New York has over 70,000 miles of rivers and streams and more than 7,600 lakes, ponds, and reservoirs. This open water and New York’s extensive freshwater wetlands (marshes, bogs, swamps, and wet meadows) provide important nesting habitat for breeding birds, and stopover areas for migrating birds. In the past 400 years, over half of the historically known freshwater wetlands have been lost due to draining and filling. Protecting remaining habitats is an important priority for wildlife conservation organizations.