Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge

An outstanding wildlife sanctuary within the City of New York

Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library Gift of Seymour B. Durst Old York Library

Jamaica Bay Park Jamaica Bay is located in the bor- oughs of Brooklyn and Queens, be- tween Shore Parkway on the north and the Rockaway Peninsula on the south, between John F. Kennedy Airport on the east and Floyd Ben- nett Field on the west. This encom- passes more than eighteen square miles of island, sandy upland, tidal

Most of the bay, except for a pe- ripheral navigation channel and parts of Broad Channel Island, is a New York City park of more than 9,151 acres of underwater and up- land terrain. Practically all of the bay offers excellent habitat for birds. But the most intensively man- aged birding area is located on the northern part of Broad Channel Island.

The Refuge

This Wildlife Refuge, established in 1953, owes its development in large part to the efforts of Herbert John- son, the Park Department employee directly responsible for its care since its inception. Encompassing two fresh-water ponds- on either side of Cross Bay Boulevard, it is approximately one mile north of the Broad Channel IND station. The East Pond (east of Cross Bay Boule- vard) is one hundred acres in extent, and is kept in a predominantly natu- ral condition. The West Pond, of about forty acres, is on the opposite side of the boulevard and is encom- passed by a two mile path. It is here that an intensive planting pro- gram is being carried on to provide food, cover, and nesting areas at- tractive to land birds. On the west side of this pond terns and skim- mers have established a nesting area.

The Wildlife

Since Jamaica Bay is in the Atlantic Flyway, it has proved beneficial to a great variety of waterfowl, land and shore birds. Many species of ducks, such as scaup, baldpate, and pintail, stop for visits of varying lengths of time depending on sea- son, weather conditions, and other factors.

The number of Canada geese and snow geese visiting the Refuge has increased each year. A number of blue geese have also been ob- served. Breeding birds of the Ref- uge have come in greater numbers since its creation. Black duck, ruddy duck, grebes, coot, and gallinule breed extensively; gadwall, blue and green wing teal and shovelers are common nesting birds. Red- head and baldpate also nested in 1961, a new record for the region. Redhead continue to nest in in- creasing numbers each year.

A heron roost is occupied by black crown, yellow crown, great and lit- tle blue and green herons, as well as an occasional Louisiana heron. Prominent in this area are common and snowy egrets. The population and nesting activities of these spe- cies have been increasing in a spec- tacular manner. Three pairs of

glossy ibis nested in the Refuge in 1961. In the past two years, the number of nesting ibis approached 100 pairs.

In the 1930's the brant were faced with a complete loss of food due to the blight on eel grass, which re- sulted in many dying from starva- tion . But these birds have now adapted their eating habits so that they feed eagerly on sea lettuce, a marine algae which grows exten- sively and covers the bottom of Ja- maica Bay.

Bird watching opportunities are best during the spring and fall; however the other seasons can present an interesting variety of birds. Plant- ings and wildlife provide combina- tions suitable for nature study, orni- thology, photography, sketching, or scientific study. Fishing is permitted in the salt water of the bay.

The Vegetation

The vegetation in the Refuge has changed significantly in amount and variety since the New York City Park Department began its intensive planting program in 1953. Plants were chosen on the basis of pro- viding food and cover for wildlife, and erosion control for the loose sand which had to be "tied down". Only plants capable of growing in the sand and withstanding the ex- treme weather conditions could be introduced.

/

Autumn olive, with its attractive pink berries in the fall provides food for over forty species of birds. It grows profusely and has the quality of being able to withstand extremes of drought, heat and cold, and the salt air. Another important food plant is Japanese black pine, the predominant evergreen in the Ref- uge; winter finches come in great numbers to eat the seeds found in its cones, especially when the food supply is low farther north. Red cedar, a tall, narrow evergreen, pro- vides food mainly for cedar wax- wings, and is an excellent nesting tree for other species.

Other important food plants are rosa rugosa, which is very attrac- tive when in bloom, chokeberry both red and black, and bayberry, whose waxy berries provide food especially for warblers, swallows and quail. The holly trees are ex- pected to bear fruit in the next few years.

Two types of grasses predominate around the West Pond: The tall marsh grass, phragmites, is an ex- cellent cover for ducks; the short grass planted on either side of the pathway is beach grass, which is important in terms of stabilizing the sand.

Directions

To reach the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge by automobile take the Shore Parkway, Southern Parkway, or Woodhaven Boulevard to Cross Bay Boulevard (the main highway to the Rockaways). Drive south on Cross Bay Boulevard. Approxi- mately one and a half miles past the North Channel Bridge a parking field is maintained west of the road where visitors may enter the main birding area.

The Refuge may also be reached by IND subway on the "A" ' , "E" or "HH" train serving the Rockaways. Leave the train at Broad Channel station, walk west to Cross Bay Boulevard, then walk north approxi- mately three-fourths of a mile. Main birding area is on west side of Cross Bay Boulevard next to the parking lot.

A permit is required for the use of the wildlife area. This may be ob- tained free of charge by writing to:

Director, Maintenance and Operations Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs

Administration The Arsenal 830 Fifth Avenue New York, New York 10021

List of Birds

The following list of birds that have been observed at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge contains 257 spe- cies, and is based on reliable obser- vations of competent bird watchers and Refuge personnel. Check marks indicate the season that the species may be most readily observed. However, these same species may be seen at other times of the year as well.

Another list of 53 species, which are rare, or have occurred acciden- tally, has been added on the last page. Total number of species ob- served at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge to date is 310.

Sd

Su

F

w

Common Loon

C

o

o

Red-throated Loon

o

o

r

Red-necked Grebe

r

r

Horned Grebe

c

c

c

Eared Grebe

r

r

*

ried-bilied Grebe

c

u

c

u

Double-crested Cormorant

u

o

c

o

Great Blue Heron

c

r

c

r

*

Common Egret (American)

c

c

c

r

Snowy Egret

c

c

c

r

*

Louisiana Heron

o

o

o

*

Little blue Heron

o

o

o

*

Green Heron

c

c

c

*

Black-crowned Night Heron

c

c

c

o

*

Yellow-crowned Night Heron

o

o

o

*

American Bittern

c

o

c

o

Least Bittern

o

o

o

Eastern Glossy Ibis

c

c

c

*

Canada Goose

c

o

c

o

Brant

a

o

a

a

Snow Goose

o

o

o

Blue Goose

r

r

r

*

Mallard

c

c

c

c

*

Black Duck

a

a

a

a

*

Gadwall

c

c

o

o

European Widgeon

r

r

r

baldpate

a

o

a

c

*

Pin tail

c

o

c

c

*

Green-winged teal

c

o

c

r

Blue-winged teal

c

o

c

r

*

Shoveler

c

o

c

o

*

Wood Duck

r

r

r

*

Redhead

c

c

u

r

r

Canvasback Duck

c

o

o

c

Greater Scaup

a

o

a

a

Lesser Scaup

u

r

c

c

Sd

Su

p

w

American Coldeneye

c

O

o

burtlehead

a

o

a

Oldscjuaw

r

r

White-winged Scoter

r

r

Surf Scoter

r

r

American Scoter

r

r

Kuddy Duck

c

c

c

o

Hooded Merganser

u

u

o

American Merganser

c

o

u

Red-breasted Merganser

c

r

c

c

Sharp-shinned Hawk

r

r

Ked-tailed Hawk

r

Red-shouldered Hawk

— —

r

Broad-winged Hawk

r

r

Rough-legged Hawk

r

r

*

Marsh Hawk

—

u

u

u

Osprey

o

o

Duck Hawk

o

o

o

Pigeon Hawk

u

u

*

Sparrow Hawk

c

o

c

c

*

Bobwhite

a

a

a

a

Ring-necked Pheasant

r

r

King Kail

o

o

*

Clapper Rail

c

c

c

u

Virginia Rail

o

r

o

*

c

bora

o

o

o

*

Common Gallinule

c

c

c

L.OOI

a

a

a

a

*

Piping Plover

c

c

r

Semipalmated Plover

a

a

a

Miideer

c

c

c

o

Golden Plover

r

o

DiacK-Deiiied riover

c

o

c

r

Ruddy Turnstone

c

u

c

*

Woodcock

f

f

Wilson's Snipe

r

r

Hudsonian Curlew

r

T

r

Status

Column 1 (Sp) Spring: March-May

Column 2 (Su) Summer: June-August

Column 3 (F)

Fall: September-November Column 4 (W)

Winter: December-February

Abundance

a— abundant c— common u— uncommon o— occasional r— rare

* indicates species nested

Sd

Su

p

w

Upland Plover

r

r

r

Spotted Sandpiper

c

c

c

Solitary Sandpiper

o

o

Willet

r

r

r

Greater Yellowlegs

a

a

a

r

Lesser Yellowlegs

a

a

a

Knot

c

o

c

Pectoral Sandpiper

u

c

White-rumped Sandpiper

u

o

c

Least Sandpiper

a

c

a

Red-backed Sandpiper

c

c

o

Long-billed Dowitcher

o

o

Short-billed Dowitcher

a

a

a

Stilt Sandpiper

o

u

Semipalmated Sandpiper

a

a

a

Western Sandpiper

o

Marbled Godwit

r

r

Hudsonian Godwit

r

r

banderling

c

c

c

o

Red Phalarope

r

r

i » #• 1 / r»L 1

Wilson s Phalarope

o

o

o

Northern Phalarope

o

o

Glaucous Gull

o

o

Iceland dull

o

o

. n I _ _ 1 . 1 i . | /~ ..II

Great Black-backed Gull

a

a

a

a

Herring Gull

a

a

a

a

[■)•_,_ L;|| - J , . I 1

King-bil led Gull

c

c

c

c

Laughing Gull

c

o

c

Bonaparte's Gull

o

o

r

Forster's Tern

o

o

Common Tern

a

a

a

Caspian Tern

r

r

Roseate Tern

r

r

r

Least Tern

c

c

Black Tern

o

o

u

*

Black Skimmer

a

a

a

Rock Dove

c

c

c

c

5p

Cm

r

W

Mourning Dove

C

c

C

0

Yellow-billed Cuckoo

O

O

Black-billed Cuckoo

o

o

O

barn Owl

r

r

r

r

Snowy Owl

r

r

Long-eared Owl

r

r

Short-eared Owl

u

u

u

Saw-whet Owl

o

o

Whip-poor-will

r

Nighthawk

r

r

r

Chimney Swift

u

r

u

W% 1 mi . Iff • 1*1

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

r

r

r

Belted Kingfisher

o

0

r

r 1 ■ 1

Flicker

a

u

a

r

mil 1 l i a i l i

Red-headed Woodpecker

r

JL

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

o

o

Hairy Woodpecker

o

o

Downy Woodpecker

u

u

u

u

Eastern Kingbird

o

o

0

Western Kingbird

r

Crested Flycatcher

o

o

o

n 1 1

Phoebe

o

c

\/_ 1 1 _ i ic Irl . i

Yellow-bellied Flvcatcher

£_

0

Acadian Flycatcher

o

o

Alder Flycatcher

o

o

Least Flycatcher

o

o

Wood Peewee

o

u

Olive-sided Flycatcher

r

r

ii j i i Horned Lark

c

u

c

c

*

Tree Swallow

a

a

a

Bank Swallow

o

o

Rough-winged Swallow

o

o

o

Barn Swallow

c

u

c

Liirt bwailow

r

r

Piirnlp Martin

1 U 1 U 1C v idl L 1 1 1

r

r 1

i»

Blue Jay

c

c

Crow

r

r

r

Sp

Su

F

VV

*

~ "." ■ ■" "■

Fish Crow

U

u

u

DldCK-Cdppca L.niLKd<JCti

o

o

r

Wnite-Dreastea [Nuthatch

o

o

ixcU UTtrdblcU l> U 11 Id ILM

u

u

DiUWII LIccUcl

u

o

nou5c vv ren

o

o

o

vv inicr vv icii

o

o

v_dIUIIIld WlcM

r

r

*

LUIlg-UI 1 IcU /Vidian Vvicn

c

c

c

o

Jl IUI 1 U 1 1 1 trU /VldlMi wren

r

r

r

*

Mockingbird

c

c

c

o

*

r^third

v_a iui I \J

f

\-

r t.

c

r

*

Rrn\A/n Tnr^cnor DiUWII IlirdbllCI

C

C

c

*

Robin

c

a

r I

V V UUU 1 1 1 1 UM 1

u

U

Hprmit ThriiQh

llvTIIIIIL 1 1 1 I U 3 1 1

1 1

u

• • u

{") 1 i\/P-ha c v c±c\ Tnriich

WIIVC UQLNcU 1 IIIUoll

u

U

i!r3\/-rnODL'ori ~T~ririicri

o i dy-ci iccivcu iiirubii

u

U

V/pprv v cci y

r

U

Factum Rliiohird

r

r

Diuc-grdy v_inar.car.cner

o

r

CiC\ 1 nPn -C m\A/r\ Pn k'lnolfit'

VJUIUCI 1 V_ 1 U W 1 ICU IX 1 1 1 g 1 C I

r l_

a d

R 1 1 hv-rrnw/nprl Kinplpt

i\uuy LIUWIICU IXlllglCl

f L

a

Amprirfln Pinit

r\ \J

VJ

r

f~~pHar \A/a v\a/i n cr

V— CUQl VVClAWIIlg

o

C

c

Nlnrthprn ^hriL'ti nui u ici 1 1 oiiiiixt

r

r

1 nppprhp^H Shrimp

r

r

r

Starlinf?

JIQI Ml Ik

a d

a d

d

a d

\A/n i tp-pvprl V/irpr»

r

r

Solitary Vireo

Red-eyed Vireo

■ ■

u

■ i

u

Philadelphia Vireo

f

l»

Warhlint? Virpn

T 1 Ul Ulll Ik V 11^

r

r 1

Black-and-White Warbler

r»

Worm-eating Warbler

r

r

Blue-winged Warbler

u

u

Golden-winged Warbler

r

r

Status

Column 1 (Sp) Spring: March-May

Column 2 (Su) Summer: June-August

Column 3 (F)

Fall: September-November Column 4 (VV)

Winter: December-February

Abundance

a— abundant c— common u— uncommon o— occasional r— rare

* indicates species nested

Sp

Su

F

VV

i ennessee vvdruicr

r

VJ

Oranoo.rmvA/nPn \AJ arh Pr Urdl]ftC_LlUWIlcU VVdiUICI

r 1

X

rNdsnviiic vvaruicr

c

V,

P^rnl^ Warblpr

l ai u la v v a I u I c I

Q

c

*

Ypllnw Warblpr

Q

Q

w

/VidgilUlld VVdiUICI

c

c

("anp Mau \A/,arhlpr

Q

o

Rlark-thrnatpd Rlup Warbler

L) 1 d V„ r\ 1 1 [1 w d I v_ VJ UIUC V V al Ul^l

o

o

Mvrtlp \A/;irhlpr iviyiiic v v d i u i d

£

o

Rlark-thrnatprl ("irppn Warblpr DlaLN M II UalCU vji cci I v > ai uici

(j

y

DldLKDUrnidll VVdiUICI

VJ

VJ

Chpstnut-sided Warbler

u

u

Rav-brp^QtpH Warhlpr

o

o

Pine Warbler

r

r

Rlarknnll Warblpr

Q

Prairip Warblpr

u

u

Palm Warblpr

1 dllll Wai Uivi

c

c

Ov/pnhi rrl

o

o

Nnrthprn Watprthrush

1 ^1 \J 1 1. 1 1 V~ 1 1 1 If T UlV,l 11 M UJI 1

o

o

1 nni^iana XA/atPrthrush

LUUI jlCll ICl VV d l\Z I 11 II Uji i

r

x

/VlUUrillllg VVdiUICI

i"

x

Cnnnprtirut Warbler

r

x

*

YpI Inwth mat

1 V_ 1 1 W VV 11 II w CI I

c

c

c

Yellow-breasted Chat

o

o

HddHpH Warhlpr

i iuuucu vvai uici

r

x

WiUnn's Warblpr

o

u

Canada Warbler

u

u

American Redstart

c

c

Rnhnl ink

r

o

o

Meadowlark

o

u

*

Red-winged Blackbird

a

a

a

o

Orchard Oriole

r

r

Baltimore OrioTe

u

u

Rusty Blackbird

u

u

*

Purple Grackle

a

a

a

o

Bronzed Grackle

o

o

r

*

Cowbird

c

o

o

o

Sp

Su

F

w

C /~ -j riot" TanaoDr OL-dMCl 1 dlldKcr

r

r

Summer Tansppr

*J U 1 1 1 1 1 1 VIZ I 1 d I 1 d vTI

r

r

v-dlU 1 lldl

r

r

Rosp-hrpastpd Grnshpak

YJ

lndit?n Rnntinp

1 1 lUI^U U U 1 1 LI 1 1^

KJ

r\

U

D iris t~\ ccp 1

T

r

r

Fvpninp CirrKhp^k

LVtl III Ig VJI UDUCulx

r

r

r

*

HniisP Finrh

1 IUU3C 1 IIIV-II

c

c

Purnlp Finrh

1 U 1 Ult 1 1 1 1 V_ 1 1

■

r» U

VJ

Pinp Grnxhpak

i 1 1 ii^ vj I w juv, ai\

r

r

Rprlnnll

r

Pine Siskin

*

CinlHfinrh

VJ UIUI II 1 v-l 1

■ ■ U

r

U

U

Red Crossbill

o

o

Wh ifp-wi nt?pH Crnxshill

V V 1 1 1 IV3 VVIIIgVTU v.1 UjDUII 1

r» U

*

Eastern Towhee

Q

q

Inswirh Snarrnw

IL/JfY IV.I 1 JUUI 1 v_y V V

Q

*

Savannah Snarrnw

V Ul 1 MUM jl/ui i v_/ V V

Q

Sharn-tailpd Snarrnw

Q

f

Q

x

*

Spasidp Snarrnw

j^ujiuc juai tu vv

u

■

\/ pcnpr ^narrnu/

VC3JJCI vJ|JdilVJW

r

r

Slate-colored Junco

Q

o

Tree Sparrow

o

o

Q

Chipping Sparrow

o

FiplH Snarrnw

n

Q

Wh itp-rrnwnpd Snarrnw

Q

Q

White-throated Sparrow

Q

o

Fox Sparrow

o

o

o

Grasshnnner Snarrnw

vj i ujji i \j vj yj v_ i jl/ui i kj v v

r

x

Lincoln's Sparrow

o

o

Swamp Sparrow

o

r

c

r

*

House Sparrow

c

c

c

c

*

Song Sparrow

c

c

c

c

Lapland Longspur

u

o

Snow Bunting

o

u

o

Accidental List

WHITE PELICAN EUROPEAN CORMORANT CATTLE EGRET WOOD IBIS MUTE SWAN WHISTLING SWAN FULVOUS TREE DUCK EUROPEAN TEAL CINNAMON TEAL BARROW'S GOLDENEYE COMMON EIDER TURKEY VULTURE GOSHAWK COOPER'S HAWK BALD EAGLE GYRAFALCON YELLOW RAIL BLACK RAIL PURPLE GALLINULE OYSTERCATCHER WILSON'S PLOVER PURPLE SANDPIPER BAIRD'S SANDPIPER CURLEW SANDPIPER BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER WHITE IBIS RUFF

AVOCET

BLACK-HEADED GULL LITTLE GULL ARCTIC TERN GULL-BILLED TERN ROYAL TERN HORNED OWL AMERICAN MAGPIE PROTHONOTARY WARBLER CERULEAN WARBLER KENTUCKY WARBLER BLUE GROSBEAK GRASSHOPPER SPARROW BAIRD'S SPARROW LARK SPARROW OREGON JUNCO

CHESTNUT COLLARED LONGSPUR LARK BUNTING BAHAMA PINTAIL

BAR-HEADED GOOSE (probable escape) EUROPEAN RED-WING THRUSH SPUR-WINGED PLOVER (confirmed escape) CLAY-COLORED SPARROW KING EIDER

TOWNSEND'S WARBLER YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER

Status

Column 1 (Sp) Spring: March-May

Column 2 (Su) Summer: June-August

Column 3 (F)

Fall: September-November Column 4 (W)

Winter: December-February

Abundance

a-abundant c— common u— uncommon o-occasional r— rare

* indicates species nested

A PUBLIC SERVICE OF THE CULTURAL COUNCIL FOUNDATION Map and drawings by Richard Edes Harrison

Edited by Phyllis Stemau under the direction of William R. Ginsberg, First Deputy Administrator Graphic Production by Proper Press, Inc. c^^fe>57