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Nanjemoy Sanctuary

Maryland Bird Sanctuary

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Among the birds observed in the Nanjemoy Creek watershed are red-winged blackbirds, great blue heron, egrets, waterfowl, and bald eagles. Eagles are reported to be nesting in the area. Two wildlife sanctuaries help preserve the ecosystem of the marsh. The Nanjemoy Marsh Sanctuary is a 68-acre park located southeast of Md. Rt. 6 in Charles County off Tayloe Neck Road. There is no entrance fee. The park is open only on a limited basis, with prior appointment necessary.

The Nature Conservancy owns the Nanjemoy Creek Great Blue Heron Sanctuary, a 288-acre preserve devoted to preserving the more than 1,100 breeding pairs of great blue herons in the area. The Conservancy is in the process of adding another 1,600 acres adjacent to its property to greatly expand the sanctuary. The herons return to the site each winter, mate for the season, and build or reuse old nests. The young birds are born in April, and by July, the herons prepare to roam the waterways of the Potomac and Chesapeake Bay.

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Contact Information
Nature Conservancy of Maryland/D.C.
5410 Grosvenor Lane
Bethesda MD 20814
301-897-8570
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