New York City, New York story
A Secret Bird Sanctuary
Deep in the southeastern corner of Central Park lies a four-acre woodland that was a total secret for decades. From 1934 until the modern era, Robert Moses kept the area, then kno…
Read the story
Deep in the southeastern corner of Central Park lies a four-acre woodland that was a total secret for decades. From 1934 until the modern era, Robert Moses kept the area, then known as The Promontory, closed to the public. His goal was simple: create a bird sanctuary that would remain completely undisturbed.
For years, the only people allowed inside were occasional school groups, while the rest of the city walked right past the fences. It wasn't until 2016 that regular visitor hours finally began. Now renamed the Hallett Nature Sanctuary, it's the smallest of the park's three woodlands, but it's a heavyweight for birdwatchers, with up to 210 migrating species visiting the rustic trails.
It's one of the few places in Manhattan where the city noise truly fades into the background.
Updated June 2026