the largest rookery of colonial wading birds on the east coast north of Florida. The refuge marshes provide valuable foraging habitat for these colonial wading birds during the nesting season. Warblers, sparrows and other migratory birds use the upland areas of the refuge as resting and feeding areas during migration and for nesting during the summer. Thousands of tree swallows forage on the refuge in the late summer. Ospreys, bald eagle, northern harrier, short-eared owl and barn owl nest on the refuge. Getting There . . . Supawna Meadows NWR is located approximately 35 miles south of Philadelphia Pennsylvania and approximately 10 miles south of Wilmington, Delaware in Pennsville, New Jersey. From Interstate 295 take exit 1C, Salem County Route 551. Follow Route 551 south to its end at New Jersey Route 49. Turn left onto Route 49 east. Go approximately one mile on Route 49 east to the first road on the right, Lighthouse Road. Turn right on Lighthouse Road. Turn left at the sign for the refuge office. A number of directional signs are located along the route. Get Google map and directions to this refuge/WMD from a specified address: |
 The refuge headquarters office on Lighthouse Road is now closed to the public. If you need information about Supawna Meadows National Wildlife Refuge please call Cape May National Wildlife Refuge at 609-463-0994. ** Change to the 2007/08 deer hunting program: Only bow hunting is permitted on the refuge. State bow seasons apply and a refuge permit is required. Click on the following link for information: link here. Then click on "Supawna Meadows NWR Bow Permit Information" to print. The Finns Point Rear Range Lighthouse is closed to the public. The Friends of Supawna Meadows NWR are always looking for new members. If you are interested please contact the refuge at 609-463-0994.
Management of the refuge centers around protection and enhancement of high quality habitat for migratory birds, particularly waterfowl, wading birds, songbirds, woodcock and shorebirds. The refuge's impoundments are managed to provide habitat for waterfowl, shorebirds, wading birds and resident fish and wildlife. Former cropland has been converted to grasslands for upland nesting species. Woodlands are being managed to provide early successional habitats for migratory birds including woodcock. Prescribed burns help to control non-native plants and enhance grassland management. This helps restore natural vegetation including wild rice, cattails and sedges that provide the nutrition needed by migrating birds and resident wildlife. With the help of volunteers, the refuge maintains over 100 wood duck and 25 song bird nest boxes. |
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