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From the Lenape word “Yameco,” or beaver, the Jamaica Bay wetlands are a highly biodiverse ecosystem located near New York City. Some of the Bay is part of Gateway National Recreation Area, managed by the National Park Service, while other parts are managed by New York City, the State of New York, or by private landowners.
This map provides facts about 50 species of animals that are found at Jamaica Bay, and information about interesting places to visit.
We hope that this map will inspire you to explore the natural areas around Jamaica Bay and to learn about the wildlife that lives here. Each point represents a sighting of an animal in the past--there is no guarantee that you will see the same animal if you visit the same spot! To protect wildlife from poaching and harassment, some of these points are approximate or representative.
Information comes from the Encyclopedia of Life, knowledge of local naturalists, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), iNaturalist, and eBird. Thanks to the Macaulay Library of Cornell for videos and audio, and to the photographers who donated images for this project.