Doug Tallamy is no stranger to Fishers Island. A longtime supporter of our mission, he has visited the island multiple times, leading tours of the Parade Grounds and inspiring residents to rethink how their landscapes can support the natural world. His message is simple but transformative: what we plant directly shapes the health of our ecosystems!

In a recent New York Times article, Tallamy outlines four ecological goals every landscape should aim to fulfill:

• Manage the watershed

• Support pollinators

• Bolster a viable food web

• Sequester carbon

These four principles are central to the work we are doing through habitat restoration, native plant demonstration gardens, invasive species removal, and community education. Like Tallamy, we believe that every yard and every effort counts.

Tallamy encourages small, achievable steps, such as planting keystone native species like oaks or goldenrod, replacing invasive plants, and rethinking the role of lawn in residential landscapes. These changes can transform private properties into powerful tools for conservation.

Whether you’re maintaining a home garden or caring for larger green spaces, this article is a valuable resource for anyone looking to align their landscape with nature!

Read the full article: The Four Ecologically Crucial Things You Should Do in Your Garden (NYT)

April 9, 2025

Article written by Margaret Roach

Feature photo by Rob Cardillo for The New York Times

Check this out—the Cornell Lab of Ornithology has released a powerful new report showing that bird populations across the U.S. are continuing to decline. One-third of species are now considered high or moderate concern, and the losses are especially steep for grassland and forest birds.

Here on island, we are working hard to monitor and protect local bird populations through seasonal surveys, habitat restoration, and long-term conservation planning. Our island plays a key role in the Atlantic Flyway, providing critical stopover and nesting habitat for both migratory and resident birds.

Protecting birds means protecting the health of our entire ecosystem. We encourage everyone in the community to take a moment to read this important article and stay connected to the bigger picture.

Read the full article from the Cornell Chronicle here -> State of America’s birds: Population declines continue