News

Coyote Territory

by Betty Ann Rubinow

Coyote Territory

“Today, July 16, at 10:45 a.m., I spotted a large coyote standing in our backyard. When he noticed me, he trotted across our yard and then up into some bushes between our house and the neighbors.

“Our house is on the water, between the Wilmerding house and the ferry. It’s the second house on the left as you enter Silver Eel Cove on the ferry (next to the house with the pool).”

Coyotes were first reported in Connecticut in the 1950s, but their numbers began to swell in the 1980s and early 1990s. Rarely on display, coyotes are highly intelligent, agile, astute hunters, and excellent swimmers.

Leslie Conant Photos and Reporting

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Field NotesFrom the Field

Least Terns Flying on Upswing

by Betty Ann Rubinow

Least Terns Flying on Upswing

This summer five individual Least Terns have taken up residence within Sanctuary of Sands, parallel to the Elizabeth Field Airport runway. With their bright yellow bills and black-masked foreheads, these diving birds are smaller than their cousins the Common Terns, which have distinct orange bills.

According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Least Tern populations declined by about 88 percent between 1966 and 2015 and are classified as threatened, endangered, or as a species of concern for most states because of loss of nesting habitat.

Least terns nest in shadow scrapes in sand, soil or pebbles. Please support Fishers Island’s precious shorebirds. Kindly continue to leash all dogs within this delicate and critical habitat.

From the Field, Field Note by Justine Kibbe, July 3, 2019

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Field NotesFrom the FieldNews

A Pocketful of Plovers

by Betty Ann Rubinow

For the first time ever, I saw 8-10 piping plovers (adult and growing chicks) scurrying around “together” on Sanctuary of Sands.

Fishers Island’s piping plover chicks were born in two separate hatchings on Sanctuary of Sands and near the Race Point Parking area in late May.

In 2014 and 2015, I spotted only a single piping plover at the Big Club Beach and had documented none on the West End. How exciting to see “our” piping plover community expanding!

The New York Times recently reported that Fire Island’s piping plover population has nearly doubled since Hurricane Sandy struck in 2012. Sand and seawater washed over the island during the storm, and the combination of new sand flats and coastal repair increased plover habitat by 50 percent. (Piping plovers like to nest on dry flat sand close to the shoreline.)

From the Field, Field Note Justine Kibbe June 26, 2019

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News

The Clearing Continues

by Betty Ann Rubinow

 

Before and After 


Pictures do not do justice to the amazing transformation along South Beach Road approaching the Parcourse FitCircuit. Individual stops along the circuit are now visible, as is access to South Beach in the distance.

Last winter, Jimmy Ski, on behalf of FIConservancy, cleared the area of tangled invasive vegetation and created nearby berms that now contain the remains of Southold Town work and detritus from the past 40-50 years, including road sweepings, rock piles, metal from cars, asphalt and washing machines. Jimmy removed 97 tons of concrete that was crushed and used for Island roads.

The new berms, covered by dirt, are already being reclaimed by grasslands on the Parade Grounds. FIConservancy has planted a warm season grass mix specifically created for Fishers Island by nationally-recognized University of Delaware entomologist Doug Tallamy, Joe Henderson and Tom Sargent.

The grasses in this recently-cleared parcel will likely take three years to become established.

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News

Standing Up to Phragmites

by Betty Ann Rubinow

Standing Up to Phragmites

Phragmites line Wilderness Point Road. Fishers Island Gazette Photo

Phragmites: A relentless enemy.  The towering reeds grow an inch apart and are choking the Island’s tidal marshes, overtaking native vegetation and leaving no room for ducks, herons and egrets to land.

For years, Fishers Island’s wetlands and coastal areas have been mostly helpless against the onslaught of invasive phragmites, but FIConservancy has a plan.

This November, The Pond and Lake Connection, an aquatic services company, will begin a three-year treatment program to eradicate phragmites on 8.2 acres on the West End. This effort is part of FIConservancy’s overall restoration program to bring back native vegetation and eliminate invasive plant species.

The predicted success of this three-year plan is also meant to be a model for Island property owners who are looking for solutions to their own phragmites problems.

Four maps (above) indicate unchecked phragmites targeted by FIConservancy. Blue and purple areas will be treated. Green areas are not part of the FIConservancy initiative.

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Field NotesFrom the FieldNews

Alone No More!

by Betty Ann Rubinow

I am so happy to have seen a spotted sandpiper pair south of the airport runway on Sanctuary of Sands. A lone sandpiper has arrived every spring since 2015, and now there are a pair of these exquisite shorebirds!

According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology:

The spotted sandpiper occurs across North America. It has richly spotted breeding plumage, a teetering gait, stuttering wingbeats and showy courtship dances.

Female spotted sandpipers arrive at breeding grounds early to establish and defend territory. Females also may mate with four different males at a time, but it is the male that incubates the eggs and cares for the young.

From the Field, Field Note Justine Kibbe June 3, 2019

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Field NotesFrom the FieldNews

Protecting Killdeer Eggs

by Betty Ann Rubinow

Protecting Killdeer Eggs

FIConservancy Naturalist Justine Kibbe reported:

“As Fishers Island prepares for a very busy July and August, it’s wonderful to witness the rallying of community to protect our precious wildlife.

“Town of Southold Highway Dept. informed me of a tiny killdeer nest with a clutch of 4 delicate eggs hidden within the upland habitat of the Parade Grounds.

“Thank you to Islander Steffen Kucsera, who in the ‘busyness’ of his day, took the time to create a bit of a sanctuary and help direct truck traffic, keeping this dear Killdeer family out of harm’s way.”

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Field NotesFrom the FieldNews

Birth Announcement

by Betty Ann Rubinow

Birth Announcement

May 29, 2019: Congratulations Fishers Island! The community is pleased to announce the arrival of four Piping Plover chicks in Sanctuary of Sands on the south side of the airport runway. Please continue to leash all dogs walking in the area.

A piping plover pair returned to Fishers Island in early April. By early May, the female was nesting on her “scrape” in the Sanctuary of Sands area of South Beach. Camouflage-colored feathers help piping plovers disappear into the background. (Click on pictures to enlarge for an easier view of the chicks.)

There are fewer than 2000 pairs of “threatened” piping plovers on the Atlantic Coast.

Support our precious wildlife!

UPDATE, June 4, 2019: It now appears that there were two separate hatchings of piping plover chicks. One in the eastern tip of Sanctuary of Sands (described above) and a second hatching near the Race Point parking area with FIConservancy signage.

From the Field, Field Note, Justine Kibbe May 29, 2019

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Field NotesFrom the Field

Coast is Clear

by Betty Ann Rubinow

Safe under a leafy canopy, a baby Gray squirrel emerges from its comfy tree cavity to view its “big” new world: Fishers Island.

American Elm, Silver Eel Cove.

From the Field, Field Note, Justine Kibbe, May 29, 2019

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