A portion of the park has been set aside as a bird conservation area in order to protect nesting habitat for several species listed as threatened in New York State, including the least bittern, northern harrier, common tern, and sedge wren. The protected habitat also serves as a feeding and breeding area for numerous other species of waterfowl.[4] The park's wetlands serve as an overwintering location for 19 species of gulls, nearly half of the world's 45 species.[5]