Amagansett National Wildlife Refuge

Amagansett National Wildlife Refuge
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area)
Map showing the location of Amagansett National Wildlife Refuge

Map of the United States

Location Suffolk County, New York, United States
Nearest city Amagansett, New York
Coordinates 40°58′11″N 72°07′35″W / 40.96972°N 72.12638°W / 40.96972; -72.12638[1]Coordinates: 40°58′11″N 72°07′35″W / 40.96972°N 72.12638°W / 40.96972; -72.12638[2]
Area 36 acres (0.15 km2)
Established 1968
Governing body U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Website Amagansett National Wildlife Refuge

The Amagansett National Wildlife Refuge, in Amagansett, New York, graces the shore of the Atlantic Ocean on Long Island's south fork. Established December 16, 1968, the 36-acre (150,000 m2) refuge is of special significance in the protection and management of fragile shore habitat and wildlife. Its unique double dune system embodies marine sand beach, primary dunes, secondary dunes, swales, fens, cranberry bogs, and oak scrub. Many rare plants, including several orchids, occur on the refuge. A major purpose of the refuge is the protection of the secondary dunes, which have become scarce on Long Island due to development.

Long-tailed ducks, white winged scoter, common loon and horned grebe spend winter off the refuge shore, while shorebirds, songbirds and raptors are a treat to visiting wildlife watchers during spring and fall. Merlin, Cooper's hawk, kestrel, sharp-shinned hawk, and peregrine falcon soar over the dunes during migration. Ipswich sparrow, rough-legged hawk, and short eared owl spend winter at the refuge offering birders a cold-weather destination. In late spring and summer the beach hosts piping plover, and common and least terns (protected by the Endangered Species Act) as well as sandpiper and other shorebirds. The Eastern hognose snake, a New York State designated species of special concern, can still be found on the refuge.

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/27/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.