Conscience Point National Wildlife Refuge facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Conscience Point National Wildlife Refuge
IUCN Category IV (Habitat/Species Management Area)
Historic settlers rock within the wildlife refuge
Conscience Point National Wildlife Refuge Location in the United States
Location	Suffolk County, New York, United States
Nearest city	North Sea, New York
Area	60 acres (24 ha)
Established	July 20, 1971 (1971-July-20)
Governing body	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Website	Conscience Point National Wildlife Refuge

The Conscience Point National Wildlife Refuge is a special place in Suffolk County, New York, United States. It was created on July 20, 1971, thanks to a generous gift of land from Stanley Howard. This refuge is about 60 acres (24 hectares) big. It's located in a small area called North Sea, on the north side of Long Island's south fork.

What is Conscience Point Refuge?

This refuge protects many different kinds of natural areas. These include open grasslands, forests with oak and beech trees, and areas with lots of shrubs. It also has unique kettle holes (small ponds formed by glaciers), freshwater marshes, and salt marshes.

Amazing Habitats

The grasslands here are very important. They are a great example of "maritime grasslands." These are special grasslands found near the coast. They are disappearing quickly on Long Island because of new buildings.

What Plants Grow Here?

These maritime grasslands have native grasses like little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), poverty grass (Danthonia spicata), and hairgrass (Deschampsia flexuosa). You might even spot a prickly pear cactus (Opuntia humifusa) growing here!

Wildlife Wonders

The refuge is home to many different animals because it has so many types of habitats.

Birds of the Refuge

• Waterfowl: You can often see American black ducks and buffleheads.
• Grassland Birds: The refuge is working to make the grasslands even bigger. This helps attract birds that need these open spaces. Look for birds like the grasshopper sparrow, eastern meadowlark, Savannah sparrow, and bobolink.
• Migratory Birds: Because it's near the coast, many birds stop here during their long journeys. These include songbirds, shorebirds, and raptors (like hawks and eagles).

Protecting Rare Animals

The Conscience Point National Wildlife Refuge also helps protect animals that are endangered (meaning they are at risk of disappearing forever) or threatened species (meaning they could become endangered soon). The refuge plays a key role in keeping these special animals safe.