Birdwatching on Fire Island: One of the Most Popular Locations in New York

Over 330 species of birds live on Fire Island, making it one of the most popular birdwatching locations in New York. To put it into perspective, that’s almost 1/3 of species living in North America. The best time to birdwatch is during the spring and fall migrations, which provides the unique opportunity to see some of the region’s wide variety of migratory and resident bird species.

Fire Island is recognized as one of over 40 National Park Service sites named “Globally Important Bird Areas” by conservationists. The National Park Service has provided a list of birdwatching locations for those interested, named in order from east to west.

William Floyd Estate 

The 613 acres along Moriches Bay is home to waterfowl, wading birds, and over 20 species of shorebirds, as well as warblers, vireos, and thrush in the spring and fall. Birdwatchers can see red tailed hawks, wild turkey, eastern bluebirds, and a variety of woodpeckers throughout the year.

Wilderness

Birds like Sanderlings, ruddy turnstones, semipalmated sandpipers and piping plovers can be found here, along this seven-mile stretch of dunes and wide beaches.

Watch Hill 

Herons, egrets and red-winged blackbirds can be spotted along this salt marsh, which is the largest on Fire Island.

Sailor’s Haven 

Migrating warblers and Eastern towhees can be spotted here at Sailor’s Haven maritime forest The Sunken Forest.

Fire Island Lighthouse

Raptors and hawks can be spotted here during fall migration, while winterfowl can be spotted here during the winter months.

We invite you to visit William J. Newman Realty. We have serviced Fire Island’s western communities since 1969 and offer the experience and professionalism to meet all real estate needs for people who want to take the Fire Island ferries over and stay on the Island for a few days or for the entire summer! We specialize in rentals from Fair Harbor to Dunewood, Lonelyville, and Saltaire.