Gateway Nationl Park (Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge)

New York City, New York

 

Organization description:

The Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge (JBWR), part of Gateway National Recreation Area, is one of the most significant bird sanctuaries in the Northeastern United States and one of the best places in New York City to observe migrating species. With more than 330 bird species—nearly half the species in the Northeast—sighted at the refuge over the last 25 years, it is a must-see for avian enthusiasts.

 

The Refuge covers 9,000 acres (20 square miles) of open bay, saltmarsh, mudflats, upland field and woods, two man-made brackish ponds—117-acre East Pond and 45-acre West Pond and small fresh water ponds, including Big John’s Pond. JBWR is the United States Department of Interior’s only wildlife refuge administered by the National Park Service as part of Gateway National Recreation Area, which was added to the National Park System in 1972 and was heralded as a breakthrough in recreation planning. Gateway's eleven park sites bring national park programs closer to people. They encompass more than 26,000 acres of land and water in New York City and New Jersey and welcome almost 10 million visitors annually.

 

Phenology Project Description:

The JBWR Trail is still in its implementation phase. Species have been marked, the trail has been mapped, rangers have been trained and teachers have been recurited to particpate in monitoring this Spring. Stay tuned for more information regarding trainings and community scientist recruitment. The implementation is being started by Dan Meharg, Education Specialst and Park Ranger. 

 

To learn more about JWBR or to get involved: 

• Website: Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge

• Coordinator: Dan Meharg, dan_meharg@nps.gov

Which species are being studied?

 

Plants

Trees and Shrubs

• Acer rubrum – Red maple

• Juniperus virginiana – Eastern redcedar

• Populus deltoides – Eastern cottonwood

• Prunus maritima – Beach plum

• Prunus serotina – Black cherry

• Rhus copallinum – Winged sumac

• Sassafras albidum – Sassafras

 

Forbs

• Asclepius syriaca – Common milkweed

• Rosa rugosa – Salt spray rose

• Solidago sempervirens – Seaside goldenrod

 

Animals

Insects

• Apis mellifera – honeybee

• Bombus spp. – bumblebee

• Celastrina ladon complex – spring azure

• Danaus plexippus – monarch butterfly

• Malacosoma americanum – eastern tent caterpillar

• Nymphalis antiopa – mourning cloak

• Papilio canadensis – Canadian tiger swallowtail

• Pieris rapae – cabbage white

• Pyrrharctia isabella – woolly bear

• Speyeria cybele – great spangled fritillary

• Vanessa atalanta – red admiral

• Xylocopa virginica – eastern carpenter bee

 

Birds

• Archilochus colubris – ruby-throated hummingbird

• Bombycilla cedrorum – cedar waxwing

• Branta bernicla – brant

• Dendroica coronata – yellow-rumped warbler

• Dendroica petechia – yellow warbler

• Junco hyemalis – dark-eyed junco

• Pandion haliaetus – osprey

• Tachycineta bicolor – tree swallow

  

Resources for this site

(for registered observers):

Coming soon!