KIssena Park includes the freshwater Kissena Lake, brushy areas that are excellent for sparrows, and a diverse variety of tree species that provide good stopover habitat (legacy of the park’s horticultural roots). The Park also hosts the City’s only velodrome, two war memorials, and playgrounds and sports facilities including a golf course.

The northern section of the park around the lake may be entered at numerous points, in order to arrive at the lake. The main entrance is at Rose Ave. and Parsons Blvd. Birders often enter at the southern end, by the Velodrome, where there is a small parking lot (Booth Memorial Ave. and Parsons Blvd.). The way to the lake from there is roundabout, however, so this southern access point is best used for exploring the woods on the eastern end. 

The lake is regularly visited by wintering waterfowl such as Northern Shoveler and Hooded Merganser, accompanied by wintering contingent of Ring-billed Gulls. Wood Duck is often seen here year round, and in spring you may catch the Wood Ducks shepherding their ducklings around the edges. Other waterbird species frequently seen here include Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, and the occasional Black-crowned Night-Heron. A small marshy area hosts nesting Red-winged Blackbirds. For migrating warblers and other songbirds, check the green areas on the lake’s edge, the stairway edges, and the hill east of the lake.

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The Park hosts a number of passerines over the summer that are likely breeders, including Willow Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Warbling Vireo, Wood Thrush, Cedar Waxwing, Yellow Warbler, American Redstart, Red-winged Blackbird, and both Baltimore and Orchard Oriole. Several woodpecker species are here; year-round, including Hairy Woodpecker; this is also a very good spot for Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Purple Finch, and Orange-crowned Warbler during fall migration. 

Brushy areas in the park (notably the southwest corner) and the Corridor have provided habitat for a continuing population of Ring-necked Pheasant for many years; unfortunately, of this writing the population appears to have been decimated by predators, probably foxes and feral cats (the last documented sighting was June 2019). These areas continue to be good for migrating sparrows in fall, however—Savannah and White-crowned Sparrows are regularly seen, and Vesper, Field, and Lincoln’s Sparrows are very possible. Fox Sparrow is frequently observed over the winter, and occasionally American Tree Sparrow.

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In the morning, before bicyclists get there, the Velodrome and nearby athletic fields early can offer interesting sightings such as Eastern Meadowlark and Bobolink. Freshwater shorebirds are seen occasionally in puddles in and next to the athletic fields.

Both Sharp-shinned and Cooper’s Hawks are seen during migration and are also winter residents—as is Great Horned Owl. Red-tailed Hawks have nested in the area by the lake and in the Corridor, and are seen year-round. The Corridor and Velodrome areas are good for American Kestrel and sometimes Peregrine Falcon. Unusual owls have been found in past years, including Long-eared Owl and Saw-whet Owl.kissena-west-qbg

To the west of Kissena Park proper lies the western section of the Kissena Corridor Park, providing connection to Flushing Meadows-Corona Park. The Corridor includes wooded and brush areas accessible by a network of trails, and can be surprisingly productive for its size. This is a good spot for warblers and other songbirds during migration. (The eastern Corridor Park, “Cunningham Corridor,” while it may also hold surprises during migration, is less birdy than the eastern portion.)

Queens Botanical Garden, with its diversity of shrubs and trees, provides good stop-over habitat for migratory songbirds. NYC Bird Alliance leads bird walks here during Fall migration, in partnership with the Botanical Garden.