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Friends of Blackwater
and protect wildlife, receive special benefits, and enjoy local discounts

On Veterans Day Weekend (November 11-13), national parks and national wildlife refuges are waiving their entrance fees.

U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (MD) recently announced on his website that with help from U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski (MD) and The Conservation Fund, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was able to acquire the first parcel for the Nanticoke Unit of Blackwater NWR using funds from the Land and Water Conservation Fund. The 825-acre parcel conserves habitat for bald eagles, black ducks and other species dependent on healthy wetlands and also protects historic landscapes associated with the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail. Read more about the Nanticoke acquisition on Senator Cardin's website.

At the recent annual meeting of the Friends of Blackwater, Marty O'Connor, Ron Tillier, Charlotte and Wolf Hehn, and Cindy Todd were re-elected for two year terms on the board.  Suzanne Baird, Manager of the Chesapeake Marshlands NWR Complex, and Ray Paterra, Manager of Visitor Services, gave updates on the activities at the Refuge and of the reconstruction of the Visitor Center.  The featured speaker was Matt Whitbeck, Wildlife Biologist, who reviewed the Blackwater NWR Strategic Habitat Conservation Plan. The plan was the result of an intensive study by Blackwater Refuge staff, the National Wildlife Refuge Association, and other organizations, and listed the needs of the Refuge, as well as put priorities and funding estimates on these needs, thus providing excellent insight into the management actions needed to meet the continuing challenges of wildlife management in the Chesapeake Bay area.

Thanks to all those who attended the annual meeting.

Thanks to work performed by Refuge staff and volunteers with the Youth Conservation Corps, the Tubman Road Trail at Blackwater now has a raised boardwalk on a 300-foot section of the trail that was prone to flooding. (Note that the rest of the trail does not include a boardwalk at this time.) The Tubman Road Trail is located off Hip Roof Road, south of the Wildlife Drive. In addition to the boardwalk, an accessible spotting scope was added to the Tubman Road Trail observation deck near the parking lot, which has a wonderful view of an active bald eagle nest. Learn more by reading the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service press release (PDF).

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has updated the hunt information on their Blackwater NWR website, which includes information on deer, turkey, and waterfowl hunting. In addition to hunting regulations, the website also provides maps and contact details if you need more information.