Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge

This coast has always been a crossroads for migrating birds, which follow the Atlantic Flyway between their northern breeding grounds and their southern wintering areas, using the marshes and bays as places to rest and feed. The salt marshes here are among the most productive on the coast, and the refuge was established to protect them and the wildlife they support.

The refuge is named for Edwin B. Forsythe, a conservation-minded congressman who championed the protection of these wetlands. Over the years the refuge grew to encompass tens of thousands of acres of marsh, bay, and upland, safeguarding a vital link in the chain of habitats that migrating birds depend on.

The heart of a visit is the wildlife drive, a one-way loop of about eight miles on a raised dirt road that runs out across the marsh and around a series of managed pools. From the car, or on foot at the pullouts, visitors watch wading birds stalk the shallows, ducks paddle the open water, and shorebirds probe the mudflats.

The drive is slow going by design, meant to be taken at a crawl with frequent stops, and it is a favorite of photographers for the way birds gather close to the road. The route ends with the odd and beautiful view of the Atlantic City skyline rising far off across the marsh, wild foreground and city backdrop in a single frame.

These marshes and the bays behind the barrier islands were long the fishing and shellfishing grounds of the Lenape people, whose descendants today include the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape of southern New Jersey. The rich estuaries provided fish, shellfish, and waterfowl, much as they draw birdwatchers and anglers today.

Beyond the wildlife drive, the refuge protects upland forests, freshwater areas, and a piney inland stretch, with hiking trails and observation points scattered across its holdings. The variety of habitats is part of why so many species pass through, from marsh waders to woodland songbirds to birds of prey riding the coastal winds.

Spring and fall migrations are the peak times, when the flyway funnels huge numbers of birds through the refuge and the pools fill with ducks, shorebirds, and wading birds. These are the seasons that draw serious birdwatchers, when a single morning can turn up dozens of species.

Summer brings nesting herons, egrets, and ospreys and the buzz of a marsh in full life, though the heat and insects reward an early start. Winter is stark and quiet, the marsh grasses gone tan and gold, and it brings wintering waterfowl, raptors, and the chance of snowy owls along the coast.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is a place we chose through independent editorial review, never a paid placement.

The Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, along the southern New Jersey coast near Oceanville, is a vast and beautiful coastal refuge of salt marsh, bays, and wetlands that is one of the finest birdwatching destinations on the East Coast. The refuge protects thousands of acres of vital coastal habitat along the Atlantic Flyway, drawing enormous numbers of migrating and resident birds, and it is famous for its scenic Wildlife Drive, a loop road through the marshes offering superb wildlife viewing along with trails and overlooks. Its rich birdlife and scenic marshes make it a haven for nature lovers. A gorgeous and wildlife-rich refuge, it delights visitors. With its birds and marshes, the refuge offers a compelling destination in New Jersey.

You can drive the scenic Wildlife Drive loop through the salt marshes for superb wildlife viewing, watch the abundant birds including waterfowl, shorebirds, herons, and, in migration, huge numbers of birds, walk nature trails, and take in the beautiful coastal scenery with views toward Atlantic City. The Wildlife Drive, the outstanding birdwatching, the trails, and the scenic marshes are the draws, making it a premier destination for birders and nature lovers. The variety and abundance of birds are highlights. With its wildlife, the refuge offers a rewarding experience in New Jersey.

Spring and fall migrations are especially spectacular for the sheer numbers and variety of birds passing through, making them prime times for birdwatching, while the refuge offers rewarding wildlife viewing year-round, with different species in each season and early morning and evening the best times. Because bird activity varies by season, timing a visit to migration brings the greatest spectacle. For the richest birdwatching, aim for spring or fall migration at the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge in New Jersey.

The refuge's Wildlife Drive is a one-way loop through the marshes, best enjoyed slowly, so bringing binoculars, a camera, and patience enhances the wildlife viewing, and keeping a respectful distance from all wildlife and staying on designated routes protect the habitat. Insect repellent is helpful in the marshy setting, especially in the warmer months, and checking current conditions and any fees before you go helps. Bringing binoculars and respecting the wildlife ensure a rewarding visit to the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge in New Jersey.

The Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge is along the southern New Jersey coast near Oceanville, within reach of the Historic Smithville Inn nearby, Atlantic City to the south, Long Beach Island, and the southern Jersey Shore. That makes the refuge a compelling stop to combine with the Historic Smithville Inn and the other attractions of southern New Jersey on a visit to the state.