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Description:
Bombay Hook NWR, located on the western shore of Delaware Bay 8 miles southeast of Smyrna, Delaware, was established in 1937 to provide habitat for migratory waterfowl. Objectives have since broadened to include other migratory birds, a diversity of other native wildlife species and wildlife-oriented public use. Large areas of pristine tidal salt marsh, freshwater impoundments and moist soil units, croplands and woodlands are managed for Canada geese, greater snow geese, a variety of ducks, shorebirds, wading birds and songbirds. A pair of bald eagles nests each year west of Shearness Pool and in recent years has been quite successful in producing young. Over the last 15 years the refuge has supported the largest concentration of wintering greater snow geese in the continental United States. Through active water level management in pools and recently constructed moist soil units, duck populations have increased to peaks in the 50,000- 75,000 range. During May and June, primarily due to the arrival of horseshoe crabs laying eggs along the bay shore and mud flats, thousands of shorebirds (red knots, ruddy turnstones, dowitcher, dunlin, sandpipers etc.) stop to feast before continuing their northward migration. Herons, egrets and ibis congregate on refuge mudflats created by pool drawdowns during the summer months. Bombay Hook is comprised of a mosaic of habitat types. Over 13,000 acres of the 15,978 acre refuge is tidal salt marsh, much of it never having been altered for mosquito control, a rarity in the northeast and middle atlantic region. There are 1155 acres of freshwater pools, 1100 acres of farmland and scattered small blocks of hardwood forest and brushlands. Directions:
The refuge is located on the western shore of Delaware Bay about 8 miles southeast of Smyrna, Delaware, and about 10 miles northeast of Dover, the State Capital. Driving north on Route 13 from Dover, take Route 42 east to Route 9, Leipsic. Proceed north on Route 9 for 2 miles to Whitehall Neck Road. After turning right on Whitehall Neck Road, follow it 3 miles to the refuge entrance. Driving south on Route 13 from Smyrna, take Route 12 east until it merges with Route 9 (5 miles). After a quarter of a mile, turn left on Whitehall Neck Road and follow it to the refuge entrance.
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