Who Lives in a Tidal Creek in NY Harbor?

Typically, people don't really think much about what lives in the creeks, streams, brooks, and other small waterways that surround Lower New York Bay, part of the most populous urban agglomeration in the world. More often than not our small tidal tributaries in the estuary are looked upon in a negative way: grimy drainage ditches filled with pollution ranging from cleaners, paints, and motor oil, or breeding areas for mosquitoes and snakes, or something else less than flattering.

It doesn't help that many small waterways flow through heavily populated areas and have been altered in one way or another to prevent localized flooding or to suit private development. Lots of waterways are also lined with a series of storm drains that bring in polluted runoff from roadways, businesses, and homes especially after heavy rain events. Some waters are so polluted, such as the Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn, with coal tar wastes, heavy metals and volatile organics that they have become Superfund sites. Other streams don't even exist anymore due to historic development around the estuary. A few urban streams run underground while others have been filled in long ago and are nowhere to be found.

Luckily, there are still over 20 small, narrow tidal tributaries that can be found around Lower New York Bay, including Coney Island Creek in Gravesend Bay, Lemon Creek and Cheesequake Creek in Raritan Bay, and Comptons Creek and Pews Creek in Sandy Hook Bay. They are all fascinating and anomalous ecosystems, with a diversity of life owing to water. Flowing waters mix and mingle freshwater from upland sources with bay water in and out of a creek about every 6 hours to create a nursery for young, and a feeding ground or habitat to live for other species. A unique place with an amazing diversity of small and large life adapted to live in this ever changing briny watery world.

Over the 4th of July weekend, I set out to discover what lives in the creek nearest my house. Many Mind Creek is a small tributary to Sandy Hook Bay and situated mostly in Atlantic Highlands, a tiny coastal community located downstream from New York City. As legend has it, the creek's whimsical name came about from early European settlers in the 1600s who declared that the little waterway twisted and turned so much that it couldn't decide where to go. Thus, it had "many minds."

Today, the Many Mind Creek doesn't  twist as much as it used to. Its outline has been straightened in certain places by former development. The edge of the creek also has a succession of roadways, bridges, parking lots, and buildings of various sizes.  

Contrary to what people might think, though, the shallow waters at the mouth of Many Mind Creek is a popular place for herons, egrets, and terns to dine on small fish. It's an important breeding area for mating Horseshoe Crabs in May and June, and a valuable site for rare coastal bird species including night herons and Black Skimmers to forage during summer evenings.

All was quiet and still during an early morning day in July as I ventured down to the edge of Many Mind Creek. Except for a few teenagers trying their hand at standup paddle boarding, the beach near the creek's mouth was tranquil and soothing. Both air and water temperatures were equally warm with readings in the low 80s. With nets in hand, I went about scanning the waters for life in the creek. It didn't take long to find some.

An outgoing tide had created a series of small mud pools along the edge of the creek, each teeming with clouds of Mummichogs, dozens splashing the surface in pursuit of insect larvae. I was able to catch a few females, the ones with dusky bars as opposed to males that have spotted sides and a yellow tinge.

Mummichogs are common small, hardy fish around the mouths of our streams. They grow about 5 inches in length and can survive in very polluted water, a perfect fish for New York Harbor. In fact, back in the 1960s when the bay was rank with raw sewage, oil, and nasty chemical compounds, there were still Mummichogs swimming in these unfavorable surroundings. Because of their presence, they helped to bring back fish eating birds to the bay including herons and egrets  and refuel a variety of migratory aquatic species including Striped Bass, Summer Flounder, and Bluefish. The "mummie" is a notable, but largely overlooked fish by many folks, apart from for fishermen that may use them for bait.  

Shrimps too were discovered in the creek, though not the kind to make a cocktail. These tiny Common Shore Shrimps grow only about two inches in length. Not meaty enough for people to enjoy, bit good enough for a variety of bay critters to take pleasure in from Striped Bass to Snowy Egrets.  The shrimps are abundant in the bay, especially in the intertidal zone or in shallow waters. Just like the Mummichogs, the Shore Shrimps are hardy critters that can tolerate a certain amount of pollution.

Then came the crabs. First there was a juvenile Blue-claw Crab. I could tell it was a male by the "rocket" impression on its abdomen.  Only about two inched wide, he was feisty for his size. Trying to pinch the tips of my fingers any chance he could. I finally had to use a empty clam shell to pick him up to take his picture. Blue crabs are widespread in shallow waters during the summer. They will eat nearly anything, including clams, smaller crabs, dead fish, plant and animal detritus – even other  Blue Crabs!

Not far from the Blue Crab were several Hermit Crabs, including a naked one without a shell. Hermit Crabs obtained their name because they lack a hard outer shell or exoskeleton to protect their body. So the crabs must "borrow" an empty one that originally belonged to another animal, such as a Moon Snail, an Oyster Drill, or a Mud Snail. Unlike the Hermit Crabs you might find being sold as pets along a beach boardwalk, these little critters are native and don't make good pets. They need to live in brackish waters and will eat algae, detritus and other tiny particles. They are an important part of the local food web, being preyed upon by larger animals, including a variety of fish,  crabs and large snails.

The creek also had Black-fingered Mud Crabs. Very common small crabs about an inch or less in size, brownish in color (the color of mud) with large black-tipped claws. In spite of their small size, don't count these critters as timid. The tips of their claws are powerful enough to crack open the shells of small clams, mussels, barnacles, and other small crabs. In turn they are an important food source to other marine animals.

Other life included small Hard Clams or Quahogs, about the size of littlenecks, an inch or so in length. These very common bivalves were found in the intertidal area at the mouth of the creek with a small rake. Hard Clams are important to the health of the bay. Not only do a variety of species depend on the clams as a food source, including people, but the clams are filter feeders. They help to clean up local waters by filtering microscopic plants and animals out of the water column through their siphon (a straw-like organ they use to draw water into their body). As a result, their waste is cleaner water, acting just like a filter.

My personal favorite finds, though, were the worms. Unearthed were Blood Worms and Milky Ribbon Worms. The Blood worms have semitransparent bodies that allow us to see the red fluid moving through its bodies that gives its name. Milky Ribbon Worms are thick ribbon-like worms that can grow up to 4 feet in length, our longest worm in the bay. Both worms are found in abundance on tidal flats and at creek mouths where they burrow into the sand to try to hide from predators. But dig a few inches into the sandy mud and one worm will soon be found. Worms are a popular and tasty food source for many shorebirds, fish, and crabs.

Upon first sight, the shallow waters of Many Mind Creek or any urban stream in Lower New York Bay might seem not all that interesting. Take a second look. A creek and surrounding landscape often invite a beautiful array of  interesting animals to stumble on. There is always something new to discover in a tidal creek, from shells and birds, to fish and  crabs, to even worms!

For more information, pictures and year-round sightings of wildlife in or near Sandy Hook Bay, please check out my blog entitled, Nature on the Edge of New York City at http://www.natureontheedgenyc.com