A Special Nature Sanctuary in Central Park

Central Park was my nature haven the year I lived in New York City attending graduate school. It still is when I return for visits.

Now, a bird sanctuary on the southeast corner of Central Park, which has been closed to the public since 1934, is open to a limited number of people each week. I recently traipsed around the area, called Hallett Nature Sanctuary, which is on a bluff above the Pond. The Pond was formed from a swamp in the development of Central Park in the 1850s.

Below are some photos from early June.  And here’s what made it special to me:

• Plenty of butterfly, bird and animal sightings, including starlings bathing at the top of the bluff’s waterfall and a baby raccoon
• Lush vegetation, including identification of restored native plants such as mayapple, azaleas, blue cohosh, bush anemone done by the Central Park Conservancy

Click here for visiting hours and more info on the four-acre sanctuary.