• 2026 Free Guided Birding Tours Offered at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge

    Get outside this winter and spring by participating in a free guided birding tour at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). Throughout the winter, waterfowl and raptors, including bald eagles, are plentiful, while spring brings in migratory warblers and shorebirds. Guided birding tours are scheduled for January 17, January 25, February 1, February 15, February 22, March 1, March 22, March 29, April 4, April 19, and May 3, 2026.

    Participants meet at the Blackwater NWR Visitor Center at 8:00 a.m. for each tour, which may last 3 to 4 hours. The birding party typically tours via personal vehicle, stopping at various points around the refuge’s Wildlife Drive. Binoculars and field guides are recommended. There is no fee or advanced registration for these tours. For further information, please call the Blackwater NWR Visitor Center at 410-228-2677 or visit our website at www.fws.gov/refuge/Blackwater.
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    Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, located on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, protects over 33,000 acres of rich tidal marsh, mixed hardwood and pine forest, managed freshwater wetlands and cropland for a diversity of wildlife. To learn more, visit our website at http://www.fws.gov/refuge/blackwater or @BlackwaterNWR.
    The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service.

    For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit http://www.fws.gov. Connect with our Facebook page at facebook.com/usfwsnortheast/, follow our tweets at twitter.com/usfwsnortheast, watch our YouTube Channel at youtube.com/usfws and download photos from our Flickr page at flickr.com/usfwsnortheast.