The refuge has grown since its beginning and now contains 14,480 acres, approximately 11,000 acres of which are irregularly-flooded, brackish marsh with 3,480 additional acres of pocosin and woodland habitat. The dominant marsh plants include black needlerush, saltmarsh cordgrass, saltmeadow hay, and saltgrass. The woodland areas are dominated by loblolly pine, longleaf and pond pine. Live oak is also abundant on some upland sites. The marsh and surrounding waters provide wintering habitat for thousands of ducks and nesting habitat for colonial waterbirds.
Over 270 species of birds can be observed each year, with waterfowl reaching their peak in December-January. Permanent residents include the green heron, little blue heron, cattle egret, clapper and Virginia rails, marsh hawk, laughing gull, belted kingfisher, and long-billed marsh wren. Many shorebirds and warblers pass through the refuge on their spring and fall migrations.
