adult spotted lanternfly
InsectsNews

Invasive Insect Alert: Spotted Lanternfly

by fic0n5erv

Invasive Insect Alert: Spotted Lanternfly

This is a new invasive insect that should be collected, killed, and reported if seen.

An adult spotted Lanternfly (Photo courtesy of Bugwood)

What You Can Do

  • Inspect your trees (in particular, tree of heaven) and plants for signs of this pest, particularly at dusk and at night when the insects tend to gather in large groups on the trunks or stems of plants.
  • Inspect posts, bricks, stone, and other smooth surfaces for egg masses.
  • Inspect outdoor items such as vehicles and firewood for egg masses.
  • If you find an insect that you suspect is the spotted lanternfly, please contact your local Extension office or State Plant Regulatory Official to have the specimen identified properly.
  • If you live on Fishers and in New York State, DEC* and DAM encourage the public to be on the lookout for and report this pest. Please send pictures and note the location of where the insect, egg masses, and/or infestation signs were found, to spottedlanternfly@dec.ny.gov.
  • Locate the Extension specialist near you
  • Contact your State Plant Regulatory Official (click on the state)
  • If visiting Pennsylvania or other states with SLF, check equipment and gear before leaving and scrape off any egg masses.
  • If you live In Pennsylvania, use the interactive plant pest quarantine map to see if you’re in the spotted lanternfly quarantine. If you are in the quarantine area, this YouTube video shows how to identify, remove, and destroy SLF egg masses (with rubbing alcohol). In other parts of Pennsylvania, report it to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture by emailing a photo of the egg mass to badbug@pa.gov or call 888-4-BADFLY (223359).

The Spotted Lanternfly (SLF) Lycorma delicatula is native to China and was first detected in Pennsylvania in September 2014. Spotted lanternfly feeds on a wide range of fruit, ornamental and woody trees, with tree-of-heaven being one of the preferred hosts. Spotted lanternflies are invasive and can be spread long distances by people who move infested material or items containing egg masses. If allowed to spread in the United States, this pest could seriously impact the country’s grape, orchard, and logging industries.

~USDA APHIS

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Swallows
Bird CountsNews

Fall 2018 Bird Migration Survey Results

by fic0n5erv

The Fishers Island Conservancy Fall 2018 Bird Migration Survey was held on September 23. Following Audubon bird count rules, the group made 15 five-minute stops. At each timed stop, the birders would count birds and call out what they saw.

We observed a total of 41 species, less than last year but still higher than average for past Fall counts. Starting later in the month than usual, we missed out on the large migration of swallows that occurred the week before, and certain species of warblers, but made up for it in the number of raptors (hawks and falcons) that were making their way south during the count.

Here’s the list of species reported from the count:
American crow
American goldfinch
American kestrel
American robin
Black-capped chickadee
Black-crowned night heron
Belted kingfisher
Bluejay
Blue-winged warbler
Canada goose
Carolina wren
Cedar waxwing
Chipping sparrow
Common eider
Cooper’s hawk
Common raven
Double-crested cormorant
Eastern Phoebe
European starling
Great blue heron
Gray catbird
Great egret
Green heron
Herring gull
House finch
House wren
Killdeer
Mallard
Mourning dove
Mute swan
Northern harrier
Northern flicker
Northern mockingbird
Osprey
Ruby-throated hummingbird
Song sparrow
Tree swallow
Tufted titmouse
White-breasted nuthatch
Yellow-rumped warblers
Yellow warbler

 

by Adam Mitchell, Associate Wildlife Biologist ® PhD Student, Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology University of Delaware

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sentinel
Sentinel Archives

Young Environmental Enthusiast Produces Video

by Betty Ann Rubinow
seagrass video

Underwater video by Marc Rosenberg, FIConservancy Island Sentinel.

Marc Rosenberg, 14, was the youngest Island Sentinel this summer, but he volunteered like a pro. His particular assignment was monitoring eelgrass beds around Fishers Island, and he produced an underwater video about the critical importance of eelgrass.

Nearly all of the seagrass left in Long Island Sound’s New York waters is located around Fishers Island. Unfortunately, however, it makes up less than 10 percent of seagrass’s historic acreage. Seagrass meadows were once abundant throughout the bays and harbors of the Sound, providing food, shelter and nurseries for thousands of ocean animals.

Marc quickly understood the risks to healthy eelgrass from nitrogen pollution (septic systems and fertilizer use), physical damage (vessel anchors, moorings, propeller scars, and fishing gear), and warming seas.

Chantal E. Collier, director of The Nature Conservancy’s Long Island Sound program, impressed with Marc’s observations this summer, has invited him to present his film at a future seagrass coalition meeting on Fishers Island.

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Island Sentinels
Island SentinelsSentinel Archives

2018 Island Sentinels

by Betty Ann Rubinow
Island Sentinels

Betsy Conger

Betsy Conger, 16, is a junior at Fishers Island School, which she has attended since sixth grade. She lives in Stonington, Conn. and takes the ferry to school each day. Her older sister, Olivia Backhaus, who was also a Fishers Island School student and an Island Sentinel for 5 years, first introduced Betsy to environmental work on the Island.

Betsy’s environmental studies began in her school science classes. After several class field trips, she was intrigued by the Island’s beauty and wanted to become an Island Sentinel to learn more about environmental work taking place here. As lead Island Sentinel, Betsy helps to monitor sites with the other Island Sentinels. She also collects data sheets and inputs all data into the computer. Serving as an Island Sentinel has given her a greater appreciation of the Island’s ever-changing ecosystem and other factors that are so critical to the long-term health of the Island.

Gardner Thors

Gardner Thors, 17, lives in New York City and is a sophomore at Groton School in Massachusetts. He has been a Sentinel for four years, after first volunteering for one summer. As a city kid, he doesn’t get to experience nature and wildlife except for the landscaped Central Park and the infamous pigeons and squirrels of the city. Fishers Island is his wildlife sanctuary. Gardner has been summering here for as long as he can remember, and Fishers holds a special place in his heart. That is why he chose to play a part in the preservation of this environment. Gardner looks forward to learning more about the Island’s ecosystems and sharing what he learns with the Island community. His brother, Wilson, is also a passionate Sentinel.

Wilson Thors

Wilson Thors lives in New York City and is a sophomore at Groton School in Massachusetts. 2018 was his second summer as a Sentinel, and he volunteered to monitor for FIConservancy before becoming a Sentinel. He joined the Sentinel program, because he was curious about his brother’s experiences as a Sentinel. Wilson has always appreciated the natural beauty of Fishers Island, but now he has a deeper love of the Island since learning more about animals and learning that we share this great place with the wildlife.

 

sentinel

Marc Rosenberg

Marc Rosenberg, 14, lives in New York City and is a freshman at Bronx High School of Science. 2018 was his “volunteer” year and first summer as a Sentinel. He joined the Sentinel program because he was interested in sea life and wildlife on Fishers Island.

Marc’s interest in sea life was sparked when he vacationed in Greece and observed the multitude of fish through his goggles. After this experience, Marc became increasingly curious about wildlife on and around Fishers Island. Even though Marc learned much this summer, he hopes that next year he will better his understanding of Fishers Island and continue to be a help to the Sentinels. He also hopes to convince his sister to become a Sentinel!

snorkeling

Marc Rosenberg Snorkeling

Marc enjoys spending time under water and made a video of seagrass off the coast of Fishers Island. See Marc’s video.

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plastic marine debris
From the FieldVideo Snippets

Plague of Plastics

by Betty Ann Rubinow

Thousands of tiny plastic particles are swirled and swept into Silver eel Cove, Fishers Island this stormy September day. Sadly, these observations of incoming debris are noted more often these years between Long Island and Fishers Island Sounds, plaguing foraging grounds and critical habitat.

From the Field, Video Snippet by Justine Kibbe, Sept. 10, 2018

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osprey
News

Ospreys in Southold Town

by Betty Ann Rubinow
Osprey

Bill Colman captured this image of an osprey hunting for fish July 20, 2018 at a dock owned by his in-laws, Bob and Margot Meyer. The picture was taken with a Nikon D800 camera.

Southold Town, which includes Fishers Island, Plum Island and Robins Island, has the densest population of breeding ospreys in eastern Long Island. In 2018, Andrew Edwards used a drone to record 34 fledglings in 17 active nests on Fishers Island.

Read About Nesting Ospreys
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entomology
EducationNature DayNews

Exciting Day at Parade Grounds!

by Betty Ann Rubinow

Exciting Day at Parade Grounds!

entomology

Doug Tallamy, entomologist, points out large polyphemus caterpillar hidden in oak tree in Demonstration Garden. He had seen a tiny caterpillar egg in this tree weeks ago and, against all odds, found the full-grown caterpillar in the same tree Aug. 11 at the beginning of “Conservation on Parade”.

“So creative!” “So well done!” “What a wonderful afternoon!” These were just a few of the comments heard as people left FIConservancy’s first-ever “Conservation on Parade” Sat. Aug. 11 at the Parade Grounds.

Overcast skies cooled the summer heat and humidity that had previously clung to Fishers Island, and predicted rain never materialized. Sixty families, comprising some 200 parents, grandparents, young children and teenagers, responded to FIConservancy’s invitation to visit the Parade Grounds’ restored grassland.

Small, bright white tents popped up amidst the Demonstration Garden and meadow, each one with a different theme: birds; bugs, live animals, face painting; marine debris education. Free ice cream from an ice-cream truck was a popular attraction for visitors.

FIConservancy has spent the past 10 years transforming 175 acres of tangled invasive plant growth in the Parade Grounds, and around the airport and South Beach, into a native garden and meadows. Island residents and visitors don’t usually stop to walk the paths and listen to singing birds and buzzing native insects.

Now that so many have seen the ease of enjoying the Parade Grounds, FIConservancy is confident that the community will understand that it takes work, but together we can achieve success in protecting and maintaining the natural resources of Fishers Island.

In the pictures below, follow the preferred route of visitors to “Conservation on Parade”. Viewing from left to right, start at the Demonstration Garden, walk the meadow path to the Bugs/Live Animals/Face Painting Tent, continue to Marine Debris Tent and finish at the Bird Tent.

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Island Sentinels
Island SentinelsSentinel Archives

Island Sentinels at “Conservancy on Parade”

by Betty Ann Rubinow

Island Sentinels

(l-r) 2018 Island Sentinels Marc Rosenberg, Betsy Conger and Gardner Thors at “Conservation on Parade”.

Island Sentinels lend their support to “Conservation on Parade” Aug. 11, 2018 at the Parade Grounds. Some 200 people attended the afternoon event, which featured four different stations highlighting plants, birds, bugs, live animals, and the dangers of marine debris.

The “free ice cream” truck was a popular draw at the Marine Debris station!

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Cecropia moth
FI Moths

Cecropia Moth

by Betty Ann Rubinow

Common Name: Cecropia moth, Robin moth

Scientific Name: Hyalophora cecropia

Season: One generation a year in New England, with adults flying late May into June, and caterpillars from June into the fall.

Food: Many different woody plants in the Northeast: alder, ash, basswood, birch, cherry, dogwood, elm, hawthorn, maple, oak, poplar, wax myrtle, and willow.

Ecology: One of the largest moths in the US, with a very large caterpillar to boot. Unfortunately, this species of moth is in decline, due to a parasitic fly that was initially released to handle gypsy moths, as well as loss of native host plants. Although caterpillars appear to have spikes on their body, they do not sting. Caterpillars will move to the base of host plants and form silken bag cocoons, where they will overwinter.

Doug Tallamy Photo

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Parade Grounds summer beauty
From the FieldVideo Snippets

Summer’s Beauty on Parade

by Betty Ann Rubinow


An Easterly wind rustles through historic Parade Grounds, this July afternoon.
These meadows are conserved and preserved by The Fishers Island Conservancy-175 acres cultivating & demonstrating native plant species; providing critical habitat and nutrition for insects and migrating birds.

Video Snippet, From the Field by Justine Kibbe, July 21, 2018

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