What kinds of wildlife live in or around the East River?
Posted on Feb 24, 2026 / Travel
The East River and its shores are home to a surprising amount of wildlife for an urban waterway. Bird watchers can spot cormorants, herons, egrets, and other water birds around the estuary. The river also supports fish species and, on rare occasions, larger marine animals like dolphins or even whales have been spotted nearby. These appearances are still pretty uncommon but show how diverse the ecosystem can be. Smaller creatures like plankton and crustaceans live in the water too, forming the base of the food chain. Wildlife numbers generally reflect improvements in water quality over the years. If you’re exploring by boat or from a park, bring binoculars to spot animals and birds.
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