Holistic Birding
Jones Beach State Park
Coast Guard Station
Overview
When eBirding Jones Beach State Park, please note that there are numerous hotspots within the park. Be sure to select the appropriate hotspot when submitting your list. I will link some of these below.
World famous Jones Beach State Park, home of 6.5 miles of beautiful white-sand beach on the Atlantic Ocean protects more than 2,400 acres of maritime habitat along the south shore of Long Island. While well known for its beaches, boardwalk, and recreational opportunities, the park also protects important coastal ecosystems, including dunes, maritime habitats, bays, and wetlands.
This combination of habitats supports a wide variety of birds throughout the year, from breeding coastal species to migrating shorebirds and waterfowl.
Birding Here
Jones Beach is much more than a summer beach destination. Its diverse coastal habitats make it an important location for birding throughout the year.Over 340 species have been documented at the park!
My favorite birding hotspot within the park is the coast guard station. In winter one can see a robust diversity of waterfowl, as well as birds such as red-breasted nuthatches, sparrows and possibly even owls in the surrounding pines. In late summer, it’s a great place to look for various shorebirds - check out the sand spit (a scope will be helpful) for Piping Plovers, Ruddy Turnstones, American Oystercatchers and Semipalmated Plovers. Pick through the peeps-you may spot a less common species!
In addition to the Coast Guard Station, there are numerous other birding spots within the park, so checking recent eBird sightings and selecting the appropriate hotspot before visiting can help you make the most of your trip. I will list just a few below.
Visitor Information
Facilities
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Restrooms are available in season. Year-round restrooms can be found at the Energy and Nature Center (a very cool spot to visit no matter your reason!)
Accessibility
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The main path around the park is paved, while many others are not and may be tougher to navigate.
Fees
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Check website for seasonal fees, accessibility information and more.
Wantagh (visit eBird for specific directions to individual hotspots)
Ebird hotspots for Jones Beach State Park, including but not limited to:
Theodore Roosevelt Nature Center (I believe this is actually the energy center)
