Helping Fishers Island Conservancy eradicate plant invasives and restore Critical Wildlife Habitat… Erick Jones, Nickia Gibson and Ben Sammarco from the University of Delaware. “The core invasive species we’re encountering are autumn olive, oriental bittersweet, and bush honeysuckle.”
PS. Incredibly tough work within 185 acres of historic Parade Grounds-inviting more insects, butterflies and migrating birds back each year.
– from The Field by Justine Kibbe June 26, 2018.
Mylar balloons floating across our Sounds are notorious for entangling and killing marine life.
This snippet was meant to show how similar the balloon can “appear” as a Jelly Fish, mistaken and ingested by Sea turtles.
Mylar balloons are devastating.
As stewards this summer, PLEASE pick-up and discard properly all debris.
– A Snippet from The Field by Justine Kibbe June 25, 2018
This video was taken in 2015-showing the biggest jelly fish species within Long Island and Fishers Island Sounds.
The arrival “season” for these jellies around our Island has differed these last 7 years –could be trends in climate and water temps.
*Sea Turtles depend on jelly fish as a main diet staple.
– A Snippet from The Field by Justine Kibbe June 25, 2018
This afternoon, Sanctuary of Sands:
Breeding pair of Least Terns sighted upon Critical Habitat recently recovered from red rock graffiti.
Note the Signs of the times-tread lightly, leash dogs.
I believe these birds are as pleased as I am!
~ Photos from the Field by Justine Kibbe June 21, 2018
PlPlease HELP remove the painted red rock Grafitti from South Beach, Fishers Island-Make the Message “Clear” For Island Stewardship!
A special thanks to Mason Horn, who provided the wire rock cage for collection and my Tribe at school for creating the laminated sign, and to Jim Ski who has offered to crush the rocks.
**Eastern tip of runway-Sanctuary of Sands.
– Audio Clip by Justine Kibbe June 5, 2018.
Great news!
I spied this Piping plover on Chocomount beach mid-week. Note the single black neck- band (breeding plumage) and sand colored camouflage. I was happy to see it feeding within the morning tidal wrack line; deposits from healthy Seagrass (Eel grass) meadows that surround Fishers Island. This shorebird species is listed as threatened in Connecticut and endangered in New York.
*Please be mindful about leashing dogs on beach walks during these nesting weeks.
– Field Note by Justine Kibbe May 10, 2018
Marine debris is very apparent clogged within harbors, coves, and washed ashore on all beaches of Fishers Island. While most items of trash are more obvious, I include here the most insidious…ribbon and balloon along with fishing line, which have become a constant observation in any daily data collected. This incoming debris is slowly but steadily becoming treacherous to sea life and shorebirds that “are” our Island. Here is recent culprit on Big Club beach & older photo of entangled bird on South beach.
– Field Note by Justine Kibbe May 2, 2018
We see it so often here on Fishers Island that I just can’t “bag it!” (hush up about it!)
Why bring our own satchels and shopping totes to market?
“The answer is blowin in the wind”…
– A Snippet from The Field by Justine Kibbe March 18, 2018
Storms surrounding Fishers Island only deliver marine debris “faster” into our precious coves, harbors and surrounding coastline –we are, though, everyday constantly under “siege”…
– A Snippet from The Field by Justine Kibbe March 2, 2018
– Audio Chat by Justine Kibbe October 1, 2017.
I chat with lifelong Islander John Peishoff about the necessity and importance of Fishers Island Stewardship. To date, he’s picked-up, hauled, and taken to the dump 889 wire Lobster pots-line them together; that’s over a half mile!
