Wetland Restoration
Manhattan Wetlands and Wildlife Association(MWAWA)
MWAWA founder and NYS-licensed animal rehabilitator James Cataldi, the ‘Birdman of Inwood’, worked singlehandedly to clean North Cove for years before community members and church, school, and green groups joined him in his efforts. Now, a decade after the cleanup began, the small wetland cove tucked between municipal facilities is a favorite stopping point for migratory birds, home for fiddler crabs and mollusks, and a wellspring of community place-making.
North Cove hosts urban farm and oyster restoration exhibits, cleanups, music festivals, and ceremonies by indigenous peoples, making it a magnet for photo journalists and filmmakers.
