Swinburne Island
This abandoned artificial island off the coast of New York City is now home to dozens of harbor seals.

šŸ“œ Swinburne Island is a 4-acre artificial island in Lower New York Bay, east of Staten Island, New York City.
šŸ” Originally built in the 1870s for immigrant quarantine hospitals, it is now a wildlife sanctuary and part of the Gateway National Recreation Area.

Why Go

šŸ¦­ Observe a large population of harbor seals and grey seals in their most densely populated NYC habitat
šŸ¦ Birdwatching for nesting shore birds (herons, gulls)
šŸžļø Part of Gateway National Recreation Area, managed by National Park Service
šŸ“š Explore its history as a quarantine hospital, Merchant Marine training site, and a site with significant history for immigrants.

Why Avoid

šŸš« Not open to the public, access is restricted.
šŸš¶ Cannot walk on the island, only view from a distance.
šŸš§ Features dilapidated buildings and deserted docks.

Tips

šŸ›„ļø Guided seal watching tours depart from Jacob Riis Landing in Queens.

Last updated 1 day ago

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