The Featherstone Refuge was created in 1979 when the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service acquired 146 acres of bottomland forest and wetlands from the District of Columbia to "protect the features of a contiguous wetland area." In 1992, the refuge nearly doubled in size when Prince William County donated an additional 161 aces.

Located along Prince William County's Potomac River shoreline between Neabsco Creek and Occoquan Bay, the Featherstone Refuge is just downstream from the Occoquan Bay NWR, upstream from Leesylvania State Park and directly across Occoquan Bay from Mason Neck NWR and Mason Neck State Park.

The Featherstone Refuge is an important part of Northern Virginia's pattern of protected natural areas along the Potomac River. Together, these natural areas provide nesting and feeding areas for a diversity of plants and animals.

Different habitat types within the refuge boundaries attract a diverse mix of wildlife. The dense and diverse marsh vegetation attracts many wading birds including the great blue heron, great egret, and double-crested cormorant.

The shoreline provides important feeding and perching habitat for many raptors. Osprey, red-tailed and red-shoulder hawks, northern harriers, kestrels, Coopers hawks, and bald eagles have all been known to frequent the Refuge.

Featherstone National Wildlife Refuge provides important wintering and nesting habitat for waterfowl, wading birds, and shorebirds. Wintering and nesting waterfowl include the black duck, mallard, blue-winged teal, wood duck, hooded merganser, green-winged teal, gadwall and lesser scaup.

The forest provides suitable habitat and nesting cavities for pileated and red-bellied woodpeckers, barred owls, prothonotary warblers and other species. Mammals find a home here also. White-tailed deer, red fox, raccoon, gray squirrel, and beaver all use the refuge.

With more than 300 acres of bottomland forests and freshwater tidal marshes, the Refuge protects critical habitat for plants and animals in Northern Virginia. It is a great spot to watch wildlife!

July 8 2006 Tour of the Featherstone National Wildlife Refuge
Wetland area along Farm Creek	Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge, viewed from Featherstone NWR	Leesylvania State Park, viewed from beach at Featherstone NWR
Least Skipper, Ancyloxypha numitor	Eastern Amberwing, Perithemis tenera	Northern Water Snake, Nerodia sipedon
Pearl Crescent, Phyciodes tharos	Great Blue Skimmer, Libellula vibrans	Click Beetle, Alaus oculatus
Amanita spp.	Rough-winged swallows	Featherstone NWR is a great place to watch wildlife ...