Archive for category: From the Field

 

 This week, as I count returning Osprey soar west and east over Fishers Island I am recalling the bird’s plight in the 1970’s when the use of DDT across eastern states had that species population plummeting down the eastern seaboard. Back then, occupied nests atop telephone poles were often few and far between. Thankfully, the “fish-hawk” made a comeback and indeed came back.  Today, our Island continues to provide critical habitat that is essential to the Osprey’s survival and conservation.

Four decades later I find myself presently monitoring 12 precious coastal and interior sites on Island-and have been for the last three years. There are stacks of filled out data sheets being plugged into an evolving database, over a thousand photographs documented, and even more than a few pairs of worn out sneakers…

 So, now I feel I must pipe up for the Piping Plover.

  Each spring bird migration always has me checking on familiar sites for returning breeding pairs. In two years I have only sighted one single Piping Plover up east at the Big Club Beach-last May. I have yet to document any west on Island.

This tiny shorebird is federally listed as “Threatened” and “Endangered” as the species appears to dwindle in numbers along the Atlantic coast with overall lack of quality foraging and nesting habitat.

I remain hopeful and expectant, continuing to cheer on the Piping Plover; encouraged especially having been able to witness a healthy recovery that even though spanned years, did indeed eventually bring the Osprey “home”.

This week James & Bob Rogers of FI Highway Dept. are generously custom fitting sturdy stakes to even sturdier updated federal signage declaring critical habitat for nesting shore birds visiting the Island. The red & white signs will be placed in historically familiar locations: south side in the sands parallel to the Airport runway and on Big Stony Beach facing the Sound and also Hay Harbor. Here, a sanctuary of sorts prohibits human activity from disturbing Piping Plovers, Oyster Catchers, and Least Terns during spring and early summer.

And perhaps it’s because instilled in my Naturalist thoughts I believe hope and expectancy have no boundaries; that I have just noted again, one tiny Piping Plover companioned with a Sanderling. Both birds scurrying along the wrack line the other afternoon at the Big Club Beach. A returning Pair of Oyster Catchers noted in coves north along the Golf course as well.

 But there will be no signs posted this year to protect possible nesting areas east on Island.

While the human imposed notions of public and private, east and west matter not one jot or tittle to these delicate shore birds; the fact that our entire Island offers a wealth of critical habitat to many wildlife species DOES.

 So everyone on Fishers Island can and should be supportive of educational outreach:

*Be vigilant and watch where we step along sands and beach grasses.

*Leash any dogs where shore bird nesting activity is present.

*Observe at a respectful distance.

With lessons learned from the Osprey which we nearly didn’t have; we can work with what we do have – each other.

 

 

 

 

 

In morning light pheasant keeps track

After raccoon

Waited before.

In morning light seals wait

Till our paths cross sand, rock, then water.

Faraway

Eyes meet

Foghorn sounding fills any distance between times

And I wait too, now in morning light.

 

 This morning I could sense Winter had finally loosened its grasp on the Island. And I, too, had let go of referring to Alaska and chasing after Bald Eagles and Snowy Owls. Instead, I stood basking in the sun that felt warm at 35, noting the arrival of Red-winged Blackbirds and Robins.

I was also thinking about monitoring these last months and thankful for Islanders and the times it really did feel like a neighborhood watch for wildlife-  just when a tiny Island felt huge and I just didn’t want to miss a thing; folks would track me down and share their findings.

 Just like this afternoon at 1:00 when I received a short text from Carl Scroxton:

“2 Snow Geese @ Big Club”    

(Wait a minute, didn’t I stop referring to Alaska?!)

I was in a school meeting and texted back:

“Location?”

“Across from main building”

I joked:

“Tell them to stay put”

And while I wasn’t able to get up east till after 3:00, amazingly the pair of Snow Geese appeared in flight and landed right where Carl had noted them. I snuck up the hill and hid behind the stone wall, jotting down my observations and texting:

“Thank you!”

Snow and I are battling it out. And since it just won’t quit I have decided neither will I. I’ll have to be just as determined-especially when it comes to checking on the Harbor seals.

The other morning I stared at the tally counter sitting on my desk- the number still “frozen” at 0030, that’s 16 seals on West haulout (clumps of rocks) and 14 on East haulout. It had been a couple weeks since I visited Hungry Point last.

In the past when the weather permitted, I would often see them twice a week-ok, maybe three times- and now I downright miss them!

On Monday and Tuesday I did drive east (gosh, will the bike path ever emerge?).

I laugh, the drifts are so high I just stepped over the picket fence gate leading to my path. I can still walk gingerly on top of the icy crust, and THen fall through up to my waist (just once this time!).

I’m glad I went. I photographed (upper right rock) one “entangled” seal with a deeply embedded “necklace” –perhaps a packing band or monofilament. After documenting I send information along to The Mystic Aquarium. It’s all about keeping watch for the Northeast Region Stranding Network.

Later in the week it was business as usual with those seals-striking poses and looking like ice sculptures, “pet rocks”-even an inflatable beach raft…

It’s good we can count on each other.