Davis Wildlife Refuge, First Bird Sanctuary in New York City, the Greenbelt, Staten Island New York

Davis Wildlife Refuge

The William T. Davis Wildlife Refuge
Travis Avenue, off Richmond Avenue (map)

Photo by Dorothy Reilly
Decked out in the colors of autumn the
tidal wetlands of the W.T. Davis Wildlife Refuge
are a great place for birds and birdwatchers alike.
Click on the picture for a larger view.

The 260-acre wildlife refuge - the first and oldest in New York City - bears the name of one of Staten Island's noted naturalists, William Thompson Davis (1862-1945). The area, with its trails and observation deck, is noted for its tidal marshlands, freshwater wetlands and woodland communities. A great place for bird watching, the area was home to the first Audubon Center in New York City.