News

New Maintenance Shed

by Betty Ann Rubinow

New Maintenance Shed

There is something new behind the Movie Theater!

FIConservancy has installed a small, cedar-shingled structure in close proximity to the Demonstration Garden. The 10’ x 16’ shed will house a mower, weed-whackers and other tools.

Healthy growth of native plantings in the Demonstration Garden and Parade Grounds requires upkeep. The new maintenance shed will protect equipment and be a great help to Parade Grounds caretakers, who now will have ready access to the mower and tools. The previous “maintenance” area was through a back door to the movie theater, visible in the top left picture below.

The shed has a wide blue door, a hipped roof and two windows. It was built in rural Pennsylvania by Amish carpenters known for their craftsmanship. Following the advice of an engineer, the shed sits on a gravel surface that makes moving the shed easier, if ever necessary. It also sits above the flood plain.

FIConservancy Board members Dianne Crary and Laurie Marshall researched construction options and carefully followed the custom building and delivery of the maintenance shed in January.

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Ibis Pond
From the FieldVideo Snippets

Pond Habitat on Parade

by Betty Ann Rubinow

This afternoon’s calm allowed me to hop up on a grassy mound and get a better “bird’s eye view” of what I like to call Ibis pond* .175 acres of meadow and shore maintained by FIConservancy appears quite different in dormant winter months. Soon enough, the vivid colors and fresh scents of native plants will sprout lush habitat welcoming home songbirds, insects and Monarchs!

*Named Ibis Pond, because my very first video (July 2015) documented a juvenile Glossy Ibis in the pond. See Video Snippet “Ibis in the Morning”.

From the Field, Video Snippet, Justine Kibbe, Jan. 16, 2019

ibis

Glossy Ibis, July 2015

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Carolina chickadees by Desiree Narango
News

Ecologists Have this Simple Request to Homeowners — Plant Native

by fic0n5erv
Carolina chickadees by Desiree Narango

Carolina chickadees photo courtesy of Desirée Narango

A Must Read!

This wonderfully “timely” article mentions Dr. Doug Tallamy, founder of “Neighborhood Nestwatch” and whose collaborative research with Fishers Island Conservancy has been monumental for land preservation here these past years. . .

Ecologists Have this Simple Request to Homeowners — Plant Native

A new study shows how quickly songbird populations fall off when gardens are planted with exotic trees and shrubs

By Adam Cohen
smithsonian.com
October 31, 2018

They say the early bird catches the worm. For native songbirds in suburban backyards, however, finding enough food to feed a family is often impossible. READ MORE . . .

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Healthy Seagrass Meadows by Justine Kibbe
EventsNews

Hail to Healthy Seagrass Meadows!

by fic0n5erv

Healthy Seagrass Meadows by Justine Kibbe

These years I have been grateful for the opportunity to document and help bring attention to Seagrass Meadows surrounding our precious Fishers Island. Growing up here, I never imagined decades later there would be a dire need for Community to actively help restore, preserve and sustain this unique critical habitat.

*low tide, Hungry Point

From the Field, Field Note by Justine Kibbe, Oct. 18, 2018

 

There will be a Fishers Island Seagrass Management Meeting Tues Oct. 23rd in the Museum 1:30-4:00. All are welcome.

Guest speakers, Matias Tong, Data Technician, and Stephen Lloyd, Sr. Spatial Analyst/GIS Manager – both with the TNC – will present their analyses and results of the boating and eelgrass surveys conducted around Fishers Island last year. NYSDEC representative, Vicky O’Neill, will also attend.

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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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