Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge

Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area)
284px Carmans River Estuary as it flows through Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge
Map of the United States
Location	Long Island, New York
Nearest city	Shirley / Brookhaven (CDP)
Coordinates
Area	2,550 acres (1,030 ha)
Established	1947
Governing body	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
http://www.fws.gov/refuge/wertheim/

The Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge is located on the south shore of Long Island and is one of the undeveloped estuary systems on Long Island. In 1947, Maurice Wertheim donated the 2,000 acres (8.1 km2) on eastern Long Island to the United States government and subsequently became the Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge. Its main purpose was to organize the refuge so it would protect the Carmans River Estuary for all migratory birds. Wertheim hosts a variety of habitats including oak-pine woodlands, grasslands, and fresh, brackish and salt water wetlands. These habitats attract and support many types of wildlife including white-tailed deer, osprey, muskrat, fox, turtles, frogs and fish. The refuge also serves as a haven for waterfowl, shorebirds, raptors, and songbirds.

In 2012 the Long Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex opened a new visitor center and headquarters facility in the Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge. The building includes an interactive exhibit hall, environmental education classroom and administrative offices.

Population

The refuge's wildlife populations are mainly diverse. There are about 300 species of birds at the refuge. The refuge winters up to 5,000 waterfowl, most of them being black ducks - a species that is declining. The coastal location also makes this refuge an excellent migration place for shorebirds, raptors and songbirds.

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

External links

• Wildlife Refuge - US Fish and Wildlife Service
• Friends of Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge