Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge

Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge

Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge is a special place for animals and nature in New York City. It is cared for by the National Park Service and is part of the Gateway National Recreation Area.

The refuge is located inside New York City, with parts in Brooklyn and Queens. It is a safe home for many birds and other wildlife. People can enjoy walking, birdwatching, and learning about nature here.

Description

Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge is a group of islands in Jamaica Bay, located in Brooklyn and Queens. The part in Queens is near John F. Kennedy International Airport, which was built on some of the area's wetlands. The refuge has open water, shoreline, islands with salt marsh, dunes, brackish ponds, woodland, and fields. It is the only "wildlife refuge" in the National Park System.

There are two large freshwater ponds and a visitor center with a parking lot. The center gives free permits to walk the trails. The main trails go around the East Pond and the West Pond. The West Pond trail was damaged by Hurricane Sandy in 2012.

Fauna

The refuge is home to many plants and animals, both from the water and land. It is a great spot for watching birds, with many birds living there or stopping by during their travels. You can also find diamondback terrapins laying eggs and horseshoe crabs mating and laying eggs. Ospreys, birds that were once in danger because of a chemical called DDT, have nested here since 1991 and are being studied to learn more about them. Small animals like eastern gray squirrels and raccoons live in the area too. Recently, the raccoon population has grown, and they sometimes eat diamondback terrapin eggs.

History

Planning for the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge began in the 1930s by Robert Moses. He wanted to protect the area from factories and turn the bay into a fun place for people.

In the 1950s, construction started, and the refuge became a special home for birds and animals. Many birds visited, including some not seen in New York City for years.

In the 2000s, the refuge faced problems from climate change, like rising sea levels. Groups worked to protect and restore the area. A big project began in 2018 to fix the damage. Today, the refuge is an important home for many birds and animals.