This area has the densest human population of any region in the country. Much of what was formerly cleared for agriculture is now either in forest or residential use. The highest priority birds are in coastal wetland and beach habitats, including the Saltmarsh Sparrow and Nelson's Sparrow, Seaside Sparrow, Piping Plover, American Oystercatcher, American Black Duck, and Black Rail. The region includes critical migration sites for Red Knot, Ruddy Turnstone, Sanderling, Semipalmated Sandpiper, and Dunlin. Most of the continental population of the endangered Roseate Tern nests on islands off the southern New England states. Other terns and gulls nest in large numbers and large mixed colonies of herons, egrets, and ibis may form on islands in the Delaware and Chesapeake Bay regions. Estuarine complexes and embayments created behind barrier beaches in this region are extremely important to wintering and migrating waterfowl, including approximately 65% of the total wintering American Black Duck population along with large numbers of Greater Scaup, Tundra Swan, Gadwall, Atlantic Brant, and Canvasback. Exploitation and pollution of Chesapeake Bay and other coastal zones and the accompanying loss of submerged aquatic vegetation have significantly reduced their value to waterfowl.

ABC-designated Globally Important Bird Areas in this BCR

Assateague Island National Seashore and Assateague State Park

Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge

Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge

Cape Cod National Seashore, including South Beach, Cape Cod and Islands

Cape Henlopen Wildlife Management Area

Chesapeake Bay, including Beverly-Triton Beach Park, Choptank Estuary, Fishing Bay Wildlife Management Area, Elliott Island, Hart-Miller Island, Nanjemoy Creek Great Blue Heron Sanctuary, Sandy Point State Park, and Tidal Potomac

Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge

Delaware Bay

Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge

Fisherman Island National Wildlife Refuge and Eastern Shore of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge

Jug Bay

Kiptopeke State Park

Little Creek Wildlife Area

Long Island Piping Plover Nesting Beaches, including Jamaica Bay Complex, Moriches Bay, Northwest Harbor/Shelter Island, Shinnecock Bay, West Hampton Dunes, and West Hempstead Bay/Jones Beach West

Martha's Vineyard

Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge

Nantucket

Nantucket Sound

Parker River National Wildlife Refuge and Crane Beach

Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge

Smith Island National Wildlife Refuge

Ted Harvey Wildlife Area

Virginia Coast Reserve

Woodland Beach