Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
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General Information
Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge sits right in the middle of Jamaica Bay (see this map), a lagoon and saltmarsh in the southern extents of both Brooklyn and Queens - in fact the county border bisects the refuge. The refuge is located to the southwest of JFK International Airport. Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge is not part of the National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) complex but is actually part of the Gateway National Recreation Area. Nevertheless it is run in a similar manner to a NWR.
- Wiki section on Jamaica Bay (not just the refuge)
- Mini site guide to Jamaica Bay WR part 1 and part 2
- Somewhat shockingly the refuge does not appear to have its own home page - the Visitor Center, recently reconstructed is open all year from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m, contact number is 718-318-4340
Maps
- PDF map of Jamaica Bay WR - you've got to love how the National Parks Service broke the link to their own map !
- Overview map from Brooklyn Bird Club and map of West Pond and East Pond
- Google maps and Google satellite map of West Pond, satellite centered on East Pond
Locations Within the Site
The wildlife refuge sits astride Cross Bay Boulevard on same the island as the community of Broad Channel. Refuge trails are open from sunrise to sunset while the Visitor Center is open from 8:30 to 5pm - it's one of those things where you need to make sure you're not parked in the gated part of the parking lot after 5pm.
A broad overview of the layout can be seen on this map.
- West Pond - a large round pond to the west of Cross Bay Boulevard and circumnavigated by a trail (see the [http://www.brooklynbirdclub.org/westpondmap.htm West Pond map). Viewing is best from the south side, where there are good pond overlooks and benches - viewpoints are not as frequent on the north side. The east side of the pond is dominated by phragmites and the trail at this point wanders through the North and South Gardens. A small trail looping off from the west side of the West Pond is the Terrapin Trail - Terrapins nest along the south and west sides of the West Pond. The Terrapin Trail is rather eroded and partially closed but its southern section offers overlooks into the saltmarsh to the south of the West Pond. The West Pond is especially good from late fall to spring, during which time several hundred dabbling and diving ducks of many species can be found there, plus the usual flocks of Snow Geese and Brant. The pond freezes in the middle of winter (Jan, Feb) and the waterfowl relocate elswhere.
- The North Garden and South Garden lie between the phragmites of the West Pond and Cross Bay Boulevard and constitute a mix of trees and scrub. A series of trails run north from the Visitor Center through these gardens. There's also a small blind overlooking a pond about 1/3 of the way up these trails. The gardens are good places to find migrant songbirds, and breeding birds like Yellow Warbler and Eastern Towhee.
- East Pond - is a very long, thin pond on the east side of Cross Bay Boulevard, on the other side of Cross Bay from the parking lot and Visitor Center. It extends from a little south of the visitor center to almost as far north as the North Channel Bridge. The east wall of the pond runs parallel to the MTA subway tracks (A line) that cross the bay. From fall to late summer the pond is full of water and during late fall to spring it is full of waterfowl. The East Pond is much larger than the West Pond but the vantage points are few: there's no trail that circumnavigates the pond (or at least not one that remains above water). There are access points at the extreme south and north ends that can be reached from Cross Bay Boulevard (see map but these have limited vistas. The main viewing point is on the west side of the pond about one quarter way up, accessed by the trail that leads past Big John's Pond (see satellite map of this location). From late summer to early fall the water levels in the East Pond are drawn down and it becomes a mecca for shorebirds, birders and photographers. You can, with care, almost circumnavigate the East Pond at this point. The pond usually starts to fill up by mid-late September. The area between the East Pond and Cross Bay Boulevard is somewhat similar to the North and South Gardens and is a good place to find migrant passerines.
The saltmarshes surrounding the refuge host Seaside Sparrows, Willets, numerous Herons and Ibis and the local nesting Terns (Common, Forster's, Least). Big Egg Marsh is at the southern end of the refuge (on the right, just before the tolls at the southern end of Broad Channel - see location from Google maps) and can contain both Sharp-tailed Sparrow species in late fall and winter.
Best Locations for Birding
The West Pond and East Pond are the primary attractions at the refuge, although the gardens should not be overlooked during migration and harbor many migrants.
The West Pond is excellent from late fall through early winter as a haven for all sorts of waterfowl - many of which will fly over your heads on the south side of the West Pond as they commute between feeding areas in the bay and roosting areas in the pond itself. The West Pond will typically hold flocks of several hundred dabbling and diving ducks, Mute Swans, Snow Geese and Brant. The diversity drops a great deal in late winter once the pond freezes over and much of the waterfowl is driven to the coasts. There is a trail around the perimeter of the West Pond with many vantage points. In spring and especially in fall some shorebirds are usually found around the edges of the pond. In summer Forster's, Common and Least Terns fish and roost in the pond, Black Skimmers can be common and a range of herons and ibis are to be found around the pond and saltmarsh.
The East Pond is more extensive than the West Pond, but has fewer vantage points. From late fall to late summer it is full of water and attracts a large number of waterfowl. Mute Swans, bordering on a pest species here, can be especially numerous. The best vantage point is at the end of the trail that passes Big John's Pond and provides an overlook over the midpoint of the pond. Trails also lead to the south-west and north-west corners but their viewpoints are often restricted by high water. However the biggest attraction at the East Pond is when they draw down the water level in late summer giving rise to exposed mud flats. From late July to early September the East Pond at Jamaica Bay attracts a wide and numerous array of shorebirds migrating south from their Arctic breeding grounds. It is an excellent place to observe shorebirds (scope necessary) but an even better place to photograph them. Be warned however that the mud can be very soft in places and good boots and quite a lot of caution are necessary equipment - people have sunk up to their waists in the mud, and it is especially dangerous at the north end - you should never attempt to walk across the north end of the pond.
Shorebirds are a little harder to find in spring migration, mainly because the water level remains high in the East Pond, but they can be found in the saltmarsh surrounding the West Pond and out into the bay.
In spring and fall migration the wooded and scrubby areas can be good places to find all sorts of neotropical migrants, with a variety as good as many of the city parks. Some species stay and breed, notably Yellow Warbler and Black-billed Cuckoo. American Woodcock also breeds at the refuge and can sometimes be found if you're the first person on the trail early on a summer morning.
In winter, birds like American Tree Sparrow and Yellow-rumped Warbler may be found in the grassy areas surround the West Pond.
Seasons
Spring
Summer
Fall
Winter
Directions
The best way to get there is by car. Take the Belt Parkway to Exit 17, then go south on Cross Bay Blvd, over the North Channel Bridge and a further 1.5 miles to the Visitor Center on the right. If you are coming from Manhattan you can take the Long Island Expressway east to the Van Wyck Expressway (warning: this is often extremely congested) southbound to the Belt Parkway and then west for a few exits to Cross Bay Blvd South. You can also take Woodhaven Blvd from the L.I.E. down to Cross Bay Blvd, going via local streets - sometimes this is actually faster.
If you want to take the long, tedious ride on the A subway from Manhattan, make sure you pick the version of the A that is going to the Rockaways, otherwise the other train (Lefferts Blvd ?) will not go the direction you want. Take the subway to Broad Channel station, walk west to Cross Bay Blvd then turn north and walk half a mile to the Visitors Center. Sometimes the A runs express, but if it hits every local stop between Manhattan and Broad Channel you will age appreciably before you even get there.
The Q53 and Q21 buses allegedly stop at the Visitors Center.
Expected Species
Using this abundance classification: Common , Uncommon, very uncommon/rare which reflects the number of birds in the park rather than the ease of finding them (i.e. you'll find it easier to find the two Mute Swans than two Winter Wrens).
Purple Finch | uncommon migrant, irruptive |
House Finch | common resident, breeds |
Common Redpoll | rare irruptive migrant/winter visitor, irruptive |
Pine Siskin | rare irruptive migrant/winter visitor, irruptive |
American Goldfinch | common to abundant winter visitor |
House Sparrow | abundant resident, breeds |
Unexpected Species
Tundra/Trumpeter Swan | immature in December 2006 |