While Chincoteague Island is famous for the annual pony swim and auction, it is also a mecca for birdwatchers. There are countless types of birds to see and many ways for avid and casual birdwatchers alike to enjoy them.
Bird Watching on Assateague Island
Assateague is a coastal island off of Maryland and Virginia. The southern tip is part of Virginia and is a national refuge. Tourists cannot spend the night on Assateague, but can stay in a number of different accommodations on Chincoteague.
A great place to see birds is the wildlife loop on Assateague. This loop can be walked or biked any time the refuge is open and driven on for part of the day as well. The loop has a number of different stations to stop and sit or set up binoculars. There are also several trails that can be taken from the loop to other parts of the island, including right down to the beach.
Kayaks and other boats can be rented or taken on guided tours along the coast of the island. In the heart of the refuge is the Harry Bateman Center, an eco-friendly museum and nature center. The center has long distance spotting scopes trained into the woods. It also provides pamphlets with a list of every bird on the island, when they can be seen, and how common it is to see them.
Celebrate Migratory Bird Week
A great time for bird watching is the end of November. Chincoteague and Assateague are nearly emptied of tourists. Birdwatchers will find themselves in good company. Migratory Bird Week is so called because near the end of November there are countless birds traveling through the area.
Lots of different types of birds have come to winter on Assateague or are passing through and the opportunities for good sightings are endless.
Bird Species on Assateague Island
The most notable bird on the island is the Bald Eagle. Assateague has a couple of nesting pairs and they can often be seen flying over both Assateague and Chincoteague. A stand of trees off the road on the loop houses a nest. While it cannot be seen from the road, one or both of the eagles can often be seen in the trees surrounding it. The Harry Bateman Center maintains a camera in a nest and visitors can go in and sometimes see the eagles roosting or even watch their young.
A lesser known and more endangered bird is the Piping Plover. This tiny bird nests on Assateague and parts of the beach are often closed to protect them. Easy to confuse with the other numerous plover species on the island, the Piping Plover is a fantastic prize to spot.
During November the most obvious temporary resident is the Snow Goose. Flocks of over 10,000 geese descend on Assateague for just a couple of weeks. The island echoes with the sound of their call and the sky fills with their interlocked “V”s. At this time the Tundra Swan, the Greater Black-Backed Gull, and a sea goose known as a Brant arrive for the winter as well.
Assateague also hosts several different types of ducks, seagulls, wading birds, and divers. The majestic Great Blue Heron and Great Egret can be seen as well. A sunset trip along Assateague often gives visitors a chance to see these birds and their smaller cousins roosting in trees for the night. Tourists on the island after dark also have a chance to hear owls and whip-poor-wills.
Grab Binoculars and Guide Books
Even novice birdwatchers can have fun spotting and identifying birds on Assateague. No matter what time of year there is always some sort of interesting bird to see. Even people who have been bird watching on Assateague for twenty years can find a new bird if they look long enough. Anyone going to Assateague should make sure they bring some binoculars and a good bird guide or two; it will more than pay off.
Katie Ouderkirk - Katie Ouderkirk started working at a barn when she was ten. As the years went on she worked at a number of different barns, two zoos, and ...
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