For nearly 16 miles, the Appoquinimink River meanders through farmlands and wetlands and saltmarshes in southern Chester County – through Odessa, Townsend and Middletown to the mouth of the Delaware Bay -- and along its terrain are small lakes and ponds that have become familiar to us: Wiggins Mill Pond, Noxontown Pond, Silver Lake, Shallcross Lake, Hangmans Run and Drawyer’s Creek.

Throughout the expanse of its more than 58,000 acres, the river is a continual confluence of life where two of our world’s most precious gifts converge in harmony: nature and wildlife. From the most ardent avian enthusiasts to those who merely catch a passing glimpse, more than 100 different species of birds have been spotted – and recorded – over the past several years.

From entire flocks to lone flights, the Appoquinimink River is a daily showcase of the herons, egrets, bitterns and the sand hill cranes that live along its tidal basins, but like the work of our greatest artists, the canvas of this waterway reveals more with every visit: cliff swallows, boat-tailed grackles, laughing gulls, marsh wrens, American black ducks and yes, the majestic and soaring bald eagle is also frequently seen.

Over the next several years, protecting valuable natural resources like the Appoquinimink River will serve as a crucial step in preserving the bird populations that thrive there. Through its Division of Watershed Stewardship, the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) uses a comprehensive array of watershed-based programs to ensure proper stewardship of Delaware’s natural resources, from its shoreline to its navigable waterways.

To learn more about birds along the Appoquinimink River and throughout Delaware, visit www.delawarebirdingtrail.com. To learn about DNREC’s Appoquinimink River Watershed research, visit www.dnrec/delaware.gov.