Silver Eel–Race Point Coastal Trail Opens with Dedication to Janet Harvey

, , ,

The Fishers Island Conservancy is proud to be part of the newly opened Silver Eel–Race Point Coastal Trail and the dedication of the Janet Harvey Sanctuary—two projects that highlight what’s possible when the island comes together around a shared vision for conservation and public access!

This new trail links Silver Eel Cove to Race Point and travels through a mix of restored and protected landscapes, including Ferry Park, where the Conservancy has led extensive habitat restoration and native planting efforts over the past several years. It’s an area we’ve worked hard to return to native coastal meadow and pollinator-friendly habitat, and we’re excited to now have it accessible as part of a continuous public trail on the island’s West End.

One key section of the trail travels over the 1,200-foot berm created by the Fishers Island Ferry District in 2022. That project used over 2,500 cubic yards of clean sand dredged from Silver Eel Cove to build a graded berm between the high tide line and the parking area. The Ferry District invited the Conservancy to advise on stabilizing and beautifying the berm and we were thrilled to recommend, source, and sponsor the planting of native grasses. Today, that stretch is lush, protected, and an important part of the trail corridor.

The trail winds from the Lighthouse Works Public Art installation, through Ferry Park and the Ordnance, into the newly established Janet Harvey Sanctuary, and onward to the meadows, shorelines, and historic sites at Race Point.

The five-acre Janet Harvey Sanctuary was made possible through a license agreement with the Fishers Island Waste Management District. It protects a section of coastal habitat along with historic Fort Wright structures, offering views over Long Island Sound and back toward the Fort’s inland batteries. Named in honor of Janet Hardie Harvey, the sanctuary reflects her commitment to both the natural world and ensuring island landscapes are available to all.

This project is the result of collaboration across the Museum, the Waste Management District, the Ferry District, the Conservancy, and Brad and Mary Burnham, owners of the Ordnance property. It’s the kind of partnership work that’s essential to sustaining the island’s ecological and cultural heritage.

The community is invited to join the dedication and opening walk this Sunday, August 10, at 9 AM at the Ordnance (between the Paddle Courts and the FICC). Light breakfast, coffee, and brief remarks will be followed by a trail walk.

Later in the day at 4 PM, Museum Director Pierce Rafferty will give a talk on the island’s conservation history.

We’re proud to have contributed to this effort and look forward to seeing the community on the trail!

August Shorebird Update

, , ,
Read more

Meet the Hickory Horned Devil

, , ,

juvenile stage by Kristen Peterson

The Hickory Horned Devil is the largest caterpillar in North America and one of the most unforgettable. It goes through a dramatic transformation, beginning life as a small, dark, spiky creature and growing into a bright green, six-inch-long caterpillar with vivid red horns and a prehistoric look. Despite its intimidating appearance, it is completely harmless!

Early Life

In its early stages, the Hickory Horned Devil is easy to miss. Young caterpillars are dark-colored with long, fine spines and short horns that often have spoon-shaped tips. They may have reddish coloring along their midsection and spend this time feeding on leaves in the canopy of native trees like sumac, walnut, sweetgum, and hickory. This color phase is brief but fascinating, and those familiar with the species may still recognize it even at this early stage.

 

full size caterpillar by Murray Fisher

full size caterpillar by Murray Fisher

Growing Up

With each molt, the caterpillar grows larger and brighter. Eventually, it reaches its full size, glowing green with black-tipped red horns, and covered in subtle blue and yellow markings. This stage typically peaks in August, when the caterpillar prepares for the next chapter of its life cycle.

 

Pupation stages by Richard Stickney

As summer winds down, mature Hickory Horned Devils leave the trees and begin to crawl across the ground, searching for soft soil. Once they find a suitable spot, they burrow underground to pupate. Unlike many other moths, they do not spin a cocoon. Instead, they remain underground in a tough, smooth pupal shell where they will spend the winter.

 

Adult Regal Moth by Naomi Zahn (FIRST)

The Final Form: Regal Moth

The following summer, if all goes well, the adult moth emerges. Known as the Regal Moth or Royal Walnut Moth, this beautiful insect is one of the largest moths in North America. It has rust-orange forewings with cream spots and soft gray hindwings with orange stripes. While stunning in its own right, the adult moth lives only for a short time and does not eat—it exists solely to reproduce and continue the cycle.

Why It Matters

The Hickory Horned Devil is not just a fascinating insect… it is also a valuable part of our native ecosystem! Its presence on Fishers Island indicates healthy host plant populations and minimal pesticide use. Like many native caterpillars, it provides food for birds and other wildlife and plays a role in supporting broader biodiversity!

We are fortunate to spot this species on the island. Whether you’re walking a trail or tending your garden, keep an eye out for these incredible creatures and appreciate their place in our shared landscape.

If you’ve photographed one on Fishers Island, we’d love to see it! Share your sightings with us and help us celebrate the wildlife that makes this place so special.

Nature Day Story Walk

, , ,
Read more

Nature Day 2025

, , ,
Read more

Panel Discussion

, , ,
Read more

Insect Catching and ID with Expert Entomologists

, , ,

Come explore the amazing world of insects with expert entomologists Bryan Danforth and Marina Caillaud (Cornell University). We’ll be out in the Parade Grounds with sweep nets and bug boxes, catching all kinds of cool critters and learning how to identify them!

This is a fun, hands-on session for all ages, whether you’re a bug lover or just curious about what’s crawling and flying around out there. The entomologists will walk you through the basics of catching, handling, and identifying insects, and they’ll be happy to answer all your questions!

All equipment will be provided. Just wear comfy clothes, closed-toe shoes, and be ready to explore.

Where: The Parade Grounds
When: July 19th at 9:30 – 10:30 AM

Moth Night Into The Lights at the Parade Grounds

, , ,

Love nature and bugs? Come join entomologist Dr. Adam Mitchell and our awesome FIRST team for a chill evening of insect discovery at the Parade Grounds!

We’ll be setting up big white sheets and vapor lamps to attract all kinds of cool critters—moths, beetles, and who knows what else! You’ll get to learn about their wild behaviors and help out with our annual biodiversity survey, which helps track native plants and how well the island’s habitats are bouncing back.

Details:
Friday, July 18th, 2025
Starts at 9:30 PM (drop by anytime)
Parade Grounds

Whether you’re a full-on bug enthusiast or just a little curious, this is the perfect chance to experience nature in a whole new way. Bring some friends, your sense of adventure, and let’s see what shows up under the lights!

Shorebird Season Winds Down, But Not Over

,

As the summer progresses, the shorebird nesting season on island is winding down. This year’s monitoring included a mix of hopeful success and continued challenges. Here’s an overview of what we’ve seen so far, what remains, and how we can all play a role in protecting these sensitive species!

South Beach – Fencing Removal Coming Soon

Piping Plover pair with fledged chick Photo captured by Emma C.

This site hosted two Piping Plover pairs this year. One pair fledged a single chick, while the other successfully fledged two. These are encouraging signs, especially considering the vulnerability of these birds during the early chick-rearing phase. With fledging confirmed, we’ll be removing the symbolic fencing that has been protecting these nests.

Important note: Even after the fencing is taken down, please be mindful in this area. Fledged chicks often remain nearby for foraging and safety, and plovers are known to return to the same beaches year after year. Continued low-impact presence by beachgoers and staying on wet sand, avoiding flagged areas, and leashing dogs makes a real difference!

Big Club Beach – No Nesting Observed

This season, we saw no nesting activity here. A single plover was observed foraging, but it never established a territory or attempted to nest. The most likely cause? Repeated human disturbance. This beach, though really suitable in habitat, remains a high-traffic area. Without safe nesting space, plovers simply move on.

The fencing at this site will also be removed. While there were no active nests, continued public education and future monitoring remain critical. Restoring this beach as a viable nesting site will depend on all of us recognizing the signs and minimizing our impact!

Beach Pond (Behind the Oyster Farm) – Still Active & Vital

Least Tern nesting captured by Anna W.

Known formally by NYSDEC as “Beach Pond,” this remote site has become a key refuge for both terns and plovers. So far this year:

  • Three Least Tern nests have been confirmed, with two eggs in each (so far)

  • A Piping Plover pair has started their first nesting attempt, with a clutch of four eggs.

This site is unfenced due to its natural isolation and lack of public access, which reduces the risk of human-related disturbances. However, it is not free from threats… like gull predation. We have documented gulls interfering at the nest site, a common and difficult challenge for open-ground nesters like plovers and terns.

 

Eighth Hole Beach – Nesting Outside the Fence

4 Piping plover eggs (and a sneaky rock) captured by Anna W.

Here, a plover pair is attempting a second nest after an initial failure earlier this season. The symbolic fencing remains in place and will stay up until any chicks have safely fledged.

The new nest is located just outside the protected area, highlighting how nesting birds don’t always follow our boundaries. To adapt, we’ve marked the area with pink flags to signal nesting activity to beachgoers.

Please use caution when near this area. These nests are fragile and well-camouflaged. Even a single unintentional disturbance can cause adults to abandon their nest or lead predators directly to the eggs or chicks.

Mud Pond Beach (East Beach) – No Further Activity

After a failed nesting attempt in mid-June, no plovers have been seen at this site. It remains unfenced and inactive. While disappointing, this outcome isn’t unusual. Nesting success is heavily influenced by habitat conditions, predators, weather, and disturbances—all factors that fluctuate year to year.

This site will continue to be monitored in the seasons ahead. Even a site with no activity this year could become an important location in the future if conditions improve.

Stony Beach – Inactive Site

No Piping Plovers, no nests, and no activity observed during the entire season. This beach has remained quiet for plovers despite being historically suitable. We’ll continue to monitor it as part of our full island coverage.

This concludes our formal surveys for Piping Plovers, American Oystercatchers, Terns, Skimmers, Gulls, and Wading Birds, carried out in partnership with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC). Only a few active nests remain, and fencing at those sites will stay in place until the chicks have fully fledged!

We’ll continue to track those nests, and you may see team members conducting follow-up visits in the coming weeks.

What You Can Do

2 Least Tern eggs captured by Anna W.

Fishers Island is one of the few places where endangered and threatened coastal birds still have a chance to thrive. Every resident, visitor, and beachgoer plays a role in that success.

Here’s how you can help:

  • Respect fencing and signage. These protect active nests and give chicks the space they need.

  • Keep dogs leashed and avoid flagged or marked areas.

  • Stay on wet sand when walking along the beach.

  • Report unusual activity including predator sightings, off-leash dogs near nests, or unmarked nest scrapes.

Let’s continue working together to ensure these birds return next year and have the space and safety they need to raise their young.