Wise Point Acquired for Refuge

Wise Point, Eastern Shore of Virginia NWR

In late 2001, The Nature Conservancy purchased critical migratory bird habitat at the lower end of the Eastern Shore peninsula and conveyed the tract to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The 375-acre parcel will become part of Eastern Shore of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge (ESVNWR).

"The tract is at the southern tip of the peninsula and is very important to migrating songbirds when they head south in the fall," said Dave Harris, director of land programs for the Conservancy's Virginia Coast Reserve. Harris said the birds use the area and surrounding woodland as a staging area before crossing the Chesapeake Bay. The birds rest and replenish their fat reserves at the southern tip before continuing on their journey to winter homes in Central and South America.

"This area is vital to migrating birds, and it also is under increasing pressure for residential and recreational development," said Harris. "We recently began a southern tip protection program, and this acquisition is the first step in that effort."

The tract, known as Wise Point, includes salt marsh, forested hummocks of cedar and pine, and thickets of wax myrtle and other shrubs. It adjoins the wildlife refuge and includes a boat ramp and mooring facilities used by local commercial watermen.

Harris said the final purchase price was slightly less than the sale price, and with the difference the Conservancy was able to purchase an additional 24 lots on Cedar Island, which also will be conveyed to the Service.

"The seller was working under a restricted time frame, and a grant allowed us to make the purchase as soon as the parcel came on the market," said Harris. "It's a critical part of the migratory bird habitat picture in the area, and the tract had the potential for commercial use, with deep water and easy access to shipping. Luckily, things worked out well."

"Wise Point is one of two major migration staging areas on the Atlantic coast," said Sue Rice, refuge manager. "This area is important for a large number of neotropical migrants, and in addition, the salt marshes provide important feeding and spawning habitat for many species of shellfish and finfish."
The purchase enlarged the acreage of ESVNWR by 50 percent, said Rice. Total acreage is now 1125 acres on the mainland southern tip. Fisherman Island National Wildlife Refuge includes another 1850 acres.

The purchase was made possible by a grant from the Aimee and Frank Batten, Jr. Foundation.

--Curtis J. Badger