The Dismal Swamp is a marshy area inMiddlesex County incentral New Jersey. The marshes border the towns of Edison,South Plainfield, and Metuchen. The Dismal Swamp is a wetland ecosystem located in anurban environment. The swamp covers nearly 650 acres (3 km2) with 12 acres (0 km2) located inMetuchen with the remaining portion in Edison and South Plainfield. The swampcontains a number of wildlife species, including the endangeredloggerhead shrike. There are an estimated 165 different species of birdsin the swamp.