The mixed riparian forest habitat on the refuge is important for breeding and migrating passerine birds, and supports a large heron/egret rookery.
In the marshes, great blue, green and little blue herons, as well as common and snowy egrets, hunt for fish.
Powder down is also found in the egrets.
There is a noisy breeding colony of egrets, night herons and cormorants and also a colony of flying foxes.
Breeding birds include piping plovers, great egrets and red-winged blackbirds.
At its peak in 1995, the island supported 400 nesting pairs of herons, egrets, ibis and 121 nesting pairs of double-crested cormorants.
The upland habitat provided nesting, shelter, and food for egrets, herons, and raptors that also used the wetlands.
Herons and egrets are medium to large sized wading birds with long necks and legs.
