FIRST members Francisco Salgado and Jose Alvarez
On Sunday, June 15th, the Fishers Island Research and Survey Team (FIRST) conducted a standardized bird survey as part of its ongoing biodiversity monitoring efforts. Following Audubon’s established point count methodology, team members visited multiple predetermined locations across the island, pausing at each for a fixed 5-minute interval to record every bird seen or heard. This method ensures consistency and comparability year after year… a critical component in understanding trends in bird populations over time.
What did they find? A remarkable total of 52 distinct bird species, reflecting the ecological richness of Fishers Island in early summer!
| June 2025 Bird Count |
|---|
| American Crow |
| American Goldfinch |
| American Redstart |
| American Robin |
| Bank Swallow |
| Barn Swallow |
| Bewicks Wren |
| Black-Capped Chickadee |
| Blue Jay |
| Brown-Headed Cowbird |
| Carolina Wren |
| Cedar Waxwing |
| Chesnut-Sided Warbler |
| Chimney Swallow |
| Chimney Swift |
| Common Grackle |
| Common Tern |
| Common Yellowthroat |
| Double Crested Cormorant |
| Dove sp. |
| Downy Woodpecker |
| Eastern Towhee |
| Eastern Wood-Peewee |
| European Starling |
| Fish Crow |
| Great Black Backed Gull |
| Great Crested Flycatcher |
| Grey Catbird |
| Hairy Woodpecker |
| Herring Gull |
| House Finch |
| House Sparrow |
| Killdeer |
| Mourning Dove |
| Mute Swan |
| Northern Cardinal |
| Northern House Wren |
| Northern Mockingbird |
| Osprey |
| Red-Bellied Woodpecker |
| Red-Eyed Vireo |
| Red-Winged Blackbird |
| Ring-Necked Pheasant |
| Song Sparrow |
| Tree Swallow |
| Tufted Titmouse |
| White Throated Sparrow |
| White-Breasted Nuthatch |
| White-Eyed Vireo |
| Willow Flycatcher |
| Wood Thrush |
| Yellow Warbler |
The significance of these observations goes far beyond simple numbers. Each sighting contributes to a growing dataset that helps track the presence, abundance, and habitat preferences of avian species on the island. This is especially important in the face of ongoing environmental changes and land management practices.
Francisco Salgado, a returning FIRST member and bird researcher, is using data like this to examine bird box occupancy and breeding success in Fishers Island’s restored grasslands.
Birds are more than just beautiful visitors… they are indicators of ecosystem health.
Stay tuned as the team continues to share their work in conservation, research, and stewardship throughout the summer!