Shawangunk Grasslands National Wildlife Refuge, National Wildlife Refuge in Shawangunk, New York.
Shawangunk Grasslands National Wildlife Refuge is a protected grassland habitat in New York designed to support birds and raptors. The site features open meadows with native plants and walking paths that run through the landscape.
The land once served as Galeville Military Airport where pilots trained during World War II. It became a federally protected wildlife refuge in 1999.
The refuge holds special meaning for those who seek to observe wildlife in its natural setting. Many return repeatedly to experience the different birds that appear across seasons.
Visitors can access interconnected walking paths that wind through the grasslands at different starting points. The site is most welcoming during milder months when trails are dry and easy to navigate.
This refuge is one of the few places in the Hudson Valley where you can find a complete community of grassland bird species together. Some visitors come specifically to watch Short-eared Owls hunt across the open fields.
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