Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge (Smyrna)
Since 1937, Bombay Hook has hosted hundreds of thousands of migrating ducks, geese, shorebirds, and neotropical songbirds, all following old traditions of natural history, the spring and fall migrations. Tired and hungry, they seek shelter at Bombay Hook and feast on marsh grasses, fish, and other important foods before continuing their flight. Bombay Hook is one of many refuges providing critical habitat between Canada and the Gulf of Mexico.
Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge (Milton)
Prime Hook NWR is located 22 miles southeast of Dover, DE, near the western shore of Delaware Bay. The refuge was established in 1963 to conserve an important segment of the Delaware Bay marshes, to protect migrating and wintering waterfowl habitat. The refuge is considered to have one of the best existing wetland habitat areas along the Atlantic Coast. The intensively managed freshwater impoundments have become important stop-over sites for spring and fall migrating shorebirds and wading birds.
Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve (Dover)
The Delaware Reserve consists of two components-one on the Blackbird Creek and the other on the St. Jones River. The Blackbird Creek component is dominated by freshwater wetlands, ponds, and forested habitats. The St. Jones component is dominated by saltmarshes and open water habitats of the Delaware Bay.