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Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge

New York · Northeast

EasyOfficial Site
Habitat
WetlandMarshCoastal
Best Seasons
SpringFall
Difficulty

Easy

Best Months

August-October

Entrance Fee

Free

Hours

Dawn to dusk daily

About This Location

Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge is a remarkable urban wilderness within New York City, hosting over 330 bird species. The West Pond trail circles a freshwater pond surrounded by salt marsh, offering close views of shorebirds, waterfowl, and raptors.

Location

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Notable Species

American OystercatcherGlossy IbisOspreySeaside SparrowClapper Rail

Live Bird Data

Powered by eBird / Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Notable Sightings

Trumpeter Swan

Cygnus buccinator

3/4/2026Wallabout Channel1 observed

Mute Swan

Cygnus olor

3/4/2026Confluence Park, Owego2 observed

Snow Goose

Anser caerulescens

3/4/2026Beaver Island State Park, Grand Island US-NY 42.95853, -78.944481 observed

Northern Shrike

Lanius borealis

3/4/20262800-3098 Thorpe Road, Seneca Falls, New York, US (42.883, -76.788)1 observed

Great Egret

Ardea alba

3/4/20262260 Elmwood Ave, Kenmore US-NY (42.9587,-78.8786)1 observed

Osprey

Pandion haliaetus

3/4/20262260 Elmwood Ave, Kenmore US-NY (42.9587,-78.8786)1 observed

Greater White-fronted Goose

Anser albifrons

3/4/2026Braddock Bay--North Marina6 observed

White-crowned Sparrow

Zonotrichia leucophrys

3/4/2026Crocheron Park1 observed

Hermit Thrush

Catharus guttatus

3/4/20265631 Van Allen Rd, Belfast US-NY (42.3077,-78.0526)1 observed

Purple Finch

Haemorhous purpureus

3/4/20265631 Van Allen Rd, Belfast US-NY (42.3077,-78.0526)3 observed

Barrow's Goldeneye

Bucephala islandica

3/4/2026Kingston Point1 observed

Snow Goose

Anser caerulescens

3/4/2026Buffalo River Ohio St. Fishing Access Site1 observed

Harlequin Duck

Histrionicus histrionicus

3/4/2026Ft. Edward Yacht Basin1 observed

Greater White-fronted Goose

Anser albifrons

3/4/2026Braddock Bay--North Marina3 observed

Common Goldeneye

Bucephala clangula

3/4/2026Hudson River Park--Tribeca Upland (Chambers to W Houston St.)3 observed

Trumpeter Swan

Cygnus buccinator

3/4/2026Seneca Park1 observed

Snow Goose

Anser caerulescens

3/4/2026Buffalo River Ohio St. Fishing Access Site1 observed

Greater White-fronted Goose

Anser albifrons

3/4/2026Braddock Bay--North Marina6 observed

Snow Goose

Anser caerulescens

3/4/2026Buffalo River Ohio St. Fishing Access Site1 observed

Tree Swallow

Tachycineta bicolor

3/4/2026Kingsborough Community College1 observed

Recent Observations

Common Raven

Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve

3/4/2026

1 birds

Rock Pigeon

Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve

3/4/2026

1 birds

Mourning Dove

Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve

3/4/2026

1 birds

Ring-billed Gull

Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve

3/4/2026

1 birds

Hooded Merganser

LaGuardia Airport (LGA)

3/4/2026

1 birds

Bufflehead

LaGuardia Airport (LGA)

3/4/2026

18 birds

American Crow

1568 Porter Covert Rd, Lodi US-NY 42.62898, -76.86410

3/4/2026

4 birds

American Kestrel

1568 Porter Covert Rd, Lodi US-NY 42.62898, -76.86410

3/4/2026

1 birds

European Starling

Sunset Park, Brooklyn (neighborhood)

3/4/2026

3 birds

Blue Jay

Sunset Park, Brooklyn (neighborhood)

3/4/2026

2 birds

Ring-necked Pheasant

2800-3098 Thorpe Road, Seneca Falls, New York, US (42.883, -76.788)

3/4/2026

1 birds

House Sparrow

Sunset Park, Brooklyn (neighborhood)

3/4/2026

15 birds

Red-breasted Merganser

West Street Waterfront, Brooklyn

3/4/2026

2 birds

Gadwall

West Street Waterfront, Brooklyn

3/4/2026

2 birds

Double-crested Cormorant

West Street Waterfront, Brooklyn

3/4/2026

2 birds

American Black Duck

West Street Waterfront, Brooklyn

3/4/2026

3 birds

Barred Owl

20 Wildwood Dr, Poughkeepsie US-NY (41.6321,-73.9066)

3/4/2026

2 birds

American Robin

2260 Elmwood Ave, Kenmore US-NY (42.9587,-78.8786)

3/4/2026

Golden-crowned Kinglet

2260 Elmwood Ave, Kenmore US-NY (42.9587,-78.8786)

3/4/2026

Great Blue Heron

2260 Elmwood Ave, Kenmore US-NY (42.9587,-78.8786)

3/4/2026

Birding Tips

  1. 1

    Walk the West Pond trail for the best variety

  2. 2

    Check the East Pond in late summer for shorebirds

Amenities

Parking
Restrooms
Visitor Center
Trails

Nearby Attractions

  • Gateway National Recreation Area

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