Fund Recipients

Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge

Rock Hall, MD - Project: Tundra Swan Observation Platform

Song of the Swans
Maryland’s Eastern Shore is famous for waterfowl. In fall and winter, the many bays and inlets that dimple the shoreline are filled with Ring-necked Ducks, Canvasbacks, Redheads, and many other species. Flocks of Snow Geese sprinkle the countryside, and migratory Canada Geese are making a comeback. The star of this avian show, however, has to be the flocks of Tundra Swans that fill many farmers’ fields and grassy, shallow water coves of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. The swans are big, beautiful, and their high-pitched whooping calls stir the passions of anyone with an interest in nature.

Thanks to a $17,000 grant from the Wild Birds Unlimited Pathways To Nature Conservation Fund, viewing the swans as the Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge is easier than ever. This 2286 acre island at the confluence of the Chester River and Chesapeake Bay was established in 1962 as a sanctuary for migratory waterfowl. More than 240 species of birds have been reported here, but the star of the show is the Tundra Swan. Eastern Neck is a major “staging” area for the swans, where they gather to feed and rest before migration.

With help from the Pathways To Nature Conservation Fund, the Refuge now has a new boardwalk and observation platform from which the swans can be seen and heard. Education kiosks will soon highlight the swan’s life cycle and natural history. It’s an unforgettable way to experience one of nature’s greatest spectacles.

For more information: http://www.fws.gov/northeast/easternneck

The Pathways To Nature Conservation Fund is a partnership between Wild Birds Unlimited stores and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to fund environmental education and wildlife viewing projects. We encourage all of our customers to visit these incredible places. Your patronage helped make these projects possible!