Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge

Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge

A stop at the Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge on any trip to Cape Cod is sure to be a fun-filled, educational activity for everyone. Housing habitats for migratory birds, visitors can see rescued and protected shorebirds, seabirds, and waterbirds over a myriad of species.

When you arrive, first make a stop at the Visitor Center on Morris Island where you can find out more information about the refuge. Here you can also find an exhibit room focusing on the current projects regarding the variety of native wildlife as well as hands-on games for guests to enjoy.

The Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge contains several different habitats for guests to explore, home to various species of migratory birds like the Piping Plover. A small sand-colored shorebird, Piping Plovers are a threatened species in Massachusetts. Visitors will be able to identify these birds by their short stout bill, yellow-orange legs, a black band across the forehead, and a black ring around the neck. The Roseate Tern, protected by the Endangered Species Act, is another species your group will learn about through the tour. In the course of the breeding season, visitors will see the birds nesting on South Monomoy Island. Guests will be able to identify the Roseate Tern by the black cap on its head, its dark red beak, its grey back, and its white forked tail.

The Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge contains various interpretive hiking trails, perfect for a recreational outing and for the opportunity to learn about the amazing wildlife at the refuge. You can take a self-guided walk led by informative panels alongside the trails granting further insight into particular species and conservation practices upheld by the refuge.