The refuge occupies a strategic bottleneck where migratory birds gather before crossing the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay.
During World War II, the property operated as a top-secret radar station and coastal defense site designated as Fort John Custis.
The refuge encompasses one of the largest remaining undeveloped tracts of land in the Chesapeake Bay region.
It is an official site on the Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail.
The site hosts a significant concentration of wintering waterfowl including tundra swans and various species of ducks.
A series of concrete bunkers from the WWII era are still visible within the refuge landscape.
The refuge acts as a vital stopover for monarch butterflies migrating to Mexico.
The area is part of the Virginia Coastal Reserve network.
The visitor center features exhibits detailing the geological history and human occupation of the southern tip of the Eastern Shore.
The Eastern Shore of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge is a critical stopover for migratory birds along the Atlantic Flyway, situated at the southern tip of the Delmarva Peninsula. The visitor center serves as the gateway to over 1,100 acres of protected habitat, featuring diverse ecosystems including salt marshes, maritime forests, and grasslands. It sits at the convergence of the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, creating unique environmental conditions for bird species. Visitors can access multiple interpretive hiking trails that lead through wooded areas and marshland overlooks. The refuge functions as a significant site for the study and conservation of raptors and neotropical songbirds. Historic features include the remains of a former World War II coastal defense installation known as Fort John Custis. The site provides high-visibility areas for spotting monarch butterflies during their autumn migration period.
The elevated viewing platforms overlooking the salt marshes during the late afternoon golden hour.
Bring binoculars and a field guide to identify the high volume of migratory bird species.
Check the local tide charts, as wildlife visibility in the marsh areas fluctuates significantly with the water level.
Apply insect repellent generously, especially during the warmer months, due to the prevalence of marsh mosquitoes.
Do not attempt to walk through the salt marshes outside of designated trail areas, as the mud is deep and the tide rises rapidly.
The visitor center may be closed on federal holidays; trail access usually remains open from sunrise to sunset daily.
Stay on marked trails to protect sensitive dune and marsh habitats; keep dogs on a leash at all times; do not feed wildlife.
