Udalls Cove Park Preserve

In the midst of a developed residential area, this 30-acre inlet off of Little Neck Bay is an important preserve and habitat area for northeastern Queens. The preserve was formed in 1972 to save precious wetlands and forest from the increasing development. On the salt marsh of Udalls Park Preserve, clapper rails (Rallus longirostris) stalk silently through the salt grasses. Snowy egrets (Egretta thula) carefully wade through the calm waters and osprey (Pandion haliaetus) dive for fish.

Aurora Pond is located in the middle of the preserve, its placid waters alive with dragonflies (Odonata spp.) and wood ducks (Aix sponsa). Raccoons (Procyon lotor) also hunt along the edges. Common reed (Phragmites australis) lines the brackish inlet known as Gabler’s Creek, which flows into Little Neck Bay. Wooded uplands of silver maple (Acer saccharinum), black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), and box elder (Acer negundo) are scattered about The Cove.