Bloomingdale Park natural area

Richmond Pkwy., West Shore Expw., Lenevar Ave., Ramona Ave.

This park’s 127 acres of natural areas include freshwater wetlands, forests, a small stream, and floodplain. They are home to wildlife including spring peepers (Pseudacris crucifer) and bullfrogs (Lithobates catesbeianus). The park’s birds include species such as the black-capped chickadee (Poecile atricapillus), the tufted titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor), the northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis), the white-throated sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis), the song sparrow (Melospiza melodia), the white-eyed vireo (Vireo griseus), and migrating warblers. The park’s woods contain several species of wetland trees native to NYC, including swamp white oak (Quercus bicolor), pin oak (Quercus palustris), sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), and red maple (Acer rubrum). The upland portion of the park is home to American beech (Fagus americana), tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera), aspen (Populus spp.), and birch (Betula spp.). In addition, a section of the park with sandy soils hosts rare pine trees -- the pitch pine (Pinus rigida), which is rare for Staten Island, and the Virginia pine (Pinus virginiana), which is rare for New York State. Other native plants include spring ephemerals Canada mayflower (Maianthemum canadense) and mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum), and shrubs arrowwood viburnum (Viburnum dentatum), spicebush (Lindera benzoin), and high bush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum).