Going wild in Queens
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Could it be? The back-to-school ads are here! For me, that’s usually a signal to revisit my list of summer ambitions before September arrives. Soon, I figure, my children will be in school and indoors for most of their days.
My 5-year-old daughter, Night Owl, is a nature freak, so the two of us recently took a trip to the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. Near JFK airport, it’s a protected oasis of marshland where over 330 bird species feed and nest. We drove, but you can take the “A” train to the Broad Channel stop, then walk three-quarters of a mile to the visitor center. If your kids up for it, the trip is well worth the trek. The Q53 and Q21 buses from Queens also serve the refuge.
The visitor center is an attractive, newly constructed “green” building offering educational exhibits and literature, as well as clean restrooms and water fountains. A helpful ranger is always on duty and — best of all — admission is free. The nature begins as you leave the back door to begin the 1.5-mile loop around West Pond. No sooner had we stepped out than we saw monarch butterflies and a hummingbird sipping from wildflowers. Around the next bend, birds were everywhere: osprey, great egrets, cormorants, red-winged blackbirds, and the usual suspects; seagulls and Canada geese. Night Owl enjoyed using the guide to identify them all, in addition to plants, such as wild roses and prickly pear cacti (which, I learned, are native to the area). If not for the faint Manhattan skyline rising in the distance, we could have forgotten the city entirely.
Horseshoe crabs and northern diamondback terrapins flock to the bay to nest. My daughter discovered curled, leathery egg fragments left by turtle hatchlings, and then went on to find part of a blue robin’s egg and a piece of horseshoe crab shell. As we rested on a bench she cried, “Hey, look!” at the sight of a large tortoise lumbering, undaunted, across the path near us. Though zoo residents may be more exotic (and believe me, we’ve made our zoo trips this summer), there was something rewarding about the chance encounters with the wildlife here.
A few things to note if you go: bring sunscreen, since the walk is not shaded. Bug repellant and water are a must, but food is not allowed on the trails (there’s a picnic area at the entrance to the visitor center). Also, I was stubbornly determined to walk the full loop, but ended up carrying my weary daughter. If your kids are smaller, you may plan on doing just the beginning of the loop and staking out a bench near the pond — there’s still plenty to see and discuss while resting in a pretty spot.
Some other attractions worth visiting in Gateway National Recreation Area are: Jacob Riis Beach, which my daughter enjoyed visiting with her camp, and Fort Tilden, which offers nature trails and historic features. Before visiting the parks, be sure to check for special visitor programs.
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Thank you, thank you and thank you for this inside scoop.
I am always looking for interesting outdoor places to take my children and this one sounds great.
we’ll check it out.
Thanks again.
Comment by slc — August 14, 2009 @ 12:47 pm