Biodiversity of Westchester County, New York

Westchester County is located in southern New York, sharing its southern boundary with New York City and its northern border with Putnam County. It is bordered on the west side by the Hudson River and on the east side by the Long Island Sound and Fairfield County, Connecticut. The county has a total area of 500 square miles (1,300 km2), of which 430 square miles (1,100 km2) is land and 69 square miles (180 km2) (14%) is water. It is an area rich in biodiversity with many parks, preserves, and the Edith G. Read Wildlife Sanctuary, a 179-acre sanctuary along Long Island Sound migratory flyway. In winter months, the 85-acre lake hosts more than 5,000 ducks. Recognized by Audubon New York.[1] Literary environmental writer Alex Shoumatoff hailed Westchester County as the "most richly diversified deciduous forest in the world" in a 1978 The New Yorker profile, at the time estimating 4,200 species.[2]

Plants

There are 1,168 species of vascular plants in Westchester County, according to the Parks Department.[3]

Endangered plants:[4]

Threatened plants:[4]

Special concern plants:[4]

Invasive plants:[5]

Birds

There are 311 species of birds in Westchester County, as documented by the Parks Department.[3] The local Audubon Society chapter records 368 bird species.[6]

Endangered birds:[4]

Threatened birds:[4]

Special Concern birds:[4]

Mammals

There are 33 species of mammals in Westchester County.[3]

Special concern mammals:[4]

Reptiles

There are 19 species of reptiles in Westchester County.[3]

Endangered reptiles:[4]

Threatened reptiles:[4]

Special concern reptiles:[4]

References

  1. "Nature Preserves". Visit Westchester. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  2. Shoumatoff, Alex (1978-11-13). "Profiles: Westchester County". The New Yorker. Archived from the original on 2014-08-26. Retrieved 2014-08-26.
  3. "Biodiversity Research Program List". Westchestergov.com. Westchester County Department of Parks, Recreation & Conservation. 2003. Archived from the original on 26 August 2014. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
  4. "Westchester County Endangered Species List" (PDF). Westchestergov.com. Westchestergov.com. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
  5. http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/lands_forests_pdf/isprohibitedplants2.pdf
  6. "A guide to the Birds of Westchester County". Hudson River Audubon Society of Westchester. 2013. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
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