Mackay Island

Mackay Island NWR https://www.fws.gov/refuge/mackay_island/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mackay_Island_National_Wildlife_Refuge Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge provides habitat for migratory waterfowl, primarily the greater snow goose. It is located almost entirely on Knotts Island in the Currituck Sound between Back Bay in Virginia Beach, Virginia and the open sound in North Carolina. Most of the refuge lies within North Carolina but some of it is in Virginia. The refuge is primarily made up of marsh habitat. This area has long been recognized for supporting significant migratory waterfowl populations and sport fishery resources, and is part of the Charles Kuralt Trail.

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge A Waterfowl Haven Located along the Atlantic Flyway in northeastern North Carolina and southeastern Virginia, Mackay Island This blue goose, National Wildlife Refuge, established designed by J.N. in 1960, provides a sanctuary for “Ding” Darling, thousands of migratory waterfowl, has become the with emphasis on the greater snow symbol of the goose. Every fall and winter, ducks, National Wildlife geese, and swans fill the marshes and Refuge System. bays of this 8,320 acre refuge. Many other migratory birds and resident wildlife call this area home as well. USFWS Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge is one of over 550 refuges in the National Wildlife Refuge System administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System is to administer a national network of lands for the conservation, management, and where appropriate, the restoration of fish, wildlife, and plant resources and their habitats within the United States for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans. Joseph P. Knapp Mansion (mansion no longer exists). USFWS USFWS/Robert Vanderpool Snowgeese Mackay Island History Historically, Mackay (Mackie or Mackey) Island is generally described as the southwestern portion of a marshy peninsula which juts southward from Virginia into northern Currituck Sound. The earliest residents of the Island were American Indians as evidenced by artifacts found in the area. Early owners of the Island include John Jones when the island was known as Jones Island, and John Mackie for who the current name is attributed. Over the years the name of the island somehow was changed from “Mackie” to “Mackay.” How this happened is unknown. Habitats and Wildlife Dominated by cattails, black needlerush, and giant cordgrass, the area known as the Great Marsh is the predominant habitat feature of the refuge. This slightly brackish marsh habitat comprises nearly seventy-five percent of the total refuge acreage. Other habitats include farmland, marsh impoundments, brush, and typical Eastern pine-hardwood forest. King rail In addition to being the father of Ducks Unlimited, Mr. Knapp made significant contributions to the local community. He made sizable donations to the Currituck schools and to the University of North Carolina. Mr. Knapp invested much of his heart and wealth, not only to the conservation of waterfowl, but to the people of Knotts Island and Currituck County, North Carolina. After Mr. Knapp’s death, the property was sold to James Standing in 1952. © Lawrence Wales Historic aerial view of Live Oak Point and Joseph P. Knapp Mansion and grounds. The island was logged throughout the 1950’s. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service acquired the island in 1960 from J. N. Richardson to provide habitat for migratory waterfowl. Jeff Lewis © Lawrence Wales Pintail The most influential owner of Mackay Island was a wealthy New York printing magnate and philanthropist, Joseph P. Knapp. He purchased the island in 1918 from Thomas Dixon. Mr. Knapp saw great potential for this island and built a resort and experimented with various wildlife management techniques, some of which are still in use today. He was so taken by the concept of wildlife management that in 1930 he formed an organization called “More Game Birds in America Foundation.” Out of this Foundation the waterfowl conservation organization Ducks Unlimited (DU) was born. Mr. Knapp held the first organizational meeting for DU in 1936 and the organization was incorporated in 1938. USFWS Gadwall Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge plays an important role in the conservation of the greater snow goose. Like many other species of waterfowl, snow geese nest in Canada during the spring and summer months. As the days get shorter and the weather gets colder, they begin their southbound migration. Arriving in November, flocks of over 12,000 birds may occasionally be observed in the Great Marsh. Other types of waterfowl that use the refuge include many species of ducks, Canada Geese, and Tundra Swan. Waterfowl numbering 20,000 - 30,000 have been documented in December and January. The refuge attracts many species of wading birds, several types of rails and bitterns, northern harriers, osprey, and bald eagles. On occassion, peregrine falcons and other birds of prey are spotted hunting over the refuge. In addition to bird life, other forms of wildlife thrive on the refuge. This list includes muskrat, river otter, gray squirrel, raccoon, gray and red fox, whitetail deer, numerous turtles and snakes, including the cottonmouth, and several frog species. N Back Bay Bull Bay Flynns Folly VIRGINIA BEACH CITY CURRITUCK CO. ies C reek Barleys Bay Caps Kuralt Trail Overlook 615 Mars h Great Marsh Trail Corey’s Ditc Knotts Island Market Great Marsh Joseph P. Knapp Visitor Contact Station 615 Back Creek Mackay Island Proclamation Boundary an

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Mackay Island Tim Cooper© National Wildlife Refuge Bird List Wood Duck Located along the Atlantic Flyway in northeastern North Carolina and southeastern Virginia, Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge, provides a sanctuary for thousands of migratory waterfowl, with emphasis on the greater snow goose. Every fall and winter, ducks, geese, and swans fill the marshes and bays of the refuge. Many other migratory birds and resident wildlife call this area home as well. The Knotts Island Causeway (NC Rt. 615) crosses the refuge, offering observation points for many of the bird species present in the Back Bay and Currituck Sound Area. The refuge headquarters is located 1.2 miles south of the VA/NC state-line. Other locations to visit on the refuge include the Kuralt Site Overlook, the Great Marsh Loop Trail, and Mackay USFWS Island Road. Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge Tim Cooper© How To Use Your Checklist The bird checklist was designed to be informative and simple to use. The birds under major headings are arranged in alphabetical order. Symbols that appear in this checklist represent the following: Tundra Swan Seasonal Appearance Sp - Spring March - May S - Summer June - August F-Fall September - November W- Winter December - February Seasonal Abundance a - Abundant (a common species which is very numerous) c - common (likely to be seen in suitable habitat) Lawrence Wales© u - uncommon (present but not certain to be seen) o - occasional (seen only a few times during a season) r - rare (seen at intervals of 2 to 5 years) Yellow-rumped Warbler * - nesting may occur on the refuge Tim Cooper© This checklist includes 154 species of birds and is based on observations by refuge personnel and visiting ornithologists. If you should find an unlisted species, please let us know at Refuge Headquarters. We will appreciate your help in updating our records. Bald Eagle SP Loon and Grebes __Common Loon __Red-throated Loon __Horned Grebe __Pied-billed Grebe __Red-necked Grebe Pelicans and Cormorants __Double-crested Cormorant Bitterns, Egrets, and Herons __American Bittern* __Least Bittern* __Cattle Egret __Great Egret __Snowy Egret __Black-crowned Night-Heron __Great Blue Heron __Green-backed Heron* __Little Blue Heron __Tri-colored Heron __Yellow-crowned Night-Heron Ibises __Glossy Ibis __White Ibis Ducks, Geese and Swans __Black Duck* __Ring-necked Duck __Ruddy Duck __Wood Duck* __Common Goldeneye __Common Merganser __Hooded Merganser* __Red-breasted Merganser __Greater Scaup __Lesser Scaup __Blue-winged Teal __Green-winged Teal __American Widgeon __Eurasian Widgeon __Bufflehead __Canvasback __Gadwall __Mallard* __Northern Shoveler __Northern Pintail __Redhead __Canada Goose* __Snow Goose __Whistling Swan S F W o r o r o o o c c r o o c c u u c c u u u c c u o c u u o r u u o c o o c u o o r u u u u o o o c o c c r r a u c c r u u u r u c c c r o o a a u c u c c c a u c u r u u u r u c c c r u o a a u c u u a c c c u o c c u o a u o u c c r c r r c o o c r o r Vultures __Black Vulture __Turkey Vulture Osprey, Kites, Eagles, Hawks, and Falcons __Osprey* __Northern Harrier __Bald Eagle * __Golden Eagle __Broad-winged Hawk __Cooper’s Hawk __Red-shouldered Hawk __Red-tailed Hawk* __Rough-legged Hawk __Sharp-shinned Hawk __American Kestrel __Merlin __Peregrine Falcon SP S F W r c r c o a o a c c u c c c u r u u o u r u c o o r c u r u o u c c r c r u r c u c c o c o u u o o u o u u c Gallinaceous Birds __Northern Bobwhite* c c Rails, Cranes, Gallinules, and Coots __Black Rail __Clapper Rail __King Rail* __Sora* __Virginia Rail* __Purple Gallinule __American Coot* __Common Moorhen* r o c u u r c o r r c r o r r o Shorebirds __Short-billed Dowitcher __Long-billed Dowitcher __Black-bellied Plover __Semipalmated Plover __Least Sandpiper __Semipalmated Sandpiper __Solitary Sandpiper __Spotted Sandpiper __Western Sandpiper __Greater Yellowlegs __Lesser Yellowlegs __American Woodcock __Black-necked Stilt __Common Snipe __Dunlin __Killdeer __Ruddy Turnstone __Willet u o o u c c o u o c c o o u o c o u o r c u o o u c c r u o c c o o u o u o u u c o o o o o o r u u SP Gulls and Terns __Bonaparte’s Gull __Great Black-backed Gull __Herring Gull __Laughing Gull __Ring-billed Gull __Black Tern __Caspian Tern __Common Tern __Forster’s Tern __Least Tern __Royal Tern __Sooty Tern Doves __Mourning Dove __Rock Dove u u u u o u r u u u o c r o r F W o u u c u o u u c u o u o o o r c o Cuckoos __Black-billed Cuckoo __Yellow-billed Cuckoo* Owls __Barred Owl __Common Barn Owl* __Eastern Screech Owl* __Great Horned Owl* __Short-eared Owl* __Snowy Owl S c o c o c o c r c r c r r c u r r r r c u r r r c u r r c u r Goatsuckers __Chuck-will’s widow* __Common Nighthawk u r u r Swifts, Hummingbirds, and Kingfishers __Chimney Swift __Belted Kingfisher* __Ruby-throated Hummingbird* u c u o c u o c c

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge Hunting Regulations 2020 Welcome Public deer hunting by shotgun, muzzleloading rifle/shotgun, pistol, crossbow, and archery is permitted on the Refuge on hunting dates listed below and on hunting areas shown on the map. A signed Refuge hunt permit and a valid State hunting license shall be carried when hunting deer on the Refuge. No reservations are required and hunters may select sites and hunt anywhere within the designated hunting areas. Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge P.O. Box 39 Knotts Island, NC 27950 252/429 3100 http://www.fws.gov/mackayisland U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service 1 800/344 WILD July 2020 For more information, call the Refuge Manager at 252/429 3100. This is a unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System, a network of lands and waters managed for the benefit of wildlife and people. Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge Deer Hunting Permit 2020 I certify that I have read and understand the refuge hunting regulations in this permit. Printed Name: Youth Youth hunters (under age 16) may possess a firearm in any hunt provided they have passed a Stateapproved hunter safety course and are accompanied by an adult who is at least 21 years of age. Each adult may supervise only one youth. The adult must carry a valid State hunting license and a valid Refuge hunt permit when supervising a youth hunter. Hunters with Disabilities Hunting opportunities are available for disabled hunters. Please call the Refuge Office for information and to make advanced arrangements. Permit Application A Permit Application is no longer required to obtain a permit to deer hunt at Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge. The cutout portion on this form, once signed, is your permit. Access Hunting areas may be accessed by foot, bicycle, boat, and vehicle only from 5 am to 8 pm. No access to hunting areas is permitted before 5 am on hunting dates. Vehicles are restricted to gravel roads. Parking is permitted on road shoulders. Refuge is closed to all other activities. Hunting Dates October 15-17, 2020 October 29-31, 2020 November 5-7, 2020 November 12-14, 2020 November 26-28, 2020 Signed: All state regulations for big game hunting, including the wearing of blaze orange, shall apply. Only portable deer stands are permitted. ____________________________ All deer taken must be checked-in. Date: (1) if taken in North Carolina, checked-in at the Knotts Island Store or ____________________________ ____________________________ (Cut out and carry with license) (2) if taken in Virginia, checked-in at an authorized deer checking station. General Regulations and Enforcement All hunters are subject to inspections of permits, licenses, tags, hunting equipment, bag limits, boats, vehicles, and their contents during compliance checks by Refuge Officers, North Carolina Wildlife Officers, Virginia Wildlife Officers, and any state or local law enforcement officer. Violation of any Refuge regulation may result in the cancellation of your hunt permit and prosecution in Federal court. It is your responsibility to be familiar with all applicable Refuge and State deer hunting regulations before hunting on the Refuge. If you have a question concerning any Refuge regulation, please call the Refuge Office. The Following are Prohibited • Use of ATV’s and any other unlicensed and unregistered vehicles. • No dumping of deer parts within 100 feet of roads, wetlands and waterways. Hunters are responsible for the proper disposal of all deer parts. • Driving vehicles off of gravel roads. • Possessing a loaded firearm in a vehicle or boat. • Carrying a loaded firearm or bow on or within 50 feet of gravel roads. Shooting from a vehicle or shooting on or across roads or roadways. • Hunting outside of designated areas shown on the map or within 300 feet of the Refuge Office. • Use of nails, bolts, or screws to attach portable stands to trees. Use of nail-, bolt-, or screwtype steps. • Use of artificial lights, including vehicle headlights, to observe, locate, or take wildlife. • Use of dogs to pursue, track or retrieve deer. • Marking trees or vegetation with blazes, flagging, or other marking devices. • Possession of alcoholic beverages. • Taking of any wildlife (other than deer) and plants. • Leaving a portable stand overnight. • Littering - if you pack it in, pack it out! 158 37 Knotts Island ean 32 168 17 32 Virginia Beach 615 Mackay Island NWR c Atlantic O VA NC 158 17 158 Elizabeth City 17 Mackay Island 12 158 National Wildlife Refuge 2020 Hunting Map Edenton d arle Soun Albem 37 64 Vicinity Map Manns Harbor 0 Mile 0 20 Kilo 20 Malbones Island Pocahontas Waterfowl Management Area Back Bay Bull Bay Flynns Folly VIRGINA BEACH CITY CURRITUCK CO. VA NC ies C 615 reek Knotts Island Road Caps Barleys Bay 615 KNOTTS Back REFUGE OFFICE 0 2,000 Creek Corey's Ditch STORE Knotts Island Road ISLAND 4,000 Feet SHOP MACKAY ISLAND Mac