The primary purposes of Margaret Burke Wildlife Management Area (WMA) are for wildlife management, wildlife habitat management, and wildlife-dependent recreation. This WMA consists of 245 acres of mostly upland habitat in Albany County and is bisected by Pleasant Valley Road. The land was donated to DEC in 1958. The site is on the Helderberg Escarpment and exhibits karst geology, with very thin soils and numerous rock outcrops displaying interesting cracks and fissures. Margaret Burke WMA is included within the Helderberg Bird Conservation Area, providing a variety of bird species to enjoy, including American woodcock, ruffed grouse, brown thrasher, eastern towhee, and several forest warblers and other songbirds. Numerous habitat types can be found on the WMA on both sides of Pleasant Valley Road. Habitat east of the road consists primarily of mature mixed forest. Habitat west of the road is the former property of Burke farms and contains fields, shrubby areas, orchards, conifer plantations, and natural woodlands. One small area of shrub wetland exists along the western edge of the property. The variety of habitats offers ample opportunities to see a diversity of wildlife.