In the waters that divide New York City’s five boroughs, hemmed in by development and crisscrossed by bridges, ferries, and tunnels, lies an overlooked, scattered wilderness: the islands of the Harbor Herons. Wild to an extent that seems near impossible in the midst of one of the world’ s largest cities, our “urban archipelago” provides nesting grounds for 10 species of long-legged wading birds, along with cormorants, gulls, terns, ducks, geese, Osprey, and many songbirds. Both the islands and the birds that nest upon them are now protected from harm, thanks to over a century’s worth of conservation work. NYC Audubon is dedicated to ensuring the islands remain a safe refuge for waterbirds in New York City. Totaling over 20 islands in all, the Harbor Heron islands have diverse and fascinating histories...

https://www.nycaudubon.org/our-work/conservation/habitat-protection/the-harbor-heron-islands