Current EventsEventsFeatureNews

2025 Spring Migratory Bird Count Results

by Anna White

Announcing the results of the Spring 2025 Migratory Bird Count

This year turned out to be a banner year for the count. We recorded a total of 72 species — the highest number since we started these counts. To put that in perspective, past spring counts have averaged about 50 species, with the previous high being 67 species in Spring 2024. The fall counts usually see fewer species, averaging around 40, so this spring really stood out.

One of the highlights was the observation of 11 different warbler species, making it one of our most diverse warbler counts yet. Even more exciting was the first-ever recording of an eastern meadowlark in the parade grounds!

In addition to the official count, we kept a running tally of birds spotted throughout the weekend, adding 10 more species to our overall observations. One memorable moment was spotting a bald eagle down by Race Point being mobbed by an osprey — photos of this dramatic encounter will be shared soon!

(Asterisks indicate specimen observed only during running counts)

Spring 2025 Bird Count
American Black Duck
American Crow
American Goldfinch
American Oystercatcher*
American Redstart
American Robin
Bald Eagle*
Baltimore Oriole
Bank Swallow*
Barn Swallow
Barred Owl
Black-And-White Warbler
Black-Capped Chickadee
Black-Crowned Night Heron*
Black-Throated Blue Warbler
Black-Throated Green Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Blue Jay
Blue-Winged Warbler
Brown-Headed Cowbird
Brown Thrasher
Canada Goose
Cape May Warbler
Carolina Wren
Cedar Waxwing
Chimney Swift
Chipping Sparrow
Common Eider
Common Grackle
Common Loon*
Common Tern
Common Yellowthroat
Cooper's Hawk
Double-Crested Cormorant
Downy Woodpecker
Eastern Kingbird
Eastern Meadowlark
Eastern Towhee
Eastern Wood Peewee
European Starling
Field Sparrow
Gray Catbird
Great Black-Backed Gull
Great Blue Heron*
Great-Crested Flycatcher
Great Egret
Herring Gull
House Finch
House Sparrow
House Wren/Northern House Wren
Indigo Bunting
Killdeer
Least Sandpiper*
Merlin
Mourning Dove
Mute Swan
Northern Cardinal
Northern Flicker
Northern Harrier
Northern Mockingbird
Northern Parula
Osprey
Ovenbird*
Purple Martin
Red-Bellied Woodpecker
Red-Eyed Vireo
Red-Shouldered Hawk
Red-Tailed Hawk
Red-Winged Blackbird
Ring-Necked Pheasant
Rose-Breasted Grosbeak
Sharp-Shinned Hawk
Snowy Egret*
Song Sparrow
Surf Scoter*
Tree Swallow
Tufted Titmouse
White-Eyed Vireo
White-Throated Sparrow
Wood Thrush
Yellow Warbler
Yellow-Rumped Warbler

Thanks to the fantastic turnout — including Tom, Allison, Adam, Emily, Will, Tyler, Catalina, Kristen and family, Jane Crary, Trudi Edwards, Ken Edwards Sr. and son-in-law, Linda Musser, and Anne Sargent — we had great eyes and ears in the field to help with this impressive count!

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Current EventsEventsNews

2025 Spring Migratory Bird Count

by Anna White

Photo by Anna White

Spring Migratory Bird Count 2025
When: Sunday, May 11th at 8:00 am
Where: Meet outside of the Community Center

We invite you to join us for our annual Spring Migratory Bird Count on Sunday, May 11th. This seasonal tradition offers a great opportunity to observe birds returning to their northern breeding grounds while exploring a variety of habitats across the island.

The morning will begin outside the Fishers Island Community Center at 8 am, where we will gather before setting out in groups. Guided by Dr. Adam Mitchell of Tarleton State University, along with birding experts Emily Baisden and Will Almeida, the group will visit 15 designated stops from the West End to the East End of the island. Each stop lasts five minutes, following established Audubon count methods, as we identify and record bird species seen and heard along the way.

All are welcome to attend. No prior birding experience is needed. If you have binoculars, we encourage you to bring them. A limited number will also be available to borrow. Please wear comfortable walking shoes and dress for the weather.

This annual count supports the Conservancy’s long-term efforts to monitor bird populations and contributes valuable information to regional conservation work.

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Marine Reports

Marine Debris May 2025

by Anna White

Marine Debris Report
May 2025
Collected across island beaches
Total weight: 1,014  lbs | Total hours: 134.5
~ Michele Klimczak

DATEZONELOCATIONWEIGHT (LBS)HOURS
5/1/2025E4Castle Rd Beach to behind Money Pound745.5
5/1/2025Sorting for Nature Days3
5/2/2025S3Beach before Big Club to Chocomount beach637.5
5/3/2025S2Isabella Beaches294
5/4/2025S2Wilderness Point364
5/7/2025S2South beaches to Sanctuary of Sands to the Race (repair bird fencing)398
5/8/2025N1Airport beaches to Ordinance Ferry Park to Silver Eel Cover to Little Stony to Hay Harbor Beaches568.5
5/9/2025N6North Hill beaches294
5/12/2025N6Dock beach, Clay Point Rd beaches up to Chocomount Cove388
5/13/2025N5Chocomount cove beaches through Hungry Point beaches648.5
5/14/2025E4East Harbor beaches through all Latimer Light beaches738.5
5/15/2025E4Castle Rd beaches to behind Money Pond774.5
5/16/2025S3Mend fencing @ Big Club beaches for nesting beaches before Big Club to Chocomount beaches498
5/17/2025S2Isabella Beaches384
5/19/2025S2Wilderness Point ends to S. Beach to Sanctuary of Sands through Race Rock528.5
5/20/2025N1Airport beaches to Ordinance Ferry Park to Silver Eel Cover to Little Stony to Holiday House Beaches437.5
5/23/2025N6N. Hill beaches, Dock beach, Clay Point Rd beaches457.5
5/24/2025N5Chocomount Cove beaches334
5/27/2025N5Hungry Point beaches224
5/27/2025E4Start East Harbor beaches and repair fencing behind 8th hole364.5
5/28/2025E4Latimer Light beaches and behind money pond828
5/29/2025S3beaches before Big Club364

View the Marine Debris Gallery Below

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EventsFeatureNews

A Gift to the Island- Aldo Benches from FI Students

by Anna White

We’re sending a big thank you to FI School teacher Adam Murray and his group of  hardworking students for building two beautiful Aldo Leopold benches for the Fishers Island Conservancy and the H.L. Ferguson Museum and Land Trust.

These benches were built in honor of Aldo Leopold, a pioneering conservationist whose work continues to inspire people to connect with nature and care for the land. His classic bench design invites quiet observation and a deeper appreciation of the natural world.

One bench can be found in the Museum Sanctuary and the other is placed at the Parade Grounds, where it offers a front row seat to the island’s birdlife and open space.

A huge thank you to the students who made this project possible: Kris, Jacob, Theo, Connor, Kyle, Lil, Kyzen, Madelyn, Antonio, and Cyllus. Your craftsmanship and care have added something truly special to these spaces.

If you find yourself nearby, take a seat and enjoy all that nature has to offer on Fishers Island.

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EventsFeatureNews

Earth Day 2025 Recap

by Anna White

In celebration of Earth Day, the Fishers Island Conservancy and the H.L. Ferguson Museum hosted a community cleanup on Friday, April 19. We were thrilled to welcome about 15 volunteers who gathered at the Museum before heading out to two locations: the Chocomount Cove trail for invasive plant removal, and the Parade Grounds for a beach and roadside cleanup.

Under sunny skies and with clippers and gloves in hand, participants worked together to care for some of Fishers Island’s most cherished open spaces. We’re incredibly grateful for the turnout and teamwork. Thank you to everyone who took part in making our island cleaner and more resilient.

Let’s keep the momentum going. Whether it’s Earth Day or any other day, we encourage everyone to pitch in by picking up litter and respecting our natural spaces!

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EventsFeatureNewsShorebirds

A Strong Start to Shorebird Season

by Anna White

This past wednesday, FI Conservancy hosted our first Shorebird Pre-Fencing Day to prepare for the return of the endangered Piping Plover and the threatened Least Tern. These small shorebirds nest directly on open sand, which leaves their eggs and chicks highly vulnerable to disturbance. Symbolic fencing helps reduce these risks by clearly marking    nesting areas to keep people and pets at a safe distance.

Fencing was successfully installed at three key sites across the island: Eighth Hole Beach, South Beach, and Airfield Beach. Visitors are now reminded that dogs must be leashed to avoid disrupting or damaging nesting sites. The fencing will remain in place through the shorebird breeding season but will be removed later in the summer once nesting is complete.

We are grateful to the volunteers and partners who joined us for this effort. Thank you to Michele, Nate Chaves, Jessica NeJame from the Henry L. Ferguson Museum, Kristen Peterson, Stephanie Hall, and FIC President Tom Sargent. Special thanks to Sophia Brown and Sean Wiedemann from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, whose guidance was essential as we relaunch the Long Island Colonial Waterbird Survey efforts on Fishers Island.

Protecting shorebirds is a community effort. Thank you to everyone who came out to support this important work. Together we are helping safeguard Fishers Island’s shoreline and the wildlife that depends on it.

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FeatureNews

Must-Read Article: Doug Tallamy on the Four Things Every Garden Should Do

by Anna White

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

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Marine Reports

Marine Debris April 2025

by Anna White

Marine Debris Report
April 2025
Collected across island beaches
Total weight: 1,296  lbs | Total hours: 146.5
~ Michele Klimczak

DATEZONELOCATIONWEIGHT (LBS)HOURS
4/2/2025N6S. Dumpling beaches, Dock beach, Brickyard Rd to Clay Point Rd beaches577
4/3/2025N5Chocomount cove beaches to Hungry Point Rd beaches617
4/4/2025E4East Harbor through all Latimer Light beaches677
4/5/2025E4Castle Rd Beach to behind Money Pound565
4/7/2025E4Beaches over golf course on south side before Big Club685
4/8/2025S3Beach before Big Club to Chocomount beach497
4/9/2025–Volunteer setting up shorebird symbolic fencing for birds–3
4/9/2025S2Wilderness Point beaches284
4/10/2025S2South Beach where Wilderness Point Ends to Sanctuary of Sands to Race Rock417
4/11/2025N1Airport beaches to Ordinance Ferry Park to Silver Eel Cover to Little Stony to Hay Harbor Beaches587
4/12/2025S2Isabella Beaches425
4/14/2025N6N. Dumpling beaches, Dock beach, Brickyard Rd to Clay Point Rd beaches608
4/15/2025N5Chocomount cove beaches through Hungry Point beaches497.5
4/16/2025E4East Harbor beaches through all Latimer Light beaches627
4/17/2025E4Castle Rd beaches to behind Money Pond515
4/19/2025–Earth Day Collection – Metal trash, glass, ect144–
4/21/2025S3Beach before Big Club to farthest end of Chocomount397.5
4/22/2025E4Beaches over Golf Course on SE side up to the Big Club837
4/23/2025S2Isabella beaches to Wilderness Point beaches427.5
4/24/2025S2Where Wilderness Point ends to S. Beach to Sanctuary of Sands through Race Rock387.5
4/25/2025N1Airport beaches to Ordinance, Ferry Park to Silver Eel Cove, Little Stony, Hay Harbor beaches447
4/28/2025N6Clay Point Rd beaches to Brickyard Rd beaches to Penninsula Rd beaches to Dock to North Hill367
4/29/2025N5Chocomount Cove beaches through Hungry Point beaches527
4/30/2025E4East Harbor through all Latimer Light beaches on NE end697.5

View the Marine Debris Gallery Below

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Current EventsEventsFeatureNewsShorebirds

Shorebird Pre-Fencing Day – 04/09

by Anna White

Sign being installed on symbolic fencing by Anna White

As our tiniest visitor, the endangered Piping Plover, returns to Fishers Island’s shores this spring, the Fishers Island Conservancy is preparing to install symbolic fencing at known nesting sites. These small shorebirds lay their eggs directly on open sand, making them extremely vulnerable to disturbance. To protect them and give them the best chance at a successful breeding season, FIC will kick off the season with Pre-Fencing Day on Wednesday, April 9.

Symbolic fencing is a simple yet critical step that helps reduce disturbance from people and pets by clearly marking sensitive nesting areas. This protection is not just for Piping Plovers but also serves as nesting habitat for Least Terns, which are listed as threatened in New York State. These birds depend on undisturbed beach habitat to successfully nest and raise their young.

This work is part of the Long Island Colonial Waterbird Survey (LICWS), a statewide monitoring and protection program coordinated by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. We are excited to partner with Sophia Brown from NYSDEC as we relaunch LICWS efforts on the island. Fishers Island falls within Region 1 of the NYSDEC, which includes Suffolk County and nearby coastal islands.

We invite anyone interested in helping to join us on Wednesday, April 9th at 10:30 AM outside the FI Community Center. We encourage volunteers to bring work gloves and dress for the weather.

Come lend a hand and help us protect our islands shoreline and the shorebirds that call it home!

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FeatureNews

Must-Read Article: Alarming Trends in Bird Populations

by Anna White

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

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