Nature
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Pea Patch Island Heronry is the largest Atlantic Coast nesting ground north of Florida for wading birds. Originally a dredge disposal site, this vegetated high ground has served as a nesting habitat for nine species of wading birds since the 1970s and is one of the few protected areas available for them. Pea Patch Island supports between 5,000 and 12,000 breeding pairs annually. These highly social birds thrive in noisy, crowded colonies, but their habitat is threatened by oil spills, industrial pollution, and pesticides, making protection of the heronry critical to the survival of these species. Observing the population of these wading birds can indicate the health of the wetland, and a low population can serve as an early warning sign of environmental changes in these areas. The heronry shares Pea Patch Island with historic Fort Delaware and is a designated nature preserve with limited access managed by the Division of Parks and Recreation.
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