Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge
Encyclopedia
Occupying a peninsula between the Sakonnet River
and Rhode Island Sound
, the 242 acre (0.97934012 km²) Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge is a very popular site for the over 65,000 annual visitors each year. It is located in the southeasternmost part of the Town of Middletown
.
The refuge sports a newly renovated visitor center, over 2.5 miles (4 km) of nature trails, viewing platforms, and a number of Refuge volunteers present to help visitors and to help in management of the refuge.
Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge is renowned for its fantastic saltwater fishing
, and the presence of the largest winter population of harlequin duck
s on the East Coast.
Once a horse racing area, then a Naval communications site, and now a National Wildlife Refuge, the ares is steeped in history.
From salt marsh
and beach strand habitats to upland shrub dominated lands, the refuge supports over 200 bird species, with such notable occasional visitors such as the peregrine falcon
, northern harrier, and the snowy owl
.
Sachuest Point, along with the four other National Wildlife Refuge
s in the State, is administered by the Rhode Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex
, headquartered in Charlestown, Rhode Island
.
Sakonnet River
The Sakonnet River is a tidal strait, in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. It flows approximately 23 km between Mount Hope Bay and Rhode Island Sound...
and Rhode Island Sound
Rhode Island Sound
Rhode Island Sound is a strait of water, off the coast of the state of Rhode Island at mouth of Narragansett Bay. It forms the eastern extension of Long Island Sound and opens out the Atlantic Ocean between Block Island and Martha's Vineyard....
, the 242 acre (0.97934012 km²) Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge is a very popular site for the over 65,000 annual visitors each year. It is located in the southeasternmost part of the Town of Middletown
Middletown, Rhode Island
Middletown is a town in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 16,150 at the 2010 census. It lies to the south of Portsmouth and to the north of Newport on Aquidneck Island, hence the name "Middletown."-Geography:...
.
The refuge sports a newly renovated visitor center, over 2.5 miles (4 km) of nature trails, viewing platforms, and a number of Refuge volunteers present to help visitors and to help in management of the refuge.
Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge is renowned for its fantastic saltwater fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
, and the presence of the largest winter population of harlequin duck
Harlequin Duck
The Harlequin Duck is a small sea duck. It takes its name from Arlecchino, Harlequin in French, a colourfully dressed character in Commedia dell'arte. The species name comes from the Latin word "histrio", "actor". In North America it is also known as Lords and ladies...
s on the East Coast.
Once a horse racing area, then a Naval communications site, and now a National Wildlife Refuge, the ares is steeped in history.
From salt marsh
Salt marsh
A salt marsh is an environment in the upper coastal intertidal zone between land and salt water or brackish water, it is dominated by dense stands of halophytic plants such as herbs, grasses, or low shrubs. These plants are terrestrial in origin and are essential to the stability of the salt marsh...
and beach strand habitats to upland shrub dominated lands, the refuge supports over 200 bird species, with such notable occasional visitors such as the peregrine falcon
Peregrine Falcon
The Peregrine Falcon , also known as the Peregrine, and historically as the Duck Hawk in North America, is a widespread bird of prey in the family Falconidae. A large, crow-sized falcon, it has a blue-gray back, barred white underparts, and a black head and "moustache"...
, northern harrier, and the snowy owl
Snowy Owl
The Snowy Owl is a large owl of the typical owl family Strigidae. The Snowy Owl was first classified in 1758 by Carolus Linnaeus, the Swedish naturalist who developed binomial nomenclature to classify and organize plants and animals. The bird is also known in North America as the Arctic Owl, Great...
.
Sachuest Point, along with the four other National Wildlife Refuge
National Wildlife Refuge
National Wildlife Refuge is a designation for certain protected areas of the United States managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The National Wildlife Refuge System is the world's premiere system of public lands and waters set aside to conserve America's fish, wildlife and plants...
s in the State, is administered by the Rhode Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex
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 is in Charlestown, Rhode Island. Dotted along the Rhode Island’s Atlantic coastline, the five refuges that make up the complex Rhode Island National Wildlife Refuge...
, headquartered in Charlestown, Rhode Island
Charlestown, Rhode Island
Charlestown is a town in Washington County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 7,827 at the 2010 census.-History:Charlestown is named after King Charles II, and was incorporated in 1738. The area was formerly part of the town of Westerly...
.