Estuaries are home to a diverse species of wetland birds, or birds that nest and feed in aquatic habitats. Most estuary birds are migratory and only spend the summer or winter in that location; summertime is the breeding season for birds at the estuaries. For estuaries in warmer climates, some birds are year-round residents. State- and federal-protected estuaries usually have hiking trails and restrooms for visitors who want to view the area's wild birds. Some estuary birds in the United States are loons, herons, grebes, ibises, swans, ducks, storks, sandpipers and plovers.
Although estuaries are usually protected areas, the states or federal governments allow fishing in most estuaries in the United States. Estuaries feature marine and estuarine fish. Marine fish are species that require saltwater environments, and estuarine fish live in freshwater and saltwater. Estuary fish rely on tide fluctuations for the dispersal of food such as shrimp and topminnows. Fishermen are successful in their outings if they are knowledgeable of the estuary's fish diet and how they react to the tidal fluctuations. Largemouth bass, bream, crappie, catfish and sunfish are some of the most common fish found in estuaries.
The primary game for hunters in estuaries are waterfowl birds such as ducks, mergansers, scoters and eiders. Each state requires a hunting license for hunting in estuaries. The requirements for obtaining a license differs from state to state. Most hunters use rifles and shotguns when hunting for waterfowl. Crabbing, or hunting for crabs, is another estuary sport for hunters. Crabs live along the coastal area of an estuary. To catch crabs, hunters build crab traps, which are 2-foot long devices made of chicken wire and entrances on the side of the trap. The entrances are inverted, making it easy for the crabs to enter but difficult to leave.
Some estuary visitors prefer riding boats along the park's waters. Boats offer visitors a chance to see areas of the estuary and waterfowl that are not accessible from the roads or hiking trails. Also, boating allows fishermen to catch fish living in deeper waters of the estuary. Since most estuaries are protected by the government, the Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, mandates boat owners follow its regulations to maintain the cleanliness of the estuaries' water. Some EPA restrictions are not allowing any discharging of oil or garbage into the water.
