Natural Areas of the South Shore of Long Island

Fire Island National Seashore
(Fire Island)

Fire Island is the “gatekeeper” and “star” of the South Shore Estuary. This sand barrier island separates and protects Great South Bay and part of Moriches Bay from the Atlantic Ocean. It also protects a portion of Long Island’s south shore communities from the battering of ocean storms and hurricanes.

About 22 miles of this 32-mile long island is part of the 5,930-acre Fire Island National Seashore, operated by the National Park Service. It is the only national seashore on Long Island.

Fire Island National Seashore is many superlatives. It is the wildest publicly accessible land in Long Island, and possesses New York State’s only federally designated National Wilderness Area. It is the best public place to see Long Island as it looked 400 years ago. The Seashore boasts the only ancient forest in the South Shore Estuary watershed. It also has a historic lighthouse built in 1858. Not to be overlooked is that it has 22 miles of pristine beaches, and rich and diverse habitat for hundreds of species of wildlife.

Fire Island National Seashore has six primary sections. These are described ahead. Three sections can be reached by vehicle (the Light House Visitor Center, the Wilderness Area Visitors Center, and William Floyd Estate). Watch Hill, Sailors Haven, Sunken Forest, and the interior of the Otis Pike Wilderness Area can only be reached by ferry, private boat, or by walking.

The barrier island within the National Seashore is as narrow as 600 feet and up to a half-mile wide. A total of 17 communities lie spliced in between the various park parcels. Its ocean beach is eloquently described by The Smithsonian Guide to Natural America – Mid-Atlantic States (Smithsonian Books, 1996): ”Flat sweeping stretches of blinding-white sand beaches ripple into wind-blown dunes that mimic the waves washing Fire Island’s coast.” The dunes reach as high as 40 feet. Besides beach and dunes, habitats range from saltmarsh on the bay side, mud flats, freshwater bogs, to maritime woodlands and thickets. One of those is the elfin woodland of Sunken Forest, 74 acres of ancient holly and black gum trees that comprise what could be the most pristine spot in the South Shore Estuary watershed.

Fire Island is a favorite site for migrating birds, with warbler flocks in spring, and hawks in autumn. About 347 bird species have been recorded here. The most common shorebird is sanderling, along with black-bellied plover, ruddy turnstone, dunlin, dowitcher, and the least semipalmated and spotted sandpipers. The threatened piping plover is occasionally seen here. Seabirds such as ring-billed, laughing, black-backed and herring gulls cavort through the air and water with common and least terns, loons, grebes and brants. Snowy owls may be seen in winter. Common woodland birds include catbird and towhee, among many others.

The most commonly seen mammals are white-tailed deer, red fox, and cottontail rabbit. Occasionally, keen-eyed observers can spot dolphins, pilot whales, and even humpback and right whales offshore. Reptiles live among the sand dunes and marshes, including hognose and black racer snakes. The Fowlers toad makes itself known by its droning, penetrating, buzzy call in spring and summer. On both the bay shores and the ocean side, ancient horseshoe crabs, blue crabs and fiddler crabs are seen, along with various kinds of shellfish and snails.

The maritime woods and thickets are made of American holly, black gum, sassafras, shadbush, black cherry, pitch pine, red cedar, and Atlantic white cedar. Poison ivy, bayberry, beach rose and beach plum form shrubby thickets. Conspicuous wildflowers adapted to salt spray are seaside goldenrod and beach pea, along with carpets of beach heather that blossom yellow in spring. The saltmarshes are made of salt hay and cord grass, with glasswort and sea lavender mixed in.

For information, contact Fire Island National Seashore at (631) 289-4810, 120 Laurel Street, Patchogue, NY 11772, website: www.nps.gov/fiis . The park headquarters is located only two blocks south of the Watch Hill Ferry terminal in Patchogue.

Fire Island Light House and Visitor Center (Islip)

This historic area is reached by car from the east end of Robert Moses State Park (see separate description). The construction of this lighthouse in 1858 is related to what gave Fire Island its name. In the three-year period before it was built, 64 boats were shipwrecked here. It is rumored that pirates would light fires on the beach to lure cargo ships ashore, hence the name “Fire” Island. This is only one of about 6 different legends that tell the tale of how Fire Island was named. The Light House and Visitor Center are open for interpretive programs and tours. Call (631) 661-4876 for reservations.

Access Guide Introduction :: Map and Guide :: More Estuary Site Information
	Fire Island National Seashore (Fire Island) Fire Island is the “gatekeeper” and “star” of the South Shore Estuary. This sand barrier island separates and protects Great South Bay and part of Moriches Bay from the Atlantic Ocean. It also protects a portion of Long Island’s south shore communities from the battering of ocean storms and hurricanes. About 22 miles of this 32-mile long island is part of the 5,930-acre Fire Island National Seashore, operated by the National Park Service. It is the only national seashore on Long Island. Fire Island National Seashore is many superlatives. It is the wildest publicly accessible land in Long Island, and possesses New York State’s only federally designated National Wilderness Area. It is the best public place to see Long Island as it looked 400 years ago. The Seashore boasts the only ancient forest in the South Shore Estuary watershed. It also has a historic lighthouse built in 1858. Not to be overlooked is that it has 22 miles of pristine beaches, and rich and diverse habitat for hundreds of species of wildlife. Fire Island National Seashore has six primary sections. These are described ahead. Three sections can be reached by vehicle (the Light House Visitor Center, the Wilderness Area Visitors Center, and William Floyd Estate). Watch Hill, Sailors Haven, Sunken Forest, and the interior of the Otis Pike Wilderness Area can only be reached by ferry, private boat, or by walking. The barrier island within the National Seashore is as narrow as 600 feet and up to a half-mile wide. A total of 17 communities lie spliced in between the various park parcels. Its ocean beach is eloquently described by The Smithsonian Guide to Natural America – Mid-Atlantic States (Smithsonian Books, 1996): ”Flat sweeping stretches of blinding-white sand beaches ripple into wind-blown dunes that mimic the waves washing Fire Island’s coast.” The dunes reach as high as 40 feet. Besides beach and dunes, habitats range from saltmarsh on the bay side, mud flats, freshwater bogs, to maritime woodlands and thickets. One of those is the elfin woodland of Sunken Forest, 74 acres of ancient holly and black gum trees that comprise what could be the most pristine spot in the South Shore Estuary watershed. Fire Island is a favorite site for migrating birds, with warbler flocks in spring, and hawks in autumn. About 347 bird species have been recorded here. The most common shorebird is sanderling, along with black-bellied plover, ruddy turnstone, dunlin, dowitcher, and the least semipalmated and spotted sandpipers. The threatened piping plover is occasionally seen here. Seabirds such as ring-billed, laughing, black-backed and herring gulls cavort through the air and water with common and least terns, loons, grebes and brants. Snowy owls may be seen in winter. Common woodland birds include catbird and towhee, among many others. The most commonly seen mammals are white-tailed deer, red fox, and cottontail rabbit. Occasionally, keen-eyed observers can spot dolphins, pilot whales, and even humpback and right whales offshore. Reptiles live among the sand dunes and marshes, including hognose and black racer snakes. The Fowlers toad makes itself known by its droning, penetrating, buzzy call in spring and summer. On both the bay shores and the ocean side, ancient horseshoe crabs, blue crabs and fiddler crabs are seen, along with various kinds of shellfish and snails. The maritime woods and thickets are made of American holly, black gum, sassafras, shadbush, black cherry, pitch pine, red cedar, and Atlantic white cedar. Poison ivy, bayberry, beach rose and beach plum form shrubby thickets. Conspicuous wildflowers adapted to salt spray are seaside goldenrod and beach pea, along with carpets of beach heather that blossom yellow in spring. The saltmarshes are made of salt hay and cord grass, with glasswort and sea lavender mixed in. For information, contact Fire Island National Seashore at (631) 289-4810, 120 Laurel Street, Patchogue, NY 11772, website: www.nps.gov/fiis . The park headquarters is located only two blocks south of the Watch Hill Ferry terminal in Patchogue. Fire Island Light House and Visitor Center (Islip) This historic area is reached by car from the east end of Robert Moses State Park (see separate description). The construction of this lighthouse in 1858 is related to what gave Fire Island its name. In the three-year period before it was built, 64 boats were shipwrecked here. It is rumored that pirates would light fires on the beach to lure cargo ships ashore, hence the name “Fire” Island. This is only one of about 6 different legends that tell the tale of how Fire Island was named. The Light House and Visitor Center are open for interpretive programs and tours. Call (631) 661-4876 for reservations.