Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge

Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area)
View from the wildlife drive after a storm.

Location	Dorchester County, Maryland, USA
Nearest city	Cambridge, Maryland
Coordinates	38°24′50″N 76°05′50″W / 38.413921°N 76.097231°W / 38.413921; -76.097231Coordinates: 38°24′50″N 76°05′50″W / 38.413921°N 76.097231°W / 38.413921; -76.097231
Area	28,894.35 acres (116.9313 km²)^[1]
Established	1933 (1933)
Website	Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge

view of Blackwater NWR near the observation platform off the wildlife drive

Satellite image of the refuge

The Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1933 as a waterfowl sanctuary for birds migrating along the critical migration highway called the Atlantic Flyway. The refuge is located on Maryland's Eastern Shore, just 12 mi (19 km) south of Cambridge, Maryland in Dorchester County, and consists of over 28,000 acres (110 km²) of freshwater impoundments, brackish tidal wetlands, open fields, and mixed evergreen and deciduous forests. Blackwater NWR is one of over 540 units in the National Wildlife Refuge System, which is managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

Blackwater Refuge is fed by the Blackwater River and the Little Blackwater River. The name "blackwater" comes from the tea-colored waters of the local rivers, which are darkened by the tannin that is picked up as the water drains through peat soil in the marshes.

Wildlife

In addition to a wealth of wetlands and forests, Blackwater Refuge is also host to over 250 bird species, 35 species of reptiles and amphibians, 165 species of threatened and endangered plants, and numerous mammals that can be spotted throughout the year in Blackwater's marshes, forests, meadows, and fields. During winter migration, Blackwater Refuge is also home to upwards of 35,000 geese and 15,000 ducks. The refuge is currently host to three recovering species: the endangered Delmarva fox squirrel, the delisted migrant peregrine falcon, and the recently delisted American bald eagle.

Mammals

Blackwater Refuge is home to a variety of mammals, which until recently included the South American nutria. Introduced to the refuge in the 1930s, intensive trapping efforts starting in 2002 helped nearly eliminate the animal from the area. Among the mammals is also the Delmarva fox squirrel, considered an endangered species. Blackwater forest management programs are working to protect this squirrel.^[2]

Mammals found at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge include:^[3]

Gray squirrel – common
Delmarva fox squirrel – common
Southern flying squirrel – uncommon
Rice rat – common
White-footed mouse – common
Meadow vole – common
Woodland vole – common
Muskrat – common
Nutria – uncommon
Opossum – common
Least shrew – common
Masked shrew – uncommon
Short-tailed shrew – common
Starnose mole – common
Eastern mole – common
Little brown bat – common
Big brown bat – uncommon

Eastern red bat – common
Evening bat – uncommon
Eastern cottontail rabbit – common
Black rat – uncommon
Norway rat – common
House mouse – common
Woodchuck – common
Red fox – very common
Gray fox – uncommon
River otter – uncommon
Beaver – common
Longtail weasel – uncommon
Mink – uncommon
Striped skunk – common
Raccoon – very common
White-tailed deer – very common
Sika deer – very common

Reptiles and amphibians

The marshes and swamps of Blackwater provide an ideal living environment for a number of reptiles and amphibians.^[4]

Blackwater Refuge's reptiles include:

northern red-bellied turtle – common
Eastern painted turtle – common
Eastern box turtle – common
Eastern mud turtle – common
Common musk turtle – common
Northern diamondback terrapin – common
Snapping turtle – common
Spotted turtle – common
Northern fence lizard – common
Ground skink – uncommon
Five-lined skink – common

Broadhead skink – common
Black rat snake – common
Northern black racer – common
Rough green snake – uncommon
Eastern garter snake – common
Eastern hognose snake – uncommon
Eastern kingsnake – common
Redbelly water snake – common
Northern water snake – common
Northern copperhead – uncommon

Blackwater Refuge's amphibians include:

Marbled salamander – common
Red back salamander – common
Red-spotted newt – uncommon
Eastern spadefoot – common
Fowler's toad – common
Northern cricket frog – common
Northern spring peeper – common

Chorus frog – common
Green treefrog – common
Gray treefrog – common
Bullfrog – common
Southern leopard frog – common
Pickerel frog – common
Green frog

Birds

Blackwater Refuge is a major feeding ground for migrating birds, most abundant being the Canadian goose. Swans, cranes, and more than 20 species of duck can be found in its waters. Also of note is the bald eagle, another of the refuge's protected species. In all, the refuge is a resting ground for over 200 varieties of bird.^[5]

Some of the more common birds to be spotted in Blackwater Refuge are:

Bald eagles

The most famous wildlife resident in the Blackwater Wildlife Refuge is the bald eagle. The refuge hosts the largest breeding population of bald eagles on the East Coast north of Florida, and during the winter, many eagles migrate to Blackwater Refuge from northern states and from Canada. The Friends of Blackwater website offers a live Eagle Cam that monitors an eagle nest on the refuge.

In addition, the Friends of Blackwater also offer a live Osprey Cam that follows the adventures of a nesting pair of ospreys through the spring and summer.

Visitor opportunities

Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge also offers a wealth of recreational and visitor opportunities for all age groups. Although much of Blackwater Refuge is composed of wetlands, there are still many ways to get close to the wildlife and to enjoy the scenery.

The refuge features a Visitor Center on Key Wallace Drive where visitors will find wildlife exhibits, an authentic eagle's nest, Eagle Cam and Osprey Cam TV monitors, the Eagle's Nest Book and Gift Shop, a butterfly garden, restrooms, and maps and brochures that will help visitors make the most of their visit. On the second floor of the Visitor Center is the "Wild Birds Unlimited Pathways to Nature Observatory," which features bird exhibits and spotting scopes for viewing the Blackwater River, the marsh, and the Osprey Cam platform. (The second floor is accessible via a staircase or a handicap-accessible elevator). The staff at the Visitor Center also offer educational programs for children, as well as frequent organized bird walks, and an annual Eagle Festival and Open House. The center is open Monday through Thursday 8am – 4pm, and Friday from 9am – 5pm. However, access to the refuge is open nearly every day from dawn till dusk.^[2]

The heart of Blackwater Refuge can be accessed via the Wildlife Drive, which is a paved road—approximately 3 1/2 miles in length (or a 6 1/2 mile loop)^[2] —that takes visitors along the Blackwater River and offers excellent views of the local wildlife. Visitors can drive, bike, or walk the length of the Drive.

There is a daily permit fee of $3.00 for private vehicles (not including commercial vans or buses) and of $1.00 for pedestrians and bicyclists wishing to access the Wildlife Drive. There are also longer permits and passes available, including a variety of annual passes and a senior citizen pass.^[2]

In addition to the Visitor Center and Wildlife Drive, Blackwater Refuge offers three paddling trails, four hiking trails, and hunting, fishing, and crabbing opportunities. There are also other entrances to Blackwater Refuge, making it possible to drive through the refuge without having to take the Wildlife Drive.

Staff and volunteers

The United States Fish and Wildlife Service staff at Blackwater Refuge have been honored by the National Wildlife Refuge Association and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. In 2006, Refuge Manager Glenn Carowan was named "Refuge Manager of the Year," and in 2007, Refuge employee Bill Giese was named "Employee of the Year."

The Blackwater Refuge staff is supported by the Friends of Blackwater, which is a non-profit citizen support group that puts in many volunteer hours at the refuge and sponsors various programs and projects throughout the year. In 2003, the Friends of Blackwater were named the "Friends Group of the Year."

References

↑ "Statistical Data Tables for Fish & Wildlife Service Lands (as of 9/30/2015)" (PDF). US Fish and Wildlife Service. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
1 2 3 4 Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge brochure. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. 2008.
↑ Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge – Mammals brochure. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. 2008.
↑ Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge – Reptiles & Amphibians brochure. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. 2008.
↑ Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge – Birds brochure. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2008.

External links

Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge – USFWS
Friends of Blackwater
The short film Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge (2005) is available for free download at the Internet Archive
Brochures –

Protected areas of Maryland

Federal

National battlefields	Antietam Monocacy

National historical parks	Chesapeake and Ohio Canal

National historic sites	Clara Barton Hampton Thomas Stone

National monuments	Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad

National seashores	Assateague Island

National Park Service parks	Catoctin Mountain Park Fort Foote Park Fort Washington Park Glen Echo Park Greenbelt Park Harmony Hall Oxon Cove Park and Oxon Hill Farm Piscataway Park

National wildlife refuges	Blackwater Eastern Neck Martin Patuxent Research Refuge Susquehanna River

National historic and scenic trails	Appalachian Trail Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail

Other protected areas	Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve

State

State parks	Assateague Big Run Bill Burton Fishing Pier State Park Calvert Cliffs Casselman River Bridge Chapel Point Cunningham Falls Dans Mountain Deep Creek Lake Elk Neck Fort Frederick Fort Tonoloway Gambrill Gathland Greenbrier Greenwell Gunpowder Falls Hart-Miller Island Herrington Manor Janes Island Jonas Green Martinak Matapeake New Germany North Point Palmer Patapsco Valley Patuxent River Pocomoke River Point Lookout Purse Rocks Rocky Gap Rosaryville Sandy Point Seneca Creek Smallwood South Mountain St. Clement's Island St. Mary's River Susquehanna Swallow Falls Tuckahoe Washington Monument Wye Oak

State forests	Cedarville Chesapeake Doncaster Elk Neck Garrett Green Ridge Pocomoke Potomac-Garrett Savage River Seth Stoney Wicomico

Wildlife management areas	Avondale Belle Grove Billmeyer Bowen Cedar Island Cedar Point Cheltenham Chicamuxen Dan's Mountain Deal Island Diersson E.A. Vaughn Earlville Ellis Bay Fairmount Fishing Bay Frederick City Watershed Grove Farm Gwynnbrook Heater's Island Hugg-Thomas Idylwild Indian Springs Islands of the Potomac Isle of Wight Johnson Le Compte Linkwood McKee-Beshers Maryland Marine Properties Millington Mt. Nebo Myrtle Grove Nanticoke River Old Bohemia Pocomoke River Prather’s Neck Pocomoke Sound Sideling Hill Sinepuxent Bay South Marsh Strider Taylors Island Warrior Mountain Wellington

Natural environment areas	Belt Woods Dundee Governor Parris N. Glendening Mattawoman Morgan Run Severn Run Soldiers Delight Zekiah Swamp

County and
municipal

Parks and sanctuaries	Acorn Park Centennial Park Clifton Park Constitution Park Fort Smallwood Park Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary Lake Elkhorn Lakelands Park Oregon Ridge Park Patterson Park Lake Roland Park Wheaton Regional Park Troy Park

Non-
governmental

Parks and sanctuaries	Battle Creek Cypress Swamp Sanctuary Conservation and Environmental Research Areas of UMBC Merkle Wildlife Sanctuary Sherwood Gardens Somers Cove Marina Sugarloaf Mountain Western Maryland Rail Trail Youghiogheny Scenic & Wild River

Nature centers	List of nature centers in Maryland

Maryland Department of Natural Resources (web): Maryland Forest Service and Maryland Park Service (web)

National Wildlife Refuges of the United States

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