Located approximately 12 miles (19 km) offshore on picturesque Block Island , the Block Island National Wildlife Refuge provides crucial habitat for wildlife , and a place for people to appreciate the natural environment of the island. The refuge was established in 1973 with the transfer of 28 acres (110,000 m) from the U.S. Coast Guard , and has grown to its current size of 127 acres (0.51 km) today.
5-764: Block Island National Wildlife Refuge is administered as part of the Rhode Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex , which manages all five of the National Wildlife Refuges in Rhode Island , and is headquartered in Charlestown, Rhode Island . Situated along the Atlantic Flyway , Block Island is one of the most important migratory bird habitats on the east coast. Many songbirds "overfly"
10-534: Is also home to the largest gull colony in Rhode Island. [REDACTED] This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service . Rhode Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex Rhode Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex is a National Wildlife Refuge complex in the state of Rhode Island . Its headquarters
15-502: Is in Charlestown, Rhode Island . Dotted along the Rhode Island's Atlantic coastline, the five refuges that make up the complex (Ninigret, Trustom Pond, John H. Chafee at Petaquamscutt Cove, Block Island and Sachuest Point) offer a wide variety of natural settings. All National Wildlife Refuges were established to conserve habitat for wildlife, but Rhode Island's five refuges were established specifically for migratory birds. Over 400 species of songbirds, shorebirds, waterfowl, and raptors use
20-500: The mainland and stopover on Block Island before continuing their migration. Hundreds of " birders " visit the refuge each fall to watch migration. The refuge also provides habitat for the endangered American burying beetle , supporting the only population of this species known east of the Mississippi River . Piping plovers , a threatened species , occur in the refuge, as do four other state species of concern. The refuge
25-626: The refuges to rest and feed during spring and fall migrations. Year-round resident birds, as well as seasonal visitors such as the federally threatened piping plover, nest in the shelter of the refuges. Birds are not the only attraction of Rhode Island's refuges. Uplands, lowlands, and coastal environments provide a home for many species of animals and offer any outdoor enthusiast a richness of plant life to explore. These protected lands are critical as increasing development encroaches on local, natural spaces. [REDACTED] This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of
#798201