Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge

The Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge is a 307 -square-kilometer nature reserve of the type of a National Wildlife Refuge in Barnstable County in the U.S. state of Massachusetts.

Geography

The islands of North and South Monomoy are classic, shaped by ocean currents and wind on sandy islands. They extend over twelve kilometers south of the elbow of Cape Cod The side facing the Atlantic is made by surf and wind sculpted dunes, the east side of flat salt marshes, wet meadows and ponds. Its present form were the islands in 1958, when was separated after several severe winter storms Monomoy Point from the mainland. After further storms, the island in 1978, divided into North and South Monomoy. Besides the two islands are also 16 acres of Iceland Morris a protected area. Approximately 94 % of the area are protected as Wilderness Area.

Flora and Fauna

The area, with its wetlands and ponds is an ideal habitat for many marine and coastal birds, including the protected Yellow-footed plover and roseate tern that. Ornithologists have counted 285 different bird species in the area. Approximately 8,000 breeding pairs of Common Tern nesting in the sanctuary, and over-winter in the fall and winter, thousands of migratory birds. The beaches are an important spawning ground for horseshoe crabs. More than 5,000 gray seals and harbor seals live in the reserve.

History

The historically documented colonization of Monomoy began in 1711 as a tavern opened for sailors and fishermen at Wreck Cove near present-day Hospital Pond. 1828 Monomoy Lighthouse was built at the southern end of Monomoy Iceland, in the middle of the 19th century existed at the Powder Hole on South Monomoy a fishing settlement called Whitewash Village. The settlement was abandoned when the harbor silted up. From 1905 to 1945 there was a station of the U.S. Coast Guard at the Powder Hole. Prior to the erection of the protected area existed on the peninsula numerous private fishing and hunting lodges, of which only one exists today.

In the first half of the 20th century Monomoy was often visited by the ornithologist Ludlow Griscom. 1944, the reserve was established to protect migratory birds. It is part of the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network. The restored lighthouse Monomoy Point Light to the adjacent wooden keeper's house and built a brick generator house are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Tourist Facilities

On Morris Iceland is the reserve management and the visitor center. An approximately one -kilometer trail leads over Morris Iceland. For students, the reserve management offers special educational programs. In the reserve there are no picnic or camping sites, but walks on the beach and surf fishing are allowed. North and South Monomoy Iceland are only accessible by boat or by ferry in the summer. For the protection of train or nesting birds, the islands can be fully or partially closed to visitors.