Special Spot: Nanticoke River Wildlife Management Area

March seems like the longest month to

me. It’s the purgatory of seasons. Winter

is more-or-less done, but the warmth of

spring has yet to arrive. Like watching

the proverbial pot, the more I anticipate

or want the warmth, the longer it feels

like it takes to arrive. I must admit that I

have not found a foolproof way of

handling this reality, but I have

convinced myself that the best way to

deal with it is strap on my boots, bundle

up, and get myself outside.

 

One of my favorite pre-spring places to

go is the Nanticoke River Wildlife

Management Area (aka Nutters Neck)

in east central Wicomico County. Though much of the middle of the property is open fields, it is almost entirely surrounded by dense forest, so the cooler March breezes aren’t as noticeable. The trail network can keep you occupied for hours, and the birds and other wildlife are abundant, so there is always something to discover.

 

Nutter's Neck is owned and managed by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and has a nice variety of habitats to keep visitors interested. Open meadows and hedgerows give way to sparsely forested transition areas which in turn become the dense forests that border the Nanticoke River and Rewastico and Quantico Creeks. March is a bit too early to encounter some of the usual plants, insects, and birds known to breed here, but it is a great time to find wintering birds like sparrows and finches as well as more hardy migrants like eastern phoebe and pine warbler. It is also a good time to find wild turkey and bobwhite quail as they become more active. When the winter blues have got you down, follow my lead and go take a walk. I usually feel better after, and I hope you will too.