It’s easy to forget New York City is an archipelago. Views down the canyons of Broadway or across the hills of Brooklyn belie New York’s many waterways. Between Manhattan, Staten Island, Long Island, Randall’s Island, Governor’s Island, and the many Islands that surround the Bronx, New York City boasts about 520 miles of shoreline.

And that’s before you factor in our lakes and ponds. With so many bodies of water ton investigate, its no wonder waterfowl feel at home in this semi-aquatic kingdom. Combine these locations with New York’s efforts to clean up their waterways, and you have the recipe for some seriously cool aquatic aves.

Take a look at some of the species below to begin broadening your knowledge of New York’s Waterfowl