Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge

Maryland, USA

Each fall, tens of thousands of migrating geese, ducks, and swans descend on Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in Maryland.¹ The nearly 40 square miles of marsh and forest, which are also known as the “Everglades of the North,” were set aside as a waterfowl sanctuary in 1933.²

In addition to providing a resting spot for migratory birds, Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge is home to approximately 250 bird species, including the East Coast’s largest population of bald eagles north of Florida. The Delmarva fox squirrel is also found within the refuge’s confines.

Although the refuge is now a haven for birds and other wildlife, humans have also found safety there in the past. Historians believe slaves escaping northward before and during the American Civil War hid in the area.

Next: Blockheide-Eibenstein Nature Park

References

1. Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge. NASA Earth Observatory. 1 Oct. 2012. Accessed 13 Nov. 2012.
2. About Us. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 30 Sept. 2010. Accessed 13 Nov. 2012.

Published 2018-06-18