BIRDING SUNRISE SAILS

We set sail ON THIS PUBLIC TOUR in the early morning for the best chance to view and photograph the bays birds.

Jamaica Bay is one of the main way-points for east coast migrating birds in the spring through autumn, with over 325 bird species recorded. The bay is truly New York City's largest remaining coastal habitat which is comprised of navigable waterways, tidal creeks, mud flats, salt marsh and upland habitat. Much of the bays natural features are protected as part of the Gateway National Recreation Area; the only urban National Park in the United States. 

Not far from our dock in Rockaway Beach you'll find the majority of shorebird species within a network of different habitats. Most notable is the JoCo Marsh, the largest section of original salt marsh remaining in the bay and quite possibly NYC's largest green space; fully wild and unaltered by humans since time immemorial.

​"JoCo Marsh, the biggest and best marsh in the bay..."
​-Don Riepe
Director of Northeast Chapter
of the American Littoral Society

Our route includes Rockaway Community Park and Dubos Point Wildlife Sanctuary

which boasts many raptors and songbirds in its combined 300+  acre upland habitat. We sail to prime locations for the best chance to view the bays wildlife. Jumping fish and turtles are common sights as well as the intriguing horseshoe crabs, described as "living fossils".

TIME
1.5-2 HOURS

RATE
$50 PER PERSON
6 PASSENGERS Total

or make it
PRIVATE

Book the BOAT
FOR ONLY $200
up to 6 PASSENGERS

Sunrise is the best time to view Jamaica Bays migrating bird population. Getting on water in the early morning is a peaceful and invigorating way to start the day.

For optimal wildlife viewing, our schedule is designed around the high tide cycle when it coincides with sunrise times.

High tide allows us to get in closer to the marshes and sunrise is feeding time for most birds. Departure times will vary from week to week based on the natural cycles. Alternatively, sunset hours are also feeding time for many birds.

high tide + Sunrise
DATEs and times

MAY
sunrise ranges 5:53am-5:26am

MORNING HIGH TIDE
MAY 7TH ~ 5:20AM
MAY 8TH ~ 6:13AM
MAY 9TH ~ 7:01AM

MAY 23RD ~ 5:24AM
MAY 24TH ~ 6:26AM
MAY 25TH ~ 7:25AM

JUNE
sunrise ranges 5:27am-5:23am

MORNING HIGH TIDE
June 6th ~ 5:29am
JUNE 7th ~ 6:22am
June 8th ~ 7:12am
june 9th ~ 7:57am

june 21st ~ 4:58am
june 22nd ~ 6:04am
june 23rd ~ 7:07am
june 24th ~ 8:06am

JULY
sunrise ranges 5:28am-5:51am

MORNING HIGH TIDE
july 6TH ~ 5:41am
july 7TH ~ 6:37am
july 8TH ~ 7:28am

july 21st ~ 5:49am
july 22nd ~ 6:55am
july 23rd ~ 7:54am

AUGust
sunrise ranges 5:52am-6:21am

MORNING HIGH TIDE
august 4th ~ 5:01am
august 5th ~ 6:02am
august 6th ~ 6:58am

august 19th ~ 5:40am
august 20th ~ 6:45am
august 21st ~ 7:42am

SEPTEMBER
sunrise ranges 6:22am-6:50am

MORNING HIGH TIDE
SEPT 3rd ~ 5:26am
SEPT 4th ~ 6:24am
SEPT 5th- 7:15am

SEPT 17th ~ 5:30am
SEPT 18th ~ 6:32am
SEPT 19th ~ 7:24am

TMYK

QUESTION:
Can you experience a Full Moonset, Sunrise, and High Tide at the same time?

ANSWER:
The Moonset is the nod to the tide going out-
so Sunrise Sails taking place at High Tide will not encounter the Full Moon...

FULL MOONSET
around MID-tide
will coincide'ISH at
SUNRISE
on these dates

MAY
MAY 12TH ~ 5:15AM
MAY 13TH ~ 5:45AM

JUNE
JUNE 11TH ~ 5:06AM
JUNE 12TH ~ 6AM

JULY
JULY 10TH ~ 4:51AM
JULY  11TH ~ 5:57AM

AUGUST
AUGUST 9TH ~ 6:04AM
AUGUST  10TH ~ 7:16AM

SEPTEMBER
SEPT 7TH ~ 6:09AM
SEPT 8TH ~ 7:23AM