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WelcometotheBombayHookWildlifeAutoTour!

In1937,thefederalgovernmentpurchased12,000acresalongDelawareBaytocreateanationalmigratorybirdrefugetoprovidefeedingandrestingplacesforbirdsmigratingalongtheAtlanticCoast.Today,thatrefugeprovides16,251acresofdiversehabitatsformanyspeciesofbirds,mammals,reptiles,andamphibiansandsupportsagreatvarietyofplantlife.Italsooffersrecreationalandeducationalopportunitiesfor100,000visitorseachyear.Although80%oftheBombayHookRefugeisatidalsaltmarsh,thewildlifedrivewilltakeyouthroughuplandareasoffields,forests,andfreshwaterimpoundments,withfrequentviewsofthetidalmarshes.Thisbrochurecorrespondswith18numberedsignspostedalongthe12-miledrive.Youmayborrowbinocularsandfieldguidesfromthevisitor’scenterforthetour.Listsofbird,reptiles/amphibians,fish,mammals,treesandwildflowersfoundontherefugeareavailableat:https://www.fws.gov/refuge/Bombay_Hook/visit/brochures.html.AsthisisaNationalWildlifeRefuge,collecting,disturbing,feeding,injuringordamaginganimalsandplantsisprohibited.DRIVINGDIRECTIONS:Turnrightfollowingthesignatthefirstintersection.Youarenowonaone-wayroad.STOP#1–AMixofHabitatsNotesomeofthevarioushabitatsfoundontherefuge.TotheleftyouwillseeasmallmarshyarealeadingtoRaymondPool,oneoffourfreshwaterimpoundmentsintherefuge.Theareaoftherefugeinthevicinityofourofficeandmaintenancecomplexisfragmentedbytheroadsystem,anddividedintorelativelysmalltractsofhabitatof10-50acres.Thislandscapelendsitselftoearlysuccessionalmanagementfosteringthegrowthofgrasses,forbs,shrubsorsmalltrees.Variousmethodsareusedtoencouragediverseplantcommunitiesandhabitatstructure,includingmowing,variedbyseason,herbiciding,andprescribedburning.Theseareasarefavoredinthewinterbyvariousspeciesofsparrows,raptorsandjuncos.Duringthebreedingseasonyoucanseecourtingturkeys,thebrightcolorsofthebluegrosbeak,theaerialdisplayoftheyellow-breasted

chatandwoodcock,andhearthecallofthenorthernbobwhite.Theforestedareaaheadrepresentsa2.5-acrefragmentwoodedhabitat.Throughouttherefugeyouwillseeotherwoodedareaslessthan250acres.Theseareasarefavoredbyedgespeciessuchasnortherncardinals,bobwhiteandotherresidentsongbirds.InthefalllookalsoforthesoftballsizedfruitoftheOsageorangetree,namedfortheOsageIndianswhouseditswoodtomakebows.STOP#2–CivilianConservationCorpsOnyourrightisabrackishpondfedbythetidalsalt.Theterm'brackish’referstoamixoffreshandsaltwater.Thewaterinthispondisaboutone-fourthassaltyastheocean.Thispondwascreatedin1938asaborrowpitforconstructionofthedikeandroadwayjustahead.Freshwaterimpoundmentsorpondswerebuiltbyconstructingdikesthroughthesaltmarshandwoodedswamps.ThiswasoneofthetasksundertakenbyaspecialunitoftheCivilianConservationCorps(CCC),acompanyof160African-AmericanmenwhowereassignedtoBombayHookfrom1938to1942.TheCCCenrolleesalsoplanted34,000seedlingstoreforestportionsoftherefuge;theybuiltaheadquartersbuildingandshops,homesforthemanagerandhisassistant,andaboathouseandmarinerailway;andtheyassistedinmosquitoresearchandsaltmarshbirdsurveys.Theirmostdifficulttaskwasclearingswampsandbuildingdikestocreatetheimpoundmentsforwaterfowlandothermigratorybirds.Bylate1939,RaymondPoolwasenclosedandadikewascompletedseparatingShearnessPoolfromFinisPool.STOP#3–RaymondPoolOnyourleftisRaymondPool,thesmallestoftherefuge'sfreshwaterimpoundments,coveringjust95acres.AsyoudrivefromherearoundShearnessandbeyondBearSwampPool,allofthewaterontheleftsideofyourvehicleisfreshwaterandallofthewateronyourrightisbrackishwater.WaterlevelsinRaymond,Shearness,andBearSwampPoolarecarefullymanaged.Waterisallowedtodrainfromthepoolsinthespringandsummertoprovidemudflatsandshallowpuddlessoughtbymigratingshorebirdsthatfeedonaquatic

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invertebrateslivinginthebottomofthepools.Italsoallowsmillet,sprangletop,beggarticks,bulrushandotherplantstothrive,providingfoodforthefallmigrationsofducksandgeese.Inthefall,rainsfillinpooltoadepthof6to12inches,justtherightdepthfordabblingducksandgeese,withtailsup,tofeedonseedsandplantsonthebottom.Toyourright,towardthesaltmarsh,youmayseeegretsandheronsonthebanksofthetidalstream(calledagut)duringspring,summer,andearlyfallmonths.Lookalsofordouble-crestedcormorantsswimminginthegut.Furtherout,youcanseethetreesonGeorge’sIsland;asmallwoodeduplandareaorhammockinthemarsh.STOP#4–FarAcrosstheSaltMarshIfyoulookcarefullytoyourrightacrossthesaltmarshtothehorizon,youmayseeashiponDelawareBayabouttwoandahalfmilesaway.Closerinthegutnexttotheroadyoumightcatchaglimpseofabeltedkingfisherperchedonasnagorswoopingoverthewatertograbafish.Thesaltmarshisarich,supportivehabitatandcomprisesthelargestportion(13,000acres)ofhabitatontherefuge,althoughmuchofitisnotinview.Aquaticinvertebratesfeedonthedetritus.Manysmallfish,includingsheepsheadminnows,mummichogs,Atlanticsilversides,andkillifishspawninthesemarshes.Themarshesserveasnurseriesfortheyoung,providingfoodandhidingareasamongthegrasses.Whiteperchandstripedbasscanbefoundfeedinginthewaterways.Heronsandegretspatrolthebanksstalkingfishandeel.Marshriceratsandmeadowvoleshideingrassytunnels,feedingonplantmaterialandinsects.Theyinturnarepreyfornorthernharriersandshort-earedowls.OnyourleftatthenorthendofRaymondPoolisafavoritehangoutforAmericanavocets.BombayHookisoneofthefewplacesintheeastwherethisbeautifulbirdisfoundandyoumightbeluckyenoughtoseethemSpringthroughearlyFall.DRIVINGDIRECTIONS:Bearright(followsign).Becareful-youarenowenteringatwo-wayroad.STOP#5–ShearnessPoolThisisShearnessPool,thelargestofthefourfreshwaterimpoundments.Itcoversanareaof560acresandthewaterleveliscarefullymanagedfor

thedifferentspeciesthatusetheimpoundmentthroughouttheyear.Shearnesshasseveralsmallislandsanddeeperpoolsthatretainwaterwhenmostoftheimpoundmentisdrained,providingagreaterdiversityofconditionsforavarietyofspecies.Insidethesmallfencedareaarewatercontrolstructuresthathelpmaintainwaterlevelswithintheimpoundments.ThegreatestwildlifespectacleatBombayHookoccursjustbeforesunsetinNovemberandDecemberwhentensofthousandsofsnowgeesereturnfromfieldstothewesttosettleonthepoolsandsaltmarshforthenight.Theycomeinwavesandcoverthesky,andthesoundoftheircallingisincredible.STOP#6–LeatherberryFlatsOntherightisanareaknownasMoneyMarshandLeatherberryFlats.Asyoulookoutoverthemarshyouseethatitisnotasinglehabitatandmuchmorethanjustaseaofgrasses.Whatiscalledthe"tidalsaltmarsh"ismadeupofmudflats,naturalandman-madeditches,streams,creeks,rivers,tidalpool,aswellasvastareasofcordgrass.Somepartsofthemarsharehighmarsh,meaningthattheyarefloodedonlyduringstormsandaroundthespringandfallequinoxes.Most,however,arelowmarshataslightlylowerelevation.Atlowtide,thisareaisavastexposedmudflatthatattractsshorebirds,yetathightideitiscompletelycoveredbyshallowopenwater–adramaticchangetakingplacetwiceaday.Saltmarshesproducemoretotalvegetationperacrethanmostanyotherhabitat,evenmorethantherainforests.Attheendofthegrowingseasoneachfall,marshplantsturnbrown,dieoff,falldown,andbeginadecayingprocess.Oneresultisthefamiliarsmellofmarshgas.Anotherisdetritus,acombinationofdeadplantsanddecomposingorganisms,whichformsthebaseoftheestuarinefoodchain.Specialspeciesofthesaltmarshinclude:seasidesparrow,marshwren,clapperrail,northerndiamondbackterrapin,fiddlercrab,bluecrab,muskrats,andriverotters.DRIVINGDIRECTIONS:TurnrighttowardBearSwampPool.Youarenowonaone-wayroad.

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STOP#7–FieldsThefieldsyouseeoneithersideoftheroadarenotcultivatedandnativeplantsandgrassesareallowedtoflourish.Wemowsomefieldstopreventthegrowthofwoodyplants.Othersareallowedtodevelopnaturallyinaprocesscallednaturalsuccession.Thefieldaheadhasnotbeenmowedandwoodyplantsandshrubshavebeenallowedtogrow.Thesesaplingsaremostlywingedsumacandsweetgums.Asyoudrivefartherdownthisroadyouwillpasssomeofthesetreesthathavegrownintomaturetreesandshrubs,mostlysweetgums.Thisisknownasthefirststageofforestsuccession.Subsequently,thesewoodlandswillchangeagain,withmaple,blackcherryandlocusttreesreplacingthesweetgumsandotherfirstsuccessionspecies.Afterthissecondstage,thereisamatureforeststagewhereoak,tulipandhickorytreesdominate.YoumightfindaredfoxasyouproceedaroundBearSwampPool-theyareoneofthemostcommonlyseenmammalsontherefuge.Foxesaremostactiveatdawn,duskandatnight,feedingonsmallanimals,insects,berriesandotherfruit.Remembernottofeedthefoxes,sincenotonlyisitillegal,butitalsoendangerstheirlife(theybecomedependentonhumansforfood,mightbehitbyavehicle,andpeoplefoodisunhealthyforthem.)STOP#8–BearSwampPoolOnyourleftisBearSwampPoolthatcovers240acresandwasbuiltin1961.Liketheotherponds,thewaterlevelisloweredduringthespringandsummertoallowplantgrowthandprovidemudflats.Italsoretainsareaofdeeperwaterfortheseveralbirdspeciesthatnesthere.Pied-billedgrebesaresmallduck-likebirdsoftenseenhereduringthewarmermonths.Theyareknowntobreedhere,anchoringtheirfloatingneststovegetationalongthebanks.Commonmoorhens,blue-wingedteal,black-neckedstilts,andCanadageesealsonestinBearSwamp.Alsolookforgreen-wingedtealfeedingintheflatacrosstheroadfromBearSwampPool.STOP#9–BearSwampIslandsCanadageesenestonthelargegrassyislandsonthisendofBearSwampPool.Terns,gulls,andcormorantsrestonthesmallerislands.Black-neckedstilts,attractiveblackandwhitebirdswithlongredlegs,buildnestsofmudjustabovethe

waterlineontheseislands.Theyadjusttheheightofthenesttomeetrisingorfallingwaterlevels.Onwarmdaysinspringandsummerthisalsoisagoodspottoviewturtlesonalog,baskinginthesun.Lookcarefullyforblack-crownedandyellow-crownednightheronsinthetreesaroundyou.STOP#10–OwlsTheroundwirestructureisanabandonedcorncrib.Thestructuremountednearthetopofthecorncribisanestboxforbarnowls.Sevenowlspeciesarefoundontherefuge.Barn,easternscreech,barred,andgreathornedowlsarecommonandnestontherefuge,whilelong-eared,short-eared,andnorthernsaw-whetowlsareoccasionallyseeninthewinter.Also,inthewinteryoumayoccasionallyseeasnowyowlontherefuge.TheconcreteslabnexttothecorncribisallthatremainsofthemesshallusedbytheCCCwhiletheyworkedhereintherefuge.STOP#11–WoodDucksTheboxonyourleftisawoodducknestingbox,oneof138installedontherefuge.Woodduckspreferwoodedswampswheretheyfeedonacorns,seeds,andaquaticinsects.Theyaretheonlyduckbreedingontherefugethatnestincavities.Atonetime,theyusedlargeholesmadebypileatedwoodpeckers.Astheavailabilityoftheseholesdecreased,conservationistsbeganinstallingthesenestboxes.Inanaverageyear,about65%oftheboxesontherefugeareusedbywoodducks.Together,theylayathousandormoreeggsandhatchfivehundredormoreducklings.Theducklingsjump(orarepushedbythemother)outoftheholesinthebox,landinthewater,andswimaway!Themetalconebelowtheboxisapredatorshieldtokeepraccoonsandsnakesfromclimbinguptotheboxandgettingtheeggsorducklings.Furtheraheadandonyourright,youwillseeabluebirdbox;therearearound42bluebirdboxesontherefuge.Theeasternbluebirdisacavitynester,andtheseboxesaugmentnaturalnestcavities.Alittlelessthanhalfareusedbybluebirds;theremainderbytreeswallowsandhousewrens.

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DRIVINGDIRECTIONS:TurnrighttowardFinisPoolandtheAlleeHouse.Usecaution-youarenowontwo-wayroads.AfterashortdistanceturnleftfollowingthesigntoFinisPool.STOP#12–TurtlesHereyougetyourfirstviewofFinisPool,andyoucanseethatitisquitedifferentfromRaymondandBearSwampPools.Theportionofthis240-acrepoolthatcanbeseenfromtheroadisashrubandwoodedswamp.Therearealsoopenwaters,manycreatedbybeaverdams.Thepoolisfedbyrun-offandasmallstream,FinisBranch,andisasourceoffreshwaterforRaymondandShearnessPools.Onwarmdays,beginninginthespringandcontinuingintothefall,turtlesusuallycanbeseenbaskingonlogsandmudbankshere.Sevenspeciesofturtlearefoundontherefuge.Thosebaskingherearelikelyeasternpaintedturtles.Commonmuskturtles,alsoknownasstinkpots,andeasternmudturtlesalsoinhabitthepool.Theeasternsnappingturtleisthelargestspeciesfoundontherefuge,anditcanbeseeninbothfreshandbrackishwater.Snappingturtlesaremostoftenobservedinthelatespringandearlysummerwhenthefemalescomeoutofthewatertolayeggsinthesoftearthontheedgesoffields.Neitherturtlenortortoise,thenortherndiamond-backedterrapinistheonlyterrapinspeciesontherefugeanditlivesexclusivelyinbrackishwater.Itinhabitscreeksandgutsinthesaltmarsh,andismostoftenseeninJuneandJulywhenthefemaleclimbsupthebanksofthedikestolayhereggs.Althoughitiscommonnow,thepopulationwasseverelydepletedintheearlytwentiethcenturywhenitwashuntedforapopulardish:terrapinsoup.STOP#13–FinisPoolThisisafreshwaterhabitatstudysiteforschoolchildrenparticipatinginenvironmentaleducationprogramsconductedbyrefugestaffandvolunteers.Usingdipnets,studentscatchandidentifyavarietyofaquaticinsects,tadpoles,crayfish,andmudminnows.Oftenmistakenforalgae,thegreenmatthatcoverslargeareasofthepoolinwarmseasonsisduckweed,asmallfloatingplant.Itisafavoritefoodforwaterfowl.Manyotheraquaticplantscanbe

seenhereincludingsmartweed,cattails,burmarigold,wildmillet,waterlilies,andmarshmallows.Thegreenballsonthehigherbranchesoftreesinthisareaaremistletoe.Thisroadisontopofadike,orcauseway,builtbytheCCCin1939.ItseparatesFinisPoolfromthefreshwaterswampyareaatthenorthendofShearnessPool.STOP#14–WarblerWoodsThewoodsaheadandtotherightarefavoredbybirdwatchers,whosearchforwoodwarblersinthespringandcolorfulpasserinesinthesummer.Thesewoodsarealsousedfortherefuge'senvironmentaleducationprogram.Usingtrowelstodigthroughleaflitterandpeeringunderlogs,studentsputspecimensinjarsforidentificationandstudy.Theinhabitantsoftheforestflooraremanyandvaried.Theyincludegroundbeetles,centipedesandmillipedes,worms,grubs,plusgreentreefrogandeasternwormsnake.Thebestfinds,however,arethesalamanders.Twospeciesarecommoninthesewoods:easternred-backedandmarbled.Red-backed(inourareatheyoftenaredarkgrayorblackratherthanred)aremembersofthelunglessfamilyofsalamanders.Oxygenexchangeoccursthroughtheskin.Thesesalamandershavenolarvalstageasdomostotheramphibians.DRIVINGDIRECTIONS:Turnaroundandreturntotheintersection.TurnlefttotheAlleeHouse.STOP#15–BigWoodsPondBigWoodsPond,anaturaldepression,wasdeepenedtoprovidefillforconstructionofthedikeatFinisPool.Ithasbeengreatlyenlargedbyabeaverdam.Beavers,amostlynocturnalanimal,liveonlyinfreshwaterandbuildlodgesanddamswithlogstheycutfromnearbytrees.Thepondisfedbyrun-offfromthesurroundingarea,andalthoughitisnearFinisPool,itsupportssomewhatdifferentfishpopulation.ThepredominatefishinFinisisthemudminnow,andBigWoodsPondhoststhebeautifulpumpkinseed,amemberofthesunfishfamily,andthebrownbullhead,amemberofthecatfishfamily.Itisthoughtthateggsofthesefishwerecarriedtothepondonthelegsofwadingbirds.

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STOP#16–White-tailedDeerThisisagoodspottoobservedeerastheymovealongtheedgesoftheforesttograzeonadjacentfields.Theyaremostoftenseenearlyinthemorningoratdusk.TheabundanceoffoodandshelteratBombayHookhasresultedinasteadypopulationgrowth.In1941,onlyfourdeerwerefoundontherefuge.Huntinghasbeenasuccessfulwaytomaintainthedeerandsnowgoosepopulationsatthepresentlevel.Sinceitsintroductionin1934,saleoftheFederalDuckStamp,whichservesasahuntinglicenseandentrancepasstoallnationalwildliferefuges,hasgeneratedmorethan$800million.Thesemonieshavebeenusedtopurchaseorleaseover6millionacresofwetlandhabitatintheUS.Anestimatedone-thirdofthenation'sendangeredandthreatenedspeciesfindfoodorshelterinrefugesestablishedusingFederalDuckStampfunds.BombayHookNationalWildlifeRefugelandwaspurchasedwithFederalDuckStampfunds.STOP#17–ReforestationHistorically,muchoftheinlandareasoftheDelmarvaPeninsulaweredominatedbyforest.Graduallyovertimehumanscarvedthehabitatupintoapatchworkquiltoftowns,agriculturalfields,fencerows,lawnsandroads.HereonDutchNeck,settlershadlargelydenudedthelandofnaturalcoverandconstructedover8milesofditches,loweringthewatertableanddrainingournon-tidalwetlands.Today,therefugehasauniqueopportunityfornativeforestrestoration.TheditchesthatdrainedDutchNeckhavebeenrestored,withoutimpactingneighboringprivatelands.Somelandispermittedtoreseeditselfintrees,whileotherareasareplantedwithadiversityofnativeforestspeciesaccordingtoreforestationplans.Someareasundergoperiodicprescribedburnsandherbicideapplication.Prescribedfirerejuvenatesgrasslandsandcontrolsspeciesnotadaptedtoburning.Herbicidesareusedstrategicallytocontrolinvasiveplants.

Fullrestorationoftheforestedlandscapewilltakedecades,ifnotcenturies.Butassuccessioninthenativeplantcommunityprogresses,considerthesuccessionofthebirdcommunityaswell.Wheretodaysightingsofred-wingedblackbirdsmaydominate,intime,thesongofthescarlettanagerandwoodthrushwillreturn.STOP#18–TheAlleeHouse(pastgate)AbrahamAlleebuilttheAlleeHousearound1753.Itisanexampleofamid-eighteenthcenturyvernacularDelawarearchitecture,andin1971itwasplacedontheNationalRegisterofHistoricplaces.Thehouseistheoldestbuildingcurrentlystandingonanynationalwildliferefuge.Modificationstothestructurehavebeenminimalsinceitwasbuilt,althoughaone-storykitchenwasaddedtothesouthendaround1790.TheAlleeHouseisinneedofrestoration.Thefirstphaseofrestorationtostabilizethefoundationandstructurewascompletedin2017.Thenexttwophasestorestoretheinteriorhavenotbeenfunded.Atthistime,itisunknownwhentherestorationwillbecompleted.DRIVINGDIRECTIONS:Turnaroundandfollowthesignsto"RefugeExit".Rememberyouareonatwo-wayroad.ContinuetofollowsignstotheendofWildlifeDrive.PleasereturnloanedbinocularsandconsiderrecyclingyourWildlifeAutoDrivebrochureasyouexit.Ifyouareafrequentvisitor,youmaywanttopurchaseoneoftheseveralentrancepassesavailableinthevisitorcenter.Therefugestoreisalsolocatedinthevisitorcenterandallproceedsfromthestoresupporttherefuge.ThestoreisoperatedbytheFriendsofBombayHook,Inc.,avolunteerorganization.THANKYOUFORVISITINGBOMBAYHOOKNATIONALWILDLIFEREFUGE!RevisedJanuary2018