Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge - Rock Hall, Maryland - Birdwatching Locations on Waymarking.com

Eastern Neck NWR occupies Eastern Neck Island at the mouth of the Chester River on the Chesapeake Bay's Eastern Shore. The refuge is important for migratory and wintering waterfowl, which use the numerous coves and inlets for foraging and resting. The refuge also contains areas of deciduous forest and agricultural crops cultivated as forage for wintering waterfowl.*

Ornithological Summary
Eastern Neck NWR is a Global IBA for the Tundra Swan. More than 2,000 swans, just over 1% of the global population of Tundra Swan, spend the early part of winter at the refuge, feeding on submerged vegetation and clams. Many of these stay at the refuge throughout the winter, while some continue to wintering grounds in North Carolina. 35,000 waterfowl of other species also winter here, including: 7,000 Canada Goose, 11,600 scaup sp., 3,600 Canvasback, 7,000 Ruddy Duck, 7,600 Mallard and 1,000 Black Duck. Black Duck winter in numbers of continental significance.*

Habitat
The most extensive habitat at Eastern Neck is the tidal marshes, which are dominated by an invasive plant, Phragmites. The upland areas of the island are a patchwork of mixed deciduous/coniferous forest and agricultural fields where row crops and grains are cultivated for wintering waterfowl. The open water surrounding the island is shallow with depths of only 1m extending upto 1km from land. The submerged aquatic vegetation in these waters declined greatly upto the 1990s but is now once again expanding.*

* - Taken from Audubon.org (https://www.audubon.org/important-bird-areas/eastern-neck-national-wildlife-refuge)

Park Name: Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge Sponsoring Organization: audubon.org Handicap Accessible?: Yes Website: [Web Link] Entrance Fee: 0.00 (listed in local currency) List any Hides, Birding Towers, or other structures to assist in Birdwatching found at the location: Multiple birding locations throughout the park: 1. Butterfly Trail wildflower fields, observation deck and duck blind. 2. Tidal Marsh Overlook trail observation deck/ blind. 3. Bogles Wharf 4. Duck Inn Trail 5. Boxes Point Trail 6. Eastern Neck Island Water Trail Parking Coordinates: Not Listed

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Date Logged Log User Rating   08/31/2022 Don.Morfe visited it 11/13/2020 team meeloper visited it

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