Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refugefall & winter wildlife
Wildlife refugeAt Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Snow geese, brant, scaup, ruddy ducks and other wintering waterfowl on West Pond in fall, winter and early spring, per the National Park Service (a season, not a peak). No official report yet this season.
Updated
Sources for this timing ↓About Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
- What it is
- A wildlife refuge in New York
- What you'll see
- Wintering geese and ducks on West Pond · Sep–Mar
Your guide to the area
- Winter
Places on this map, as a list
Where to watch
- West PondA 45-acre freshwater pond: geese, brant and ducks in fall, winter and early spring
- East Pond TrailAround the 117-acre East Pond, made in 1951; wear waterproof shoes
Nearby
- Wertheim RefugeWildlife refuge51 miLate October through early AprilSatMostly Sunny
Worth the drive · more than 60 miles
- Morton RefugeWildlife refuge80 miLate October through early AprilSatMostly Sunny
- Forsythe RefugeWildlife refuge86 miDecember through FebruarySatSlight Chance Rain Showers then Partly Sunny
- Bombay HookWildlife refuge128 miNovember (the peak) and DecemberSatSlight Chance Rain Showers then Partly Sunny
- Eastern Neck RefugeWildlife refuge169 mimid- to late November to the end of MarchSatChance Rain Showers then Partly Sunny
- Great Meadows RefugeWildlife refuge177 miNovemberSatSunny
The year at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
- Egrets and herons roost in the trees and shrubs around West PondNowspring through fall
- The ponds are drained, exposing mudflats for southbound shorebirds (as described in 2015)starting in July and ending in September
- Snow geese, brant and wintering ducks on West PondNowfall, winter, and early spring
Questions people ask
When is the best time to see wildlife at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge?
Snow geese, brant, scaup, ruddy ducks and other wintering waterfowl on West Pond in fall, winter and early spring, per the National Park Service (a season, not a peak): fall, winter and early spring. That's general timing for this place, not a peak date or a forecast.
Is it wildlife season at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge right now?
There's no official report yet this season.
When can I see geese and ducks on West Pond?
In fall, winter and early spring: flocks of snow geese and brant, with lesser and greater scaup, ruddy ducks, ring-necked ducks and more.Source: National Park Service, West Pond ↗ (opens in a new tab)
What should I wear on the East Pond Trail?
Waterproof walking shoes, or ones you don't mind getting muddy and wet; bring insect repellent from late spring to early fall.Source: National Park Service, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Why are the ponds drained in summer?
Lowering the water exposes mudflats where migrating shorebirds can stop, rest and refuel on their way south.Source: National Park Service, Lowering the Water - Gateway National Recreation Area ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Who made West Pond?
It was created under Robert Moses and Herbert Johnson: a 45-acre freshwater pond for coastal shorebirds, waterfowl and other migrants.Source: National Park Service, West Pond ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Where are the best spots in Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge?
West Pond: a 45-acre freshwater pond: geese, brant and ducks in fall, winter and early spring; East Pond Trail: around the 117-acre East Pond, made in 1951; wear waterproof shoes.
What is Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge like through the year?
Snow geese, brant and wintering ducks on West Pond (Sep–Mar), Egrets and herons roost in the trees and shrubs around West Pond (Apr–Oct) and The ponds are drained, exposing mudflats for southbound shorebirds (as described in 2015) (Jul–Sep).
How we know · Sources (3)
How we know
National Park Service, West Pond (opens in a new tab) (Oct 2) · National Park Service, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge (opens in a new tab) (Oct 2) · National Park Service, Lowering the Water - Gateway National Recreation Area (opens in a new tab) (Oct 2) National Park Service sources: no claim to original U.S. Government works.