A PROPOSAL TO CREATE A ATLANTIC FLYWAY SCENIC BYWAY
"The waterfowl are the "glory" of the Chesapeake, in view of
author William W. Warner. The Bay is a key point on the
Atlantic flyway for hundreds of thousands of migratory birds.
Many of the forty-three species of native waterfowl winter
on the Bay. The skies begin to come alive in September,
as shorebirds leave for the winter quarters in Central
and South America and the first waterfowl arrive from their
summer places in Northern Canada and Greenland. Later, Geese,
swans, and ducks migrating south fill the skies, ponds, and marshes
around the Bay, which provide both food and protection during the
cold months. By December, the presence of noisy waterfowl is
overwhelming as many of them settle down for the winter along
accommodating shorelines".
"Adventuring in the Chesapeake Bay Area", Sierra Club Travel Guide by John Bowen, 1990.
WHAT IS THE "ATLANTIC FLYWAY SCENIC BYWAY" ?
The Atlantic Flyway Scenic Byway is a network of highways linking waterfowl attractions throughout the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay region.
The proposed Byway envisions a road corridor, identified through signs,
maps and printed information, which connects various Atlantic flyway public
and private waterfowl attractions and services.
The Byway is an opportunity for the communities along the roadway to work cooperatively to promote the public understanding, appreciation, and enjoyment of the migratory and resident waterfowl of the Atlantic flyway through the creation of a automobile and bicycle tour route. The proposed tour route, which stretches from Havre de Grace, Maryland to Cape Charles, Virginia, generally follows roadways designated by State governments as "Scenic Highways" and connects existing wildfowl areas, museums, interpretive centers, galleries and services.
WHAT IS THE ATLANTIC FLYWAY ?
The Atlantic flyway is one of four migratory highroads that lead from breeding grounds in the Arctic and the northern plains to wintering grounds in the southern United States, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.
The Atlantic flyway is shaped like a vast funnel that stretches from Alaska in the west to the Hudson Bay in the east, narrows at the Chesapeake Bay and continues along the coast to the Caribbean and South America. Over twenty-five percent of the millions of birds on the Atlantic Flyway stop in the Chesapeake Bay region where abundant food and protected waters provide a wayside habitat.
WHAT IS BEING DONE ALONG THE FLYWAY NOW ?
State and federal governments, and private organizations, have taken significant actions to protect the bird species visiting and living within this region. Numerous wildlife refuges, waterfowl management areas, nature preserves and forests have been established to provide food and habitat for birds using the Atlantic flyway.
Many of these areas, such as the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge and Elk Neck State Park in Maryland and the Virginia Coast Reserve, include public access and places for bird-watching, nature walks, interpretation and education.
The vast numbers, and diverse types of waterfowl, visiting this area has long attracted bird-watchers and tourists. The wildfowl populations of the flyway have also inspired various painters, sculptors, writers, folk-lyrists and carvers to describe the sights, sounds and settings of this internationally renowned area.
In response to these visitors and artistic traditions, public and private organizations have established a number of museums, galleries, events and activities related to the Atlantic flyway, the wildfowl and cultural activities of the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay region.
Museums, such as Salisbury's Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art, the St. Michael's Maritime Museum, and the Havre de Grace Decoy Museum offer tourists and residents alike the opportunity to experience and enjoy carvings, wildfowl art, habitat exhibits, interpretive displays and guided tours about the bird species, people and places of the Atlantic flyway.
These museums, in addition to State and county tourism offices, private conservation groups, National and state wildlife refuges and parks and travel organizations, actively promote "bird tourism" through various publications, events and activities. These special Atlantic flyway promotions and activities make the region a popular destination for visitors from the U.S. and other countries.
WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED ?
The Atlantic Flyway Scenic Byway proposal involves a voluntary public and private effort to prepare and carry out a cooperative strategy for increasing ecotourism, protecting natural and cultural values and increasing locally-based economic development opportunities along a network of roads in Maryland and Virginia.
The project would be accomplished through a series of action plans on a county-by-county basis for portions of the corridor. Such action plans would be prepared by local interests with State, federal and private assistance. The primary elements of the Atlantic Flyway Scenic Byway include:
1. An identified tour route including side-trips. The route would be signed and placed on information and promotional maps.
2. The tour route could be recognized by state and federal government programs as a scenic byway or heritage corridor.
3. The tour route would feature museums and art galleries featuring wildfowl art and the interpretation of birds and their habitats. Areas which could be included are:
* Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art Salisbury, MD.
* Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum St. Michaels, MD.
* Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center
Chincoteague, VA.
* Decoy Museum Havre de Grace, MD.
* Fisherman's Island National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center
Cape Charles, VA.
" Next to fishing, the Bay is best known for its wildfowl. Even the casual observer is instantly aware of the abundant birdlife. The graceful ospreys soar over the marshes and byways, while the cautious blue herons stay a safe distance from intruders into their habitat. Peregrine falcon wheel over nests built on platforms in isolated areas. red-winged blackbird and numerous other small fowl can easily be observed on most trails and farmlands. The bald eagle, once scarce in the region, now nests safely in a number of parks and forests".
John Bowen, 1990
4. The tour route could feature a number of public and private wildlife refuges, preserves, seashores and forests including the following areas:
* Eastern Neck Island, MD.
* Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, MD.
* Elk Neck State Park, MD.
* Wye Island Natural Resources Area, MD.
* Tuckahoe State Park, MD.
* Elliott Island Marshes, MD.
* Irish Grove Sanctuary, MD.
* Michaels Marsh, MD.
* Virginia Coastal Reserve, VA.
* Fisherman Island National Wildlife Refuge, VA.
* Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, VA.
* Assateague Island National Seashore, MD.
* Assateague State Park, MD.
5. The effort would promote flyway-related seasonal festivals, events and activities including:
* Susquehanna Flats Carving and Arts festival
June 25-26, Perryville, MD.
* Bel Air Festival for the Arts
* Havre de Grace Arts Show
* Dorchester Art Exhibit
Last weekend in April, Cambridge, MD.
* Nautical & Wildlife Art Festival & Craft Show
January, Ocean City, MD.
* Easter Decoy Art Festival
April, Chincoteague, VA
* Decoy Museum Duck Fair
September 10-11, Havre de Grace, MD.
* Ward World Champion Carving Competition
Ocean City, MD. April
* Fish & Fowl Day
April, Furnace Town, MD.
* Ward Exhibit of Wildfowl Art
October, Salisbury, MD.
* Birding Festival
Cape Charles, VA.
"The best times to see waterfowl are in November and December and again in March and early April, when migrations peak. Later in the spring there are migrating shorebirds, breeding herons and egrets, and other marsh birds".
"In the late fall when the marshes of the Chesapeake are gold and rust, muted green and brown, an extraordinary event occurs. Millions of waterfowl--snow geese, Canada geese, whistling swans, bay ducks, and marsh ducks--converge on the bay, flying in wispy lines above the marsh, bursting from the ponds, or gathering offshore in huge fleets".
John Bowen, 1990
6. The effort would publicize seasonal natural wildfowl events including the following selected examples:
January:
* Wintering Bald Eagles
Conwingo Dam, Susquehanna River, MD.
Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, MD.
* Snowy and Short-eared Owls
Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge/ Elliott Island, MD.
* Wintering Gannets and Loons
Ocean City Inlet, MD.
Chesapeake Bay-Bridge Tunnel, VA.
February:
* Pelagic Birding Trips
Ocean City, MD.
March:
* Migrating Ducks and Geese
Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, MD.
Shores of Kent County Choptank River mouth
* Rare and Unusual Gulls
Conowingo Dam
7. Tour route information would feature places to stay
( ie. Fly Inns such as Bed & Breakfasts, hotels, motels, and campgrounds.) ecotourism related shops and services (ie. tour guides, bicycle and boat rentals, special train rides, etc. ).
8. An "umbrella" organization would be the focus for coordination, communication, promotion and implementation of the proposal.
WHY IS THERE
A NEED FOR THE "ATLANTIC FLYWAY SCENIC BYWAY" ?
The Atlantic Flyway Scenic Byway encourages public and private agencies and groups involved with wildlife management, museums, and tourism to work together to make the Eastern Shore of Maryland and Virginia a regional destination for bird and ecological tourism. A coordinated effort of this type can help to:
* Attract more visitors for longer periods of time.
* Provide visitors with a higher quality experience.
* Create greater opportunities for public and private agencies and organizations to cooperate.
* Increase the public's understanding and importance of birds and their habitat.
* Provide opportunities for business and community leaders to benefit economically from the natural and cultural resources of the region.
WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE ?
The emerging Atlantic Flyway Scenic Byway requires the formation of a cooperative partnership between public and private interests to pool their practical experience, foresight, capital and energy to develop the details of the proposal and carry it through.
Possible cooperative actions which could be taken to advance this proposal include:
1. Agree to cosponsor this effort.
2. Form a Atlantic Flyway Scenic Byway Work Group to serve as a public and private museum, art, tourism and conservation alliance to develop, coordinate and implement this proposal.
3. Hold a workshop to organize this effort and develop the details of the tour route, marketing and services.
4. Draft a Atlantic Flyway Scenic Byway brochure describing the proposal, send it to potential cooperators and use it to promote the region.
5. Investigate sources of funding and technical assistance from state and federal Scenic Highway Programs, including Intermodal Surface Transportation Enhancement funds, Chesapeake Bay Program, heritage tourism assistance and Scenic Byway funds, to help carry out the proposal.
WHERE DOES THE TOUR ROUTE GO ?
The Atlantic Flyway Scenic Byway tour route, from the north, begins in Havre de Grace, Maryland at the Decoy Museum. The Byway follows Route 161 North, parallels the Susquehanna River Heritage Greenway, providing access to the Susquehanna State Park, U.S. Route 1 ("America's Main Street") and the Conwingo Dam area. The tour continues along Route 1 North merging with Route 273 before meeting Route 213 South in Fair Hill.
The tour route follows Route 213 South affording side-trips to Elk Neck State Park and the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal area. Near Chestertown, another side-trip opportunity includes a tour of the Eastern Neck Island National Wildlife Refuge.
Route 213 merges into Route 662 South at Wye Mills and the tour continues to Easton. A side-trip to St. Michaels and the St. Michaels Maritime Museum is afforded from Easton.
The tour route continues from Easton Route 331 South, crossing the Choptank, Marshyhope and Nanticoke Rivers and offering a side-trip to the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge near Cambridge.
The tour route continues along Route 313 until it ends and continues south briefly on Route 50. From Route 50 the tour route switches to Route 347, affording a side-trip to the Ellis Bay Wildlife Management Area, and Route 349. Route 349 takes the tour route into Salisbury and the Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art.
From Salisbury the tour route continues along Route 346, crossing the Pocomoke River, through Berlin and out Route 376 to Assateague Island National Seashore and Assateague State Park.
From Assateague the tour route returns to Route 113 South, passes through Snow Hill, affording side-trips to the Pocomoke State Forest, the Beach to Bay Indian Trail---A National Recreation Trail and the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge in Virginia.
From Chincoteague the tour route continues along Route 13, the "Ocean Heritage Highway", which affords numerous "Off 13" side-trips including roads through the Virginia Coastal Reserve, the Kiptopeke State Park, before ending at the Fisherman's Island National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center near Cape Charles, Virginia and the entrance to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel.
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ?
For more information about this proposal contact:
* Ms. Donna Jean Darby
Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art
909 S. Schumaker Drive
Salisbury, Maryland 21801
410-742-4988
* J. Glenn Eugster
Chesapeake Bay Program
US EPA
410 Severn Avenue, Suite 110
Annapolis, Maryland 22302
410-267-5722
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