Cape Charles Coastal Habitat Natural Area Preserve

Cape Charles Coastal Habitat Natural Area Preserve is a protected coastal property along the Chesapeake Bay with beaches, dunes, and wooded areas. The landscape offers a mix of shoreline and forest habitats that together create the overall environment.

The area was created by the state to protect a rare beetle species, the northeastern beach tiger beetle, which had become threatened. This designation happened to preserve the endangered population of this creature.

The place is known among bird watchers because more than 240 bird species visit here and it forms part of a regional network for bird protection. Visitors observe waterfowl in the bays and forest birds in the wooded areas, reflecting how different species behave throughout the year.

The property is accessed through a wooden boardwalk about half a mile (800 meters) long, which has benches along the way. The beach itself is not open to visitors since it remains reserved for research purposes.

The area serves as a key resting spot for birds flying south in fall who need to cross the Chesapeake Bay. Many species use this place as a stopover to rest before continuing their journey.