Assateague Island is a 37-mile long barrier island located off the eastern coast of Delmarva. The northern two-thirds of the island is in Maryland while the southern third is in Virginia. The Virginia section contains Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge. People from all over the world visit for its wild horses, pristine beaches, and the Assateague Lighthouse. There are over 320 species of birds that inhabit the island during some portion of the year. These include gulls, terns, and other shorebirds along with raptors, waterbirds, and waterfowl. Most popular to look for are the American oystercatcher, great blue heron, and the snowy egret. The piping plover is a threatened species that nests on Assateague. Because of their nesting habits a portion of the island is closed off to the public to protect and help preserve the plover population. Assateague Island is always shifting and changing with the seasons. Migratory birds, winter plumage, sping feathers and babies, Chincoteague ponies in their winter coats, sleek shiny summer coats.