Amagansett National Wildlife Refuge
The Amagansett National Wildlife Refuge, in Amagansett, New York, is located along the shore of the Atlantic Ocean on Long Island's south fork. The refuge is managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service as part of the Long Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex.
Established December 16, 1968, the refuge is of special significance in the protection and management of fragile shore habitat and wildlife. A major purpose of the refuge is the protection of the secondary dunes, which have become scarce on Long Island due to development. The double dune system encompasses marine sand beach, primary dunes, secondary dunes, swales, fens, cranberry bogs, and oak scrub. Many rare plants, including several orchids, occur on the refuge.
Long-tailed ducks, white-winged scoter, common loon and horned grebe spend winter off the refuge shore, while shorebirds, songbirds and raptors are present during spring and fall. Merlin, Cooper's hawk, kestrel, sharp-shinned hawk, and peregrine falcon pass over the dunes during migration. Ipswich sparrow, rough-legged hawk, and short-eared owl spend winter at the refuge. In late spring and summer the beach hosts piping plover, and common and least terns as well as sandpiper and other shorebirds. The eastern hognose snake, a New York State designated species of special concern, can still be found on the refuge.
