Photo credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge, established in 1937, is a 15,978-acre refuge located in Smyrna, DE along Delaware bay. It serves as an important breeding ground for migrating birds and other wildlife and is a great place to watch and photograph nature, particularly the 278 species of migrating birds that feed and nest in the area. The refuge also protects one of the largest remaining expanses of tidal salt marsh in the mid-Atlantic region.

The Delaware Birding Trail guide describes Bombay Hook as “unquestionably Delaware’s single best-known birding site.” Visitors can drive, bicycle, or walk the public tour route, a 12-mile loop that passes through many of the refuge’s varied habitats. Along the loop are nature trails and observation towers. Sunset is a popular time to explore this route, when flocks fly in to roost for the night.

In late 2023, the Refuge opened a new nature center in honor of U.S. Senator Thomas R. Carper of Delaware. The building incorporates environmentally minded features, such as bird-friendly window treatments, electric vehicle charging stations, solar panels, and other elements that meet the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Silver Certification for sustainable design.

Bombay Hook is located at 2519 Whitehall Neck Road in Smyrna, Delaware. For hours and other visitor information, visit the Bombay Hook website Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.