#Newsflash | Find Out Who’s Wintering In Jamaica Bay
BY QEDC It's In Queens
Does Don Riepe ever sleep?
The American Littoral Society’s official Jamaica Bay Guardian leads a Winter Waterfowl Workshop on Saturday, Jan. 23, at 11 am. He’ll explore the cold-weather residents of the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge and discuss survival skills.
It’s free, but registration is required.
Waterfowl dominate the area during the cold months, but owls, hawks, finches, cardinals, warblers, and sparrows also spend the winter there. There are always surprises.
Roughly 9,155 acres, Jamaica Bay encompasses salt marshes, woodlands, estuaries, and sand dunes stretching from Brooklyn’s Shore Parkway to Rockaway Peninsula, which leads to the Atlantic Ocean. It’s one of the best places in NYC to observe birds, especially during the annual migrations when as many as 300 different species pass through.
Riepe, who lives in Broad Channel, has been involved in Jamaica Bay for several decades. He’s a staunch defender of urban wildlife who frequently leads field trips and spearheads community-minded volunteer efforts such as boat removals and garbage clean ups. He holds a Master of Science in Natural Resource Management from the University of New Hampshire.