Bacon's Rebellion

Democracy Thrives in Sunlight

You Can Kiss Misty Goodbye

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by

James A. Bacon
in

If global warming leads to a melting of the polar icecaps and a rise in sea levels, it looks like the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge is toast. According to a report issued by the Defenders of Wildlife, Chincoteague ranks among the ten most endangered national wildlife refuges in the United States. States the report:

Chincoteague NWR is one of the top five resting and feeding spots for migratory birds east of the Rocky Mountains. It is part of the United Nations’ World Biosphere Preserve network and is designated an International Shorebird Reserve. More than 300 species of birds, a variety of turtles, otters, muskrats, deer and endangered Delmarva Peninsula fox squirrels and piping plovers make their home on the refuge.

And let us not forget the wild ponies!

I’m not convinced that the alarmist global warming scenarios will play out, but the prospect of having Chincoteague inundated does have a way of concentrating the mind.

(Photo credit: Il Porto del Cavallo.)

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3 responses to “You Can Kiss Misty Goodbye”

  1. Ray Hyde Avatar
    Ray Hyde

    I once took my sailboat from Ocean City down through the Outer Intracoastal through Chincoteage and Wahcapreague, to Cape Charles and South. Probably the only sailboat to do it in the last 40 years.

    Anyway, it was October. Slipping silently along under sail, the colors and the wildlife, and birds and plants were fantastic. No description can do it justice. It is one of my finest memories.

    On the other hand, I spent all of one day winching the 9000 lb boat over the mudflats, by hand. When finally got in to Wachapreague an old geezer was fishing or crabiing from the pier. I’m sure he had been watching that damn fool with the sailboat all day and chuckling to himself.

    “Whew”, I said, “Not mush water out there, is there?”

    “No”, he grinned, “There’s plenty of water, ‘hits just spread out sorta thin.” We had crabs together for dinner, and I found the people were every bit as engaging as the wildlife.

    Maybe another foot of water wouldn’t be the worst thing.

  2. Ray Hyde Avatar
    Ray Hyde

    I can’t believe this got one post. Virginia’s outer banks are a real national treasure. Chincoteague is the best known, and most accessible part. You must work incredibly hard to get to know the rest. I was fortunate enough to see a little of the splendor at its finest, but in three weeks, I saw only a little of what is there.

    Fortunately, I have another reminder of that long ago voyage. My wife’s mother was an aquaintance of the author of “Misty of Chincoteague” and we still have the original signed drawings of Misty and Star that were used in the publication.

    Funny, how things like that happen.

  3. SandyRivers Avatar
    SandyRivers

    Interesting to read your posts. I love Chincoteague, but plan to do my boating there in a kayak. So I don’t expect to need that extra foot of water.

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