Poplar Island, Chesapeake Bay

About Poplar Island, Talbot County, MD

Poplar Island was originally known as Popeley’s Island until it was officially identified as Polar Island on a map in 1670. It is located in Maryland's Chesapeake Bay, and it boasts a fascinating history that spans centuries. In 1631 an early land owner of the island, Richard Thompson recorded the island as consisting of 1,430 aces. A later recorded survey showed the island was 1,100 aces in 1847. During the early 19th century about 100 residents called it home. It had a post office, a sawmill, a general store and a school that doubled as a church on Sundays. Over time, erosion started to take its toll, and by the mid-20th century, much of the island had disappeared, as did the residents. The island decreased to roughly 4 acres. In an effort to reclaim this precious piece of land, a restoration project began in the late 1990s, utilizing dredged material from the bay. Today, Poplar Island stands as a testament to the power of conservation and environmental stewardship. This ongoing project has not only resurrected the island to approximately 1,715 aces, but also serves as a reminder of the resilience of nature and our ability to restore vanishing habitats.

Now flourishing with diverse habitats, Poplar Island has become a haven for both resident and migratory birds and a hotspot for birders. As of August 2025, 271 bird species have been recorded. It is still an active construction site, Maryland Environmental Service (MES) runs the day-to-day operations. You must make a reservation with MES to bird on the island.

I should also mention - although the island is so far a success story for the bird population it is not immune to the decline of the Chesapeake Bay Osprey. In 1967 the island was purchased by the Smithsonian Institution, which used it for a variety of projects including studying osprey populations and breeding patterns. There were as many as 30 active nests, which was one of the largest concentrations in the world. During my visit I counted 18 Osprey. I asked our tour guide how many active nests they had on the island this year - she was not sure on the exact number but mentioned it was very low. I plan to follow up on that. For more about the decline of the Chesapeake Bay Osprey - visit: https://www.birding.pictures/tips-info-section/biggest-little-fish

For more information about Poplar Island - visit: http://www.poplarislandrestoration.com

My scheduled visit to the island was on 4 August 2025. It was a pleasant day (especially for August), clear, 74-80F, N winds 10mph. The highlight of the trip for me was seeing the Neotropical Cormorant, a rare bird for this area and a life bird for me. Another rarity I saw was a Red-necked Phalarope and a Merlin (rare for time of year). I logged 35 bird species for the trip.

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