Preserves & Nature Areas

Marine Nature Study Area

  • Marine Nature Study Area
    52-arces of tidal wetlands nestled in southern Oceanside.
  • Marine Nature Study Area
    Blue Claw Crab
  • Marine Nature Study Area
    Common Yellowthroat
  • Marine Nature Study Area
    Yellow Warbler
  • Marine Nature Study Area
    Trailbound
  • Marine Nature Study Area
    Test your observation skills whether beginner or expert.
  • Marine Nature Study Area
    Come inside and see some of your local fish.
  • Marine Nature Study Area
    The Seaside Roses add a splash of color along the trails.
  • Marine Nature Study Area
    Observe the Yellow-crowned Night Herons feeding on purple marsh crabs.
  • Marine Nature Study Area
    See the Diamond-back Terrapin in the marsh from early June through October.
  • Marine Nature Study Area
    See if you can walk up on a harmless Muskrat feeding in the grass.
  • Marine Nature Study Area
    Low tide in the marsh.
  • Marine Nature Study Area
    Visit our resident osprey family from Late April to late August.
  • Marine Nature Study Area
    See fish from our local bays and waterways like this Toadfish.
  • Marine Nature Study Area
    Experience the Fiddler crab armies in the intertidal zone.
  • Marine Nature Study Area
    Green Heron
  • Marine Nature Study Area
    Walk our meandering boardwalks.
  • Marine Nature Study Area
    Watch the Black Skimmer moving over the surface of the water reaching speeds of 25mph.
  • Marine Nature Study Area
    Beach pea winds through the dune area low to the ground.
  • Marine Nature Study Area
    Come see our friendly Great Egrets.

By A Web Design

Print
April 25, 2011
Hours of Operation
Tuesday - Saturday, 9 AM to 5PM
 
Telephone
(516) 766-1580
 
Directions
The Marine Nature Study Area is located at 500 Slice Drive in Oceanside.
Photos by Michael Farina
 

Located on Slice Drive in Oceanside is a 52-acre preserve devoted to environmental education and natural history. The Marine Nature Study Area is divided into eight instruction sites, each of which deals with a different aspect of the marine or estuarine environment. At each site, visual aides have been installed that describe particular topics. Subjects covered include the tides, Long Island's glacial geology, barrier beach and estuarine formations, ecology of the estuary, micro and macro algae, bird life and migration, the bay community, and barrier beach fauna and flora.

To compliment the outdoor features, there is an interpretive center and an area which contains tanks with live specimens of marine life and displays on pertinent subjects.

The Study Area is a popular site for individuals and families seeking a quiet and peaceful outdoor experience and it is well used by dedicated bird watchers. To date, a total of 216 bird species have been observed and recorded in the area.

The Marine Nature Study Area is staffed by personnel trained in biology and ecology who are thoroughly familiar with the estuarine ecosystem and with the environmental issues of the times. They conduct guided tours for organized groups and are available to assist visitors who seek information about the fauna and flora of the area.

During the past year, the town has rebuilt the weirs, weir crossing bridges and restabilized a portion of the eroded pathway.