Jamaica Bay

Dead Horse Bay: Polluted and Disgusting, but People Can’t Stay Away

March 17, 2025 by Guest Contributor Leave a Comment

A quick glance at Instagram shows some odd hauls from Dead Horse Bay. They’re not windowpane flounder or diamondback terrapins or cockle clams local to the waters. They’re rainbows of vintage marbles, shards of heirloom ceramics, and even rusted bicycles from the era of black and white television.

Scour Reddit from the past year alone and find posts about Dead Horse Bay mudlarking — that is, scavenging the shore for interesting, possibly valuable items. [Read more…] about Dead Horse Bay: Polluted and Disgusting, but People Can’t Stay Away

New York City Wildlife: American Eels

October 6, 2024 by Guest Contributor 2 Comments

You’ll find the American eel (Anguilla rostrata) in all rivers and estuaries around New York City, from the creeks of Jamaica Bay in Brooklyn to the streams at Clay Pit Ponds State Park Preserve on Staten Island. [Read more…] about New York City Wildlife: American Eels

Bicycling Adventures in New York State Parks

October 3, 2024 by Guest Contributor Leave a Comment

Go for a spin this fall and discover the scenic biking trails at New York State Parks. Bicycling is a great, low-impact exercise to enjoy with family and friends and a picturesque way to experience fall foliage in New York State. With so many trails to choose from, here are a few destinations from around the state worth exploring. [Read more…] about Bicycling Adventures in New York State Parks

New York City Wildlife: Atlantic Horseshoe Crabs

October 1, 2024 by Guest Contributor 1 Comment

A common but rarely-glimpsed denizen of the New York Harbor is the Atlantic horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus). This prehistoric-looking creature, which is more closely related to spiders than to crabs, has changed little over the past 450 million years.

Since before dinosaurs walked the earth, the horseshoe crab has scuttled around shallow seas on its six pairs of legs, feeding on marine invertebrates with its jawless mouth, and sensing the world around it with its ten eyes. [Read more…] about New York City Wildlife: Atlantic Horseshoe Crabs

William Redfield & The Great September Gale of 1821

April 13, 2024 by John Warren Leave a Comment

Hurricanes are infrequent visitors to New York City. Major hurricanes, those with winds 111 miles per hour and above, making landfall in the city are rarer still. One of these was the first storm of the Atlantic Hurricane Season in 1821, originally called “The Great September Gale,” it’s now known as the Norfolk and Long Island Hurricane.

The Category 3 storm came ashore in Jamacia Bay, on September 3rd. A 13-foot storm surge, which luckily hit at low tide, rose within an hour and flooded Manhattan Island from the Battery to Canal Street, uniting the Hudson and East Rivers. It tossed ships into the streets, and destroy harbor docks and the bridge to Ward’s Island. It also resulted in a major scientific discovery. [Read more…] about William Redfield & The Great September Gale of 1821

Operation Low Tide Nabs Crab, Turtle Poachers

July 13, 2021 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

According to a press release issued by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), on June 10th, after receiving multiple complaints of people keeping undersized marine species, shellfish from uncertified waters, and protected terrapins (commonly called turtles) during low tide, Environmental Conservation Officers (ECOs) Veloski and Currey participated in Operation Low Tide, an enforcement initiative to combat the illegal taking of wildlife and shellfish in New York City. [Read more…] about Operation Low Tide Nabs Crab, Turtle Poachers

Jamaica Bay

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