Queens, New York City
Jamaica Bay is a birder's paradise, one of the largest and best known wildlife viewing areas in the New York City and Long Island region. Witness the annual mating ritual of hundreds of primitive horseshoe crabs, or photograph one of the more than 330 species of birds seen in this beach, bay and islands wilderness.
Wildlife to Watch
- Migrating raptors, including ospreys, hawks
- Barn, short-eared and saw-whet owls
- Waterbirds, including glossy ibis, egrets, herons, laughing gulls
- Many varieties of ducks, geese, warblers, songbirds
- Diamondback terrapins, other native reptiles and amphibians
- Horseshoe crabs and a wide variety of other shell and finfish
Where to Watch
- Salt marsh, freshwater and brackish ponds
- Upland woods and fields
- Beach, open water and bay islands
Recreational Opportunities
- Wheelchair-accessible visitor center with exhibits and interpretive programs
- Five miles of trails
- Observation blinds
- Guided nature tours, cruises
Size
9,155 acres
Closest Town
Queens
Directions
See Google Maps and enter your address for step by step directions to Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
Contact Information
Telephone: 718-318-4340
Website: Things To Do - Jamaica Bay
Photo Credits: Lee Karney, USFWS; National Park Service