Waterbirds of NY Harbor
NYC Audubon has a 40-year history of protecting the wading birds, shorebirds, and waterfowl that depend on New York City’s wetland and coastal habitats. Our rich and recovering harbor is home to an incredible diversity of these waterbirds: wild islands host nesting egrets, herons, and ibis, while sandy beaches and marshes provide both breeding and migratory foraging grounds for endangered waterbirds like terns, skimmers, and sandpipers. Because waterbirds are sensitive to environmental change, they are excellent indicators of the health of the larger ecosystem. As the only organization in New York City dedicated to protecting wild birds, NYC Audubon is in a unique position to study these local populations—and use the knowledge gleaned for the protection, restoration, and management of our waterbirds and their habitats.
NYC Audubon’s scientific staff conducts field research and manages an extensive volunteer community science program, in collaboration with academic research partners, to gather data on the health and reproductive success of key waterbird species and habitats:
