Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge

The Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge is the United States Department of Interior’s only “wildlife refuge” administered by the National Park Service. All other national refuges fall under the aegis of the United States Fish & Wildlife Service. The Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge covers 9,000 acres (20 square miles) of open bay, saltmarsh, mudflats, upland field and woods, two man-made brackish ponds—the 117-acre “East Pond” and 45-acre “West Pond,” and small fresh water ponds, including Big John’s Pond. The Wildlife Refuge is part of the Gateway National Recreation Area.

Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge is one of the best places in New York City to observe migrating species: 332 bird species, nearly half the species in the Northeast, have been sighted at the refuge over the last 25 years (38 are accidental, and include several New York State records). It is one of the most significant bird sanctuaries in the northeastern United States. Birding is excellent year round. It is a rich area for wintering waterfowl, including Snow Goose (at least 700 at one time), Brant, various species of ducks and raptors including Cooper’s Hawks and Peregrine Falcon.