2015 Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge Beach Cleanup

The public is invited to join refuge staff and volunteers on Saturday, September 26th, 2015 for the Annual Beach Cleanup at the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge.

The beach cleanup will be held along the beach on the Virginia end of Assateague Island.

Registration begins at 8 a.m. at the Herbert H. Bateman Educational and Administrative Center. Attendees should bring water for this event.

This year, September 26 is also National Public Lands Day, so entrance to the refuge is free.

For more information, visit http://www.fws.gov/refuge/chincoteague/.

Virginia Blue Wave Beaches

Again this year, two local beaches were included in the Clean Beaches Coalition list of clean beaches. Sandbridge Beach in Virginia Beach and Tom's Cove Beach, at Assateague Island National Seashore made the list.

The Clean Beaches Coalition annual list of Blue Wave beaches recognizes clean, healthy and environmentally well managed beaches.

Chincoteague Island Fireman's Pony Swim, Penning, Auction, and Carnival

The Chincoteague Island Fireman's carnival, pony swim, penning, and auction are held annually on Chincoteague Island Virginia.  The carnival runs on weekends during July, and nightly during pony swim week.

The pony swim, penning, and auction is held on the last Wednesday and Thursday of July. The herd of ponies are rounded up by "saltwater cowboys" and swim the channel between Assateague and Chincoteague Islands.

The animals are penned, inspected, fed and most of the foals auctioned off to qualified buyers. The event provides a humane opportunity to provide medical attention, grooming and population control.

Where to See Chincoteague Ponies

The world famous Chincoteague Island can be viewed several times throughout the season.

They may appear at any time on Chincoteague Island National Wildlife Refuge.

They can be seen in the days leading up to the penning during the walk down the beach.

Although crowded, many visitors choose to view the annual pony swim.

They can be viewed at the carnival grounds before and during the auction.

They can be viewed on the swim back to Assateague Island.

Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan

Planners from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are developing a new 15-year management plan, known as a comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) for Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge (NWR).

The plan is expected to address issues that will affect wildlife and habitat management, administration and public uses of the refuge.

According to USFWS, accomplish the refuge’s wildlife conservation mission, while promoting sustainable, compatible enjoyment of the refuge by over one million people who visit annually.

The August 2012 CCP newsletter is now available and can be found on the refuge website at: http://www.fws.gov/northeast/planning/Chincoteague/ccphome.html

The draft CCP is expected to be published for public review and comment at the end of 2012.

For more information, contact the refuge at 757.336.6122.

Winter Waterfowl in Virginia

In spite of the cold temperatures, this is an excellent time to visit a Virginia wildlife refuge and try your hand at wildlife photography or just enjoy watching waterfowl up close.

 

This is a male shoveler duck seen at Assateague Island Virginia. Shovelers feed by dabbling for plant food, often by swinging its bill from side to side and using the bill to strain food from the water.

For more information on viewing waterfowl at Assateague and Chincoteague Islands, visit www.chincoteague-island.net