@spencerbera: The most beautiful place you’ve never heard of…. Spanning over 6,000 acres, the Great Swamp is one of the largest freshwater wetlands in New York State and home to around 185 species of birds, with 90 species breeding there. Audubon has recognized the Great Swamp as an Important Bird Area (IBA 89). It has both northward and southward flows and is extremely vital to surrounding areas. Not only does the swamp act as a sponge and help protect communities from flooding, it also plays an important role in protecting a drinking-water source for millions of people. It slows the movement of water from streams, rain, and runoff, allowing sediment to settle out. The aquatic plants and soils of the Great Swamp help filter and retain pollutants and excess nutrients from the water before it reaches downstream rivers and reservoirs, improving water quality. The water from the southern flow eventually reaches the East Branch Reservoir, part of New York City's Croton water supply system, which provides about 10% of NYC's drinking water! Whether for humans or wildlife, the Great Swamp is critically important to our world. The impact it has on millions of people while being largely unknown amazes me, and with this post I hope to bring awareness to this incredibly special place I call home. Thank you for stopping by, and I really hope you enjoyed the images and information! Shot on the @Sony Alpha A1 II + FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS @National Geographic @Nat Geo Animals @bbcearth @Sony @Audubon Society @Lightroom @bbcwildlifemagazine #W#WildlifePhotographyS#SonyAlphaF#ForYouP#PhotographyNature

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Thursday 08 October 2026 12:31:53 GMT