Iona Island - Hudson River Reserve, NY

Flora (Plant Life)

The vegetation in Iona Island's marshes is dominated by narrowleaf cattail, with moderate amounts of common reed and swamp rose mallow. There is a healthy stand of crack willow in one small area of tidal swamp at the mouth of Doodletown Brook. The island and mainland slopes are covered with deciduous forest, with abundant red oak, chestnut oak and pignut hickory. Substantial areas of Iona Island's tidal shallows are bare mud, although water celery and other submerged plants also occur there. Brackish intertidal mudflats, brackish tidal marsh and freshwater tidal marsh are all present.

Fauna (Animal Life)

Many bird species breed within the site. Herons and shorebirds feed in and around the marshes and the areas is recognized as a waterfowl concentration area. Muskrat and mink, amphibians (in non-tidal areas), snapping turtles and blue claw crab are also found there. Offshore shallows are used for spawning and/or nursery for anadromous and resident freshwater fishes, including alewife, blueback herring, white perch and striped bass.

Endangered Species

Rare animals found at or offshore Iona Island include least bittern, bald eagles, golden eagles, osprey, peregrine falcon, shortnose sturgeon and five-lined skink. Rare plants include a sedge, wooly lip-fern, Parker's pipewort, slender knotweed, spongy arrowhead, saltmarsh bulrush and pigmyweed.