Sayville consists primarily of oak-pitch pine forests interspersed with grasslands. This sub-unit supports a diversity of migratory songbirds and raptors. The refuge contains the largest population of sandplain gerardia (a federally endangered plant) in the state of New York. Management activities focus on protecting and enhancing habitat for this endangered plant and for migratory birds.
History
The refuge was established in 1992 by the transfer of a 26-acre (11 ha) parcel of vacant Federal Aviation Administration land. In 1990, Congress legislated the transfer of an additional 101-acre (41 ha) parcel from the FAA to the refuge. That exchange was to be completed after the FAA had removed all buildings and improvements. Those have since been removed, and the transfer was completed in February 2007.[2]